A Day in Venice

Travel Guide

Nov 28

visited: oct 2022, March 2026

Impressive and iconic, Venice is one of those places that is incredibly unique and undeniably beautiful. It’s full of charming walkways, lively piazzas and over 150 canals for which the city is known — the very definition of a bucket list destination. With all of that said, I also found there to be a lack of local charm. You can tell that the tourists far outnumber the locals, and despite the crowds, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was walking through a ghost town.

Visiting for less than 24 hours, I felt satisfied. I came, I saw, and I was happy I did — there is nowhere else quite like Venice. Absolutely worth adding to your route, but it’s more “day trip” than “place to stay”.

For anyone mapping out their own visit, here’s what our day in the floating city looked like.

gondolas in the grand canal of venice — *The Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge*

  Disclaimer: This post is based on my personal experience. Always double-check local conditions and do your own research before travelling. Any locations or activities marked with an asterisk (*) are ones I haven’t personally visited yet, but they’re on my list for next time based on recommendations I trust.

Gondola Ride

Because how could you not? Plan to spend a €90 flat rate for a 30-minute tour during the day and €110 starting around sunset. Venture off the Grand Canal and into some of the side “streets” to get shorter wait times; with every ride taking thirty minutes, you’ll be waiting for a while if there’s a line.

If you’re hoping to save a few euros, consider teaming up with some other tourists. The price is per boat, not per person, so buddy up and split the cost!

Libreria Acqua Alta

Entering the Venetian Ghetto

Main Piazza in the Jewish Quarter

Libreria Acqua Alta

Known lovingly as “the most beautiful bookshop in the world,” Libreria Acqua Alta (High Water Bookshop in English) is true to its name. Due to the frequent floods in Venice, the shop uses all sorts of quirky methods to keep its merchandise dry and out of reach of the high water levels for which the shop is named. You’ll see books in old gondolas, bathtubs, and more, as well as a few local cats roaming amongst the stacks.

Venetian Ghetto

Spend some time walking around this beautiful and historical neighbourhood. It’s quieter here than a lot of the city, as far as tourists are concerned.

The Venetian Ghetto is thought to be the oldest in the world, dating back to the 1500s. Despite being unjustly confined, the Jewish people of Venice created a thriving community, still prominent today.

Rialto Bridge

Packed full of tourists — even in the off-season — the Rialto Bridge is the oldest bridge that crosses the Grand Canal. Often considered the most beautiful of the city’s bridges, the view of it stretching across the boat-filled canal is one of the most iconic shots of Venice.

Rialto Bridge in March

Piazza San Marco

Possibly one of the most famous squares in Italy, the piazza is huge and home to Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica. Both of these impressive buildings are open to the public for an admission fee.

If you want to grab a drink or a bite in the square, you might be paying a small fortune, but if people watching and listening to some live music is what you’re after, this is the place. My suggestion? Find a spot on a quieter canal, the prices are better and the atmosphere is less chaotic too!

Wander the Side Canals

After you’re done visiting the major sites, forget about Google Maps and just get a little lost! The canals twist and turn, the side streets are narrow and you might have to duck through tunnels, but the beauty of the quieter parts of the city is where the magic of Venice can be found.

  Pro-ish tip: Save yourself from hauling suitcases up and over endless bridges and through throngs of people by choosign to stay on the mainland. A place near the Venice Mestre train station is so much more convenient, and the trains run regularly throughout the day!