Venice in 2 days: day-by-day itinerary
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 7 of 11 free; 4 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 16:10 each day
- Start and finish
- Bridge of Sighs → Gallerie dell'Accademia
- On foot
- ≈ 57 min in total
- Transport
- none — all on foot
- Lunch
- around 12:51
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn. The Guggenheim closes on Tuesdays.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Venice09:30–16:07 · 6 places · 6 h 40 min
Bridge of Sighs
· 15 min · Free
- 3 min on foot
St Mark's Basilica
· 1 h · Paid
- 3 min on foot
Doge's Palace
· 2 h · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 3 min on foot
Piazza San Marco
· 30 min · Free
- 8 min on foot
Rialto Bridge
· 20 min · Free
- 15 min on foot
Grand Canal
· 1 h · Free
Day 2 · Venice09:30–16:10 · 5 places · 6 h 40 min
San Giorgio Maggiore
· 1 h · Free
- 14 min on foot
Santa Maria della Salute
· 30 min · Free
- 4 min on foot
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
· 1 h 30 min · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 4 min on foot
Accademia Bridge
· 15 min · Free
- 3 min on foot
Gallerie dell'Accademia
· 2 h · Paid
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
7 of 11 are free; 4 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 2 | St Mark's Basilica | 57 | 1 h | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Doge's Palace | 50 | 2 h | Paid |
| 9 | Peggy Guggenheim Collection | 39 | 1 h 30 min | Paid |
| 11 | Gallerie dell'Accademia | 37 | 2 h | Paid |
| Other 7 places | 4 h | Free | ||
| Total | 10 h 20 min | 7 of 11 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Bridge of Sighs. The famous enclosed white-stone bridge. The best outside view is from Ponte della Paglia on the Riva degli Schiavoni.
- 2
St Mark's Basilica. 8,000 m² of golden mosaics. Timed ticket; the Pala d'Oro and the horses' terrace cost extra. Cover up, no backpacks.
- 3
Doge's Palace. The Golden Staircase, the Great Council Hall and the walk across the Bridge of Sighs. About two hours on the St Mark's museums ticket.
- 4
Piazza San Marco. Venice's main square, with the basilica, Campanile and cafés with orchestras. Free; almost empty before 9am.
- 5
Rialto Bridge. The 16th-century stone bridge over the Grand Canal, lined with shops. Free; the fish market is beside it in the mornings.
- 6
Grand Canal. Venice's main street. Ride water bus no. 1 its full length, about 40 minutes from the station to San Marco.
Day 2
- 7
San Giorgio Maggiore. Palladio's church on the island facing San Marco; the bell-tower lift gives the best view of Venice. Water bus no. 2.
- 8
Santa Maria della Salute. The great domed Baroque basilica at the mouth of the Grand Canal. Free, with a paid sacristy holding Titians.
- 9
Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Picasso, Pollock, Magritte and Dalí in a canal-side palazzo with a garden and waterside terrace. Closed Tuesdays.
- 10
Accademia Bridge. The wooden bridge over the Grand Canal with the classic view of the Salute's dome.
- 11
Gallerie dell'Accademia. Venetian painting from Bellini to Titian and Veronese. Mornings only on Mondays.
Who this route is for
- A weekend in Venice
- Lovers of old masters and modern art
- A first overnight stay
- Murano and Burano: see the 3-day route
- The Lido beaches: a separate summer trip
Spring and autumn. The Guggenheim closes on Tuesdays.
What to see in Venice in 2 days
Day one is the essentials: San Marco, the Doge's Palace, the Rialto and the Grand Canal. Day two is Dorsoduro, on the south side of the Grand Canal, where the museums are close together and the crowds thinner. The wooden Accademia Bridge between them offers one of the best views of the canal.
Spend sunset on day two on San Giorgio Maggiore: water bus no. 2 goes there, and from the bell tower of Palladio's church you see St Mark's Square from the water.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, add something nearby, and the timings update.
Day two: Dorsoduro and San Giorgio
The Gallerie dell'Accademia is the museum of Venetian painting: Bellini, Giorgione, Carpaccio, Titian and Veronese. Five minutes away is the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in a palazzo on the Grand Canal, with Picasso, Pollock, Magritte and a terrace by the water. Further along the waterfront stands Santa Maria della Salute under its great dome.
Lunch around Campo Santa Margherita in Dorsoduro, full of student bars. From the Salute it's a short water-bus hop across the basin to San Giorgio.
More to see
With a third day, take in the islands of Murano and Burano, the Scuola Grande di San Rocco with its Tintorettos, or the Ca' d'Oro on the Grand Canal.
How to do it right
- A 48-hour water-bus pass beats single tickets.
- Skip Tuesday for the Guggenheim: it's closed.
- Churches require covered shoulders and knees, and large backpacks are often refused.
- Italy uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere; carry a little cash for cafés and markets. Buy museum tickets ahead on official sites, where closing days are listed too.
- Watch sunset from San Giorgio Maggiore, water bus no. 2.
Questions
What should I see in Venice in 2 days?
Day one: San Marco, the Doge's Palace, the Rialto and the Grand Canal. Day two: the Accademia, the Guggenheim, the Salute and San Giorgio Maggiore.
Are 2 days enough for Venice?
For the city, yes; the islands of Murano and Burano need another day.
Where's the best view of Venice?
From the bell tower of San Giorgio Maggiore, the St Mark's Campanile and the Accademia Bridge.
Where should I stay in Venice for 2 nights?
San Marco for convenience, Dorsoduro or Cannaregio for quiet, or Mestre on the mainland for price.
How do you get around Venice?
On foot and by water bus; a 48-hour pass is the best value.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- UNESCO: Venice and its Lagoon (no. 394)
