2 days in Venice, Italy

Known as the city of romance, Venice, Italy is truly a remarkable city, unlike any other! With no roads and all canals, you can spend hours getting lost in the street of Venice as you explore shops with beautiful blown glass piece, restaurants on the water and historic landmarks. When traveling to Italy, Venice is a must see. Because of its small size, you can really see and do all the city has to offer in 2 days.

I traveled to Venice in June so it was very hot! The best months to visit Italy is September-November as the weather is cooler and it is hot filled with tourists like the summer months.

My 2-Day Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Venice Marco Polo Airport and transfer to San Marco via the Alilaguna water ferry – $15 one way ticket - Orange or Blue line.

**I highly recommend this option as it is the cheapest way to get into the main area of Venice. You can take a private water taxi but it is much more expensive. The water ferry is conveniently located at the airport and you get great views as you ride into San Marco.**

https://www.alilaguna.it/en/lines/lines-map 


Once you arrive in Venice, spend time just exploring the city. Wander the streets and get lost. The phrase "All Those Who Wonder, Are Not Lost" may not be true here! It is so easy to get lost as you walk through the shop-filled streets of Venice.

**One tip I have for you-- drop your luggage off at your hotel right away! I also recommend finding a hotel close to the San Marco Square as there are no roads, so no taxis or Ubers in this city! You will be walking over multiple bridges with your luggage until you find your hotel. Or, if not on a budget, you can hire people to take you to your hotel and they will carry your bags!**


While in Venice, it is a MUST to do a gondola ride. The gondola ride is a great way to see the city as it takes you though numerous water ways including the Grand Canal. If you are lucky, you'll have a nice gondolier like I did, who snapped some great pictures of us during the ride! Try to do this just before sunset to get the best weather, lighting for pictures and a bit of romance as you watch the sunset over the Venice waterways!


**We booked our tickets in advance online before traveling to Italy. While that worked out, it is definitely not needed. You can easily locate a gondola stand to pick up a ride and pay right there. It was not any cheaper or more expensive to pay the day of, contrary to what I had read online.**


After your gondola ride, find a water-front restaurant near the Rialto Bridge. We sat outside on the water and had a lovely, authentic Italian meal! No need to make reservations in advance as there are numerous restaurants lined up along the Grand Canal that are affordable, have great views and are delicious! It was hard to pick just one to eat at!


Day 2

Get up in the morning and enjoy breakfast at a small cafe in San Marco Square. This is the main public square in Venice that is home to the St. Mark's Basilica and the Campanile.


*To get the best views of the city, I recommend buying tickets online, in advance, for the lift to the top of the Campanile. With tickets, you don't have to wait in the very long lines of tourists, especially in the summer months. You can get tickets on the website: http://www.basilicasanmarco.it/ If you plan to enter the Basilica, make sure you are wearing appropriate attire. No tank tops and knees must be covered to enter.


If traveling to another city in Italy from Venice, the train station is easy to access via the Water Taxi or a nice, long walk, if you're up for it!


P.S. Don't forget to get gelato while in Venice, well everywhere in Italy, really!



Instagram Tips

                                              
  

1. The Rialto Bridge is a must! While it will be very crowded, I do recommend waiting til you find an opening to get a great picture standing on the bridge. You can also snag a great photo standing down by the gondolas. Much less crowded since everyone is on the bridge itself and can get a great view of the canal and bridge!


2. The Campanile is another must see in Venice. It is the large clock tower in St. Marks Square. While


St. Marks Square can be very busy, usually people are crowded by the base of the tower and the Basilica. If you walk to the back of the square, facing the tower, you can get a great shot and not have too many people in your way!
                                                                     

3. While the Grand Canal is the most famous, it's also the busiest. At all times, you will see numerous gondolas, water taxis and people lining the canal. To get a great picture of the canal, lined with building and even with a gondola riding down, your best bet is to go the side streets and find a quiet canal.



Check out my Pinterest Board: A Little Bit Of This..




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