Venice in a Day – How to Visit & Travel Tips

Getting to Venice: from Roma Termini to Venezia S. Lucia

Departure 6:15a.m. - Arrival 10:00a.m.

Located in the lagoon facing the Adriatic Sea, Venice is a fish-shaped island made up of 118 smaller islands. Easy to reach from many Italian cities, simply hop on a high-speed train and arrive in no time. Train travel makes seeing Venice in a day easy.

• Rome – 3 hours and 30 minutes
• Florence – 2 hours
• Milan – 2 hours and 30 minutes

Find time tables and departure times on the Trenitalia website, by selecting Venezia S. Lucia as your arrival station. Keep in mind that planning ahead and leaving early in the morning is essential to secure the best price and seats. If you want someone else to handle the details, The Roman Guy offers excellent Italy Trip Planning Services.

Once you arrive in Venice, the best way to get around is by foot. All the main tourist attractions are within walking distance from one another. However, public transport is available via expensive water taxis, traditional gondola rides and easily accessible ferry boats. Check out the ACTV website for water bus info and tickets.

St. Mark's Square

Arrival 10:30a.m. - Departure 11:30a.m.

About 30 minutes by foot or 20 minutes by ferry boat from the train station, St. Mark’s Square will leave you speechless at first sight. One of the most recognizable squares in all Italy, St. Mark’s Square is home to the magnificent St. Mark’s Basilica, Bell Tower and Doge’s Palace. The biggest square in Venice is the only one Venetians call a “piazza” – the smaller ones are called “campo”. The Bell Tower, or campanile, is 99 meters tall and used to function as a lighthouse and watch tower. If you want to experience one of the best views of Venice, visit the Bell Tower at sunset. If you’re plan on visiting the inside of the Basilica, either buy your tickets on the Veneto Inside website or take a guided tour. That way, you’ll avoid waiting in line for over three hours on average.

Doge's Palace

Arrival: 11:35a.m. - Departure: 12:30a.m.
On the Basilica’s right side, you’ll find the gothic style Palace that once belonged to the Doge. Doge’s Palace hides the most secret spots, myths and tales that surround Venice. In it’s underground levels, hidden from most tourists, are the cellars where the infamous Casanova was once imprisoned! Also, take note of the 9th and 10th columns on the side of the Palace. The light pink hue represents the standing point where the Doge used to read out death sentences. If you want to learn more secrets about the palace, check out our Doge’s Palace Secret Itineraries Tour.

Libreria Acqua Alta

Arrival 12:40a.m. - Departure 1:35p.m.

Just a 10-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square, the Libreria Acqua Alta (Library of High Water) is a true hidden gem in Venice. Buried inside this little book store are old traditional gondolas. In the past, the boats were used to prevent books from getting wet when the water levels in the lagoon rose. There’s  even an escape staircase made out of books to climb in case the shop floods. This tiny place can get quite crowded on weekends, but week days are usually more quiet. Stop by here and pick up a book to read by the canals.

Casual lunch at "Osteria al Portego"

Arrival: 1:30p.m. - Departure: 2:00p.m.

After your early morning exploration, experience a real Venetian lunch break. Osteria al Portego is a tasty local spot to get the best venetian cicchetti –  what the locals call various types of finger foods .  Enjoy cicchetti alongside an ombra, or glass of venetian wine. The word ombra (shadow), comes from a fisherman’s tradition of drinking a glass of wine in the shade of the bell tower on their lunch breaks. Venetian bars usually offer a variety of cicchetti, ranging from salami and prosciutto to seafood and baccalà, a traditional stock-fish recipe. All served on fresh, crunchy bread slices.

The Rialto Bridge and Market

Arrival 2:05p.m. - Departure 4:00p.m.

The Rialto Bridge is another one of Venice’s top sightseeing attractions. The view from the top of the bridge is spectacular. Even better though, is visiting the Rialto Fish Market. Venice was born as a fishing village and the market still provides an authentic glimpse of the island’s local culture.  Take a walk through the stands and ask the local vendors to show you their best cuts. Sample the fresh produce and absorb the vibrant atmosphere of the fish market.

Cannaregio and The Jewish Ghetto

Arrival: 4:20p.m. - Departure: 5:00p.m.

The Jewish Ghetto in Venice was instituted in 1516, making it the oldest in the world.  Divided into the Ghetto Nuovo (“New Ghetto”), and the adjacent Ghetto Vecchio (“Old Ghetto”), the ghetto is located in the Cannaregio sestiere area of Venice. These days, the Jewish Ghetto is still important to the Jewish Community of Venice.  Make sure you get a chance to sit down and relax when you visit – there are several good bars or cicchetteria. Our favorite are Mezzopieno, Bacaro dai Morosi, and Birreria Zanon. There’s no better way to finish up seeing Venice in a day than with some tasty food and wine.