3 Days in Venice – The ultimate guide for your first visit in Venice
Let's discover together Venice, the beautiful and romantic Italian city!
Venice does not need many words to be described, it is one of the most beautiful, fascinating and impressive places in the world. Who wouldn't recognize its winding canals, emblematic gondolas and elegant bridges in a city as unique and special as Venice?
It is a place that no traveler is allowed to miss, and if you are visiting the city of love for the very first time, then you came to the perfect place! In this article I will present you the complete guide for Venice: what to visit and what to do for 3 days in Venice so that you can have the most beautiful vacation. In addition, you will find other necessary organizational information, such as: how to get in Venice, where to stay or what to eat!
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About Venice
Venetia, or Venezia, as the Italians would say, is a unique city in northeastern Italy, built on a group of 118 small islands. The islands are separated by canals and connected by bridges, and as all the constructions are built on those pieces of land, it gives you the impression of a city built directly on the water.
The architecture of the place is, thus, downright impressive, and what amazes is the architectural style approached and remained constant over time. A walk along the Venetian canals is like going back in time, and every corner of Venice seems to tell you a story.
Venice is the capital of the Veneto province and has a population of approximately 250,000 inhabitants. The city and the Venetian lagoon have been declared a heritage of humanity by UNESCO.
Venice has approximately 398 bridges and 175 canals, totaling a total length of 38 km. The main canal of the city is the Grand Canal, or Canal Grande, which crosses Venice in the shape of an "S".
History of Venice
- Venice was one of Europe's greatest naval powers for centuries. The first attestation of the city is in the 5th century AD, when a flow of refugees abandoned the continent and took refuge here, to escape the threat of invasions.
- The name "Venezia" appeared for the first time in documents in the 10th century. The political leader was the doge, elected for life.
- Due to its geographical position, navigation became a basic practice for the population, thus favoring naval trade and making Venice a maritime power.
- At its peak, in the 18th century, Venice was one of the most elegant and refined cities in Europe, with influences in the field of arts, literature and architecture. The territory of the Veneto Republic included parts of today's Croatia (Istria, Dalmatia) or Montenegro (Kotor).
- In 1797, the French troops of Napoleon Bonaparte occupied the city, at which time the Republic of Venice ceased to exist.
- In 1866, Venice became part of the Kingdom of Italy.
What you need to know about Venice
- You cannot drive your car in Venice - if you travel by car, you will have to leave it in a parking lot at the entrance in Venice. The point you can reach by car is in Piazzale Roma. From here you are allowed to travel on foot or by boat/vaporetto.
- Starting from April 2024 an entrance feeis required in Venice, which must be paid by all tourists who visit the city between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. and who do not stay overnight in Venice. The fee is 5 euros/person and can be paid online. Tourists staying in Venice or children under 14 are excluded from the payment. But they need to download a QR code from here, which certifies the fact that they are excluded from paying the tourist tax.
- Accommodation in Venice or Mestre? Many tourists choose Mestre as a central point of departure, mainly due to the lower accommodation prices. Personally, we recommend accommodation in Venice. Leaving aside the price, Venice has a special charm in the evening, when most tourists leave the city, it becomes emptier, quieter, and it is a real pleasure to walk quietly on the Venetian canals. But it remains, in the end, the decision of everyone what will choose: accommodation in the center of Venice, with all its advantages, or savings in accommodation in Mestre, but with more time and monet spent on the roads and on transport to the center of Venice.
- Floods - even though, more recently, the Venetians have built a modern anti-flood system, until recently they often faced high water levels, which led to frequent flooding of the city. On the hi!tide Venice application you can check the water level and the weather forecasts, to make sure that you will not have any aquatic surprises. Or, in the worst case, be prepared with rubber boots!
How to get to Venice
I recommend you to read the following article to find out how you can get to Venice from the two airports that serve this city, Marco Polo and Treviso: How to get there and how to get around in Venice - More than 6 Transport Options.
How to get around in Venice
Vaporetto are considered the buses of Venice, they are the means of public water transport that run in Venice and throughout the Venetian Lagoon.
The vaporetto boats belong to the ACTV company. Below I leave you two links with the map and all the transport lines in Venice.
Some important lines that you should know about are:
- Line 1 – runs along the Grand Canal, and is the most frequented vaporetto, which runs very often, every few minutes. It is the main vaporetto used by tourists, both as a means of travel, as it connects Piazzale Roma, the entry point to Venice, with Ponte Rialto or Piazza San Marco, but also as a tourist vaporetto, because it gives you the chance to admire from the board the entire Grand Canal
- Line 4.1 – connects Piazza San Marco with the island of Murano
- Line 12 – connects the island of Murano with the island of Burano or Torcello
- Line 14 – connects the island of Burano with Piazza San Marco, Venice
How much does it cost to travel by vaporetto
A vaporetto travel ticket costs 9.5 euros, and you can buy it from any stations, or online, on the website veneziaunica.it or GetYourGuide.
If you know that you will use this means of transport more often, then it is more advantageous to have a ticket pass of 24, 48 or 72 hours, depending on the time spent in Venice. In addition to the vaporetto, you also have local terestrial transport included, such as buses from Mestre or from the Lido island (transport from Marco Polo airport is not included).
The vaporetto prices are:
- Ticket for a 75-minute ride – 9.5 euro
- 1-Day pass – 25 euro
- 2-Day pass – 35 euro
- 3-Day pass – 45 euro
- 7-Day pass – 65 euro
Don't forget to mark the ticket on the pier, before boarding on the vaporetto!
If you are not sure what kind of vaporetto ticket to buy, whether a single-trip ticket or a passfor several days, think in advance how much you plan to use the vaporetto in a single day.
If you want to get from Piazzale Roma to the center of Venice, then it is more advantageous to buy only a single ticket. However, if you plan to visit the surrounding islands as well, such as Murano or Burano, with a day pass you get better value for money.
Do not hesitate to make a full tour with vaporetto no. 1, along the Grand Canal! It is much more efficient to use this means of transport than to rent a private boat, as it will take you along the entire canal. And for a more spectacular view, go to the end of the boat, where you will have an unobstructed view of Venice!
City passes in Venice
There is also a city pass in Venice, with transport included for 1, 2 or 3 days and entrances to certain museums or churches, such as the Doge's Palace, the Glass Museum in Murano or the Lace Museum in Burano.
Prices start from 52.90 euros / day, or 77.90 euros / day with transport included. For 2 days with transport included you will have to pay 87.90 euros, 97.90 euros for 3 days or 117.90 euros for 7 days.
My recommendation is to check in advance if it is worth purchasing this pass, considering the attractions included and what you want to visit. The entrance to San Marco Cathedral is not included in this pass, for example. You can buy the city pass directly from GetYourGuide.
What to do 3 days in Venice
Great, now that we have mentioned all the administrative aspects of your trip from Venice, let's see what we can visit here, and how we can divide our time spent on these islands in the most optimal way possible.
The itinerary proposed by us consists of spending 2 days in Venice, exploring the most beautiful and well-known tourist attractions, and we will leave one day for visiting two other spectacular and unique islands, Murano, the island of glass, and Burano, the island of colorful houses.
The map below comes to your aid, to be able to spot all the tourist places mentioned in the guide. Click on the symbol on the top left to access the list of tourist attractions divided by day.
Day 1 - Venice
On first day, I suggest you to discover the main sights in Venice, in the historical center and along the Grand Canal.
Piazza San Marco
Piazza San Marco is by far the most famous place in Venice, the central point and the place where you should start your visit to this wonderful city.
Piazza San Marco is the heart of Venice, it has a certain charm and perfect elegance, and a walk here is like a trip back in time. The square is surrounded by famous historical buildings, true architectural jewels, such as the Basilica of San Marco, Campanile di San Marco or the Doges' Palace.
Basilica di San Marco
Basilica di San Marco, or Saint Mark's Basilica, is the patriarchal cathedral of Venice and a true symbol of the city. It is an architectural masterpiece, which combines the Gothic style with Byzantine architecture, whose construction began in the 9th century.
I recommend you not to miss a visit inside this basilica. There are several types of tickets, with which you can visit only the interior of the church, or you can also visit the museum or the Pala d'Oro (the altar gilded with precious stones, from the 10th century).
Entrance to the church is 3 euros, if you buy your ticket on the spot, or 6 euros, if you buy it online. Just be careful, if you haven't bought tickets online and want to buy them on the spot, expect long queues.
If you want to join a guided tour, this tour through which you visit the interior of the basilica and the Doge's Palace can be an option: Venice: Guided Tour of St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace.
Campanile di San Marco
The Campanile of San Marco is the bell tower of the Basilica of San Marco, also located in Piazza San Marco. The tower is 98 meters high, was built in the 16th century, and is currently one of the symbols of Venice, easily visible from afar, from the Grand Canal.
The tower can be visited, which I recommend you to do, due the view over Venice that you have from the height.
An entrance ticket costs 10 euros, bought on the spot, with the risk of waiting in lines at the ticket counter, or 12 euros online, from here.
Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace)
The Doge's Palace is a magnificent building in Piazza San Marco, an architectural masterpiece founded in the 9th century and reached its current form after several reconstructions and restructurings.
The palace is the former seat of the doges, once called the elected leaders of the Venetian state.
If you are passionate about history, then don't miss a visit to the Doges' Palace. The ticket is, by the way, not very cheap:
- 30 euros bought on the spot
- 30 euros online, up to 30 days before the visit: Venice: Doge’s Palace Reserved Entry Ticket
- 25 euros if you buy tickets online at least one month in advance.
If you want to join a guided tour, this tour through which you visit the interior of the Doge's Palace and the Basilica of San Marco can be an option: Venice: Guided Tour of St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace.
The Bridge of Sighs
An emblematic and legendary place of Venice is the Bridge of Sighs. It connects the Doge's Palace with the former Venetian prison, separated by a canal.
The bridge has a legend thanks to which it has become so well known and sought after by tourists: it is said that the name of the bridge comes from the sighs of the condemned to death who passed from the Doge's Palace to the prison - they would have always sobbed seeing Venice for the very last time from the small windows of the attic.
The palace and the prison can be visited with the same entry ticket, which costs 30 euros: Venice: Doge’s Palace Reserved Entry Ticket.
From Piazza San Marco, I recommend you head towards the next important tourist landmark in Venice, namely the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto).
You can get here by vaporetto no. 1, but I recommend the more beautiful option, namely on foot, walking among the beautiful canals of Venice. You could follow the signs, but better to just get lost among the many streets, bridges and canals. Stop to drink a cappuccino or eat a gelato, discover the Venetian charm and be happy that you have arrived in one of the most wonderful and unique cities in the world!
Rialto Bridge
Rialto Bridge is a true emblem of Venice! One of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal, Ponte di Rialto enchants and fascinates visitors with its architecture and beauty.
It is a real tourist area here, with numerous shops, restaurants and gondolas. Including on the bridge you will find rows of shops from local merchants.
T Fondaco Rooftop Terrace
Around the Rialto Bridge you have the opportunity to climb on the roof of a building, from where you can admire the beautiful panorama of Venice and the Grand Canal.
This building is called T Fondaco, which, by the way, is a shopping center. You can visit the terrace on the roof, the entrance is free, but you need to reserve your place at least two weeks in advance, from here.
Grand Canal
Canal Grande is one of the main naval corridors of Venice, and crosses the city through its middle, in the shape of an S.
There are 4 bridges over the Grand Canal, which are also the most impressive bridges in Venice: Ponte di Rialto, Ponte dell'Academia, Ponte degli Sagli and the most modern and newly built: Ponte della Costituzione.
A walk along the Grand Canal is absolutely mandatory if you come to Venice. The landscapes of the city are absolutely gorgeous seen from the water, with the typical Venetian buildings, the emblematic bridges or the well-known Piazza San Marco.
You can choose to cross the Grand Canal with a gondola or a private boat, but my recommendation is to use the vaporetto, Venice's water buses. Line 1 runs from one end of the Grand Canal to the other, and the price of a one-way ticket is 9.5 euros: Venice: Waterbus and Mainland Bus Pass.
Gondola ride
An authentic experience in Venice is, by far, the gondola ride. It is an unique activity, which many tourists try here. But it is, at the same time, not a very cheap activity, its price starting from 90 euros/30 minutes/gondola.
Up to 5 people can go up in a gondola, so the costs of the ride can be shared.
I recommend, however, to avoid the gondoliers in very touristic areas, and to try to negotiate with them.
Tips: An alternative to the gondola ride through the canals of Venice is to use these boats as a means of transport between the banks of the Grand Canal. You will have the same experience of riding a gondola, but at a much lower price, of only 2 euros. Search on Google Maps for “Gondola Traghetto”, and there you will find the crossing points of the Grand Canal with the gondola.
Scala Contarini del Bovolo
An impressive building in Venice is the Contarini del Bovolo Palace, built in the 15th century, famous for its spiral staircase.
It is a very visited and instagrammable tourist attraction of Venice, and the price of an entrance ticket, to climb the stairs, is 8 euros. The ticket can be bought also online, from the official site or from GetYourGuide.
Teatro la Fenice
La Fenice Theater is the main theater in Venice, built in the 18th century, with an absolutely fascinating interior architecture, which transports you to a much more romantic and elegant period than the current one.
You can visit the interior of this building even outside the programs of theater or opera performances, and an entrance ticket costs 12 euros: Venice: Entrance ticket to La Fenice Opera with audio guide..
Day 2 – Murano and Burano islands
For the next day, I propose an exceptional day trip, through which you can visit the splendid islands around Venice.
And I am referring here to the islands of Murano and Burano, two beautiful, special islands that you must not miss!
For this day, I recommend you to buy a day pass for the vaporetto, because you will be walking a lot with Venice's vaporettos! A day pass costs 25 euros or 35 euros for 2 days.
You can visit the two islands as part of an organized tour: From Venice: Murano and Burano Half-Day Island Tour by Boat. Or you can combine it with a third island, Torcello: Venice: Burano, Torcello & Murano Boat Tour w/Glassblowing.
Murano Island
How many of you are familiar with the term Murano glass? Well, Murano glass comes from... the island of Murano, that's right!
Murano glass is a famous type of artisanal glass, produced on the island of Murano, in the Venetian lagoon. The glass became famous due to its quality, style and production technique.
Glass production on this island dates back to the 13th century, when Venetian glassmakers were moved here to reduce the risk of fires in the city of Venice and to protect the secrets of the glassmaking technique.
Today, Murano glass is appreciated by art lovers, but also by simple tourists, who always leave here with a souvenir in the form of a glass object, be it a jewel, a glass or an ornament for the home.
Leaving aside the reputation and name of the island of glass, Murano is also worth visiting due to its beauty. The island conveys an atmosphere of tranquility and refinement and offers you a journey in the heart of a place full of charm.
How to get from Venice to Murano Island
- Line 3: departs from Piazzale Roma, Venice
- Line 4.1: goes around Venice and reaches the island of Murano from Piazza San Marco (San Marco S. Zaccaria station)
- Line 4.2: the same route as 4.1, but in the opposite direction
- Line 7: season line, departs from San Marco S. Zaccaria towards Murano
- Line 12: departs from the west of Venice, Fondamente Nove station, towards the islands of Murano and Burano
- Line 13: departs from the west of Venice, Fondamente Nove station, towards Murano Island
- Line N: night line
Burano Island
After exploring the island of Murano, the next stop is Burano Island.
From the island of Murano, you board the vaporreto number 12, and in an hour you will arrive in a truly magical and charming land!
I admit, the island of Burano was our favorite place from this trip to Venice! We had not seen for a long time a happier and more colorful place, that conveyed such a good mood.
It is the island of colorful houses full of life, where every street and canal is an explosion of colors that get stronger and stronger. A feeling of happiness will envelop you from the very first moment you step on the island.
If Murano is called the island of glass, Burano, on the other hand, is known for its tradition in the art of lace.
Get lost in the canals of the island and discover its story, admire its beauty and enjoy the warmth and joy emanating from these colorful houses.
The reason why all these houses are so cheerfully colored has a practical purpose behind it: Burano was in the past a fisherman's island, often covered by fog. The fishermen, in order to be able to easily recognize their house when they returned home, resorted to these practices of painting their house in stronger shades.
After you have explored this island, it is time to go back to Venice. For this, I recommend you take vaporetto number 14, to Piazza San Marco.
How to get from Venice to Burano Island
- Line 12: departs from the west of Venice, Fondamente Nove station, towards the islands of Murano and Burano
- Line 14: connects the island of Burano with Piazza San Marco, Venice
- Line N: night line
Day 3 - Venice
For the third day, I invite you to quickly visit another beautiful island near Venice, and then discover other well-known tourist attractions in Venice.
Lido Island
After visiting the islands of Murano and Burano the day before, today you can spend the first part of the day on the island of Lido, known as the beach of the Venetians.
The island of Lido is, in fact, the coast of Venice. It is a long strip of land that forms a barrier between the Venetian lagoon and the Adriatic Sea.
Lido is a destination for tourists and locals due to its beach. If you arrive in Venice and want to enjoy the sea and the sun, you must come here!
From Venice you can quickly get here with vaporetto number 1. I recommend a 2-day pass, for 35 euros, with which you can visit all 3 islands: Murano, Burano and Lido.
Riva degli Schiavoni
From the island of Lido you return to Venice, with vaporetto no. 1, to San Marco S. Zaccaria station. From here, you will go on Riva degli Schiavoni promenade, in the opposite direction of San Marco square.
Riva degli Schiavoni is a wonderful promenade in Venice, along the southern shore of Venice. It is a very lively place, with many terraces, restaurants, hotels, with many gondoliers, souvenir sellers or street artists.
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi
I recommend you go for a walk along the Riva degli Schiavoni promenade, until you reach Via Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi is one of the most vibrant streets in Venice, with an atmosphere that is more like that of a continental European city. It is one of the widest streets in Venice, which makes it stand out in a city with such narrow canals and streets.
On this street you will find numerous restaurants and shops, being a place frequented more by locals than by tourists.
Arsenale di Venezia
Return to the center of Venice by Arsenale di Venezia, one of the most important shipyards and military centers from the time of the Venetian Republic.
The complex cannot be visited, part of the Arsenal is used by the Italian Navy, but some historical areas are open to the public during special events, such as the Biennale.
Libreria Acqua Alta
If you are in the area, you can take a look at the most famous bookstore in Venice!
Libreria Acqua Alta is more Instagrammable than historical, an interesting bookstore from an aesthetic point of view, thanks to the way the books are placed in the gondola or in the tub to protect them from possible floods.
Entrance to the library is free. The outside courtyard, with steps made of books and overlooking the canal, is the reason why this place has become so famous on social media.
Ponte dell’Accademia
I recommend you then go back to the San Marco square area, and then to the Ponte dell’Accademia, one of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal. It is an iconic bridge of Venice, from 1854, which connects the San Marco square area with the Gallerie dell'Academia art museum and the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute.
Squero di San Trovaso
If you want to see a particular place, then go to Squero di San Trovaso! It is a gondola construction site, where the old tradition of building and maintaining gondolas is still preserved. If you want to see people at work, using the technique of building or repairing these watercrafts, don't miss this place!
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is one of the most beautiful churches in Venice, truly impressive and one of the landmarks of the city, due to its position at the end of the Grand Canal.
Entrance to the church is free.
Other touristic places - optional
I have also prepared an optional list of tourist activities for you, in case you have more time at your disposal, or you are passionate about a certain cultural segment.
- Gallerie dell’Accademia
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection
- Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca’ d’Oro
- Opera sau concerte
Where to stay in Venice
Accommodation in Venice
If you want to visit Venice, expect higher prices for accommodation in the city center. Venice is recognized as one of the locations with the most expensive accommodations in Italy, and maybe even in Europe. But the feeling you have when you come here, being able to walk and enjoy these unique sights, will be worth every money spent.
Some well-rated accommodations in Venice with good reviews, with at least an 8 rating on Booking.com, would be:
- B&B Le Marie – from 150 euros/night
- Locanda Cavanella – from 150 euros/night
- Blu Suite - from 170 euros/night in season, from 99 euros/night in off-season
- Luxury Venetian Rooms – from 230 euros/night in season, from 140 euros/night in off-season
We stayed at Locanda Barbarigo, a very nice and authentic hotel in the center of Venice, 5 minutes away from San Marco Square and close to the Grand Canal and the Alilaguna boat station. In March 2024, we paid 110 euros per night for a double room.
Accommodation in Mestre
A cheaper accommodation option for your visit to Venice can be in Mestre, the closest continental city to Venice.
Accommodations are considerably cheaper, and from here you can reach Venice relatively quickly with public transport.
Some well-rated accommodations in Mestre, with ratings above 8 on Booking.com are:
- Hotel Garibaldi – from 90 euros/night
- Hotel Aurora – from 100 euros/night
- Bed and breakfast Venice Friends – from 140 euros/night
Read in this article how you can get from Mestre to Venice: How to get there and how to get around in Venice - More than 6 Transport Options.
Where to eat in Venice
You have arrived in Italy! So, your menu these days should consist mainly of pizza, pasta, gelato and other delicacies of Italian cuisine.
Some well-rated restaurants in Venice are the following:
But, if you have arrived at a certain location, it is enough to check the reviews on Google Maps or TripAdvisor of a certain restaurant and you will definitely not make any mistakes.
However, a rule in Venice is to avoid restaurants in very popular and touristic areas, such as, for example, those around St. Mark's Square.
And if you want to serve a meal in a certain restaurant, I recommend you make a reservation in advance.
How much did our vacation in Venice cost
- Plane: Cluj-Napoca – Marco Polo Airport – 60 euros/person
- Accommodation: 4 nights accommodation at Locanda Barbarigo for 440 euros (220 euros/person)
- Local transport
- Airport - Venice Center, with Alilaguna: 15 euros/person
- 2-Day pass for vaporreto – 35 euros/person
- Piazzale Roma - Airport by Shuttle Bus: 10 euros/person
- Entry tickets:
- San Marco Basilica: 3 euros/person
- Campanile di San Marco: 10 euros/person
- The Doge's Palace: 30 euros/person
- Scala Contarini del Bovolo: 8 euros/person
- Teatro La Fenice: 12 euros/person
3 days in Venice cost us, without meals or other purchases, approximately 400 euros / person, prices valid for March 2024. A meal in the city for 2 people cost somewhere between 30-40 euros.
Is it much? Is it little?
We are waiting for you to tell us in the comments!
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