4 perfect days in Venice

In Venice, the shortest distance between two points is rarely a straight line. Streets will unexpectedly come to a dead end or splinter off into two or more unmarked roads. My best advice: Don’t sweat it. While you pause and get your bearings, use it as an opportunity to check out a cafe, a wine bar, or—best of all—a gelato stand. With four days, you’ll have plenty of time to see all the major attractions (including Piazza San Marco and the Doge’s Palace), tour the nearby islands (especially Burano and Murano), and take in any scenic detours.

The itinerary below tackles all the must-sees and does it one neighborhood at a time so that you’re not hopping on and off a vaporetto (water bus) all day. Best of all, we’ve read all the Tripadvisor reviews and ratings to make sure that we only highlight the places that are really worth your time, including those all important Aperol spritz pit stops.

Start your day as early as possible on Venice’s most famous square, Piazza San Marco, which is packed with architectural wonders and a gorgeous view of the lagoon. Your destination is the eye-popping Basilica di San Marco, a more-is-more cathedral with spiky Gothic pinnacles, a gilded interior, and 4,000 square meters of mosaics.

Take your time exploring the basilica, then make the trip to the top of Campanile di San Marco. Unlike some other famous European bell towers, this guy’s got an elevator, so the only breathtaking thing about it is the sweeping rooftop view.

The lines can get out of control at these top attractions, so your best bet is to book ahead. If you do, you could wrap up both in 90 minutes, depending on how long you want to linger. Just don’t forget the church dress code—showing up in a tank top and shorts is a deal-breaker.

With these two sights checked off your list, wander around the square and the narrow alleyways of the charming San Marco neighborhood. If you missed out on a morning cardio session at the Campanile di San Marco, the Scala Contarini del Bovolo more than makes up for it. This 15th-century spiral staircase is a great spot for a photoshoot. Afterward, grab a pre-lunch treat at Gelato Fantasy, one of the neighborhood’s best gelaterias. A scoop of the mellow nocciola—toasted hazelnut—gets our vote.

It may not be the Italian way, but we’d opt for an early lunch at Caffe Florian on San Marco Square. This stop is less about the food than the atmosphere—this 18th-century cafe is one of the oldest continuously operating cafes in the world, once hosting Casanova, Goethe, and Proust. Its gilded rooms with red velvet seats make for a great photo op, but you can save a few bucks by eating at the bar, where dishes cost half as much.

Now it’s time to hit the square’s other main attraction, Doge’s Palace, a Gothic masterpiece where the Venetian head of state once lived. You can easily spend two or three hours living out your royal fantasies under these frescoed ceilings and checking out cool spots like the golden stairs and the white limestone Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners took in their last views of Venice.

Palace tour complete, take the five-minute ferry ride from Piazza San Marco to the tiny island of San Giorgio Maggiore. If you don’t tire of views from on high (honestly, we don’t), take the elevator up the Campanile di San Giorgio Maggiore for another sweeping look at the city skyline.

PIAZZA SAN MARCO AREA TOUR OPTIONS

Head back to Piazza San Marco and grab a drink at Hemmingway’s old haunt, the elegant Bar Longhi. The prices are steep, but you’re paying for the vibes and the canal-side location.

Afterward, take the five-minute walk to Teatro La Fenice for an evening performance in one of the world’s most famous opera houses. There might be a chamber orchestra or a full-scale opera playing, but it doesn’t really matter—the theater itself, with its layers of gilded balconies and a heavenly baby-blue ceiling, is enough to blow you away.

Many Venetians eat after an evening at the theater. If you want to end the day on a classy note, head to Gio’s, rated a “Best of the Best” by Tripadvisor reviewers. With one of the best terrace restaurants along the Grand Canal, it’s at its most romantic when the lights of the city begin to twinkle.

You’ll want to hit the Rialto Market first thing in the morning. Filled with stalls selling freshly caught seafood and piles of regional produce, it’ll give you a taste of local life. Then walk across the ornate Rialto Bridge, which has been around for more than 400 years. Plenty of shops line the bridge, so if you want to do a little window shopping, take a peek at the family-owned Gioielleria Eredi Jovon, known for its classic cameo necklaces and Murano glass earrings.

Once you’re across the canal, enjoy the city’s best views from the T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi, a rooftop terrace perched on a shopping mall. It’s free, but you have to reserve your timed-admission tickets in advance.

Now take the 15-minute walk to the Gothic Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. Inside, you’ll find more masterworks by Bellini, Titian, and Donatello.

RIALTO MARKET AREA FOOD TOUR OPTIONS

Sit down for seafood at Osteria Fanal Del Codega, where you can dine on a balcony overlooking a canal. Once you’ve refueled, visit the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. This must-see stop is all about Tintoretto’s unbelievably ornate painted ceilings, sometimes compared to the Sistine Chapel (but you can see these without fighting the crowds).

Need a break? Grab a coffee (or something stronger) at the Adagio Caffè and Wine Bar. This spot—a favorite with Tripadvisor reviewers—is called “one of the best—if not the best, cafes in Venice.” The Aperol spritzes here are cheaper, and even spritzier, than those from bars around PIazza San Marco.

Revived, head to Ca’ Rezzonico, an 18th-century palace with an enormous ballroom, lavishly painted ceilings, and gallery after gallery of Venetian paintings. Some art lovers claim to prefer this spot over the Doge’s Palace. If you’re in the mood for gelato after, Tripadvisor reviewers rave about Gelateria il Doge.

Enjoy a glass of wine and some cicchetti at the canal-side Adriatico Mar. With a wood-beamed ceiling, it’s the kind of place that feels like it’s been around forever. Save room for dinner at sophisticated Impronta, which earns high marks from Tripadvisor users. It serves perfectly prepared dishes like orange potato gnocchi with duck ragu and tagliatelle with black cuttlefish and a parmesan-saffron sauce. Wine by the glass is surprisingly good and reasonably priced.

Finish the night with live music ranging from swing to bossa nova at the intimate Venice Jazz Club. Buy tickets ahead of time to make sure you get a table close to the action.

Start your morning on the 50-minute vaporetto ride to Torcello, one of the most famous lagoon islands. Once you've hit land, it's about a 10-minute walk to Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta, a 7th-century church filled with Byzantine mosaics. Make sure to take in the views from the bell tower and wander the nature reserve's paths, including the one leading to the Ponte del Diavolo (Devil's Bridge).

Back at the ferry port, hop on the vaporetto for the five-minute ride to Burano, famous for its brightly painted houses overlooking its narrow canals. Tre Ponti, where three canals meet, is a photographer's dream.

Burano's other claim to fame is its seafood, and we wouldn't let you leave without trying some. It is hard to go wrong here, but we'd pick a table overlooking the canal at the family-run Trattoria al Gatto Nero, which gets plenty of five-bubble ratings from Tripadvisor users. It can be hard deciding between so many delicious-sounding seafood dishes, but we’d recommend something from the grill, such as grilled cuttlefish or grilled eel.

After refueling, hop on the vaporetto again and enjoy the 30-minute ride to Murano, the island known around the world for its handmade glass. The main drag, Fondamenta dei Vetrai, is packed with shops where you can watch artisans in action. Stop in at the Glass Cathedral—a beautiful spot that was once a medieval church—for a glass-making demonstration. The beautiful brick Duomo di Murano Santi Maria e Donato is also worth a visit to view the "dragon bones" behind the altar.

MURANO AND BURANO TOUR OPTIONS

After a day of island hopping, it's time to relax back in Venice. Head to the Cannaregio neighborhood to chill at the canal-side wine bar VinoVero. If you’re in the mood to share a few small plates, there’s a glass case full of freshly made cicchetti. After, take in the sights of the Ghetto Ebraico as you make your way to Trattoria Bar Pontini. It may look like just another simple Italian eatery, but the regional fare and local wines are always excellent.

If you want to extend the night but can't bear to nurse another Aperol spritz, Il Santo Bevitore has tons of local craft beers on tap.

The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute is that impressive domed church you see from the waterfront near Piazza San Marco. (Take a vaporetto across to the Salute stop.) An extravagant baroque house of worship with about 125 statues gracing the façade, it looks its best in the early morning light. Titian paintings are tucked inside, but if you’re all churched-out, it’s not a crime to miss the interior on this one.

Next, hit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection to explore her massive personal collection of modern European and American art. The setting alone is worth a visit—a 17th-century customs house with incredible views of the Grand Canal.

You’ve probably worked up quite an appetite by now, so head to nearby Ristorante Agli Alboretti. Tripadvisor reviewers can’t say enough good things about enjoying fresh seafood on the open-air terrace. Now push on to the nearby Gallerie dell’Accademia to admire Venetian masterpieces by Bellini, Titian, and others.

ART MUSEUM TOUR OPTIONS

Perk up with some small plates and an Aperol spritz at the low-key Cantine del Vino Già Schiavi. The gorgonzola with balsamic vinegar and the tuna with pickled radicchio are both great. If you really go to town here—and it’s hard not to—you can skip dinner altogether.

After, do an evening tour of the Canal Grande. Gondola rides are a visitor favorite for a reason, but expect to spend up to 100 euros for a 30-minute ride (singing is extra). Budget travelers don’t have to miss out, though. Take the #1 Vaporetto from Santa Maria del Giglio all the way to Plaza Roma for a 40-minute canal tour at an eighth the price.

Still hungry? Rio Novo serves up fresh-caught seafood. Tripadvisor reviewers love the canalside location and the heaping portions. If you want to digest a little after that hefty meal, it’s a 10-minute stroll to Campo Santa Margherita, a busy square with prime people watching.

Piazza San Marco: You already know that Piazza San Marco, which we cover on Day One, is jam-packed with attractions. It’s also extremely central, making it one of the best places to stay in the city. Location is definitely one reason travelers give Hotel Saturnia & International Venezia high praise, but it’s also because they love chilling with a prosecco on the rooftop terrace. Plus, the décor inside is classically Venetian—think wood-beam ceilings and dark leather couches.

Dorsoduro: This lively neighborhood on the opposite side of the Grand Canal—we cover it on Day 5—has plenty of attractions of its own. We’d opt to stay at Palazzo Veneziano, a modern hotel with luxe Italian accents like Murano glass lamps. Rooms can be downright massive, with private terraces or hot tubs. While the hotel feels away from the crowds, it’s just a seven-minute walk from the Gallerie dell’Accademia.