Venice isn’t a checklist city—it’s a feeling. In three days, you can move beyond the postcard version and find the soul of the Serenissima: quiet canals, world-changing art, floating markets, and unforgettable meals. With smart timing and insider stops, you’ll experience the Venice most visitors miss.
Pro tips:
- Bookmark this in your browser, you’ll want to circle back later. Trust me.
- Planning a trip to Venice? Check out our recommendations on where to stay by neighborhood!
All Venice Itineraries
Getting There & Around Venice
- Airport: Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) — about 20 minutes by water taxi or shuttle bus to the city center.
- Train: Venezia Santa Lucia Station — direct trains connect Venice to Florence, Milan, and Rome.
- Getting Around: Venice is a car-free maze. Get around on foot and by vaporetto (public water buses).
Pro Tip: Stay near San Marco, Rialto, or Accademia to cut down on walking time between sights.
Day 1: Flavors of Venice
☕ 8:30 am – Coffee at Torrefazione Cannaregio
📍Fondamenta dei Ormesini, 2804, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
Start your Venetian adventure with a rich espresso at one of the city’s oldest coffee roasters, tucked away in Cannaregio.
More recs: Best Restaurants Near Rialto Bridge
🕐 9:00 am – Rialto Bridge and Market Walk
📍Rialto Bridge, Sestiere San Polo, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
Catch the early buzz at the market while locals shop for seafood and fresh produce before the crowds arrive.
INTERESSANTE Fact: Venice’s Rialto Market has been operating since 1097, making it one of the oldest continuously running markets in Europe.
🕐 10:30 am – Explore San Polo and Santa Croce
📍San Polo District, Venice, Italy
Wander through quieter neighborhoods packed with artisan shops, charming campos, and glimpses of authentic daily life.
🍽️ 1:00 pm – Lunch at Trattoria alla Madonna
📍Calle della Madonna, 594, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
A classic seafood trattoria steps from the Rialto Bridge, beloved for their risotto di pesce and fried lagoon fish.
🍽️ 5:30 pm – Best Venice Food Tour
📍Meeting Point: Teatro Italia, Campiello de l’Anconeta
Taste your way through Venice’s best cicchetti and wine bars with a local guide—no gondola ride, just incredible flavors.
👉 Book the Best Venice Food Tour
INTERESSANTE Fact: Venetian cicchetti are often compared to Spanish tapas, but they developed independently from the city’s centuries of seafaring trade.
Day 2: Venice’s Golden Age and Hidden Beauty
☕ 8:30 am – Coffee at Caffè Brasilia
📍Salizada S. Giovanni Grisostomo, 5800, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
Fuel up for a big day with a quick espresso and pastry at this bustling café loved by locals.
More recs: Best Restaurants Near Rialto Bridge
🕐 9:00 am – Venice Day Tour: St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and Gondola Ride
📍Meeting Point: Piazza San Marco
Skip the lines and dive deep into Venice’s golden age. This expert-guided tour covers the awe-inspiring basilica, the political heart at the Doge’s Palace, and a serene gondola ride through hidden canals.
👉 Book the Venice Day Tour: St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace & Gondola Ride
INTERESSANTE Fact: Venice’s Doge’s Palace once operated its own private prison system—including the Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners glimpsed Venice one last time before being locked away.
🍽️ 12:30 pm – Lunch at Ristorante Antico Martini
📍Campo Teatro Fenice, 2007, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Elegant Venetian classics near La Fenice Theater, with a beautiful terrace for people-watching and a menu full of seafood treasures.
More recs: Best Restaurants Near St. Mark’s Square
🕐 2:00 pm – Visit Santa Maria della Salute and Dorsoduro Stroll
📍Dorsoduro District, Venice, Italy
Cross the Grand Canal and admire the striking baroque basilica built as a prayer for deliverance from the plague, then meander through the artsy Dorsoduro district.
🍸 6:00 pm – Aperitivo at Bar Longhi (Gritti Palace Hotel)
📍Campo Santa Maria del Giglio, 2467, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Splurge on a stylish spritz at Venice’s most glamorous Grand Canal terrace.
More recs: Best Restaurants in Dorsoduro
🍽️ 7:30 pm – Dinner at Taverna La Fenice
📍Campiello Fenice, 1939, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
A sophisticated yet cozy restaurant offering Venetian favorites with an intimate atmosphere near the opera house.
More recs: Best Restaurants Near St. Mark’s Square
Day 3: Artisan Islands and Farewell to Venice
☕ 8:30 am – Coffee at Rosa Salva
📍Sestiere di San Marco, 950, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Start your final day with a cappuccino and pastry at this historic pasticceria known for delicate sweets and strong coffee.
More recs: Best Restaurants Near St. Mark’s Square
🕐 9:00 am – Murano Glassblowing & Burano Lace-Making Tour
📍Meeting Point: Near St. Mark’s Square
Set sail to the artisan islands! Watch Murano’s master glassblowers at work, then explore Burano’s candy-colored streets and meet local lace makers preserving centuries of tradition.
👉 Book the Murano Glassblowing & Burano Lace-Making Tour
INTERESSANTE: Venice once forbade Murano’s glassmakers from leaving the islands to keep their techniques secret—defection was punishable by death.
🍽️ 12:30 pm – Lunch at Trattoria Al Gazzettino
📍Sotoportego de le Acque, 4997, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Back in the heart of Venice, dig into hearty Venetian classics just a few minutes from Rialto and San Marco.
More recs: Best Restaurants Near St. Mark’s Square
🕐 2:00 pm – Shopping in San Marco and Rialto Districts
Spend your afternoon treasure-hunting—Murano glass, handbound paper, Venetian masks, and artisan shoes line the narrow streets between Rialto and San Marco.
🍸 6:00 pm – Aperitivo at Osteria Al Squero
📍Dorsoduro, 943-944, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy
Enjoy a spritz and cicchetti at this lively canal-side spot across from Venice’s last working gondola boatyard.
More recs: Best Restaurants in Dorsoduro
🍽️ 7:30 pm – Final Dinner at Ai Mercanti
📍Corte Coppo, 4346/a, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
A modern twist on Venetian tradition, tucked into a hidden alley just minutes from the bustle of St. Mark’s.
Is It Worth It to Spend Three Days in Venice?
Absolutely. Three days let you truly experience Venice—its grandeur, its hidden corners, and its island artisans—without rushing. You’ll hit the icons and the tucked-away gems that most visitors miss.
Instead of snapping a few bridge photos and leaving, you’ll walk away feeling like you lived the city—watching glass being spun into art, eating seafood caught that morning, and wandering silent canals after sunset.
How Much Money Should You Budget for Three Days in Venice?
- Hotels: €150–€350 per night (mid-range to upscale)
- Meals: €20–€40 for casual lunch, €50–€100+ for a nice dinner
- Tours and Activities: €100–€300 total, depending on experiences
- Transportation: €7.50 per vaporetto ride (or buy a 3-day pass for around €40)
- Extras: Shopping, aperitivo, gelato, gondola rides
➡️ Average budget: Expect to spend around €700–€1,200 per person for a comfortable, memorable three-day stay (not including flights).
✔ Final Thoughts
There are plenty of ways to adjust this itinerary. Consider adding one of the tours below or chatting with our team to find the best fit for you.
Where To Stay in Venice
Venice has a rich cultural history and many iconic landmarks to explore. Plan where to stay by neighborhoods.
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