2 or 3-Day Itinerary in Venice

We suggest a few itineraries for discovering Venice over 2 or 3 days. As a complement, also see the article What to see in Venice?
Without giving a precise program, we suggest following a few main routes with key stops, to adapt as you wish according to your desires and circumstances.
There are two parameters to take into account: walking first, because to explore Venice you have to walk most of the time (the city being car-free), and then museum visits, which you may or may not prioritize depending on your tastes.

First day

Rialto / Saint Mark’s / Campo San Polo / Accademia Bridge / Punta della Dogana
Museums, visit: visit the basilica, and possibly another museum along the way depending on available time

• Assuming you arrive from the Santa Lucia train station, head toward the Rialto Bridge, walking through the sestiere of San Polo. No matter the route, you will already discover beautiful Venetian alleys and bridges. From the bridge, you can enjoy a beautiful perspective over the Grand Canal, and it is from the banks that you can best observe the ponte.
  

• Then head to Saint Mark’s Square, with the clock tower, the palaces, the campanile and of course the basilica.
  

• Visit the Basilica of Saint Mark. Since the wait can be long, it is better to get your ticket in advance.
  

• Stroll along the embankment (molo), crossing the Ponte della Paglia from where you can see the Bridge of Sighs.

• Return to Saint Mark’s Square, then head toward the sestiere of Dorsoduro, passing through:
  

  • The staircase of the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo

  • Optional visit: La Fenice theatre

  • Pass through Campo Sant’Angelo and Campo San Stefano

  • Cross the Accademia Bridge
    

• If you have enough time, you can visit one of the two museums in the area: the Accademia Gallery (painting from the 14th-18th century), or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (contemporary art from the early 20th century).

• Go as far as Punta Dogana, visiting the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute.
  

  
  
  

• To finish, we suggest heading to Campo Santa Margherita, where it is pleasant to have an aperitif, such as the ever-popular spritz.
  

Second day

Doge’s Palace / Arsenal / Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo / Ghetto
Suggested visits: Doge’s Palace / possibly another museum along the way

• Discover the Grand Canal by Vaporetto, as far as Saint Mark’s Square (line 1 or 2), knowing that you have to take it in the right direction (the other direction reaches Saint Mark’s by going around Venice from the outside).
  

• Visit the Doge’s Palace

• Optionally, go up to the top of the Campanile

• Then head toward the Arsenal, passing by the church of San Zaccaria, and the Campo Bandiera e Morto.
  

• Then head toward Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, passing through Santa Maria Formosa.

• Visit the Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo

• Reach the heart of the ghetto, passing through Santa Maria dei Miracoli, and Santa Maria dell’Orto

• Have an aperitif in the ghetto, or head to Campo San Polo
  

Third day

• Visit another museum/site in Venice: such as the Scuola Grande San Rocco, with the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, or why not the Correr Museum dedicated to the history of Venice, or also the Accademia Gallery or the Peggy Guggenheim Museum.
  

• Visit the two beautiful islands of the lagoon: Murano then Burano.

Links

• On the internet: en.wikipedia.org

Map