How many days do you need in Venice?

The top 8 places in the centre take about 1 day at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 3 days for the top 20 places within walking distance. Add extra days for day trips (Padova botanical garden).

What are the top things to do in Venice?

Highlights: St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, Piazza San Marco, Rialto Bridge and Scuola Grande di San Rocco. The map has 31 things to do in total.

How do you get from the airport to Venice city centre?

Venice Marco Polo (VCE): ATVO or AVM bus ≈ 25 min · Treviso (TSF): Airport bus ≈ 1 h 10 min

Which MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in Venice?

According to the last known data there are 5 starred restaurants: Quadri (1 star), Oro Restaurant (1 star), Local (1 star), Il Ridotto (1 star), Venissa (1 star). Check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.

What is the emergency number in Venice?

Emergency: 112 (police 113, ambulance 118, fire 115).

Do you tip in Venice?

Bills often include a "coperto" cover charge; tipping isn't expected, rounding up is enough.

Things to Do in Venice (2026): Walking Itinerary & Map

Venice travel guide

31 things to do in Venice, where to stay, airport transfers, 5 MICHELIN-starred restaurants. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.

Top things to do in Venice

St Mark's Basilica — church in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 35 min)
Doge's Palace — palace in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
Piazza San Marco — square in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 15 min)
Rialto Bridge — one of four bridges spanning the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 15 min)
Scuola Grande di San Rocco — Renaissance confraternity house by the Frari whose walls and ceilings are covered in Tintoretto's vast canvases. (visit ≈ 60 min)
Santa Maria della Salute — church in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
Teatro La Fenice — opera house in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 20 min)
Gallerie dell'Accademia — Art museum in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
St Mark's Campanile — bell tower of St Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 40 min)
Ca' d'Oro — palace and art gallery in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari — church in Venice (visit ≈ 30 min)
Il Redentore — Roman Catholic church in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
Church of San Giorgio Maggiore — basilica on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice (visit ≈ 30 min)
Santi Giovanni e Paolo — church in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
Ca' Foscari — palace in Venice (visit ≈ 90 min)
Ponte dell'Accademia — bridge in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 15 min)
Ca' Rezzonico — palazzo and art museum in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
San Zaccaria — church in Venice (visit ≈ 30 min)
Ca' Pesaro — palace and museum in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
Ponte della Libertà — Arched bridge (visit ≈ 15 min)
Palazzo Grassi — palace and museum of arts on the Grand Canal, Venice (visit ≈ 120 min)
Peggy Guggenheim Collection — modern art museum on the Grand Canal in Venice (visit ≈ 120 min)
Santa Maria dei Miracoli, Venice — church in Cannaregio, Venice (visit ≈ 30 min)
Museo Correr — art museum (visit ≈ 120 min)
St Mark's Clocktower — clock tower on piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 120 min)
Fondaco dei Turchi — historical building in Venice (visit ≈ 120 min)
San Pietro di Castello — church in Venice (visit ≈ 35 min)
San Francesco della Vigna — Roman Catholic church in the Sestiere of Castello in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
Madonna dell'Orto — church in Venice, Italy (visit ≈ 30 min)
San Salvador — church in San Marco, Venice (visit ≈ 30 min)
Ca' Vendramin Calergi — 15th-century Venetian palace (visit ≈ 90 min)

1-day Venice walking itinerary

Starting point: San Marco. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.

Day 1 (≈ 4.6 km · 6,250 steps · 1 h 1 min on the way): St Mark's Basilica → Doge's Palace → Piazza San Marco → Teatro La Fenice → Santa Maria della Salute → Gallerie dell'Accademia → Scuola Grande di San Rocco → Rialto Bridge

Hidden gems and overlooked spots in Venice

Bridge of Sighs — Enclosed white-stone Baroque bridge linking the Doge's Palace to the old prisons. (visit ≈ 15 min)
Scala Contarini del Bovolo — Arched spiral staircase hidden in a small courtyard, with rooftop views from the top. (visit ≈ 30 min)
Libreria Acqua Alta — Second-hand bookshop opening onto a canal, with books stored in gondolas and bathtubs. (visit ≈ 20 min)
Squero di San Trovaso — Historic boatyard where gondolas are still built and repaired by hand; watch from across the canal. (visit ≈ 15 min)
Burano — Fishing island of brightly painted houses and lace-making, reached by vaporetto. (visit ≈ 180 min)
Murano — Island famed for centuries of glassmaking, with glass-blowing workshops and a glass museum. (visit ≈ 150 min)
Torcello — The lagoon's oldest settlement: a quiet green island with a Byzantine-mosaic cathedral. (visit ≈ 120 min)
Fondamenta della Misericordia — Cannaregio canal-side strip of bars and eateries where locals gather in the evening. (visit ≈ 45 min)
Venetian Arsenal — The republic's old shipyard with a lion-guarded gateway; hosts Biennale exhibitions. (visit ≈ 45 min)
Rialto Market — Centuries-old morning market on the San Polo side of the bridge, with fish and vegetable stalls. (visit ≈ 40 min)
Giudecca — Quiet, local island across from the Zattere, with a waterfront walk and views back to San Marco. (visit ≈ 120 min)
Palazzo Fortuny — Designer Mariano Fortuny's Gothic palazzo, with his fabrics, lamps and dim studio halls. (visit ≈ 45 min)
Giardini della Biennale — Tree-lined gardens in Castello holding the national pavilions; a quiet stroll outside Biennale season too. (visit ≈ 60 min)

Where to stay in Venice

San Marco: St Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace on your doorstep; the busiest and priciest area.
Cannaregio: Canal-side local life and eateries; close to the station.
Dorsoduro: A calm, artsy district near the Accademia and the Guggenheim.
Castello: Local lanes running to the Biennale gardens; away from the crowds.
San Polo / Rialto: Home to the Rialto market and bridge; central and lively.
Lido: A calm island with beaches and wide streets; ≈ 15 min to the centre by vaporetto.

Getting from the airport to Venice

Venice Marco Polo (VCE): ATVO or AVM bus ≈ 25 min
Treviso (TSF): Airport bus ≈ 1 h 10 min

Getting around

There are no cars; you walk or take the vaporetto (water bus). For a few days, a multi-day vaporetto pass is worth it.

Classic places to eat

Cantina Do Mori: A centuries-old bacaro near Rialto; cicchetti and wine.
All'Arco: A tiny cicchetti bar by the Rialto market.
Trattoria alla Madonna: Fish and seafood since 1954 in a traditional dining room.
Antiche Carampane: A hidden-away osteria famous for seafood.
Caffè Florian: On St Mark’s Square since 1720; one of Europe’s oldest cafés.
Harry's Bar: The legendary bar where the Bellini was born.
Pasticceria Tonolo: An old pastry shop loved by locals; frittelle and cream pastries.
Gelateria Nico: On the Zattere since 1937; famous for its gianduiotto.

MICHELIN-starred restaurants

Last known stars; check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.

Quadri — 1 MICHELIN star, Creative Venetian
Oro Restaurant — 1 MICHELIN star, Modern Venetian
Local — 1 MICHELIN star, Modern Venetian
Il Ridotto — 1 MICHELIN star, Modern Italian
Venissa — 1 MICHELIN star, Lagoon cuisine

Romantic views

Accademia Bridge (Sunset): The finest view of the Grand Canal and the Salute basilica.
Rialto Bridge (Early morning): The Grand Canal’s most famous bridge; quiet early in the day.
Zattere (Sunset): A long, sunny quay along the Giudecca Canal.
San Giorgio Maggiore (Afternoon): Look across to St Mark’s from the bell tower.

Football stadiums in Venice

Stadio Pierluigi Penzo: Home of Venezia F.C.

Day trips

Padova botanical garden — 36 km from the centre

Good to know before visiting Venice

Fine: Carving or damaging monuments can bring heavy fines and prosecution.
Fine: Buying counterfeit goods from street sellers can get the buyer fined too.
Fine: Taking sand, pebbles or shells from beaches is banned, notably in Sardinia.
Fine: Validate bus and tram tickets as soon as you board; unvalidated tickets are fined.
Fine: Driving into historic-centre ZTL zones without a permit is caught on camera and fined.
Warning: Validate paper regional train tickets at the platform machines; digital tickets are time-bound.

Extra rules for Venice

Fine: Sitting to eat on bridges, steps and monuments is banned and fined.
Fine: Swimming in canals, cycling and feeding pigeons in St Mark's Square are banned.
Fine: Walking around in swimwear or shirtless is fined.
Warning: On set days day-trippers must pay the Access Fee; overnight guests are exempt but must register.

Emergency: 112 (police 113, ambulance 118, fire 115)
Plugs: C/F/L, 230V
Tap water: Tap water is safe; in Rome you can refill at the "nasoni" street fountains.
Tipping: Bills often include a "coperto" cover charge; tipping isn't expected, rounding up is enough.

Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Italy, Turismo Roma — Trevi Fountain entry, Wikivoyage — Italy, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10

Venice travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Venice?: The top 8 places in the centre take about 1 day at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 3 days for the top 20 places within walking distance. Add extra days for day trips (Padova botanical garden).
What are the top things to do in Venice?: Highlights: St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, Piazza San Marco, Rialto Bridge and Scuola Grande di San Rocco. The map has 31 things to do in total.
Where to stay in Venice?: San Marco: St Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace on your doorstep; the busiest and priciest area. Other options: Cannaregio, Dorsoduro, Castello, San Polo / Rialto and Lido.
How do you get from the airport to Venice city centre?: Venice Marco Polo (VCE): ATVO or AVM bus ≈ 25 min · Treviso (TSF): Airport bus ≈ 1 h 10 min
How do you get around Venice?: There are no cars; you walk or take the vaporetto (water bus). For a few days, a multi-day vaporetto pass is worth it.
Which MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in Venice?: According to the last known data there are 5 starred restaurants: Quadri (1 star), Oro Restaurant (1 star), Local (1 star), Il Ridotto (1 star), Venissa (1 star). Check the MICHELIN Guide before you go.
What is the emergency number in Venice?: Emergency: 112 (police 113, ambulance 118, fire 115).
Do you tip in Venice?: Bills often include a "coperto" cover charge; tipping isn't expected, rounding up is enough.

Nearby cities

Verona · Bologna · San Marino · Ljubljana · Florence · Innsbruck · Milan · Pisa

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