Italy, Italy, Italy, Italy, Itaaaaaaaalyyyyyy! These were my emotions upon stepping foot in Venice, the first Italian city I visited in my life. No words, just a huge smile on my face and a feeling of excitement inside. 3 days in Venice were an incredible, albeit a short introduction to what is now one of my favorite countries in the world.
I’ve heard so much about Italy’s beauty, nature, and delicious food that I was sure it would never meet my ridiculously high expectations. Venice convinced me otherwise from the first minutes.
Annually, twenty million people visit Venice, so you won’t be lonely in your explorations, to say the least. Some complain about the crowds, the queues to the main attractions, and the average (at best) quality of food. None of this spoiled my impression of Venice, because I am a planning wizard and spent hours creating the following itinerary!
Before we get into details of what to do in 3 days in Venice (and where to eat, more importantly!), here are a few helpful tips.
Disclosure: this post contains some affiliate links which means if you buy something by clicking the link I will earn a small commission at absolutely no extra cost to you.
Neighborhoods: San Marco, Castello, Cannaregio
Distance: 4 km (2.5 miles)
Start your day early with breakfast the Italian way! Unless you are having breakfast at your B&B, leave all hope to find eggs and cereal in the morning. Usually, Italians have a cup of coffee with a sweet dessert, and I suggest you give it a try.
A fan of eggs and avocado toast myself, I found it surprisingly filling to have a croissant, a glass of orange juice, and a cappuccino for breakfast. The best place to do so is a pasticceria (bakery). Rosa Salva is one of the most popular ones with locals.
Tip: Google Maps gets a bit confused trying to find the place. Put “Rosa Salva Hotel” as your destination and you are good to go. A little piece of advice: Italians have breakfast while standing at the counter (or at a bar table). You can choose to sit down and enjoy your meal, but the price of coffee will be higher.
Rosa Salva — Sestiere di S. Marco, 950 (closed on Sundays)
It doesn’t matter where you go as long as you use these morning hours to enjoy the city without the crowds. Stroll along the canals, cross the footbridges, take some pictures without other people in them. In the morning, Venice is sleepy, peaceful and so lovely! Don’t be surprised if you spot wedding photoshoots, what with Venice being a popular place for destination weddings.
3 days in Venice is a good amount of time to cover most of the major attractions, and San Marco Square is where they are located. Here are the places you need to visit in San Marco Square: St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark’s Campanile, and Caffè Florian.
There are several experiences to cover at St. Mark’s Basilica: the interior of the Basilica itself, Pala d’Oro (the golden altarpiece), the museum, and the Loggia dei Cavalli for great views of the square and a chance to see the original bronze horses (the ones installed at the exterior now are replicas!) You can buy regular tickets ahead of time on the official website or skip-the-line tickets here.
Doge’s Palace was the center of government during the time of Venetian Republic, as well as the residency of the Doge (the chief magistrate of Venice). Inside, you’ll find rooms upon rooms heavily decorated with gold, wood, marble, and paintings.
There’s no entry ticket for Doge’s Palace only. You can buy a St. Mark’s Square Museums ticket online which includes entry to the Doge’s Palace, as well as Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana.
Alternatively, you can book a guided tour of Doge’s Palace and San Marco square. The price includes priority admission to the palace and an experienced tour guide.
Bridge of Sighs connects Doge’s Palace with prisons. Back in the day, prisoners had to cross the bridge in order to get to their cells. On the way, they would have a glimpse of beautiful Venice through the windows and sigh. While inside Doge’s Palace, you’ll be able to cross the bridge and see the exact view the prisoners so admired.
From the outside, you can see the structure of the bridge itself. All you have to do is reach Riva degli Schiavoni (the waterfront) and cross Ponte della Paglia bridge. If you follow this itinerary, you’ll do exactly that while walking to have lunch.
St. Mark’s Campanile is the bell tower of St. Mark’s Basilica and the tallest building in Venice. You can use the elevator to go up and admire the views of the city from the height of 99 meters. It’s best to buy the tickets on the official website.
The oldest coffee house in continuous operation in Italy and second oldest in the world was bound to capture my attention. I love visiting restaurants with history even if it means paying a little extra. So I thought what’s the worst that can happen? Let’s try out caffè Florian!
Here’s a little break-down: a shot of espresso is 7 euros, cappuccino is 12 euros, on top of that one has to pay 7 euro per person as live music cover (not applicable if you sit inside). So even if you go for the cheapest option — a shot of espresso — the bill for two will be 14 EUR (if you stay inside) or 28 (if you stay at the square).
I think it makes sense to walk through the cafe and admire the jaw-dropping interior. Whether or not to have a coffee is up to you. I went to a local pasticceria where a cup of cappuccino was under 2 euros.
A 6-minute walk from San Marco Square
By this point you will have spent about 4-5 hours exploring the attractions at San Marco Square and probably feel hungry. As promised, this itinerary for three days in Venice is full of incredible food stops. During my research I came across this wonderful blog by a true Venetian. This is how I learned about Birreria Forst, a tiny cafe barely 5 minutes walk from the Doge’s Palace.
If you follow Google Maps from the Doge’s Palace to Birreria Forst and walk by the waterfront, you are bound to cross Ponte della Paglia bridge from where you’ll be able to see the Bridge of Sighs. At Birreria Forst, get yourself a classic Venetian snack — tramezzino. Tramezzino is a triangular sandwich usually prepared with white bread with crust cut off. It comes with all kinds of fillings: from cold cuts to veggies to fish.
Birreria Forst serves tramezzino with a twist. It’s made with brown bread and is larger in size. I’ve tried tramezzino with beef and mustard and one with tuna salad which were delicious, not to mention more than affordable.
Birreria Forst — Calle de le Rasse, 4540
Other Options for Lunch
If you are in the mood to have a proper meal for lunch, check out Al Covo which is located about 8 minutes walk from the Doge’s Palace. Keep in mind, that it is closed on Monday and Tuesday. And lunch is served from 12.45 to 14.00.
Another affordable option near San Marco square is sharing a pizza at Aciugheta. Pizza is literally the one thing every guide tells you not to eat in Venice, but Aciugheta does a good job.
A 7-minute walk from Birreria Forst
From Birreria Forst proceed to the neighborhood of Castello. Enjoy the less crowded part of Venice on the way to one of the most unique book shops in the world. The books here are stored in the most unusual manner, for example, in a gondola right in the middle of the store.
The shop also boasts one of the most popular photo spots on Instagram: a staircase made of old books destroyed by high water (acqua alta). Once on top of the staircase, you’ll be able to see the canal and the bridge outside.
Last, but not least, Acqua Alta has two resident cats (that’s how many I spotted, maybe they have more) which was reason enough for me to visit.
Libreria Acqua Alta — Calle Lunga Santa Maria Formosa, 5176b
A 10-minute walk from Libreria Acqua Alta
From Castello walk on to Cannaregio district. The further into Cannaregio you walk, the less people you’ll see. Just to give you a sense of direction, here are a few attractions to see in this neighborhood: the home of Marco Polo, the church of Santa Maria Assunta (I Gesuiti), Fondamento Nove (waterfront), and the Jewish Quarter.
Al Timon is located in Cannaregio, so no extra time needed to get here
From the looks of it, Al Timon is the place where young locals hang out. The restaurant specializes in steak and cicchetti, traditional Venetian snacks. Cicchetti can refer to slices of bread with toppings or to any bite-sized food like a chicken wing or deep-fried cutlets. Al Timon is located right by the Ormesini canal and features a boat turned into a dining space which makes the whole experience feel extra special. Not to mention that the food is exceptional.
Al Timon — Fondamenta dei Ormesini, 2754 (closed on Tuesdays)
Neighborhoods: Castello, San Polo, Dorsoduro
Distance: 5.5 km (3.5 miles)
Just like on the first day (and every day of this itinerary for 3 days in Venice), I suggest you have breakfast the Italian way, at a local bakery. Pasticceria Alla Bragora is a family-run business where pastries are made fresh every morning. I happened to come across it during heavy rain, and their incredibly rich hot chocolate was most satisfying!
The bakery opens at 7 am daily so you can start your day extra early if you want to wander around the streets of Venice without the crowds.
Pasticceria Alla Bragora — Castello 3604
A 15-minute walk from Pasticceria Alla Bragora to the starting point of the tour
I am a big fan of going on walking tours with local guides, even more so if the tour includes food. I chose this 2.5 hours street food tour to try Venetian specialties and can highly recommend it. The tour is hosted by a Venice local who takes you to 5 different spots to try Venetian cheeses and salami, local cookies, cicchetti, polenta bites, and gelato.
At 48 euro per person, this is the best value for money you’ll find for a food tour in Venice. You only get tastings, so by the end you fill full, but not heavy. If your budget allows, try longer tours that include more tastings, like this one.
A 15-minute walk from Pasticceria Alla Bragora to Rialto Bridge
If you are not too keen on booking a food tour, you can follow a similar route, but with less stops for snacks and on your own. Start at Rialto Bridge, the oldest of the 4 bridges across the Grand Canal that connects San Marco neighborhood with San Polo.
Just across the bridge is Rialto Market which has two major sections: fresh produce and seafood. Vegetables usually come from a nearby island of Sant’Erasmo, while the fish is freshly caught in the lagoon. Here you can also buy some local cheese and salami to take home. The best hours to visit the market are early in the morning as by 1 pm many merchants pack up and close. Rialto Market is also closed on Sundays.
Now that you have crossed Rialto Bridge, you’ll find yourself in the neighborhood of San Polo. Some of the attractions you’ll come across while exploring this neighborhood are Campo San Polo (San Polo square), the largest open space in Venice after San Marco square; Chiesa di San Polo (San Polo church); and the home of Carlo Goldoni, a famous Italian playwright.
When you feel like taking a break, stop at Birraria La Corte to have a pizza. I know everyone says you shouldn’t have pizza in Venice, but this place is legit! I only had 3 days in Venice on my first ever trip to Italy and I wasn’t going to skip on eating pizza.
Birraria La Corte — S. Polo, 2168 (lunch is served from 12.00 to 14.00)
Other Options for Lunch
If you feel like having a full meal, try Estro Vino e Cucina, an upscale restaurant serving dishes prepared with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.
13 minutes from Birraria La Corte if you take a ferry or 18 minutes on foot
At this point, whether you took the food tour or spent the morning exploring Venice on your own, you’ll find yourself in San Polo. From here, it’s an easy walk to Dorsoduro, another one of the six sestiere, or neighborhoods. It boasts several popular attractions, like Gallerie dell’Accademia, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and Basilica Di Santa Maria Della Salute.
Gallerie dell’Accademia is a museum of pre-19th century art located on the south bank of the Grand Canal. One of the most popular works of art at Gallerie dell’Accademia is Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. Unfortunately, it is only displayed to public on occasion for preservation purposes.
Peggy Guggenheim Collection is a modern art museum featuring a collection of European and American works of art of the first half of the XX century.
Basilica Di Santa Maria Della Salute is a Roman Catholic Church located on the tip of Dorsoduro neighborhood. The dome of the church is a recognizable part of Venice skyline best observed from the Ponte dell’Accademia bridge.
Ponte dell’Accademia is one of the four bridges that spans the Grand Canal. It connects Dorsoduro with San Marco and provides a picture-perfect view of Venice.
If you chose to visit one of the museums in Dorsoduro, you are likely to spend most of your afternoon in this neighborhood. So I suggest you have an aperitivo (pre-dinner drinks) and a meal somewhere close by.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to try out restaurants in Dorsoduro, but here are a few options I had on my list. For a drink and light snacks before dinner consider Cantina del Vino Già Schiavi. It’s located right by the canal so you can eat al fresco.
Cantina del Vino Già Schiavi — Fondamenta Nani, 992
Alternatively, you can find a lot of bars in the area around Campo Santa Margherita. One of the most popular bars is Do Draghi.
Do Draghi — Sestiere Dorsoduro, 3665
Afterwards, enjoy a dinner at Al Profeta that has a beautiful courtyard and serves both traditional Italian dishes and pizza. Or try Osteria da Codroma that offers Venetian fare.
Al Profeta — C. Lunga S. Barnaba, 2671
Osteria da Codroma — Fondamenta Briati, 2540
Islands: Murano, Burano, Torcello
As always, start your day at a local pasticceria. After walking 20 000 steps daily during my 3 days in Venice, I couldn’t imagine standing at the counter for breakfast, so I got a table. Touristy and more expensive, but so much more convenient. They have outside sitting which makes people-watching all the more fun.
Pasticceria Italo Didovich — Campo Santa Marina, 5908 (closed on Sundays)
Day three is dedicated to leaving the centro storico of Venice (the large island that consists of six neighborhoods) and exploring the islands nearby: Murano, Burano, and Torcello.
Murano is the island closest to Venice out of the three you can visit. It is world-renown for its glassmaking tradition and features Museo del Vetro (Glass Museum) where you can learn about the history and process of glassmaking.
Burano is a tiny island about 40 minutes away from Venice by vaporetto. It is known for its brightly colored houses. According to the legend, all the houses were painted in bright colors so fishermen can always find their way back home from the sea. Today, one has to request official permission in order to re-paint his house. Burano is also famous for its lace production. You can visit Museo del Merletto to learn about the development of lace-making in Burano, as well as buy linens and clothes from one of the many souvenir shops.
Torcello is the island furthest from Venice with very few residents. Some of the most popular sights to see are Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, famous for one of the earliest examples of mosaic in the area of Venice, and Ponte del Diavolo, a bridge with no parapets. In 1948, Ernest Hemingway spent some time in Torcello while working on Across the River and Into the Trees.
There are two ways to get to the islands: on your own or by booking a tour. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but, surprisingly, the cost will be more or less the same.
If you book a tour online, everything is taken care of. The departure is from San Marco square. You’ll get into a boat that will take you to all three islands, while an experienced guide will explain the history of the lagoon.
The whole trip will take about 5 hours and cost 25 euro, which is exactly what you’ll pay for a day ticket to vaporetto (water bus) if you go on your own. The only disadvantage is that you have only 45 minutes on each island which is hardly enough.
For a bit extra you can book a tour in a private boat with longer stops at Murano and Burano.
If you don’t mind figuring things out on your own, visit all three islands by a public water bus (vaporetto). The advantage here is that you can follow you own schedule and won’t be rushed. Money-wise, you’ll pay exactly the same: an unlimited all-day ticket costs 25 EUR per person. To get to the islands, take vaporetto #12 from Fondamente Nove station (in Cannaregio neighborhood).
Tip: Depending on how much time you have on the last day, you can choose to explore all three islands or only one of them. As I was flying home in the evening, I chose to visit only Burano. In this case, it makes more sense to take a vaporetto and go on your own.
If you explore the islands on your own, you will leave from and return to the station Fondamente Nove in Cannaregio. From the station, it’s a short 10-minute walk to Bepi Antico 54 da Loris, a restaurant serving Venetian specialties. I’ve tried scampi and artichoke salad and a platter of fried seafood, both excellent.
Bepi Antico 54 da Loris — Salizada del Pistor, 4550 (closed on Thursdays, dinner starts at 19.30)
One thing I purposefully didn’t include in the itinerary is a gondola ride. Not because I am opposed to it (quite the opposite), but simply because it’s something you can do any time while exploring the city. Gondola stations are all over Venice (especially San Marco neighborhood), and you’ll see them every 10-15 minutes. Whenever you feel like it, hop on and enjoy the ride.
It’s easy to find a private gondola while walking around Venice and pay directly to the gondolier. The price is 80-90 euro during the day and 100-110 euro at night (after 7 pm) for a 30-minute ride. The price is for the boat, not per person.
If you travel solo on a budget, it’s best to book a shared gondola experience online. The cost is 39 EUR per person. If you travel as a couple or a group, you might as well get a private gondola for 80 euro.
Some people say a gondola ride is an overpriced tourist trap and you should skip it. I agree about overpriced — 80 euro for 30 minutes is a lot. But I am convinced it’s a must-do in Venice. You will not be able to get the same experience anywhere else. Some people recommend to take a vaporetto for 9.5 euro, but you should understand that vaporetto is public transport which means lots of people in a small space. Vaporetto doesn’t go through narrow canals and under footbridges.
I stayed at Palazzetto Pisani which offers rooms in two historic palaces on the Grand Canal: the 16th Century Palazzetto Pisani and Palazzo Foscolo. The two are connected by a narrow side street and are literally within two steps from one another.
The Palazzetto is conveniently located within a 10-minute walk from San Marco square and right by Ponte dell’Accademia bridge. If you love visiting movie locations, you’ll be glad to know that the Palazzetto was used to shoot several scenes in the movie Casanova with Heath Ledger.
The rooms differ in price quite a bit. From double deluxe rooms that are simple, but spacious, with courtyard view at about USD$250 to executive suites with original Venetian decor, overlooking the Grand Canal at USD$900.
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What to Eat in Venice: 15 Traditional Foods You Must Try (and 1 You Shouldn’t)
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Breakfast in Milan: 6 Cafes to Start Your Day the Italian Way
I write stories about food, travel, and my life as a mom of two boys. Home is Russia, but somehow also Sri Lanka and Hamburg, Germany. Go figure.
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Thank you so much for sharing all this wonderful info
Hey Derek! I am happy this guide was helpful, enjoy Venice!
Thank you so much for your guide!! It helps me a lot! xxx
Hey Marie! Sooo glad the guide was helpful! Enjoy Venice!
Yulia, I looove your style! Very helpful article, thx for sharing
Hi Andrea,
aaaaaaw, thank you! That’s really sweet of you to say! I am only happy that my guide was helpful!