Venice in One day
When I was young one of my favorite books was Dr. Suess’s “Come Over to My House.” There was a page about a kid who lived in Venice who had to row a boat instead of ride in a car. My imagination was captured by that picture (pink water and all!), and I knew I had to visit Venice one day.
I went to Venice for the first time over 30 years ago, and it was a magical place. I felt like I had been picked up and put in my dream of what the city was. When we went this time I was in awe at the hordes of people and the fact that I couldn’t see all of the sites because I couldn’t get close to them!
We visited Italy for 10 days during Holy Week, which may have contributed to the crowds, but many shopkeepers told me that it was still the slow season! Cruise ships have contributed to the numbers that throng the streets, and the Internet has made certain places overcrowded. This is not to discourage you from going but to help you know what to expect.
Related: 2-day guide to Venice for couples.
Venice was still beautiful, and my kids thought it was magical. You can get lost in the alleyways and venture beyond the average tour group. It just takes a little more work.
The Best Things To See in Venice in One Day
You can cover a lot of ground in 1 day if you start early and are prepared to walk your feet off! The best thing you can do is have a game plan before you head there. (That’s where this post comes in!)
If you read up on the history of Venice it will also help you appreciate the things you are seeing and make your trip much more memorable for you and your kids!
Bridge of Sighs
This iconic bridge is said to be called the Bridge of Sighs because it connected the prison to the executioner’s chamber. Condemned men walked across the bridge and took a last look at the beauty of Venice and sighed. It’s strange that today it is considered one of the most romantic sites in Italy.
You will still sigh at the beauty of Venice, but hopefully, your fate is decidedly less gruesome.
Plan on 10 minutes.
Rialto Bridge
The second of the famous bridges in Venice. The Rialto bridge is the oldest bridge in Venice dating back to the 12th century. It has been updated many times since but has looked much the same since the 1500s. It is a shopping street today with jewelers lining the bridge on either side.
Plan on 30 minutes to an hour to window shop and take pictures.
San Marco Square
This is the main piazza in Venice and is also the largest. It gets its name from St. Mark’s church which takes up one entire wall of the square. Also on the square is the Doge’s palace (the rule of ancient Venice). Today the other parts of the square are lined with shops, cafes, restaurants, and other tourist attractions.
Plan on 30 minutes to explore the entire square.
Doge’s Palace
The Doge was the leader of the Venetian Republic from the early 700s through the late 1700s. He ruled one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world, as they were the trading post to the East. His palace is evidenced of the riches of Venice during the Renaissance. Although the Doge’s palace was originally built in the 9th century, most of what remains are the work of Renaissance Doges.
This is another place where you simply must have a skip-the-line ticket or you will spend your entire visit in line. We didn’t plan ahead for this trip and had to miss going inside.
Why you should take a gondola ride in Venice
I have been to Venice twice before and always wrote off a gondola ride as an unnecessary expense that was a little cheesy. But I will be the first to admit… I was wrong!!
We took a gondola ride through the small canals in Venice on this trip, and it was wonderful to see Venice from the water. I think that’s really the way it should be seen. It seemed uncrowded and fantastical looking at the city from the water.
A 40-minute gondola ride during the day will cost you 80 euros. We could have extended to an hour for another 20 euro, but we had a lot to cram into our day.
Tip for hiring a gondola:
If you want to ride on the Grand Canal in a gondola, hire your driver at San Marco Square or Rialto Bridge. We wanted a quieter ride through the city, so we hired one at one of the smaller bridges in the city.
Get lost and away from the crowds in Venice
This may not be a normal attraction, but I found that this is one of the things we enjoyed most about Venice. We left the area near San Marco and just walked and walked. Everywhere in Venice is very safe, so you can explore to your heart’s content.
We discovered solitary bridges, beautiful gardens, deserted squares, and a little taste of what Venice is truly like. We generally didn’t use a map, we just walked and walked. (We walked 8+ miles that day!)
If you have more time in Venice stop to see:
Murano
You will see tons of Venetian glass in all the shops in Venice. Most of it is made on the island of Murano. You can tour a factory where where glass is made. Most will offer a demonstration of some sort, but beware of pushy salespeople. There is also a nice museum of glass on Murano that goes into the history of Ventian glass. If you can arrange to have one day in Murano you will have tons of time to explore this beautiful area.
Burano
This quiet island is known for having colorful buildings and quiet streets. You won’t find big tourist attractions here, and that is partly what makes it such a great place to spend some time. Enjoy wandering down streets and grabbing a bite to eat.
What to eat in Venice
Dal Moro’s
Because we were trying to see Venice in one day we didn’t want to spend an hour or more eating lunch at a restaurant. We found this fast food pasta shop that makes its own pasta! We picked different sauces and were given a Chinese takeaway box full of delicious freshly-made pasta. I would recommend it if you are short on time and want a cheap meal.
There was quite a long line, but the kids loved coloring on the shop window with an erasable marker and the line went fast.
Gelato di Natura
This gelato is made with all natural ingredients and tastes heavenly! Its a little bit of a walk from the center of town but one you will be making a few times each day, if you are anything like my family!
If you love gelato, you will want to find out where to find the best gelato in Italy.
Where to Stay in Venice
If you are staying with kids in Venice:
- The rooms in this hotel are very good sized so that you can all spread out and get a little space after lots of traveling.
- The Hotel Olimpia is in easy walking distance from the Venice train station, so you won’t have to lug your baggage over cobblestone streets for long.
- The hotel is very near the Rialto Bridge and the Grand Canal so it is central to almost everything.
If you are on a romantic vacation in Venice:
- Take one look at the pictures of this gorgeous hotel and you will see why you want to stay here.
- The Gritti is right on the Grand Canal in Venice and has beautiful outdoor dining that overlooks the canal
- The Gritti is highly rated for customer service and customer experience.
Tips and Useful Info for Venice
- Be aware that no cars are allowed to be driven in Venice. You will need to take a bus, train or taxi to the island.
- From the bus or train station you will want to take a water bus to San Marco Square or Rialto Bridge. Those are both great places to begin your exploration.
- Start your day early in Venice. The water taxis (Vaporettas) get very busy as the day goes on but clears out again around 5 or 6 pm.
- You will walk a lot in Venice. Bring your best walking shoes.
- If you stay just outside of Venice on the mainland (ie. Marghera), you won’t have to lug your luggage around the streets of Venice. Public transportation is very convenient to and from the islands.
Here is another viewpoint on a trip to Venice.
Check out my other Italy content:
Things to do before your trip to Italy
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