3 Days in Venice: The Ultimate Long Weekend in Venice

3 days in Venice is the perfect amount of time to spend in this beautiful and unique collection of islands. There’s nowhere else in the world quite like Venice, and I hope you get to experience this wonderful place as soon as possible.

Justin and I have traveled to Venice twice now, so we have loads of tips to help you enjoy the most perfect long weekend in Venice. This Venice travel guide is full of practical tips and advice, as well as a Venice 3 day itinerary that you’re welcome to steal for yourself.

It’s best to be prepared in advance so you don’t waste your precious time in Venice worrying about the logistics. Get your accommodation, transportation, and attraction tickets settled far in advance to avoid disappointment (I’ll show you how!).

The Perfect 3 Days in Venice Itinerary

With this Venice travel guide, I will help you plan the best 3 days in Venice itinerary. Feel free to follow this guide completely or change it around to your liking. You’ll see all of the main Venice attractions, visit the islands of the Venetian lagoon, and check all of the popular Venice activities off your bucket list.

I’ll also show you a few off the beaten path places to visit in Venice where you’ll avoid the crowds and enjoy a more “local” experience. At the same time, I’ll also show you some intriguing places to visit in Venice that you might not have heard about before, as well as where to take some of the best photos.

On top of that, I’ll give you some Venice restaurant recommendations, Venice hotel recommendations, transportation tips and tricks, and we’ll end your 3 days in Venice with a romantic gondola ride. All set? Let’s travel to Venice!

Getting Around Venice: A Brief Transportation Guide

It’s easy to get to Venice, whether you’re arriving by plane or train. Here’s where you can search for cheap flights to Venice. If you’re flying into the Venice Marco Polo International Airport (VCE), you can make your way to the city easily on the bus. I suggest buying your airport transfer ticket in advance.

In the airport, take exit D to get to the bus stop. Once you’re outside wait at platform 3 for the bus marked Venezia Diretta. Pull up your ticket on your phone (or print it out, if you choose) and the transit employee will scan it for you.

With that said, I recommend buying this unlimited vaporetto three day pass instead of the single airport transfer ticket. It includes your bus transfer from the airport, as well as three days of unlimited travel on the water taxis in Venice. You’re likely going to be using the vaporetto quite a bit, and you won’t need to pay for a new ticket each time you use it.

For more information on the public transportation system in Venice, I highly suggest that you take a look at our Venice transportation guide. You can learn how to navigate the public transportation system in Venice with ease before you arrive, so you know exactly what to do (and avoid getting a ticket inadvertently).

3 Days in Venice Itinerary: Day One

On day one of this 3 day itinerary for Venice, we’ll be visiting some of Venice’s most iconic attractions. If you only have one day in Venice, I suggest following these plans. It includes all of the must sees in Venice, including Piazza San Marco, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, and more.

If you are seeing Venice in a day and a half or two and a half days (arriving in the afternoon of the first day), I suggest switching this day with day two or day three. I suggest starting your day as early as possible in St. Mark’s Square as it will get busier as the day goes on.

Conversely, you can also delay your trip to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace to later in the day as the crowds dissipate. Just make sure you leave yourself enough time before the Doge’s Palace closes at 18:00. They are very firm on the closing time and will make you leave right as the clock strikes six!

If you only have one day in Venice and you’re looking for an easy and fun way to get a good overview, I suggest booking the Walks of Italy – Venice in a Day tour. You’ll enjoy skip the line tours of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, explore quieter neighborhoods on a walking tour, and end the day with a memorable gondola tour.

Visit Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square)

St. Mark’s Square, or Piazza San Marco, is the largest and most important square in Venice. It’s one of the most beautiful piazzas in Italy and home to several famous landmarks, including St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Campanile San Marco, and the Bridge of Sighs (technically not within the piazza, but part of the Doge’s Palace).

Visit in the early morning if you can. Many of the major attractions in the city of Venice are all here, so it can get very busy and crowded. It’s the heart of Venice with many main attractions, so it’s important to plan this part of the trip as much as you can.

While Venice is an incredibly safe place to visit at all hours of the day, I do advise you to watch out for petty scams. On our first trip to Venice, a man approached me and put bird seed in my hand. All of the pigeons flew at me and landed all over me! Of course, he demanded money for this “privilege” and I don’t know why…but I gave him money!

It’s easy to get distracted in such a beautiful place, but try your best to be aware of your surroundings. And don’t let random strangers put bird feed in your hand (unless you want this to happen for some reason).

Skip the Line at St. Mark’s Basilica

St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) is one of the most beautiful churches in Europe. There are incredible mosaics, amazing statues, and important relics of Saint Mark. You can tour the church for free, but the main line has a very long wait. Be prepared to wait for at least 45 minutes to an hour.

It’s best to secure a skip the line ticket in advance so you don’t need to spend a good portion of your day waiting to enter the church. Typically, you could pay a small fee to reserve tickets in advance. Unfortunately, you can no longer book these online ahead of time.

For this reason, I suggest planning to visit St Mark’s Basilica as part of a tour. Your tour guide will take you into the church and allow you to skip the line. Avoid the long lines by joining a guided tour. It’s one of the best things to do in Venice, so you don’t want to miss it.

Walks of Italy offers a fantastic tour that includes exclusive access to St. Mark’s Basilica and VIP balcony access, as well as a tour of the Doge’s Palace. Book your tour for their Legendary Venice experience.

This tour offers the whole package: skip the line and visit St. Mark’s Basilica, a guided tour of Doge’s Palace, and a city walking tour. Book this tour here.

For something a little more unique and different, you can take an after hours tour of St. Mark’s Basilica. You’ll visit all of the general access areas, plus you’ll see special access areas like the crypt. This is exclusive to Walks of Italy, and it is an intimate and insightful experience. Book your tour here.

There are a few things to know before you visit St. Mark’s Basilica. First, you must wear appropriate clothing. You must cover your shoulders and legs (above the knees) with a scarf or sarong. You aren’t allowed to take any photos inside the cathedral. Furthermore, you cannot bring large bags or backpacks inside with you. There is a safe and secure luggage storage next to the Basilica entrance where you can leave your bags.

Take a Tour of the Doge’s Palace

Another main attraction at St. Mark’s Square is the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale). The Doge of Venice was the supreme magistrate and leader of Venice for over 1000 years. Doges were appointed to hold their positions for life. You can tour many elaborate rooms of the palace to learn more about the political and social history of Venice, view brilliant works of art, and see amazing architecture.

While you can purchase a ticket simply to enter Doge’s Palace, it’s best if you book a tour with a knowledgeable guide. Your guide will tell you many interesting facts, historical notes, and stories that you may otherwise never learn. This is one of the best places in Venice, a spot where you don’t want to merely skim the surface.

There’s this tour that I mentioned above that combines a trip to Doge’s Palace with St. Mark’s Basilica. You’ll be able to witness the elaborate architecture of the palace courtyard, walk up the richest staircase in the world called the Golden Staircase (Scala d’Oro), and you’ll walk across the actual Bridge of Sighs itself.

Justin and I really enjoyed the regular Doge’s Palace tour with a guide because we learned so much about the history of Venice. We also viewed so many priceless artifacts and grandiose palace rooms. On another trip to Venice, we booked the Secret Passages tour.

Also known as the Secret Itineraries tour, you’ll go beyond the typical palace tour to explore the secret passages of the palace. You’ll navigate through hidden prison cells, torture chambers, and learn about Casanova’s legendary prison escape. The main tour features fine art and the grandeur of the palace rooms, while the Secret Passages tour gives you insights to some of Venice’s dark secrets. Intrigued? Book your tour of the Secret Passages.

St. Mark’s Bell Tower (Campanile di San Marco)

Another thing to do in St. Mark’s Square is climb the bell tower, Campanile di San Marco. The original bell tower was built in the 9th century, but it got struck by lightning and caught fire many times. In 1902, it completely collapsed. But, in 1912, it was reconstructed exactly as it was.

You can only buy tickets to the St. Mark’s Bell Tower on site. There is an elevator that takes you straight to the top, so you don’t need to climb any stairs. From the top of the Campanile, you can savor some of the most epic views of Venice and the lagoon.

3 Days in Venice: See the Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs is an enclosed bridge that was constructed in 1600. It passes over the Rio di Palazzo, connecting the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace to the New Prison. These small glimpses of Venice through the tiny windows along the bridge were the prisoners’ last views of the outside world as they were moved to their jail cells.

Viewing the Bridge of Sighs is one of the most popular things to do in Venice. It will get crowded and you may need to wait your turn in order to snap a photo.

Lunch in San Marco, Dorsoduro or San Polo

Now that you’ve toured St. Mark’s Square, it’s time to leave the piazza for lunch. I don’t recommend dining in St. Mark’s Square as it is very touristy and expensive. You can walk to your lunch spot by foot or take the vaporetto (water taxi) if it’s farther away.

For lunch, you can venture south into Dorsoduro for pizza at OKE Zattere. You can also try the Mediterranean restaurant, Frary’s, in San Polo. Pizzeria L’Angelo in San Marco is another pizza spot that I can recommend if you’re looking for great food on the go (it’s a takeout spot).

You’ll find all of these lunch recommendations and more in my vegan guide to Venice. Feel free to choose any restaurants from the vegan guide if you are looking for vegan and vegetarian eats in Venice.

3 Days in Venice: Rialto Bridge and Grand Canal

For the remainder of the day, continue to explore Venice at your own pace. Go for a walk along the Grand Canal, admiring the architecture and watching the boats. Using your transportation pass, you can hop on the water bus and go for a ride down the Grand Canal, too.

Be sure to catch some glimpses of the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto) and then walk across the Rialto Bridge itself. It’s the most famous bridge in Venice, and the oldest of all the bridges that cross the Grand Canal. There are little shops on the Rialto Bridge itself with high-end wares, like jewelry and Murano glass.

3 Days in Venice: Rialto Market

Once you cross the Rialto Bridge into San Polo, it’s time to visit the Rialto Market (Mercati di Rialto). This is a lively market with fruits, vegetables and fish, and it’s where most of the local Venetian citizens buy their fresh produce. The market has been around for 1000 years.

Unless you are staying in an apartment and cooking your own meals, you likely won’t buy too many food items from the Rialto Market, but it’s still well worth the trip. Surrounding the Rialto Market, there are lots of souvenir shops with all kinds of trinkets and gifts from Venice. If you’re looking to do some shopping for yourself or loved ones back at home, head over to San Polo around the Rialto Market.

Dinner at La Tecia Vegana

This is my very favorite restaurant in all of Venice, and I think that you should dine here (even if you aren’t vegan). La Tecia Vegana transforms traditional Venetian cuisine into plant-based versions. After dining here, it quickly became one of my favorite restaurants in the world.

La Tecia Vegana has seitan and polenta, vegan lentil burgers, eggplant lasagna, vegan tiramisu, and more. It’s all of your favorite Italian eats without the meat. We ate ravioli, herb potatoes, garlic chicory salad, and the most delicious tiramisu.

You will need to make reservations to dine at La Tecia Vegana, especially if you’re visiting on the weekend. It’s a really popular place with limited seating. Definitely dine here and you won’t be disappointed!

3 Days in Venice Itinerary: Day Two

During our three days in Venice, we spent the second day exploring the islands of the Venetian lagoon. Murano and Burano are not to be missed. Murano is the island of glass, and Burano is the island of lace. I recommend spending a relaxing half day at both islands. If you have 3 days in Venice, at least a half of one of those days must be spent in Murano and Burano.

The Island of Murano

From the vaporetto, our first stop was Murano. To reach the island, take a vaporetto to the Fondamente Nove stop and transfer to line 12. The boarding area is just beyond the Donà Bridge. The first stop on line 12 is the island of Murano. If you stay on the boat, you’ll eventually reach Burano.

While we found it very easy to travel to Murano and Burano on our own, you can also take a guided tour to Murano and Burano. Transportation is completely sorted out for you, and you can travel without any planning necessary. Travel to the islands with a guide, visit a glass factory, and wander around the colorful homes of Burano. Book your tour here.

When you’re in Murano, wander around the canals and streets, visiting little shops and cafes. At the island of glass, we went to a free glass blowing demonstration by a master. Afterwards, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase Murano glass, but we didn’t feel pressured into buying anything.

You should also visit the clock tower in San Stefano square and go for a walk along the canal. Murano isn’t very big, so you’ll be able to see it all in a short period of time. Check out my complete guide to Murano.

The Island of Burano

Burano is known as the island of lace, but I remember it mostly for the bright and colorful buildings. No two buildings can be painted the same color next to one another, and all paint colors must be approved by the government.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a concentration of rainbow colored houses all in one place. If you’re looking for things to do in Venice, visiting Burano is an absolute must. Take a stroll around the canals and snap a ton of photos.

Once you’re off the canal and down the side streets, it will be a little quieter. You’ll find beautiful spaces wherever you turn. Even though you can find things made of lace for sale, we bought a painting of the buildings themselves as that was most memorable to us.

It’s easy to combine a trip to Murano and Burano into one half day trip. Here’s how we spent our day in Burano. For a slightly longer day trip (6 hours), you can add Torcello to the mix. Torcello is the first settlement in the Venetian Lagoon. Check out the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which dates back to 639. Book your tour here.

Lunch in Murano or Lido

Depending on when you visit, I suggest stopping for a lunch break in Murano or Lido. Murano has a great Venetian restaurant, Trattoria al Corallo, a family owned and operated establishment with delicious eats.

If you decide to wait until you venture over to Lido, there are two restaurants with vegan options. Buddha Soul Resto is an Asian and Italian restaurant, and El Pecador is a fast food restaurant inside a double decker bus.

The Island of Lido

If you’ve got some time and energy, take the vaporetto to Lido. We never got the chance to do this, as we spent a little more time in Murano and Burano instead. Lido is the beach resort island of Venice. If you’re visiting during the summer months, you can relax on the beach.

If we had enough time, we were planning to rent bicycles and ride all over the island. However, we didn’t want to rush it. We didn’t feel there was enough time to savor Burano, Murano, and Lido all in one day. You might have a different experience or wake up a little earlier than we did.

When planning what to see in Venice, we felt that Lido was the spot we could sacrifice if we had to miss out on something. If you have 4 days in Venice, you should make the trip over to Lido to spend the day there.

For another great off the beaten path idea, you can take the vaporetto farther south in the Venetian lagoon to the island of Pellestrina. It is a quiet island where you can go for a bike ride along its shores. We visited Pellestrina as a stop on our Italian river cruise. Add Lido or Pellestrina to your 4 days in Venice itinerary.

Dinner in San Marco

Back on the main island, it’s time for dinner. I suggest stopping at Le Cafe, which has a spacious patio where you can eat, drink, and people watch. We really loved the charming atmosphere and vibes here in the evening.

Wine Bar TeAmo in San Marco is another great spot that has a separate vegan menu. There are four main dishes: vegan lasagna, vegan burger, soy balls with vegetables, and a soy cutlet with quinoa. Being a wine bar, you can expect that this restaurant has an extensive wine list. You can view more restaurant recommendations here.

3 Days in Venice Itinerary: Day Three

On day three of this 3 days in Venice itinerary, you’ll go for a big wander around the districts of Venice that we haven’t explored much yet. This includes Cannaregio, Castello, and Dorsoduro.

I encourage you to wander up and down all of the narrow streets and feel free to “get lost“! You can never really get completely lost in Venice. You’ll eventually hit a dead end at a canal or find yourself at the edge of the lagoon.

You never know what you might stumble upon, whether it’s an interesting building, alleyway, or doorway. The city is so full of amazing history. The best thing you can do is wander around, seeing as much of it as you can.

Adding this element of surprise, it’s not such a bad idea to explore Venice without a solid plan. With that said, I have some key sights in Cannaregio, Castello, and Dorsoduro that you may want to see. So, feel free to be as organized as you’d like with your 72 hours in Venice…or not!

Coffee and Pastries at Torrefazione Cannaregio

Torrefazione Cannaregio is a coffee shop in Cannaregio, Venice, that’s very vegan-friendly. There is a limited amount of indoor and outdoor patio seating. This is one of the oldest coffee shops in Venice where they roast their own coffee (for over 80 years).

This place is super popular and you might not get a seat. That was the case for us. However, we ended up sitting at the edge of the canal with our coffees and croissants and it wasn’t a problem! They have vegan croissants and pastries that are really yummy.

Ponte Chiodo: A Rare Bridge in Venice

In the middle of Cannaregio, Ponte Chiodo is an interesting old bridge that is unlike any other in Venice. Known as the Nail Bridge, it is one of two remaining ancient bridges without railings. The other bridge, Ponte del Diavolo (Devil’s Bridge) is on Torcello island.

Ponte Chiodo is one of the only bridges that doesn’t connect two streets. It leads directly to a private building owned by the Chiodos, which is now home to a bed and breakfast.

Calle Varisco: The Narrowest Street in Venice

It’s also a fun adventure to find the narrowest street in Venice. To reach Calle Varisco, you’ll need to meander around a maze of quiet alleyways. Google Maps is really helpful to find this one!

Eventually, you’ll reach this extremely narrow street that dead ends at a canal. It’s a really fun photo spot!

Ponte dei Conzafelzi: Views of a Unique Building

If you love visiting Venice for its architectural wonders, head over to Ponte dei Conzafelzi in Castello. This Venetian bridge offers a view of a unique building that’s between two canals. It’s another great place to take some Instagram-worthy photos in Venice.

I mean, pretty much all of Venice is worthy of any Instagram gallery. But, it’s a one-of-a-kind spot in Venice that’s worthy of a trip if you’re exploring.

Libreria Acqua Alta: A Beautiful Bookshop

We stumbled upon one of the best bookstores called Libreria Acqua Alta. This is a must see in Venice. It’s the only bookstore that has a gondola inside it, filled with books. This bookstore is prepared for a flood, with books stacked in tubs and boats.

At the back of the store, walk up a small staircase made of old books for an awesome view. There are also some cats that live at the shop. Even if you only have 3 days in Venice, make a point of stopping by one of the most unique bookstores in the world.

3 Days in Venice: Castello and the Gardens

Castello is a Venetian district where you can escape the crowds. You’ll find that locals hang out in Castello and its greenspaces (yes, Venice has parks and gardens, surprisingly!). The main streets in Castello, like Via Giuseppe Garabaldi, are lined with cafes and restaurants with no shortage of patios.

There are lots of narrow streets off the canal where you can view picturesque and typical Italian scenes. Residents drape their laundry across the streets, and you might spot a cat or two running around. This area of Castello starkly contrasts the scenes you’ll find around the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco. You might have these streets all to yourself.

There are a number of public gardens in Castello, in the far southeast corner of the island. First, Giardino della Marinaressa is a small garden with sculptures and public art. Like the gardens I’ll be mentioning here, it runs along the edge of the lagoon.

There’s another large path and greenspace beyond the Giuseppe Garibaldi Monument. Go for a stroll down this main path, lined with trees and the backs of colorful homes.

Giardini della Biennale is another large park and garden in Castello. It’s home to the Venice Biennale Art Festival, which started back in 1895. There are 30 permanent pavilions dedicated to countries from around the world and created by renowned architects.

Lastly, Parco delle Rimembranze is a waterfront park that features a path lined with tall pine trees. This is a great retreat from the hustle and bustle of Venice, and also a great place to enjoy a picnic. Soak up views of the lagoon and simply relax.

Lunch at Sullaluna

Sullaluna is a cozy Italian bookstore with a bistro with limited indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant is entirely vegetarian with vegan options on the menu. The menus are split into vegetarian and vegan options.

You can find two vegan menus: one of small plates (“vegan croutons”) and main courses (“vegan plates”). We loved this delightful vegetarian bookstore cafe in Cannaregio, and it’s a great lunch stop during your 3 days in Venice.

3 Days in Venice: Explore Dorsoduro

Dorsoduro is another district in Venice that we really loved. Walk around the canals and streets in Dorsoduro at any point in your 3 days in Venice itinerary. You can fit this into your schedule on day 1 if there’s time (La Tecia Vegana and OKE Zattere are in Dorsoduro) or towards the end of day 3.

For more attractions in Venice, you can visit a museum or a palace in Dorsoduro. There’s the Gallerie dell’ Accademia, with its great collection of Venetian paintings. If you’re more into modern art, check out the Peggy Guggenheim collection.

If you love churches, be sure to see Santa Maria della Salute or Gesuati. The giganic palazzo, Ca’ Rezzonico, is another amazing place to visit. It’s all up to your own personal interests when deciding what to do in Venice.

3 Days in Venice: Take a Gondola Ride

We spent our last evening in Venice taking a romantic gondola ride. If you’re traveling as a couple, a gondola ride is such a memorable and magical moment to share together. There’s a great debate on whether or not you should take a gondola ride in Venice. It’s really up to you. It is a little on the expensive side, but I love doing those iconic things sometimes.

We opted to take our gondola ride at dusk, which was even more romantic as the sun began to set. Even though you can catch awesome views of Venice from the vaporetto, it’s a whole other experience to take a gondola ride.

Justin and I booked a gondola tour that had a musician and a singer, which made the experience even more romantic. Please note that you will be sharing your gondola with two other couples / four other people. It is possible to reserve a gondola for two for a more private experience.

Dinner in Venice

For dinner, you can head back to Cannaregio for a meal at GAM GAM Kosher Restaurant. It is an Israeli restaurant in the Jewish ghetto area of Venice, and it’s been around for nearly 20 years. You can find hummus, falafel, couscous, and more.

Basara is a Japanese restaurant in Dorsoduro, and it’s perfect if you don’t feel like eating any more pizza or pasta. They’ve labeled all of the vegetarian choices on the menu, and many of these are vegan-friendly. Who knew that you could find good sushi in Venice?

Of course, you’re welcome to stop at any restaurant that you find along the Grand Canal. You really can’t go wrong with pizza or pasta anywhere in Venice. During your 3 days in Venice, you’re going to eat a lot of delicious food and be happily full!

Where to Stay in Venice: Hotel Abbazia

For a hotel that’s comfortable, affordable, quiet, yet in the middle of all the action, we recommend that you stay at Hotel Abbazia. Located in the Cannaregio district just steps from the main Santa Lucia train station, Hotel Abbazia is a wonderful place to stay in Venice.

Hotel Abbazia has hospitable and friendly staff. The man who works at the front desk is extremely nice and helpful. It’s a pretty standard hotel room without many frills, but we spent very little time in the hotel anyway. This hotel is comfortable, clean, and safe. It’s a great place to rest your head at night. There are large windows with lovely views across the rooftops of Venetian homes.

Even though Hotel Abbazia is steps from the bustling Santa Lucia train station and Piazzale Roma, it’s a really peaceful place. Once you walk down the narrow alleyway from the main street, the crowds dissipate and it’s not noisy at all.

More Places to Stay in Venice: An Apartment in Dorsoduro

On our first trip to Venice, Justin and I stayed at a luxurious apartment in the Dorsoduro district. We loved staying in Dorsoduro, especially if you’re looking to be situated in a less touristy area. We were still within a short walk of all the main tourist attractions, yet it didn’t feel overrun by visitors. In the mornings and evenings, we mostly saw locals walking their dogs or children playing soccer in the little piazzas.

Unfortunately, the apartment where we stayed is no longer up for rent. But, there are plenty of other places to stay in Dorsoduro that look really nice. Here are three that I suggest that you check out: Accademia Apartments R&R, Venice Salute Appartamenti, and Dorsoduro Charme Apartments. And if the place we stayed ever becomes available again, I’ll update this post to reflect that!

Frequently Asked Questions About Venice

I’m sure you have lots of questions about planning a trip to Venice, Italy. Whether you spend 3 days in Venice, 4 days in Venice, or a week in Venice, you simply won’t run out of things to see and do. Here’s my advice on preparing for the best trip to Venice.

For your next Italy trip, be sure to add Venice to the travel plans. With 3 days in Venice, you can see many Venice landmarks without rushing it too much. It’s all about striking a balance. You don’t want to rush around from place to place. Yet, you don’t want to miss out on anything.

If you’re looking for what to do in Venice, this Venice itinerary provides a great foundation to see many stunning sights, and leaves you wanting more for next time.