If you only have 2 days in Veniceyou probably want to know what to do.
Fortunately, it's possible to see many of the city's sights in a short space of time.
Follow me in this 2-day guide to Venice!
2 days in Venice: article summary
- What to do in Venice in 2 days: Saint Mark's Square
- Visit Saint Mark's Basilica
- What to do in Venice in 2 days: Doge's Palace
- See the canals of Venice
- What to do on your second day in Venice
- Visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection
- What to do in Venice in 2 days: visit La Fenice theater
- The Basilica of Santa Maria Della Salute
- Ponte dell'Accademia
- Rialto Bridge
- Take a gondola ride
What to do in Venice in 2 days: Saint Mark's Square
Visit place Saint-Marc is Venice's main public square. La Saint Mark's Basilica and the Campanile are located at the eastern end of the square. The rest of the square is lined with arcades, which were once the homes and offices of officers in the days of the Venetian Republic. Today, the arcades house stores and restaurants.
One of the most interesting sights in Piazza San Marco is the Torre dell'Orologio (Clock Tower). This clock and its tower date back to the 15th century.
St. Mark's Basilica is even older, dating back to the 9th century AD. Over the course of eight centuries, mosaics were added to the cathedral's interior, along with treasures from the Crusades. The Pala d'Oro is a gold-covered Byzantine altarpiece dotted with nearly 2,000 precious stones.
Visit Saint Mark's Basilica
This cathedral is one of Venice's main attractions. The queues to get in are incredibly long, but you can reserve a ticket in advance. online in advance to avoid queues.
Saint Mark's Basilica opens at 9.30 a.m. except on Sundays, when it opens at 2 p.m. I recommend queuing at 9 a.m. or earlier to minimize your wait, if you plan to buy your ticket on the spot.
What to do in Venice in 2 days: Doge's Palace
Visit Doge's Palace is a palace built in the Venetian Gothic style. For centuries, the building served as the Doge's residence, the seat of government and the palace of justice. Now it's a museum.
On your visit to the Doge's Palace, you'll cross the Bridge of Sighs. From this window, prisoners on their way to execution had one last view of the city.
The Doge's Palace is located next to St. Mark's Basilica. Again, expect long queues here.
See the canals of Venice
For the rest of the day, you're free to explore the canals of Venice.
Strolling the canals is one of the best things to do in Venice, and there are several ways to do it. You can either stroll the canals on your own, or take a guided walking tour.
To finish your day, I recommend staying east of the Grand Canal and exploring San Marco, Castello and Cannaregio.
Start at Riva degli Schiavoni, a wide promenade running alongside the Venetian lagoon. As you cross Ponte della Paglia, look out over the canal for the iconic view of the Bridge of Sighs. Continuing east along the promenade, you'll pass the Hotel Danieli and, on your right, a magnificent view of the canal.
Another remarkable place in visit is Libreria Acqua Alta. Stacks of books rise up in tubs and a gondola to protect them from flooding. It's a sight to behold!
While strolling through Venice, go shopping, have a glass of wine or an aperitif in a café, nibble cicchetti or rent a gondola.
What to do on your second day in Venice
Now that you've seen most of the city, you'll need to fine-tune your visit. I recommend turning to museums and unique experiences on the water!
Visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection
This museum of modern art is located in the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, an 18th-century palace. It contains modern art by Picasso, Dalí, Miró and Kandinsky, collected by American heiress Peggy Guggenheim.
You can visit 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
Count on 16 € per person to enjoy this exceptional place!
What to do in Venice in 2 days: visit La Fenice theater
This opera house is one of the most famous and historic in the world. The theater has been destroyed by fire three times, most recently in 1996. It reopened in December 2003, truly earning its name of "Phoenix"because it continually rises from the ashes.
The theater is open to visitors every day. Your admission fee includes the audio tour.
The Basilica of Santa Maria Della Salute
The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute is located on the Grand Canal. From Ponte dell'AccademiaThis baroque cathedral is one of the main buildings to be seen. If you'd like to find out more about this monument, I suggest you visit read the article I wrote on the subject.
After your visit, walk to the Ponte dell'Accademia.
Ponte dell'Accademia
From Ponte dell'Accademia, you have one of the best views of the Grand Canal. This old wooden bridge isn't one of the city's most beautiful, but it's one of the best. the view from here is magnificent.
Look east along the Grand Canal. You'll see the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, a 400-year-old church and famous Venetian monument. This bridge is also a great place to watch gondolas, water buses and cabs go up and down the Grand Canal. Grand Canal.
Rialto Bridge
Four bridges span the Grand Canal, and this is the oldest. Originally built in 1173, it has undergone numerous reconstructions. The current bridge was completed in 1591.
Visit Rialto bridge is a covered footbridge lined with stores. Visiting this bridge is one of the best things to do in Venice.
I particularly like the views from this bridge.
Take a gondola ride
It's a good time to take a gondola ride in Venice. You'll find plenty of options on the Grand Canal next to the Rialto Bridge. It's usually a popular place to rent a gondola, expect at least a 5-minute wait.
How much does a gondola ride cost?
The City of Venice sets the rate at 80 € per 40 minutes (€100 after 7 p.m.), but that doesn't mean that's the rate you'll get. You'll need to negotiate with your gondolier before you get on. Make sure you agree on the price and duration of your trip before you get on the gondola. gondola.
It couldn't be easier to visit Venice in 2 days. During your stay, you can also take advantage of restaurants as well as quiet nights in the hotels. of the city. What an unforgettable vacation!