The Definitive Guide to Seeing Venice in a Single Day

Overtourism is a significant danger to the city of Venice, yet no one can dispute that it is one of the most extraordinary and enchanting places on Earth. Some of Italy’s most famous landmarks may be found in Venice, making it a challenge to plan out how to spend just one day there (because there are so many exciting places to choose from). Therefore, this planning advice for spending one day in Venice will undoubtedly be helpful whether you have a long stopover or are merely visiting Venice as part of a more extensive Italy itinerary.

Directions For Traveling To Venice

The city’s Marco Polo International Airport is a breeze to get to Venice. A bus departs from the terminal and travels to Piazzale Roma on the outskirts of Venice, where you may get a water taxi or water bus into the city (this is the closest location to which vehicles are allowed, and the ticket costs 8 euros). If you prefer to take the bus, here is where the routes from the other cities will drop you off.

Alternatively, you may take a train to Venice’s central station, Venice Santa Lucia. Finally, you may also go to Venice by boat or ferry, dropping you down at Zetter, a neighborhood only 10 minutes away from the city’s heart.

Creating the Perfect Travel Plan

Setting some goals for your one day in Venice is essential before making any plans. Suppose you find yourself quickly overwhelmed by large crowds. In that case, you may avoid the Piazza San Marco and Rialto Bridge in favor of a canal cruise and the quieter areas of Dorsoduro, Cannaregio, and Castello. Our plan emphasizes the city’s top sights, but avid explorers hoping to discover some off-the-beaten-path jewels should not stop reading!

When You Should Go to Venice

As we briefly indicated at the outset, Venice has the problem of over-tourism all year long. Still, the city sees the most visitors in the summer (June–August) and carnival season (February–March). In other words, the shoulder seasons are the best time to go if you want to avoid crowds of visitors. Statistically speaking, April, May, September, and November are the least popular times for tourists visiting Venice.

An Ideal Day in Venice-Itinerary

Here, we outline the best way to spend a single day in Venice, but if you don’t like our ideas or have previously visited them, we also include a list of a few other worthwhile sites to see.

1. Dorsoduro is the place to begin.

Dorsoduro is an excellent place to begin your exploration of Venice since it is less than a kilometer from Piazzale Roma, the city’s central bus terminal, which is close to the train station and the dock. Dorsoduro is one of the more peaceful areas of Venice, and we think it’s a good idea to begin your day in a more tranquil setting before making your way to the city’s most famous landmarks. You’ll also discover a few bakeries and restaurants serving some of the city’s greatest Cicchetti (Venetian tapas).

2. The Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute

This basilica is one of the most stunning churches in Venice, and it can be found on the tip of Punta della Dogana between the Guidecca Canal and the Grand Canal. Thousands of people died in the 17th century due to a plague, yet the cathedral was dedicated to Our Lady of Health notwithstanding. Upon entering Venice from the Bacino di San Marco, you’ll first notice the cathedral’s distinctive dome, which has become an instant landmark and source of artistic inspiration for generations of well-known creatives.

3. See the beautiful Ponte dell'Accademia

Ponte dell Accademia, one of Venice’s four bridges across the Grand Canal, is located only a short walk from the cathedral. The bridge comes from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia, the city’s most prestigious art school. This is among the finest vantage points in all of Venice from which to get images of the city’s famous Grand Canal. This bridge connects Dorsoduro to Piazza San Marco, a popular tourist destination.

4. Get to the top of the Contarini del Bovolo cliffs.

This isn’t quite the best vantage point in Venice (as we’ll find later in the post), but it’s less congested and provides a unique perspective on the city. Furthermore, the tower is among Venice’s most unappreciated works of architecture.

5. Take a look at the Rialto Bridge.

Rialto Bridge, one of Venice’s most recognizable monuments, dates back to the 12th century and is the city’s oldest bridge. This bridge was the only connection between San Marco and San Polo until the city expanded its water transportation system. On each side of the bridge now stands a row of stores catering to the crowds of tourists visiting this region. Rialto Market, located just over the river, is a great place to stock up on fresh ingredients for a home-cooked Venetian feast after a day of sightseeing.

6. Proceed with a Piazza San Marco Walk

The Piazza San Marco is the most well-known public space in Venice. It is one of the city’s busiest areas because of its proximity to the lagoon. Piazza San Marco is one of the most expensive areas of Venice. Still, it is also home to several cafés where you can relax with a coffee while gazing out over the lagoon and a variety of historic architecture.

7. Check out the Basilica of St. Mark

When arriving in Venice by water, one of the first things that catch one’s eye is the spectacular aspect of St. Mark’s Basilica. The basilica is an extraordinary work of art because of its innovative fusion of Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic styles. Beginning in the 10th century, it housed the Patriarch of Venice and was a center of religious life for the Venetians for many years.

8. See the "Bridge of Sighs"

The New Prison is connected to the interrogation chambers of Doge Palace over the ornately built Bridge of Sighs composed of polished white limestone. The “Bridge of Sighs” gets its name because it was many Venetian prisoners’ final chance to see the city before being confined behind its walls. Stop at Riva Degli Schiavoni, between the Doge’s Palace and the San Marco Campanile, for a picture-perfect bridge vantage point.