Venice in 48 Hours Article

Two ways to make the most of 48 hours in Venice

There is no single right itinerary for Venice in 48 hours: it all depends on what you are looking for. This page offers two different routes, put together by cross-checking several traveler guides: a “must-sees” version, designed for a first stay, and a more cultural version that takes the time to discover the Venetian neighborhoods away from the crowds of Piazza San Marco.

Version 1 - The Must-Sees

Ideal for a first visit: it concentrates the city's best-known sites over two full days.

Day 1: St Mark's Square, Rialto and the Grand Canal

Start early at St Mark's Square to avoid the crowds: St Mark's Basilica generally opens around 9:30 a.m., and the Doge's Palace a little earlier. Visit both one after the other before the groups arrive, then climb the Campanile for a panoramic view over the city and the lagoon.

In the afternoon, walk to the Rialto Bridge through the Mercerie, then stroll through the San Polo district, from the Riva del Vin along the Grand Canal to Campo San Polo. End the day with dinner near the Rialto or, in Dorsoduro, around Campo Santa Margherita.

Day 2: Lagoon Islands and Dorsoduro Museums

Set aside the morning for a trip to the lagoon islands: Murano for glassblowing, then Burano for its colorful houses. Vaporetti connect the two islands directly; allow half a day for the round trip.

Back in Venice in the early afternoon, spend the rest of the day in the Dorsoduro district: the Gallerie dell'Accademia or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection depending on your tastes, then the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute just before sunset over the Grand Canal.

The itinerary below covers the afternoon on foot in Dorsoduro; the morning in Murano and Burano is by vaporetto.

Version 2 - Art, History and Venetian Neighborhoods

Designed for a second stay, or for visitors who prefer art and history to the crowds at the most photographed sites. This version stays almost entirely away from Piazza San Marco.

Day 1: Dorsoduro and San Polo

Head to the Dorsoduro district first thing in the morning, when the Gallerie dell'Accademia has just opened. Continue with the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, then the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute and its dome, visible from all along the Grand Canal.

In the afternoon, cross over to San Polo for two major stops in Venetian art: the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari and its works by Titian, then the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, nicknamed the “Venetian Sistine Chapel” for its cycle of paintings by Tintoretto.

Day 2: Cannaregio and Castello, Everyday Venice

Spend the morning in the Cannaregio district, the most residential in the historic center: the Venice Ghetto, the world's first ghetto, then the Madonna dell'Orto church, quieter than the major sites around St Mark's.

In the afternoon, take time to walk through the Castello district, the least touristy of the central sestieri: the Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, where many doges are buried, then the Arsenal, the former shipyard of the Republic, before heading back to the Rialto or St Mark's at the end of the day for one last view of the city, at the hour when tour groups begin to leave.

Practical Tips, Common to Both Versions

Whichever itinerary you choose, accommodation in a central district but not necessarily in St Mark's (Dorsoduro or San Polo, for example) lets you stay close to everything while avoiding the evening bustle. See our article Hotels and Accommodation in Venice to choose a district according to your priorities.

To organize your stops as you read, add the places that interest you to your custom itinerary: you can then rearrange them by drag and drop and calculate walking times between each stop.