Gourmet Flyer While Venice, Italy is generally considered one of the most romantic destinations in the World attracting millions of tourists yearly, the city is actually small enough that it can be reasonably explored in one to two days. This Venice itinerary is designed for those who are really pressed for time and would like to get the most out of a full day’s sightseeing and activities from dawn to dusk. I am also including an optional two-day plan with ideas that are punctuated throughout the article, indicating which attractions warrant more of your time if you have an extra day.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Walking Tour
- Gondola Ride
- Piazza San Marco
- Gondola Piers and San Zaccaria Ferry Terminals
- The Island Burano
- Afternoon Tea or Happy Hour
- Dinner Suggestions
- Conclusion
Introduction
Venice is unlike almost all of the destinations that you have ever visited before, that the passageways are not roads but canals, and the main form of transportations are not cars but boats. Therefore, let me first give you a brief introduction as to how you get around this city in a network of waterways crisscrossed with a maze of narrow alleys, steep staircases, and bridges.
The main thoroughfare is the Grand Canal which is the crucial waterway for all forms of transportations, from buses to taxis to gondolas to emergency vehicles. If you arrive by train, you’ll see the Venetian Lagoon as you approach the train station, which is near the northwestern starting point of the canal. As it curves around the city, it also divides the land into two separate regions, hence necessitating the building of bridges to connect pedestrians from one side to the other. When we visit San Marco later in the day, you’ll see its southeastern mouth that opens into the ocean at the basin where we’ll be taking the ferries from.
The main form of public transportation is water buses (vaporetti) which operate an extensive network and can take you to almost everywhere that you need to go. The downside is that they are very crowded, especially during summer peak season, and is also a pickpocket hotspot.
Nevertheless, they are indeed the most convenient and economical way to take you to/from most major attractions. You can see their routes and schedules here. Note that for this particular one day in Venice itinerary, you should purchase a one-day (24-hour) pass for the best value.
Taxis are essentially private speedboats which give you the most comfort and privacy and can also take you to your destination very quickly. However, they are very expensive and can cost over €100 for even a short 20-minute journey. When getting a taxi, look for the official yellow sticker on the window to ensure that it is a government regulated one.
Walking Tour
The best way to tour Venice and absorb all the local flavors is by walking – at least for the initial part of the journey – you might choose to get around on public transportation during the later part of the itinerary.
Traveling on foot enables you to explore every narrow alley and twist and turn along the way. While the Grand Canal is certainly the centerpiece of the city, it is often the smaller and somewhat isolated waterways that present the more mesmerizing and romantic scenes.
The ideal starting point is near the San Lucia train station where the Grand Canal begins its flow – if you are arriving by train, that is naturally your perfect spot. Our first major stop is the Rialto Bridge. From the train station go straight on the main road via Rio Terà Lista di Spagna and do not cross the first bridge that you see. After a short walk you’ll cross the second bridge and follow the signs “Ponte di Rialto” posted along the way. Built in the late 1500’s, it was the first of the four stone bridges to replace the old wooden bridges that were falling apart and literally collapsing. This is the most iconic among all the bridges in Venice, (and possibly in the entire Italy), which proudly showcases the wonders of Renaissance architecture and engineering.
What makes the Rialto Bridge one of the most popular destinations attracting some of the largest crowds that you’ll find in the city (and plenty of pickpockets as well) is that it offers the best view of the Grand Canal. Atop the bridge, numerous tourists fight for the best spot to snap that Instagram worthy picture or to take that epic selfie that makes all their friends and relatives jealous.
Along the way of our walking tour and especially in the areas immediately surrounding the Rialto Bridge are plenty of souvenir and specialty stores. While there are certainly numerous items that look appealing, as far as I am concerned, the only thing that is a must-buy is a Venetian masquerade mask, which carries significant historical and cultural values.
These masks date back to the era of the Republic of Venice when they were widely worn in carnivals. They allowed people among different social classes to mingle together freely and anonymously. It could arguably be the first form of social inclusiveness in Europe. Nowadays, these masks represent an iconic symbol of this Venetian tradition.
There is also no shortage of food stores selling anything from pizza to panini sandwiches and every form of dessert that you can think of. One Italian classic that I highly recommend that you try is the cannoli. They consist of a crispy tube-like cone filled with sweet and creamy ricotta cheese and topped with chopped nuts like walnuts and pistachios. While in Italy, you also have to grab a gelato sometime during your trip.
Gondola Ride
As our tour continues through the narrow alleys crisscrossed by a network of smaller canals and bridges, you probably notice many gondoliers along the way. Yes, riding a gondola is certainly a major highlight of this Venice one-day itinerary, and let me first give you a heads up on a few things:
- Let me first dispel a myth: Gondoliers do not sing. That only happens in the movies.
- Prices are government regulated and are the same everywhere.
- A 30-minute ride during the daytime costs €90.
- A 35-minute ride during the evening costs €110.
- Prices are for the entire gondola, not per person.
- A gondola legally seats 5 passengers. It is usually quite easy to find a couple to split the cost with you.
The question on your mind now is probably where you should take your gondola ride. As you already know, prices are fixed so as far as your wallet is concerned, it doesn’t matter. What matters most is your experience. Personally, I’ll make eye contact with the gondolier and chit chat a little to see if he is friendly and enthusiastic. Or whether he looks tired and not energetic. Ask yourself whether you would like this person to be your navigator and tour guide for the next half an hour.
An advantage of starting your ride in one of those smaller canals is that you’ll typically encounter less traffic and sail on the more serene and romantic narrow waterways. But if you prefer to take your ride from the major pier, then wait until we get to Piazza San Marco, our next stop.
TWO-DAY ALTERNATIVE: You can defer your gondola ride to the second day and focus the first day on the already busy agenda on land.
Piazza San Marco
From the Rialto Bridge, follow the “Piazza San Marco” signs to this huge open-space square that is almost like the center of the universe of Venice. If you only have a day, you’ll most likely not be able to visit every attraction. St. Mark’s Basilica is free to enter for prayers and masses, or if you just want to see the magnificent interior. However, be warned that lines could be very long in summer.
If you ask me to select one place for a two-hour visit, I’ll pick Doge’s Palace Museum. Dating back to the days of the Republic of Venice, the doge, or elected leader of the republic, resided in the palace and owned a collection of renowned paintings which are now available to the public for viewing.
The palace is also known for its majestic architecture showcasing the Venetian rendition of Italian Renaissance. The palace is large and included an elaborate courtyard, museum, jail, and armory. Admissions are €30 as of this writing and advanced online tickets with timed entry are strongly recommended during summer peak season.
If you want a more compressed agenda and make the most efficient use of your day, you might want to consider buying a priority pass that enables you to skip the lines. Enjoy fast-track access to St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, the Bell Tower, and more. Visit the Correr Museum, Marciana Library, and Archaeological Museum, plus enjoy a VR gondola ride through eight centuries of Venice’s past. Enhance your tour with included audio guides.
TWO-DAY ALTERNATIVE: If you have time and an interest in the history, art, and culture of Venice, a St. Mark’s Square Museum Pass is the best value. It includes admissions to Doge’s Palace, Correr Museum, Archaeological Museum, Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Marciana.
Gondola Piers and San Zaccaria Ferry Terminals
From Piazza San Marco, if you head toward the water, you’ll see a series of bridges and also the largest gondola pier in the city. From there, many gondolas navigate through narrow canals here before venturing out to the Grand Canal. This is where the majority of tourists get their rides so expect the place to be crowded and also expect some traffic jams along the waterways. In the off-season though, this could be a rather romantic and serene journey, as you can see from the video posted above.
If you continue walking, you’ll see the ferry terminal which consists of a series of piers which sometimes could get rather confusing. Realistically, it’s not bad at all as the directions are quite clear if you refer to the sign above. Every pier is assigned specific ferries with specific routes. So, the key is not just knowing which ferry to take, but also which pier to go to. Note that if you are exploring the attractions at Piazza San Marco, be mindful of the departure time of your ferry and allow at least 15 minutes to walk from the square to the pier. You can check the ferry’s schedules here.
For this one day in Venice journey, we are heading to Burano, so we’ll be taking ferry number 14 at pier A, which is the one farthest away.
The Island Burano
Burano is about a 45-minute ride on the number 14 vaporetti from San Zaccaria. The island was historically a fishermen’s village who painted their houses in bright colors so that they could be easily identified from a distance even in dense fog. Today, these distinctive houses in vivid colors become a cultural identity of the community and highlight the island’s heritage and artistic pride. These vibrant and cheerful facades have also become every photographer’s paradise, as well as a tourist attraction.
There are many eateries on the island so if you have not had lunch yet, there are many options for you, from small bistro-like cafés to fine dining restaurants and everything in between. Burano is also known for fashionable lace clothing and accessories so please be sure to check them out in the several boutiques on the island. There are also other specialty shops as well as jewelers. Some of them sell colorful and vibrant glass jewelry brought in from the neighboring island of Murano.
While exploring the island, be mindful of the departure time of your return ferry and allow plenty of time to get to the pier.
TWO-DAY ALTERNATIVE: Consider a guided half-day island tour to Burano and Murano on a small group tour by private boat. It has a maximum group size of 22 people to ensure that every participant gets personal attention. Watch local craftsmen work at a glass-blowing factory and browse a vibrant collection of glass jewelry in Murano. Visit the Burano Lace Museum and also observe how locals make lace by hand. Go by comfortable private boat and forget about crowded ferries and their schedules! Tour duration is about 5 hours.
Afternoon Tea or Happy Hour
When you return from your island tour to San Marco, you’ll find the square becoming more festive in the late afternoon to early evening hours. This is the perfect time for afternoon tea or an ice-cold beer. There are typically several stages with live bands performing a variety of music at different parts of the square, each under the umbrella of a restaurant. The last time I was there I observed that there were four of them, and I chose to go to Caffé Lavena, but I can imagine that the other three venues would not be much different.
Prices are expensive – we are talking about €20 for a cup of coffee or a beer. But all drinks were served with chips (they were so good!), pretzels, and olives, so it’s quite classy. If you are like me, you are not really there for the drink, but to soak in every ounce of Venetian atmosphere, and to enjoy every memorable moment with the one you love in a most romantic setting.
Dinner Suggestions
If you want a most memorable and decent dinner, I highly recommend the Michelin restaurant Bistrot de Venise. My wife and I both enjoyed our meals which started out with a bowl of gazpacho, an Italian cold tomato soup that was tasty and refreshing on a hot summer day. My wife savored a dish of sautéed prawns served atop a bed of colorful rice blended with cereals and vegetables. The taste was heavenly, and the presentation was outstanding.
I opted for pasta and enjoyed a traditional Sicilian dish of pasta alla Norma made with eggplant cream, pecorino cheese, and sundried tomatoes. Last but not the least, their special recipe tiramisu made with dark chocolate, cocoa pastry and enhanced by a secret coffee sauce was out of this world.
Ristorante Trattoria Povoledo is a somewhat upscale pizzeria that serves a lot more than just pizzas, but in fact, a complete Italian menu. Zimino, or fish soup is one of the local specialties and Povoledo did it perfectly well. I think fish soup is probably a bad English translation, as I think seafood soup would be a more appropriate description. The soup was loaded with plenty of seafood including shrimps, clams, mussels, squids, and of course, fish. The soup was heavy and could be eaten as a meal by itself.
I had a steak, and it was flavorful, tender and juicy. I observed that their pizza menu was very extensive and there were plenty of options. Pizzas can be ordered gluten free and with optional buffalo mozzarella cheese.
After spending over 10 days in Italy, sometimes what you are craving for could be hard to find in Venice, and in this case, it’s a good old American burger. La Lista is a pub-like restaurant that offers a good selection of beers and an Italian menu full of authentic pizzas and pastas but with an American twist. They offer a good variety of burgers, all accompanied by the best French fries, which are actually fried small potato wedges. They are excellent and are must-haves if you are there. Other familiar items include onion rings, chicken nuggets, smokey BBQ rib eye steak, cheesecakes, and apple strudels to make you feel just like home. Homesick? La Lista comes to the rescue!
Conclusion
Venice is definitely one of the more difficult destinations to plan an exploration trip or vacation, given that it is very different from almost everywhere that you’ve been to. I know it could be quite intimidating. Just the fact that there are no cars anywhere is already a puzzling thought to begin with. I hope this one to two-day itinerary will be a helpful travel guide that answers most of your questions and provides a framework for you to build your own personalized plan to best fit your schedule, desired pace, and interests. More importantly, I hope this article inspires you to embark on this enriching journey that will reward you with some of the most magical moments and cherished memories of your life!
