FREE ITINERARY
There is so much beauty in Venice; it is one of my favourite places in Europe. There’s also a lot of history and places to see, so I have complied an itinerary for those who don’t know where to start. Save it and enjoy all my personal notes and suggestions!
It has a good mixture of sight-seeing, exploring, dining and drinking options, so you can make the most of your stay in this stunning city.
I would recommend staying for at least 3 nights to truely make the most of this amazing place and allow yourself time to explore every corner. Our Airbnb host, a local Venetian, told us that the best way to explore Venice is by getting lost in it and that’s exactly what we did!
✨ When you first get to Venice you’ll want to explore like crazy to take in all the amazing sights/ foods/vibes/ culture etc.
🚶🏻♂️➡️ I found that doing a walking tour with a local guide was the best way to kick start our stay in Venice. It was one of my favourite parts of our whole Europe trip (link below).
☕️ The tour starts at 11am, so if you arrive earlier or have stayed the night before, find yourself a local cafe to enjoy a croissant and latte for breakfast. It only goes for 2 hours, so you’ll have plenty of time to do your own exploring after.
💕 I’ve added below a couple of the highlights of the tour, but every spot was unique and enjoyable.
🛶 Fair warning: it does say it includes a gondola ride but this was less than one minute long- straight across the canal. I would recommend booking a separate gondola ride if you think it’s worth the price tag
We hopped off the gondola straight to the entrance of this market on our walking tour of Venice. It felt like an authentic Italian experience as the locals buy their fresh fish and produce from there. It was a nice experience walking around and seeing what products they sell, such as the hundreds of pre-packaged herbs and spices for different dishes.
Our guide brought us to this little delicatessen on our walking food tour of Venice (which I would highly recommend!). They had the all-time best tiramisu we’ve had, so we went back again the next day to get another piece. It was paired with a very delicious sparkling red wine. There are lots of other tasty goodies to choose from. They also had a wine tap area where you could fill your own bottle.
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🌉 After finishing the tour at SEPA, head across the famous Rialto bridge. It’s a great spot to get some photos and browse the stores.
One of the main tourist attractions in Venice is the Rialto bridge. It’s a stunning piece of architecture that spans the Grand Canal and is always bustling. It is lined with shops, mainly jewellery and souvenirs, that you can peruse on your crossing to the other side.
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💒 Not too far from the Rialto bridge is St Mark’s square, featuring the stunning basilica.
🎥 See my notes and the TikTok video below for what you can do in this area.
St Mark’s square is a huge open space surrounded by beautiful buildings, such as the basilica and the bell tower. It’s a very popular spot for tourists so be prepared for the crowds. They sometimes have live music there so it’s nice to sit and have a drink and take in the surroundings. It is lined with stores, particularly jewellery, where you can spend lots of time window shopping.
Bra’s cocktail bar is open every day except Wednesday, so make sure you plan your itinerary accordingly. It has a fun atmosphere with an abundance of bras hung from the ceiling. Check it out for a quirky time with delicious cocktails.
If you want to feel a bit fancy and don’t mind spending a little extra for a fun experience, check this place out. The surroundings are very grand and you’ll feel like you’re in the Great Gatsby sipping on beverages and enjoying some tasty snacks. It is located at Hotel Danieli which has its own gondola port right out the front, so you can arrive in style.
This is a very nice bar overlooking the canal and the basilica. They have a great range of cocktails, so it’s a nice spot for an afternoon aperitif and maybe even dessert.
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🚿 After spending the day enjoying some beverages and bites, you might want to go back to your accommodation for a quick nap or to freshen up before dinner.
🍽️ A really lovely option for dinner in this area is Gio’s Restaurant.
This restaurant has a beautiful view overlooking the canal and the basilica. The menu is a bit fancy and is unique if you’re looking for something slightly different to the many other pizza and pasta restaurants around.
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Day 2
🥾 Put some comfortable shoes on and get ready for another day exploring Venice on foot.
🌊 Make your way to the San Basilio dock and then stroll down the Fondamenta Zattere Al Ponte Logo for some beautiful views over the ocean.
☕️ Stop in for breakfast and a coffee at Al Chioschetto.
This is a walkway along the waterfront on the southern perimeter of Venice. We did a lot of steps this day, walking around and through the whole city. It was really nice looking out over the open ocean and stopping for an espresso with a view. It was very hot, even in September, so I’d recommend wearing a hat!
This little waterfront cafe was a lovely retreat from our warm walk along the Fondamenta Zattere. We had a lovely breeze and beautiful view over the ocean.
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🛶 Continue your walk along the waterfront and you’ll come to Venice’s oldest gondola workshop.
This is the oldest gondola-making workshop in Venice. You can either just watch from across the canal or book a tour to learn how gondolas are made. If you’re into history, this place is worth adding to your itinerary while in Venice.
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🕌 Further along the Fondamenta you’ll come to Basilica Santa Maria della Salute, a breathtaking church with a domed roof.
The Accademia bridge is located in the university area of Venice and has a stunning view over the canal. The bridge is quite unique-looking itself and makes for a great spot to get photos.
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🍕Once on the other side of the bridge, make your way towards Al Posto Giusto for a well-deserved lunch! You can enjoy some window shopping and admiring the alleyways on your walk over.
We stopped here spontaneously for some lunch and wine while exploring the city. It was a welcome escape from walking in the heat but we were able to sit out the front and watch all the passers by. The pizza was so delicious and the wine was kept in an ice bag on our table so stayed cold.
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📕After a tasty lunch, make your way to Libreria Acqua Alta, which is not far away. This gorgeous flooded bookstore is a must-see on your stay in Venice!
The flooded library is a cool place to explore and take photos. As seen in my photo, you can sit in the open corner at the back that allows some of the canal water to seep in. The old, soaked books are a beautiful artwork but they also have regular, dry ones for you to buy. I bought a mini leather-bound book and magnet as souvenirs from here.
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🚿 If you need a little nap or refresh after your big day of walking, now is the time for it!
🍝 When it’s time for dinner, here below are a couple of suggestions that we enjoyed. We chose these restaurants as they were closer to our accommodation near the train station, so feel free to choose any available place convenient to you!
We enjoyed a lovely meal here of delicious pizza and wine on our first night in Venice. Is was a great location, not far to walk from our accom but also felt like you could enjoy the nightlife of Venice. I would recommend sitting outside where you can people watch and enjoy the evening air. The waiter was very friendly and helpful in recommending a suitable wine for us.
We couldn’t fault our meal here- it was so delicious and fresh! This restaurant is in a great location on the way into the city from the train station and has a stunning waterside view. The service was friendly and the waiter offered to take some photos of my partner and I. We really enjoyed the atmosphere and the food and would go again.
This place was not a far walk from our accom near the train station. We sat outside under the ivy-covered rooftop which was lovely. They had fresh seafood and tasty pasta and the service was good.
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🍸 A lovely spot to go for some after dinner drinks is TiME Social bar.
This bar knows how to make good cocktails. The service is very friendly and their expertise shows. We really enjoyed sitting outside along the walkway in the fresh air, watching the night life around us.
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Day 3
🥐 Find yourself a local cafe to enjoy some breakfast on your last day in Venice.
🫖 Head to La Gabbianella to shop for some beautiful items to take with you. They open at 10:30am and I spent a lot of time looking around at all the stunning handmade ceramics and fabric pieces.
This was my favourite shop in Venice! I was pretty sick of seeing so many souvenir and Venetian glass stores, so when we came across this one I spent a good amount of time looking around.
They have the most adorable handmade ceramics and fabric pieces. We bought some mugs and an apron from here but I would have loved to have bought more if we had the space in our luggage.
They are closed on Sundays, so make sure you plan for this in your itinerary.
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🍕When you are ready for lunch, I’d recommend checking out La Porta d’Acqua.
We had a great time here escaping the heat by enjoying a crispy cold white wine in the outdoor breeze. It was a lovely spot with a view of the canal. The waiter didn’t seem too impressed that we wanted to only have wine and not food, even in the mid afternoon when the restaurant was empty, but they allowed it anyway.
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🏛️ The final landmark I would recommend seeing on this trip is Campo San Zaccaria and it’s mystical flooded crypt.
🎥 Watch the TikTok video below for more information
If you like history or even just incredible old buildings, I’d recommend visiting the church of San Zaccaria. Entry is free to the main church but the feature that piqued my interested was the flooded crypt underneath. It costs a few euro to enter this area and can feel somewhat eerie but it’s also beautiful.
- Visit any other places that you found along the way that took your interest
- If you ran out of time to do certain things on previous days, do them now!
- If you loved one of the places you visited, do it again!
Accommodation options
1. Airbnbs
My husband and I stayed at Lotus Apartments, which was booked through Airbnb. It was so convenient to hop off the train and we were practically at the door stop.
I would suggest staying not too far from the station if you are arriving by train, so it is quick and easy to find while carrying your luggage.
Airbnbs also have the bonus of hosts, who have local knowledge and are usually happy to answer any questions you have or help to make dinner reservations.
There are a surprising number of hotels in Venice, that range from affordable to very expensive. If you’d prefer a hotel over an Airbnb, I would suggest looking for somewhere not too far from your arrival location.
I’m a 28 year old female who loves to travel and share my experiences! I really enjoy going out for meals and drinks, so I can give you plenty of dining suggestions. I also like to recommend fun activities and places where you can just relax and explore. I lived on the Gold Coast in Australia for 25 years, so I know heaps of fantastic places to visit there. My family is from Tasmania, so I have done many trips to the beautiful state and have lots of tips to share. I have been to Europe 3 times, one of which was a gap year spent nannying and travelling. I’m very honest in my reviews and recommendations, so if you need helpful tips for your next trip, check out my guides!
