How Many Days in Venice Is Enough?

If you are visiting Venice for the first time and are wondering how many days in Venice you should spend, then this guide is for you!

After spending multiple days in Venice ourselves, we’ve written this post to help you decide how many days in Venice you should spend.

In this post, we’ll discuss how many days in Venice are ideal for a first-time visit. We’ll also discuss what you can do in Venice in one day, two days, or three days, including possible day trips, so that you can confidently decide how many days to spend in this remarkable city.

How Many Days to Spend in Venice

In short, we think two to three days (two to three nights) is the perfect amount of time to spend in Venice, depending on what you want to do while you are there.

Below is a more detailed explanation of how many days in Venice is ideal for a first-time visit, followed by a breakdown of what you can do in Venice in one, two, or three or more days.

How Many Days for a First-Time Visit to Venice: 2-3 Days

If this is your first time visiting Venice, two to three days (two to three nights) is the perfect amount of time to spend in Venice, depending on your interests.

With two days in Venice, you can see all of the city’s main sights, including St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, and more. You can also take a boat ride down the Grand Canal, see an opera at the Teatro La Fenice, and enjoy a romantic gondola ride, while still having plenty of time to explore Venice’s beautiful streets and bridges.

With three days in Venice, you can add on a day trip to Murano and Burano, Verona, or Treviso.

If this is your first time visiting Italy and you are on a shorter itinerary (less than ten days), then two days in Venice will probably be sufficient so that you can move on to exploring Italy’s other incredible destinations, such as Florence, Tuscany, Lake Como, and Rome. However, if you want to take it slow and explore more of the Veneto region, then three days may be better for you.

How Many Days in Venice for a Few Highlights: 1 Day

If you only have one day to spend in Venice, then it is still worth it to see the city’s most iconic sights! Here is what you can accomplish in Venice in one well-planned day:

• Visit St. Mark’s Square and St. Mark’s Basilica
• Tour the Doge’s Palace
• Walk across Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs
• Take a boat ride down the Grand Canal
• Explore a few of Venice’s quieter streets
• Take a gondola ride
• Try some local Venetian food

Personally, we would only suggest spending one day in Venice if you are really short on time. Otherwise, we would recommend at least two days to more fully experience the city.

Tip: With just one day in Venice, make sure to book your tickets for St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace in advance so that you don’t waste time standing in line! Alternatively, consider booking a guided tour that includes both St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.

Tours: If you only have one day in Venice and want to make sure you get to all of the highlights, consider booking this well-rated one-day tour of Venice:

Venice in a Day: Basilica San Marco, Doge’s Palace & Gondola Ride
– Rated 5/5 stars (1,250 reviews)
– See the highlights of Venice in 6.5 hours with a local guide
– Includes guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace; walking tour of Rialto Bridge, Rialto Market, and local neighborhoods; and gondola ride
– Small group tour (limited to 20 people)

✔ Book your guided tour to see the highlights of Venice in one day here!

How Many Days in Venice for the Main Sights & Activities: 2 Days

If you are wondering how many days in Venice you should spend to experience all of the main sights and activities in Venice, then you should plan on dedicating two days. With two days in Venice, here is what you can do:

• Visit St. Mark’s Square and St. Mark’s Basilica
• Visit the Doge’s Palace
• See Venice from the top of the bell tower in St. Mark’s Square
• Walk across the Bridge of Sighs, Rialto Bridge, and Ponte dell’Accademia
• Take a boat ride down the Grand Canal
• Visit Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
• See an opera at the Teatro La Fenice
• Take a gondola ride
• Explore Venice’s beautiful quiet streets, canals, and local neighborhoods
• Try some local Venetian dishes

For most people, two days in Venice is enough time to get a feel for the city. In two days, you can experience all of Venice’s main sights and activities, as well as some of the more local parts of Venice, without feeling too rushed.

If you choose to stay a third day, we would suggest spending some time outside the city by taking a day trip to one of the other Venetian Islands, Verona, or Treviso.

How Many Days in Venice for Day Trips: 3-4 Days

If you want to add on any day trips to your time in Venice, then you should plan on staying at least three days.

As mentioned earlier, you can do all of the main sights and experiences in Venice in about two days. However, if you want to explore some of the nearby cities or islands while you are there, then three or more days would be best for you.

With three days in Venice, you can take some time to explore the colorful islands of Murano and Burano, the beaches in Lido, the romantic city of Verona, or the quiet town of Treviso.

Day Trips from Venice

Venice makes a great base for several day trips. Here are some of the best (and easiest) day trips you can take from Venice.

Murano & Burano

The most popular day trip from Venice is to the islands of Murano and Burano. Murano is famous for its glass-blowing, while Burano is known for its Venetian lace and canals lined with rows of colorful houses.

Both islands can easily be visited in a day. You can visit Murano and Burano by taking the vaporetto or a private boat ride.

✔ Book your day trip to Murano and Burano by private boat ride here!

Lido

Another popular island to visit in the Venetian Lagoon is Lido. If you are looking for a place to swim, consider spending a few hours in Lido, which is known for its long, sandy beaches along the Adriatic Sea.

You can get to Lido from Venice on the vaporetto or on a private boat ride.

Verona

My top choice for a day trip from Venice would be Verona! This beautiful medieval city was the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and is oozing with romantic charm. If you love literature or theatre, then this city is for you.

Verona is about one hour from Venice by train.

Treviso

Another beautiful city worth visiting near Venice is Treviso! Often called the “little Venice,” Treviso has its own enchanting maze of streets and canals. For a quiet reprieve from the busyness of Venice, consider taking a day trip to Treviso.

Treviso is about 40 minutes from Venice by train.

Where to Stay in Venice

Here are a few recommended places to stay in Venice:

• The Gritti Palace ($$$): The Gritti Palace is one of Venice’s most decadent and luxurious hotels. It is situated near St. Mark’s Square and is within easy walking distance of all the main sights in Venice.

✔ Check prices for the Gritti Palace here!

• Hilton Molino Stucky Venice ($$): This 5-star hotel is located on Giudecca Island and offers spectacular views of Venice from across the water. It is a short boat ride away from St. Mark’s Square.

✔ Check prices for the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice here!

• Residenza Venezia ($): This quaint bed and breakfast is situated on a quiet street in the local Cannaregio neighborhood, just a short walk from Rialto Bridge.

✔ Check prices for Residenza Venezia here!

How to Get Around Venice

The easiest way to get around Venice is simply by walking. The city of Venice is relatively small, and most of the main sights in Venice are within a 20-minute walking distance. We generally recommend walking everywhere in Venice. Just be sure to explore some of the less-frequented streets while you are there!

The other way to get around Venice is by boat. The most common means of water transportation is the water bus (called the vaporetto). We would definitely recommend taking the water bus (or a private boat ride if you want to splurge!) at least once while you are in Venice! After all, the Grand Canal is best experienced from the water.

You can purchase passes for the vaporetto online in advance or in person at any vaporetto station.

FAQs: Visiting Venice

Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about visiting Venice.

Is two days enough in Venice?

Yes, two days is enough time to do all of the main sights and activities in Venice. In two days, you can visit St. Mark’s Square and St. Mark’s Cathedral, tour the Doge’s Palace, take a gondola ride, walk across Venice’s many famous bridges, see an opera at the Teatro La Fenice, take a boat ride down the Grand Canal, and wander around Venice’s beautiful local districts.

Is three days in Venice too much?

No, three days is probably not too much time in Venice. However, with a third day, you will likely want to add on a day trip to the nearby Venetian Islands, the fair Verona, or the charming Treviso.

Should I spend more time in Venice or Florence?

If you have an extra day, we would personally recommend spending more time in Florence or Tuscany than in Venice. For example, you could spend two full days seeing the main sights in Venice, two full days seeing the main sights in Florence, and an extra day exploring Tuscany. Tuscany is absolutely beautiful and is certainly worth seeing on your first trip to Italy.

In addition, Florence itself is larger and has more to do than Venice. Florence has incredible Renaissance art and architecture, bustling local markets, and delicious Tuscan cuisine. It also makes a great base for exploring the Tuscan countryside and hill towns.

Conclusion: How Many Days in Venice Is Enough?

If this is your first time visiting Venice, then two to three days (two or three nights) is the perfect amount of time to spend in Venice. In two days, you can experience all of Venice’s main sights and activities. With three days, you can add on a day trip to the Venetian Islands of Murano and Burano, the romantic city of Verona, or the quiet town of Treviso.

We hope that this guide has helped you decide how many days in Venice are best for you!