Venice was my introduction to Italy and will you be awfully surprised if I tell you one day in Venice was enough to make me fall in love? (I actually spent 4 days in the city, so this guide is a quintessence of my experience). I know it’s banal to fall in love with Venice and it would be so much cooler to say I much prefer tiny tourist-free Italian villages, but I am not looking to look cool (only took me 36 years and two kids to learn).
Is Venice crowded and touristy? Yes! Is it also incredibly, almost magically beautiful and will make your jaw drop at the sight of the narrow canals and grotesque churches? Also yes. As long as you accept the state of current affairs in the city and try to plan your one day in Venice in a smart way, you can have the best time.
Venice is considered one of the most touristy cities in the world, with 20 million people visiting yearly. Here is what it means for you!
You should explore the city early in the morning and late at night. You will, of course, explore it during the day too, but getting a head start will help you have at least an hour when the streets are quiet. You can enjoy the unique architecture, take pictures without other people getting in the shot, and just feel the vibe of the city before the cruise ships arrive.
With only one day in Venice, you must see the most popular attractions like San Marco Basilica and Doge’s Palace, but do get your tickets online beforehand and if you can afford it splurge on skip-the-line tickets. You will save an enormous amount of time.
Don’t just pop into a random restaurant for lunch or dinner, chances are (especially if you are in the city center) it will be a touristy place with mediocre food. Venice is notoriously famous for bad food. Don’t get me wrong, Venetian cuisine is incredible and there are plenty of amazing restaurants and cafes, you just need to do you research and know where exactly to find it. I have this guide to my favorite restaurants, bakeries and cafes in Venice.
Tips for Spending One Day in Venice:
- Cars are not allowed in Venice. You’ll be walking the whole time (or taking Vaporetto, a public water bus), so wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
- If you are only spending one day in Venice you might have to pay the Venice Access Fee of 5 USD. This policy was implemented recently, in 2024, and applies to people who are not staying in Venice overnight. The fee is only applicable if you are traveling to Venice on some of the busiest days. Check the calendar and pay the fee on the official website for Venice tourism and transportation.
- I mention approximate time for every activity. This is just so you understand what your day will look like. It is not set in stone.
- I give recommendations for every meal, but make sure to double check the places I recommend on Google. Some close right after lunch at 2-2.30 pm and open again for dinner. Some restaurants do not work on Sundays, others — on Mondays. Always double-check the opening times before heading for a meal.
- When it comes to coffee, it’s cheaper to have your coffee at the bar counter. If you choose to sit at a table the price will be slightly higher.
- Bring a reusable water bottle on your trip. There are water stations all over the city to refill your bottle.
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.
One Day in Venice Itinerary
8.00 — Breakfast at Rosa Salva
Start your one day in Venice with traditional Italian breakfast of a cup of coffee and a few pastries. Rosa Salva is a typical Italian pasticceria (or bakery). The service is quick, especially if you order yourself at the counter and eat standing up (common practice for breakfast or a cup of coffee in Italy). The bakery belongs to Rosa Salva Hotel and has been around since 1879.
They offer a great assortment of baked goods from rum baba to sfogliatella (a shell-shaped pastry with a creamy filling) to zabaione (a custard made with wine) to typical Venetian baicoli biscuits.
Rosa Salva — Sestiere di S. Marco, 950
9.00 — St Mark’s Square and Major Attractions
A minute’s walk from Rosa Salva
Breakfast at Rosa Salva won’t take you an hour, it’s a rather quick affair. Once you are done, walk around the smaller streets while it is still calm and quiet. Then head to St. Mark’s Square where several major attractions of Venice are located.
Tip: if you would really like to visit Rialto market, use the time before or after breakfast to do so. The market opens at 7.30 am and closes around lunch. While we will return to San Polo neighborhood (where the market takes place) later in the day, the market will be closed by then.
Now back to St Mark’s Square! Here is what you need to see here: St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark’s Campanile, and Caffè Florian. Let’s unpack this one by one!
St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco)
St. Mark’s Basilica is probably the most popular attraction in Venice, known for its stunning gold mosaics and Byzantine architecture, and over 1000 years of history. It was originally built as a private chapel for the Doge of Venice (the ruler of Venice) and was made public in 1807.
To explore St. Mark’s Basilica you need to visit several spaces. Apart from admiring the gorgeous exterior, you should walk inside to see the golden mosaics covering the ceiling. The entrance is free of charge, but there’s always a long line of people waiting, so paying for a skip-the-line ticket makes sense.
Optionally, you can visit Pala d’Oro, an intricate gold altarpiece inside the Basilica (you have to pay extra to see it).
After exploring the interiors of the Basilica, head upstairs to the museum (for an extra fee) where you can see the 4 bronze horses that were originally located on the facade of the building. The horses you see located on the loggia now are replicas.
Finally, access the terrace for beautiful views of the St. Mark’s Square (terrace access is included in the museum ticket).
There’s also an option of exploring all of these on a guided tour.
Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale)
Doge’s Palace is another major landmark you should visit if you only have one day in Venice. It used to serve as the official residence of the Doge of Venice, or in other words the ruler of the Venetian Republic.
It’s best to get skip-the-line tickets to save time. Waiting in line to get inside during peak season can take a full hour or more. With only one day in Venice, you want to enjoy the city, not wait in lines for hours.
Inside, make sure to see the Grand Staircase, the Great Council Hall and the Room of the Scrutiny, Doge’s apartments, the Armoury, the Bridge of Sighs, and the prison.
St. Mark’s Bell Tower (Campanile di San Marco) — Optional
If you still have the time (and desire) to explore yet another popular attraction at St. Mark’s Square, check out St. Mark’s Campanile, the bell tower of St. Mark’s Basilica. At different times it served as a lighthouse and a watchtower. The main reason to visit the tower today is the gorgeous views of Venice from the top (there’s an elevator).
Caffè Florian
This luxurious cafe founded in 1720 by Francesco Florian boasts over 300 years of history and is another must-visit if you only have one day in Venice.
According to their website, “its first name was “Alla Venezia Trionfante”, or “Triumphant Venice”, but in a short few months, Venetians began calling it “Florian’s” after the name of the Caffè’s founder”. It was visited by many celebrities like Andy Warhol, King Charles III and more recently by Clint Eastwood.
When I recommend to visit the cafe I mean just that — a quick walk around the cafe to see the jaw-dropping interiors. A shot of espresso here costs 7 EUR and a cup of cappuccino is 12 EUR. If there’s live music, you will be charged an additional fee.
If you can afford to splurge, I think this can be a wonderful experience, the interiors alone are worth it. But if you are not willing to pay that much, just find a small bakery, like Rosa Salva where coffee is 2-3 EUR.
Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri)
I know I mentioned the Bridge of Sighs as part of the Doge’s Palace tour, but here’s another way to see it. While on the tour, you will walk on the bridge itself as it connects the Doge’s Palace with the prisons. It is named so, because the prisoners would sigh at the beautiful view of Venice that opened from the bridge as they were walking to their cells.
If you want to get a different perspective, walk to Riva degli Schiavoni (the waterfront) and cross Ponte della Paglia bridge. From there you will be able to see the bridge of sighs from a distance. This is right on the way to the next stop on this itinerary — Birreria Forst for lunch.
14.00 — Lunch at Birreria Forst
A 6-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square
Birreria Forst is a little pub located just steps away from St. Mark’s Square. Fear not, though, it’s not a tourist trap, you will find many locals enjoying their beer and snacks here. The main reason why I suggest this place for lunch is because you can try Venetian tramezzini, triangular sandwiches.
While originally tramezzini come from Turin, they are wildly popular in Venice and considered a must-try when you visit the city. What makes these sandwiches special, you ask? First of all, they are made with soft fluffy bread and are NOT toasted. Second, they are filled to the brim with all kinds of delicious things like prosciutto, tuna salad, or tomato and mozzarella.
At Birreria Forst tramezzini are somewhat larger than your traditional varieties, but just as delicious.
Birreria Forst — Calle De Le Rasse 4540
15.00 — A Stop at Libreria Acqua Alta
A 7-minute walk from Birreria Forst
Libreria Acqua Alta is one of the most unique and charming book stores in the world. With gondolas used to display a wide selection of newly-published, used, and rare books in both Italian and English, the store’s vibe is unmistakably Venetian.
Cats wander around in between bookshelves and tourists, of which there are quite a few. In the back of the store is a small courtyard where you will find books arranged to create steps — a perfect photo opportunity.
While one day in Venice is not enough to cover it all, visiting the rare gem that is Libreria Acqua Alta is a must.
Libreria Acqua Alta — C. Longa Santa Maria Formosa, 5176b
15.30 – 17.00 — Rialto Bridge and San Polo Neighborhood
An 8-minute walk from Libreria Acqua Alta
San Polo is one of the oldest and liveliest neighborhoods in Venice. This is where you will find the famous Rialto Bridge, Rialto market, as well as some other, lesser-known but nevertheless fascinating attractions. Here’s what you need to see here!
Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto)
Rialto Bridge is the oldest of 4 bridges that cross the Grand Canal and connects two of the most popular neighborhoods in Venice: San Marco and San Polo. The bridge itself is an architectural masterpiece featuring covered walkways lined with boutique shops. From the top of the bridge you get a beautiful view of the Grand Canal itself, the palazzos on both sides of the canal, as well as gondolas and vaporettos.
Rialto Market (Mercato di Rialto)
While it is one of the most popular things to do in Venice, Rialto Market is still the place were locals shops daily. It’s divided into two parts: la Pescheria (fish market) and Erberia (fruit and vegetable market).
Important: the market is open from 7.30 am until around lunch time so at this time it will be closed. If it’s important to you to visit the market, do so first thing in the morning, before or right after breakfast at Rosa Salva.
Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Often referred to as the Frari, this church in San Polo is the largest in Venice. The exterior is rather plain, but inside you will find many works of art, including altarpieces by Titian and figure of St. John the Baptist by Donatello, as well as tombs of many prominent Venetians, including some Doges.
Church of San Polo (Chiesa di San Paolo Apostolo)
A Gothic church that gave San Polo neighborhood its name was originally built in the 9th century and reconstructed in the 15th century. Just like Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, it has an unassuming façade, but hides artistic treasures by Tintoretto and Tiepolo inside.
Acqua e Mais
After spending hours exploring churches and bridges, it’s time for a typical Venetian snack! Acqua e Mais (which translates to water and corn — a reference to polenta, one of the most traditional foods in Venice) serves freshly-fried seafood like squids, shrimps, and sardines, along with neat little squares of polenta. The food comes in paper cones, a fun and convenient way to enjoy street food.
Acqua e Mais — Campiello dei Meloni, 1411/1412
17.30 — Dinner in Cannaregio
Let’s finish one day in Venice with a bang, shall we? Cannaregio is where you will be able to get away from the hustle and bustle of the touristy parts of Venice and get a glimpse of the everyday life of Venice locals.
Since you’ll arrive here quite late in the day, most of the attractions will be closed for visitors. So I suggest you walk around the streets and take in the atmosphere. To give you a sense of direction, here are a few things to see in Cannaregio: the home of Marco Polo, the church of Santa Maria Assunta (I Gesuiti), Fondamento Nove (waterfront), and Jewish Ghetto.
Afterwards, head to Al Timon for dinner. This place is a vibe! Located right by Ormesini canal, the restaurant specializes in steak and cicchetti, a typical Venetian snack (or a full-on meal, depending on how many cicchetti you order). Cicchetti are usually served as tiny slices of bread with toppings or bite-sized snacks.
Some of the most popular cicchetti include creamy salted cod, Venetian-style meatballs, bread topped with sopressa (local salami) or cheese.
The tables line the narrow strip by the waterfront, but the real gem here is a boat-turned-dining-space parked right in the canal. If you are lucky enough to get a spot here, this will be one of the most unforgettable dinners of your life!
Al Timon — Fondamenta dei Ormesini, 2754
Here your one day in Venice comes to an end! Do let me know if you use this guide. I would love to hear from you!
Where to Stay If You Have One Day in Venice?
Palazzetto Pisani Grand Canal
I stayed at Palazzetto Pisani, a 16th century building right on the Grand Canal, that offers beautiful rooms. Our room didn’t have the view of the canal, but the common areas of the hotel did provide incredible views.
The Palazzetto is conveniently located within a short walk from San Marco square, which is convenient if you have only one day in Venice. Fun fact: the hotel was used as a filming location for the movie Casanova with Heath Ledger.
What to Do If You Have More Than One Day in Venice?
If you have more time in Venice, I would recommend to explore it at a slower pace. My guide for 3 days in Venice will be helpful.
If you have only one extra day, you can explore the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello that are located in the Venetian lagoon.
Pin for Later:
Traveling around Italy? Here Are a Few More Useful Guides on My Blog:
Venice: 12 Restaurants I Absolutely Loved in Venice and What to Eat in Venice: 15 Traditional Foods You Must Try (and 1 You Shouldn’t).
Milan: 2 Days in Milan: A Step-by-Step Guide and Breakfast in Milan: 6 Cafes to Start Your Day the Italian Way
