One day in Venice (perfect itinerary for first timers)

Planning to spend one day in Venice? This itinerary shows you exactly what you can fit into a day, from St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace to hidden corners, photo spots, and amazing food stops (vegan option included!).

I’ve visited Venice since I was a kid, often as a day trip, and I’ve fine-tuned this route over the years to help you make the most of your time without rushing too much, though it’s definitely a full day!

You’ll also find practical tips on what to book in advance and how to avoid common mistakes, so you can plan an unforgettable day trip to Venice.

What to see and do in Venice in one day 

Here’s the 1 day itinerary at a glance:

• Morning: Rialto bridge, St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace
• Afternoon: gondola ride, Canal Grande, Ponte dell’Accademia, Scala Contarini del Bovolo
• Evening: bacari and cicchetti

You’ll find everything mentioned in the article on the map below, including places to see, where to eat and some great photo stops.

Morning

If you’re visiting Venice as a day trip, chances are you’ll get off at Santa Lucia train station or at the bus terminal in Piazzale Roma. 

From there, the walk to the city center will lead you to the Rialto Bridge, where you’ll catch your first views of the Canal Grande. It’s a classic photo stop, and from here, it’s just a 5 minute walk to St. Mark’s Square.

You’ll spend the morning here, visiting St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace—two of the most important places to understand the history and beauty of Venice.

St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)

This is the heart of Venice. Here you’ll find the city’s two most important landmarks: St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.

Right in front of the basilica stands the Campanile, the bell tower that was rebuilt after collapsing in 1902. You can go up for panoramic views over the city and lagoon, but since you only have one day, I’d leave it for another time. You’ll already get beautiful views from the Basilica’s terrace and, later in the afternoon, from the top of Scala Contarini del Bovolo.

On both sides of the square, the long rows of arches belong to the Procuratie. These buildings once housed the Procurators of St. Mark, powerful officials second only to the Doge, in charge of civic life and managing the basilica’s funds.

Facing the basilica, on the right side of the square, you’ll also find Caffè Florian, the oldest coffee house in Italy and one of the oldest in the world. It’s been open since 1720. It’s a beautiful stop but just know that a coffee will cost you around €7, so it’s not exactly cheap. 

Tip: We visited Doge’s Palace first, very early in the morning, and it was almost empty. By the time we got into St. Mark’s Basilica around 11:30, it was already packed. Prioritize the one you care most about and go there first.

Doge’s Palace

The Doge’s Palace was once the political center of the Venetian Republic. 

The Doge was the elected leader (not a king, though the title was for life) and shared power with various councils to keep things balanced since it was a republic, not a kingdom. Over a thousand years, Venice had 120 Doges, until the Republic came to an end in 1797 with Napoleon’s arrival.

The interiors are stunning, but one of the most memorable moments is walking through the Bridge of Sighs, which connects the palace to the old prison.

According to legend, prisoners sighed as they caught their last glimpse of Venice through the small windows before being taken to their cells, hence the name of the bridge.

⏱️ We spent about 1.5 hours here, with plenty of time for photo stops. If you want to go deeper, there’s also the Secret Itineraries Tour, a guided visit to some hidden areas of the palace. It lasts around 1 hour and 15 minutes, so make sure to plan extra time if you want to include it. We skipped it, but it’s a popular option.

St. Mark’s Basilica

Right across from the palace, St. Mark’s Basilica is the most famous church in Venice and the city’s most iconic symbol. It used to be the chapel of Doge’s Palace and is now known for its golden mosaics, grand domes, and unique architecture. 

There are three areas you can visit inside the basilica, and you can choose which ones to include depending on your time and interest:

1. Basilica interiors

What impressed me the most were the golden mosaics covering the ceilings and the incredibly detailed marble floors. 

2. Pala d’oro

A golden altarpiece made in Byzantium between the 10th and 12th centuries. It’s made of precious stones and 250 enamel plaques on silver foil using the cloisonné technique.

Among the images, you’ll see evangelists, prophets, apostles, angels, and scenes from the lives of Christ and St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice. It’s the only surviving example in the world of Gothic goldsmithing of this size that’s still intact.

3. Museum and Loggia dei Cavalli

The terrace is named after the horse statues (cavalli means horses), likely from the Roman or Hellenistic period. The originals are inside the museum, and they’re the only surviving full-scale ancient quadriga. They came from the Hippodrome of Constantinople and were brought to Venice during the Fourth Crusade.

Placed on the basilica, they became both a political and religious symbol: a sign of continuity with Byzantine imperial power and an allegory of the divine word spreading through the four evangelists.

Pro tip to save time visiting the terrace

If you want to visit the terrace, loggia dei cavalli, make sure to book a ticket that includes it because buying it inside when it’s crowded takes forever.

Once you’re in, it’s easy to get confused. There are two lines to go up: one for people buying tickets, and one for those who already have them. The first one is waaaay longer. If you’ve already got your ticket head to the line for ticket holders: it starts near the exit doors, on the left. I saw so many people queue unnecessarily for an hour just because it wasn’t clear!

⏱️ We spent about 1.5 hours here, visiting the interior, museum, and terrace. The museum was interesting, but it wasn’t our favorite. The terrace was amazing! The views alone are worth the extra ticket.

⚠️ Book you tickets in advance

Seriously! The lines to buy tickets on the spot can be incredibly long, especially during peak times like summer or special events.

I last visited during Carnival, and having skip-the-line tickets made a huge difference. We only waited a few minutes with others who had pre-booked, but it was quick and painless compared to the regular line. By 11AM the one outside St. Mark’s Basilica was already super long.

If you’re planning to visit both places, I recommend leaving at least 30 minutes between the two visits when booking. For example, if you plan to enter the Doge’s Palace at 9 AM and stay for around 2 hours, book your St. Mark’s Basilica entry for 11:30 AM.

After your visit, go to Riva degli Schiavoni, the waterfront promenade right in front of Doge’s Palace and see the Bridge of Sighs (ponte dei sospiri) itself there from Ponte della Paglia.

Another great spot for photographing the bridge is from Ponte de la Canonica, which is opposite the Bridge of Sighs, on the other side.

Lunch

By now, it’s probably lunchtime. You’ve got a few great options depending on your pace and mood — grab something quick to keep exploring or sit down for a proper meal.

• Pizzeria L’Angelo
  No tables, just really good pizza and amazing paninis you can take and enjoy outside. I especially loved the vegan paninis, so good!
• Dal Moro’s Fresh Pasta To Go
  Fresh pasta cooked on the spot with all the Italian classics: carbonara, amatriciana, cacio e pepe… They also have three vegan and three vegetarian options! The line looks long but moves fast.
• Da Mario alla Fava
  If you want to sit down and enjoy some proper Venetian food, this historic spot (open since 1960) won’t disappoint. They even have a full vegan menu, my boyfriend and I are vegan and we loved it!

Afternoon

Afternoon is dedicated to exploring the alleys, called calli in Venice, and the canals.

Gondola ride

A gondola ride is the classic Venice experience. Yes, it’s touristy, but it’s absolutely worth it!

These iconic black boats have been around since the 11th century and were once used by nobles to move through the city’s narrow canals. Not every boat in Venice is a gondola, though. You can also ride a sandolo, a lighter, older boat that locals still use today.

You’ll see gondolas everywhere, especially along the Grand Canal and near Rialto. The views are beautiful, but the vibe is very touristy (people will take pictures of you from every single bridge). 

If you’re after something quieter, I recommend heading to less crowded areas like Ghetto Nuovo. We went with Chiara, the only female sandolista in Venice, and it was a peaceful and authentic local experience. Just imagine gliding through canals in complete silence!

A 30-minute ride costs €90 per boat. It might seem quick, but we did it recently and honestly, it was perfect. It didn’t feel rushed at all!

Online bookings can be more expensive, but they’re worth it in high season to skip the queues.

Canal Grande

The Canal Grande is Venice’s main and most famous waterway. My favorite view is from Ponte dell’Accademia, I actually prefer it over the more famous Rialto Bridge.

The view from here is stunning, with the Grand Canal stretching out in front of you and Santa Maria della Salute in the distance. It’s one of the best photo spots in the city!

If you didn’t pass by Rialto Bridge in the morning on your way from the train station, you can head there in the afternoon. Just follow this map.

Scala Contarini del Bovolo

If you have time, make a quick stop at Scala Contarini del Bovolo! It’s a 15th-century Gothic building with a beautiful 26-meter spiral staircase that winds up the outside like a shell (in fact, bovolo means snail in Venetian).

Climb to the top for one of the best rooftop views in Venice. It’s one of my favorite places in Venice to take photos.

Bookshops

You’ve probably seen Libreria Acqua Alta all over social media, but I’m not including it in this itinerary becase I think it’s pretty overrated.

There’s usually a long queue just to get in, and once inside, the line continues around the shop. It’s basically impossible to stop, check out the book and explore in peace, staff members try to manage the queues as best they can but most people are just there for a photo by the famous pile of books in the back. I went recently to buy a couple of books, and honestly, it was so crowded that the whole experience was a nightmare.

If you’re set on seeing it, go at opening time — otherwise, skip it.

Instead, I recommend sullaluna libreria & bistrot. It’s a lovely bookshop with a great selection of art and illustrated books, plus a bistrot where you can stop for breakfast, lunch, tea and cake, or even aperitivo.

I actually found my favorite souvenir here: two beautiful illustrations by the venetian artist Camilla Pintonato.

Evening

If you’re visiting Venice on a day trip, you might not have much time in the evening but if you do, ending your day at a bacaro like a local is a must.

A bacaro is a small, often rustic Venetian bar, usually packed with locals. Here you can try cicchetti, small bites paired with a glass of wine (I usually go for prosecco) or a spritz. People often hop from one bacaro to the next, sampling cicchetti along the way.

If you’re up for it, here are some great spots — all 100% approved by our local friends, so you won’t fall for tourist traps.

• Vino Vero
• Cà D’oro alla Vedova (famous for their meatballs)
• Al timon
• Cantina Vecia Carbonera
• All’arco
• Al mercà
• Hostaria Vecio Biavarol
• Cantina Arnaldi
• Adriatico Mar
• Cantine del Vino già Schiavi
• Osteria Al Squero

Vegan cicchetti in Venice

Cicchetti aren’t always vegan-friendly, but there are two spots where you’ll always find good vegan options:

• H2NO
  Super casual, not fancy, but the food is amazing. They always have vegan tramezzini (crustless sandwiches with various fillings). We tried four different ones, and they were all delicious!
  
• Sullaluna
  Small bookstore and bistrot that also has outdoor seating right on the canal (it’s lovely!). We had vegan crostini and a glass of their own prosecco. It’s a bit pricier than H2NO, but the setting is so beautiful.

We actually did both in one night: we had cicchetti and drinks at each, and it replaced dinner for about €25 per person, absolutely worth it.

Visitor fee 

Starting in 2024, Venice introduced an entry fee for day trippers. It applies to anyone over 14 years old between 8:30 AM and 4 PM, and only if you’re not staying overnight.

In 2025, the fee is:

• €5 if you book at least 4 days in advance
• €10 if you book 3 days or less in advance

It’s only active on 54 days though, mostly weekends and public holidays. These are the exact dates for 2025:

• April: 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 e 31;
• May: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 e 16, 17, 18 e 23, 24, 25 e 30, 31;
• June: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 e 13, 14, 15 e 20, 21, 22 e 27, 28, 29;
• July: 4, 5, 6 e 11, 12, 13 e 18, 19, 20 e 25, 26, 27.

You can pay the visitor fee online here: https://cda.ve.it/en/

Some tips to plan a great trip 

Understand how to get around in Venice: walking vs ferries

Venice is best explored on foot. It’s not a huge city, and most places you’ll want to see are within walking distance. I honestly only take the vaporetto (public ferry) when I need to reach the other islands in the lagoon — otherwise, I just walk. Always.

Vaporetto tickets are also pretty expensive, a single ride costs €9.50 for a single ride and a day pass is 25€,  and the boats get super crowded during high season. Before you buy a ticket, check Google Maps: walking is often just as fast (or even faster), and it’s free.

Plus, half the magic of Venice is in the little side streets and quiet canals you stumble across. You’ll miss all of that if you’re hopping from one stop to the next by boat.

For one day in Venice, walking is probably the best idea!

Skip the lines (seriously, book ahead!)

The queues outside St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace are no joke. If you don’t book ahead, you might end up spending more time in line than inside. And it’s not just about skipping the wait. Some time slots actually sell out!

If you’re only in Venice for the day, don’t risk it. Book everything ahead and use that time to explore, not standing in line.

Pick the right hotel

If you decide to stay for one night, pick a hotel in the city center. Venice is walkable, but with no buses or metros, getting around takes time so it’s better to be close to everything.

The best areas to stay are San Marco (central but crowded), Dorsoduro (quieter with a local feel, my favorite), San Polo (close to Rialto), Cannaregio (great mix of location and charm).

Last time I stayed at Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace in Dorsoduro and absolutely loved it. It’s a 15th-century palace, just a short walk from everything, and the service was amazing.

FAQs

More tips to help you plan your trip to Venice

That’s everything you need for an unforgettable day in Venice — from iconic landmarks to quiet corners and local cicchetti spots!

If you’re still on the fence about how long to stay, whether Venice deserves a spot on your itinerary, or what to do, these guides can help:

• Is Venice worth visiting?
• How many days in Venice do you really need?