How to Spend One Day in Venice, Italy 2023

The canals of Venice were one of the things on my original “bucket list”. The city seemed so unique and romantic. But, there’s never enough time for a trip, and choosing what to do with one day in Venice is hard!

My first visit to Venice was only one day. I’ve since been back twice and I’ve tried all of the things. I’ve even taken some of my family on their first trip to Venice.

This post details what I’ve learned, what to see if you only have one day in Venice, what to skip since you’re short on time, and how to make the most of your day.

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Itinerary for One Day in Venice

Each will spelled out a bit more below but this proposed itinerary can get you started. It’s designed to avoid the crowds as much as possible.

• Start your day walking over the Rialto as early as you can to beat the crowds. The bridge is beautiful but it’s better when there are fewer people.
• From the Rialto walk toward St Mark’s Square. Take in the sites and make your way to the basilica.
• Tour St Marks Basilica. It open at 9:30. There is a Rick Steeve’s tour of the square if you find yourself with about 45 minutes.
• Head to the Doge’s Palace after you finish touring the basilica. It’s best if you have a ticket before you head to the palace.
• Have lunch and eat some gelato!
• Visit Ponte dell’Accademia and take in the view of the Grand Canal.
• Explore the streets in Venice
• Take a Gondola Ride

Must See Things with One Day in Venice

There is certainly enough to do in Venice to fill a few days if you have it. But, honestly, not by a lot.

It’s important to note that I’m not a big museum girl and I don’t go to lots of churches. I enjoy walking and exploring the city I’m in. Know your own preferences and read this (and every other post) with that in mind.

Also, St Marks Square and the sights near it will be packed during the busy season. Start your day as early as you can if avoiding crowds is a priority for you.

The Rialto

The Rialto bridge is the other big thing to see in Venice. It’s a stunning white bridge that crosses the canal. It is unique because it has shops on top of it.

You can cross the canal and browse souvenirs, decorative glass, art, and jewelry. Make sure to take in the view from both sides of the bridge and all sides around it.

In the summer, fresh fruit is sold on the streets around the bridge; eat some; it’s delicious!

It’s only a 7-minute walk from Piazza San Marco to the Rialto if you stay aware of the location and don’t stop in shops. I’m guilty of getting sidetracked by streets that are too beautiful not to walk down so it always takes me much longer.

You can see what the crowds can be like on the Rialto. Be patient and plan for the crowds. Or, get up early and go here first so you see it without all of the tourists.

St. Mark’s Square

This is the square you often see in photos. It’s also the one known to flood. The pigeons, street performers, and beauty of the square made it the obvious choice for our first stop.

It’s also in the middle of the tourist center, so it’s where the ferry from our hotel dropped us off. There can be a crowd here, but that doesn’t take away from the need to see it.

I recommend downloading the Rick Steeves Europe App to download his tours. The St. Mark’s Square tour gives a broad history of the city in general as well as many of the attractions you’ll see. And it’s only 45 minutes.

The Campanile di San Marco is in the square. This is the reddish tower you’ve probably seen in pictures of Venice. You can go to the top of the tower if you’d like but it isn’t a must – skip it if you only have a day. Buy your ticket from the ticket counter in advance if you want to go up.

Head toward the grand canal from the square. When you get to the canal, go left and keep walking down the street. You’ll see the Bridge of Sighs if you look to your left. It’s a covered bridge connecting the Doge’s Palace to the former prison.

The legend is that the Bridge of Sighs gets its name from the prisoners sighing as they walked across the bridge. The legend also says that you’ll have eternal bliss if you kiss your lover in a gondola under the bridge.

Basilica San Marco

The basilica is stunning from the outside and worth the trip inside. It combines all of the cultures that influenced Venice into one beautiful construction. There’s nothing like it anywhere else in the world.

The line is often long but moves very quickly, so don’t be intimidated by it. Go ahead and hop in line when you get to Piazza San Marco. You can look around the square and take in some of the grandeur while you’re waiting. It’s 3€ per person to enter.

There are skip-the-line options that make a lot of sense if you only have one day in Venice.

Note: Saturday and Sunday tickets are only available from the San Basso Ticket Office, not on entry. 

St Mark’s Basilica is open 9:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m. (the last entry is at 4:45 p.m.). 

Sunday, you can access the Museum only from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., so plan accordingly. 

Rick Steeve’s has a 45-minute tour of the Basilica (interior and exterior) you can start it while you wait in line and it covers just enough about the Basilica to be interesting and not boring. And, it won’t take your whole day.

For an extra €10, you can also climb the Bell Tower. With a day in Venice, I’d skip it.

Doge’s Palace

The Doge was like a duke in medieval Venice. While the rest of the world plunged into the “dark” ages the doge ruled over the people of Venice. The government of Venice during the time of the doges is very interesting and not at all what I expected.

The doge’s palace is ornate and with your ticket, you can cross the bridge of sighs and see the prisons.

Purchase tickets early, especially if you only have one day.

If you’ve seen several palaces in other parts of Europe, or even The Vatican, this will be cool but could also feel like a repeat. If you love palaces, even if you’ve seen several, you’ll enjoy this one!

Ponte dell’Accademia

This wood and metal bridge provides a spectacular view of the Grand Canal and the dome of St Mark’s Basilica. It’s worth the 15-minute walk from St Mark’s Square. This is a good option if you’re sick of the crowds. They thin out and you can meander through smaller streets.

Ride in Gondola

Riding in a gondola is a quintessential Venetian experience. I have, and it was such a fun experience. We learned about Venice’s history and architecture. My gondola ride will forever be one of my favorite things.

It’s gimicky and a little ridiculous but I enjoyed it just the same.

I understand that for many people it’s skipable. No judgement if that’s you.

There are gondoliers all through the city and prices are similar throughout the city.

Many of them are stationed around the Doge’s Palace on the Grand Canal but I prefer a tour that spends less time on the Grand Canal and more on the smaller canals.

Your gondolier will tour you around the canals and give you some city history and architecture. Maybe they’ll even sing to you!

With a group of 4 consider a private gondola ride.

Bonus: Take a water taxi

To be more specific, if you want to take an individual water taxi, you absolutely should, but the public transportation in Venice is a series of water taxis. The lines stop like bus lines in other cities.

The conductors were so adept at parking and maneuvering the ferry that I often had my mouth open in amazement. They could get into a space so effortlessly.

It’s fun to see a bit more of the city when you’re a little sick of walking. You can buy tickets for the water taxis on the docks from automated machines. You can find the water taxi schedules here or via the public transit option on Google Maps.

Stuckey Island is across the Grand Canal from Venice. You can take a water taxi to see stunning panoramic views of the whole city across the canal. Plus, it’s more residential and gives you a break from the crowds.

Getting To Venice

You will most likely train or fly into Venice.

No matter how you get to Venice you’ll likely start your journey on the island proper from the train station. If it’s a long walk to your hotel and you have rolling luggage be sure to hire a porter. There are lots of bridges with stairs in Venice and lugging a rolling suitcase up and down them is a pain.

By Train

If you arrive by train, come in at the Santa Lucia station. This station is on the island. Venice Mestre is close but not what you want. After arriving in Santa Lucia, you can walk to your hotel or take a water taxi. It’s a 45-minute walk or across the island to Piazza San Marco; you’ll likely be staying closer based on the hotel locations. If you don’t want to walk you can also take public water taxis. The blue line will take you down to Rialto. It’ll still take about 40 mins for the same trip, but you won’t be walking with your luggage.

By Plane

If you fly into Venice Marco Polo airport, getting into the city can be a little more interesting. Marco Polo is about 14 km from the island, and you have several options.

1. You can take an ACTV Bus from Marco Polo straight to Santa Lucia. With this option, you bring your luggage with you onto this bus.
2. You can also take an ATVO bus. This one is more like a tour bus with your luggage stored underneath.
3. There is also a water shuttle you can take from the airport. Alilaguana is the company that operates it. It can be a fun way to travel but know that it will probably take longer than the trip on land. Some stops could put you closer to your hotel, but it may be more of a scenic route.

Research before you leave using the public transit search on Google Maps. This won’t show Alilaguana, but you can compare and make your plan. Then when you get there- trust it. We didn’t trust my research and called an audible that cost us over an hour on one of the water taxis. Don’t be like us.

Getting Around Venice

The best, and almost only, way to explore Venice is by walking. The city is small enough, and there aren’t cars and street crossings to contend with. Venice was where I first started to realize my love of wandering because it’s the perfect city to wander in! You can put your phone (or in 2009, it was a good ol’ map) away and walk; maybe in the direction of something or perhaps just wherever the canals take you. The little streets, picturesque bridges, and canals mean you’re always able to turn toward something beautiful. You may have to backtrack a little, but that’s the beauty of it.

If you are tired of walking, you can take public water taxis, like the bus systems in other cities but on boats because of the canals.

There are also private water taxis, but they will be more expensive. They’ll also be faster.

Day Trips if you have more than one day in Venice

If you have a bit more time in the area but want to see something new, there are many options around Venice that would be worth your time.

Murano and Burano are two islands in Venice. Murano Glass is made in Murano. You can take public water taxis over the islands to see a glassblowing demonstration. There are places to eat, shopping, and more streets to explore! Burano is known for lace and brightly colored buildings.

Verona and Vicenza are close to Venice by train. Both cities have sites on the UNESCO world heritage list. We love visiting the UNESCO sites and were able to day trip around both of these cities in one day. Verona was also founded in the 1st century BC.

Vicenza was founded in the 2nd century BC. Both towns are smaller and make you feel like you’re in on a secret away from Venice, Rome, or Florence crowds. You can feel transported into a Shakespearean favorite in Verona and get a glimpse of small-town Vicenza.

Where to Stay in Venice

There are many options for where to stay in Venice.

If you plan to take train trips, stay near the train station. The closer you get to St Mark’s square the more expensive places will be. The train station isn’t a long walk from the other side of the city. Plus, staying away from the city center forces you to wander more.

Take the opportunity to stay in a locally owned yet extravagant hotel.

There are some great local hotels in Venice and only a few international chain hotels.

We chose the Hilton Molino Stuckey because we had a credit from American Express. This is a chain hotel, but it’s on an island across from Venice. You can get great views of the city from it!

They have a shuttle to take you to the tourist center and the local water taxis stop nearby. Since it isn’t in Venice proper, it does take a bit longer to get anywhere, which can be frustrating if you don’t plan for it.

I enjoyed staying in a different part of the city because there weren’t as many tourists outside the hotel. Because of this, I knew I was in the land of the locals wandering around the island. That is my favorite place to be!

When to Visit Venice

The shoulder seasons are the best time to visit Venice.

Summer is warm and crowded. It can be frustrating in a lot of ways.

Personally, I’ve visited twice in October. The crowds were fine and the weather was perfect. It was a little chilly at night but nothing too bad.

Spending One Day in Venice

If you’re planning a trip to Venice, I hope you have more than one day.

The city is magical, and there is really nowhere else like it. You can spend hours looking in shop windows while eating gelato.

Remember that you’re seeing the highlights in a day and not diving deep to experience all that a city has to offer. Sometimes that’s enough and sometimes you’ll want more time.

One day in Venice gives you time to hit the highlights and experience a piece of a picturesque city.

If you only have one day in Venice, enjoy yourself, and don’t be afraid to make time to wander!