In Venice, the shortest distance between two points is rarely a straight line. Streets will unexpectedly come to a dead end or splinter off into two or more unmarked roads. My best advice: Don’t sweat it. While you pause and get your bearings, use it as an opportunity to check out a cafe, a wine bar, or—best of all—a gelato stand. With four days, you’ll have plenty of time to see all the major attractions (including Piazza San Marco and the Doge’s Palace), tour the nearby islands (especially Burano and Murano), and take in any scenic detours.
The itinerary below tackles all the must-sees and does it one neighborhood at a time so that you’re not hopping on and off a vaporetto (water bus) all day. Best of all, we’ve read all the Tripadvisor reviews and ratings to make sure that we only highlight the places that are really worth your time, including those all important Aperol spritz pit stops.
DAY ONE
MORNING: The splendor of San Marco
Start your day as early as possible on Venice’s most famous square, Piazza San Marco, which is packed with architectural wonders and a gorgeous view of the lagoon. Your destination is the eye-popping Basilica di San Marco, a more-is-more cathedral with spiky Gothic pinnacles, a gilded interior, and 4,000 square meters of mosaics.
Take your time exploring the basilica, then make the trip to the top of Campanile di San Marco. Unlike some other famous European bell towers, this guy’s got an elevator, so the only breathtaking thing about it is the sweeping rooftop view.
The lines can get out of control at these top attractions, so your best bet is to book ahead. If you do, you could wrap up both in 90 minutes, depending on how long you want to linger. Just don’t forget the church dress code—showing up in a tank top and shorts is a deal-breaker.
With these two sights checked off your list, wander around the square and the narrow alleyways of the charming San Marco neighborhood. If you missed out on a morning cardio session at the Campanile di San Marco, the Scala Contarini del Bovolo more than makes up for it. This 15th-century spiral staircase is a great spot for a photoshoot. Afterward, grab a pre-lunch treat at Gelato Fantasy, one of the neighborhood’s best gelaterias. A scoop of the mellow nocciola—toasted hazelnut—gets our vote.
AFTERNOON: Big-time opulence and a primer on Venetian art
It may not be the Italian way, but we’d opt for an early lunch at Caffe Florian on San Marco Square. This stop is less about the food than the atmosphere—this 18th-century cafe is one of the oldest continuously operating cafes in the world, once hosting Casanova, Goethe, and Proust. Its gilded rooms with red velvet seats make for a great photo op, but you can save a few bucks by eating at the bar, where dishes cost half as much.
Now it’s time to hit the square’s other main attraction, Doge’s Palace, a Gothic masterpiece where the Venetian head of state once lived. You can easily spend two or three hours living out your royal fantasies under these frescoed ceilings and checking out cool spots like the golden stairs and the white limestone Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners took in their last views of Venice.
Palace tour complete, take the five-minute ferry ride from Piazza San Marco to the tiny island of San Giorgio Maggiore. If you don’t tire of views from on high (honestly, we don’t), take the elevator up the Campanile di San Giorgio Maggiore for another sweeping look at the city skyline.
PIAZZA SAN MARCO AREA TOUR OPTIONS
- Tripadvisor reviewers rave about the 75-minute Secret Itinerary Tour, which takes you behind the scenes at Doge’s Palace. Tickets are relatively cheap and include admission to the palace, but you’ve got to book ahead.
- See the Basilica di San Marco and Doge’s Palace in one fell swoop with the three-hour Legendary Venice Tour. The best part is that you get special access to a balcony overlooking the square.
- If you’d rather go it alone, the Doge’s Palace Audio Tour is worth a few extra euros. Be sure to bring an ID—they’ll hold it until you return the guide.
EVENING: A craft cocktail, an opulent opera house, and canal-side seafood
Head back to Piazza San Marco and grab a drink at Hemmingway’s old haunt, the elegant Bar Longhi. The prices are steep, but you’re paying for the vibes and the canal-side location.
Afterward, take the five-minute walk to Teatro La Fenice for an evening performance in one of the world’s most famous opera houses. There might be a chamber orchestra or a full-scale opera playing, but it doesn’t really matter—the theater itself, with its layers of gilded balconies and a heavenly baby-blue ceiling, is enough to blow you away.
Many Venetians eat after an evening at the theater. If you want to end the day on a classy note, head to Gio’s, rated a “Best of the Best” by Tripadvisor reviewers. With one of the best terrace restaurants along the Grand Canal, it’s at its most romantic when the lights of the city begin to twinkle.
DAY TWO
MORNING: Bridges, basilicas, and other delights
You’ll want to hit the Rialto Market first thing in the morning. Filled with stalls selling freshly caught seafood and piles of regional produce, it’ll give you a taste of local life. Then walk across the ornate Rialto Bridge, which has been around for more than 400 years. Plenty of shops line the bridge, so if you want to do a little window shopping, take a peek at the family-owned Gioielleria Eredi Jovon, known for its classic cameo necklaces and Murano glass earrings.
Once you’re across the canal, enjoy the city’s best views from the T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi, a rooftop terrace perched on a shopping mall. It’s free, but you have to reserve your timed-admission tickets in advance.
Now take the 15-minute walk to the Gothic Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. Inside, you’ll find more masterworks by Bellini, Titian, and Donatello.
RIALTO MARKET AREA FOOD TOUR OPTIONS
- The three-hour Eat Like a Local Walking Tour really delivers with eight stops (including the Rialto Market) to taste seafood, cured meats, and various types of cicchetti. And you can bet there’s plenty of gelato.
- Travelers give high marks to the two-hour Eat, Drink, Repeat Wine Tasting Tour, which stops at bars in the Rialto Market area and around the city for sips of regional wines accompanied by plenty of tasty bites.
- Visit neighborhood favorites on the Venice Private Food Walking Tour, which includes 10 stops where you can sample everything from fresh mozzarella to prosecco. You’ll learn to order food like an Venetian.
AFTERNOON: Painted ceilings and a pretty palace
Sit down for seafood at Osteria Fanal Del Codega, where you can dine on a balcony overlooking a canal. Once you’ve refueled, visit the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. This must-see stop is all about Tintoretto’s unbelievably ornate painted ceilings, sometimes compared to the Sistine Chapel (but you can see these without fighting the crowds).
Need a break? Grab a coffee (or something stronger) at the Adagio Caffè and Wine Bar. This spot—a favorite with Tripadvisor reviewers—is called “one of the best—if not the best, cafes in Venice.” The Aperol spritzes here are cheaper, and even spritzier, than those from bars around PIazza San Marco.
Revived, head to Ca’ Rezzonico, an 18th-century palace with an enormous ballroom, lavishly painted ceilings, and gallery after gallery of Venetian paintings. Some art lovers claim to prefer this spot over the Doge’s Palace. If you’re in the mood for gelato after, Tripadvisor reviewers rave about Gelateria il Doge.
EVENING: Venetian dinner, drinks, and jazz
Enjoy a glass of wine and some cicchetti at the canal-side Adriatico Mar. With a wood-beamed ceiling, it’s the kind of place that feels like it’s been around forever. Save room for dinner at sophisticated Impronta, which earns high marks from Tripadvisor users. It serves perfectly prepared dishes like orange potato gnocchi with duck ragu and tagliatelle with black cuttlefish and a parmesan-saffron sauce. Wine by the glass is surprisingly good and reasonably priced.
Finish the night with live music ranging from swing to bossa nova at the intimate Venice Jazz Club. Buy tickets ahead of time to make sure you get a table close to the action.
