Choose how many days you have and we'll lay out a day-by-day plan built around the experiences and flavors you can only get here. Pick your trip length below.
San Marco belongs to the early risers and the after-dark wanderers — the day-trip crush peaks 11am–4pm. Pre-book the basilica to skip the line, and embrace getting lost; the wrong calle is usually the best one.
Dorsoduro and San Polo are where Venetians actually live — quieter, cheaper, and full of the best bàcari. Pace the churches; the Frari and San Rocco together are a lot of sublime in one afternoon.
The islands are a full vaporetto day — buy a day pass and go Murano → Burano → Torcello in order. Start early; the light on Burano is best before the afternoon boats arrive, and Torcello shuts down by evening.
16 pinned stops across the route. Tap a pin to open it in Google Maps. Hold Ctrl and scroll to zoom the map.
Venetian food is lagoon food — seafood, mainland rice, and the cicchetti culture of the bàcari wine bars, a world apart from the rest of Italy.
Every place along the selected itinerary, plus the dishes, ingredients, and goods to take home. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Venice has no cars — you move on foot and by vaporetto water bus along the canals; a timed travel pass is worth it for multiple rides. From Marco Polo airport, the Alilaguna boat or a water taxi brings you in by water (bus + walk is the budget route to Piazzale Roma). Getting lost is part of it; follow the yellow signs to San Marco or Rialto.
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Each of these is a comfortable there-and-back day. Travel times are one way, by the route most visitors actually take.
Glass furnaces on one island, riotously painted fishermen's houses on the next. The essential lagoon day.
Tours & tickets ›A Roman arena that still stages opera, plus Juliet's supposed balcony. Easy and worthwhile.
Tours & tickets ›Giotto's Scrovegni Chapel frescoes — book ahead, entry is timed and strictly limited.
Tours & tickets ›Alpine drama within reach. Only worth it if you're staying a while and want mountains.
Tours & tickets ›Not expected — a coperto is on the bill. Round up for good service.
Tap water and the public fountains are safe, clean, and free.
'Acqua alta' flooding is common in autumn and winter — raised walkways appear, and you'll want waterproof shoes. Check the tide forecast in season.
Dates shift from year to year, so these are anchored to their season — always confirm the exact dates before you book flights around one.
Masks, costumes, and masquerade balls across the city. Spectacular — and the single most expensive time to visit.
The world's most important art (and, in other years, architecture) exhibition, spread across the city.
A pontoon bridge across the Giudecca canal and fireworks over the water, watched from boats.
On the Lido. Glamorous, and it fills the hotels.
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