Visit Venice in 1 day: 7 must-sees not to miss

Follow all our adventures on Instagram by clicking here 🩵

What to see in Venice in 1 day? What to do?

• Sail along the Grand Canal aboard a vaporetto
• Admire the Doge's Palace (see ticket here) and the Bridge of Sighs
• Cross the famous Rialto Bridge
• Stroll across the iconic St Mark's Square, the emblem of Venice
• Visit the majestic St Mark's Basilica
• Taste a risotto al nero di seppia and sip a Spritz on a terrace
• Enjoy a romantic gondola ride
• Visit a glass factory in Murano (see ticket here) and explore Burano 
• Attend a Baroque music concert
• Visit the Rialto market
• Discover the art of making Venetian masks (see ticket here), a must during the Venice Carnival.

Visit Venice in 1 day on foot: the itinerary to follow

Here is the best route to see the main historic monuments in the centre:

Visit Venice: Top 7 Must-Sees

1. See the Rialto Market and Bridge

After a stop at the Rialto market on the Campo de la Pescaria, begin this day in Venice by heading to the famous Rialto Bridge. The idea is to arrive before the crowds of tourists. Built between 1588 and 1591 by the Italian architect Antonio da Ponte, this bridge is the oldest, and arguably one of the most emblematic in Venice, over the Grand Canal. The Canal divides the city in two and runs four kilometres long.

Note that there are four bridges in total in Venice that you can cross on a walk: 

• The Rialto Bridge
• The Accademia Bridge (or Ponte dell'Accademia) 
• The Scalzi Bridge (or Ponte degli Scalzi) near the Santa Lucia railway station.
• The Constitution Bridge (or Ponte della Costituzione), the most modern, linking Piazzale Roma to Santa Lucia station.

Otherwise, another option for getting around the city: take line 1 (vaporetto).  A chance to catch sight along the way of Ca' d'Oro Palace, Ca' Rezzonico Palace, the Gallerie dell'Accademia, the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute and of course the Rialto Bridge.

2. Go to St Mark's Square

Near the Rialto Bridge, head to the iconic St Mark's Square in the City of the Doges, only a 10-minute walk away. You are in the historic heart of Venice, on one of the most beautiful squares in the world, but also at the lowest point in Venice, which explains the many floods during acqua alta.  180 metres long and 70 metres wide, Piazza San Marco is surrounded by historic monuments such as:

• the St Mark's Basilica, 
• the Doge's Palace, 
• the Correr Museum,
• the Columns of St Mark and St Theodore, symbols of the city located right at the entrance to the square, 
• the Campanile (the bell tower),
• and the Torre dell'Orologio (Clock Tower), famous for its bronze statues that strike the hours.

Did you know that Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte considered Piazza San Marco "the finest drawing room in Europe"? Incredible, isn't it?

Take the time to climb the Campanile di San Marco, located on the corner of the square, to admire the panoramic view over Venice, with the surrounding islands as a backdrop. In the evening, the atmosphere is particularly pleasant for a stroll or a drink at the Café Florian, which offers open-air concerts.

3. Admire St Mark's Basilica

Considered the most important religious building in the city, the basilica was originally meant to be an extension of the Doge's Palace. It was built in 828, in the shape of a Greek cross, to house the body of St Mark beneath the altar, just brought back from Alexandria. The current building has:

• a total of 5 domes including the Dome of the Ascension (the main one),
• more than 4,000 square metres of mosaics, 
• 500 columns dating from the 3rd century.

Some mosaics date from the early 13th century, depicting scenes from the New Testament. You will find them in the main dome, while those in the atrium depict the Old Testament.

You can visit the St Mark's Basilica museum to admire: 

• the Horses of St Mark in cast copper that once adorned the hippodrome of Constantinople, as well as the basilica's various works and mosaics. Note that you can see replicas of these Horses of St Mark from the Loggia dei Cavalli.   
• the Byzantine Treasury 
• the Pala d'Oro (golden altarpiece) made by medieval goldsmiths.
• the bell tower with the possibility of climbing this 99 m square tower to take in the panoramic view.

4. Visit the Doge's Palace 

Located on St Mark's Square, the Palazzo Ducale in Italian once served as a fortress, but also as a prison… A style that is at once Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance, plunging you into the world of art to discover works by Bellini and other artists  who passionately illustrate the history of the Serenissima. During this visit, don't miss: 

• the Scala d'Oro (the Golden Staircase)
• the Doge's Apartments, 
• the Sala del Maggior Consiglio (this is where Tintoretto's "Paradise", the largest painting in the world, is found)
• the crossing of the Bridge of Sighs, dating from 1600, used by the condemned before their death,
• the voting rooms, 
• the armoury with its many suits of armour and firearms, 
• or even the courtyards or the prison with its dungeons.

History tells that Casanova, a prisoner, escaped from the prison in 1756 across the roofs. The more curious will spot the famous Bocca di Leone (a letterbox in the shape of a lion's head) which was used to denounce inhabitants who did not respect the laws..

5. Walk along the Riva degli Schiavoni

Located on the lagoon shore and nicknamed Riva degli Schiavoni, this promenade lets you admire the splendours of Venice with its gondolas and San Giorgio Maggiore on the other side of the water. Not far away is the Ponte della Paglia, where you can see the famous Bridge of Sighs from the outside with its incredible architecture.

6. Go to the Accademia Bridge

If you come to visit Venice in 1 day, don't miss the  Accademia Bridge, which offers an incredible view of the Grand Canal (perfect for a pretty Instagram photo ;) with the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute as a backdrop. 

The Accademia Bridge is only a 15-minute walk from St Mark's Square. If you pass by at lunchtime, take the time to stop in the area, where you will find many good restaurants. Otherwise go to the Cannaregio or Dorsoduro districts where you will find excellent trattorias and Venetian taverns. Here you can try the famous cicchetti (tapas from the Venice region) accompanied by a spritz of course! It doesn't get better than that, does it?

7. Take a gondola ride

Another must when you come to visit Venice is to take a gondola ride! Allow about 80 euros for 30 minutes of ride (do check, though, as prices change regularly). Another cheaper option, though probably less romantic (we agree!): take a trip along the Grand Canal by vaporetto. 

Transport and practical tips: traghetto, parking, bus

How to visit Venice in one day and which means of transport to favour? A question that often comes up. Let's take stock right now.

If you come by car: 

Go and park at Tronchetto Parking. You will find it here  at the entrance to the city, in the former arrival area of the huge cruise ships. The plus of this car park is that it is covered and under video surveillance. You can pay in 24-hour blocks, then take the nearby vaporetto to go and explore Venice. 

If you come by train: 

You will arrive at Santa Lucia station, which serves Venice directly. Then all you have to do is reach the vaporetti (water buses) right in front of the station (water buses). 

If you arrive by plane: 

Opt for Marco Polo airport, Venice's main airport. Located about 13 km from the centre, you can take the bus or a  taxi. Another option: the Alilaguna vaporetto, a boat linking the airport to Venice (note the limited timetable).

If, on the other hand, you arrive at Treviso airport, be aware that it is a little further away. This is often the case with low-cost airlines such as Ryanair. From there, shuttles will take you to Venice in about 40 minutes.

Where to sleep in Venice? Best accommodation and districts

1) Stay in the historic centre 

You are close to the most beautiful historic sites such as St Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge and the Doge's Palace. Also perfect because you have plenty of restaurants and shops.

Our favourite hotels:

• Palazzo Keller, rated 9.4 Fabulous on Booking.com and 9.6 for its location near St Mark's Square. 
• Hotel Donà Palace, rated 9.0 Fabulous on Booking.com and 9.8 for its location in the historic centre

2) Stay in the Dorsoduro district

It is a less touristy but much more authentic district. You are close to the Galleria dell'Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, with many restaurants too.

Our favourite hotels:

• Palazzo Veneziano - Venice Collection, rated 9.3 Fabulous on Booking.com and 9.4 for its location 
• Ca Maria Adele, rated 9.6 Fabulous on Booking.com and 9.7 for its location 

3) Stay in the Cannaregio district

Away from the crowds, you will see how the locals live. You are close to the historic Jewish Ghetto. The district offers a wide choice of more affordable restaurants with typical bars. The centre is easily accessible by vaporetto.

Our favourite hotels:

• Arcadia Boutique Hotel, rated 9.0 Fabulous on Booking.com and 9.4 for its location 
• Hotel Ca' Dogaressa, rated 9.0 Fabulous on Booking.com and 9.4 for its location 

Our article on Visiting Venice in 1 day ends here. We hope all these addresses help you plan your stay in Italy, in the magnificent Veneto region. All that's left is to wish you a great trip and plenty of good vibes 😎