Venice in Three Days

Is it possible to visit Venice in 3 days?

The reality is that Venice is a small city, yet not lacking in charm. We have explored Venice in 3 days, but you can see the city perfectly in less time. You’ll find that it’s possible to visit everything in 3 days and still have time for the must-see highlights.

Some tips for a 3-day getaway to Venice

Venice is an extremely touristy city, receiving visitors from all over the world throughout the year. For this reason, our recommendation is to plan your trip well in advance—book hotels, tours, flight tickets, etc., to ensure the best prices and availability.

On the other hand, gondola rides can cost as much as €100 if negotiated directly there, so we recommend booking with tour companies that offer gondola rides for much less money if this luxury is beyond your budget.

Free Tours in Venice

A wonderful option to explore Venice while saving money is through FREE TOURS. Experts in Venetian history will guide you through the streets of Venice, revealing hidden details and curiosities that are hard to discover on your own.

We recommend taking these tours, especially at the beginning of your trip, as they are the perfect starting point. Afterward, you’ll be able to explore the city with more knowledge, making the most of your visit.

Below, we list the best Free Tours in Venice. Be sure to reserve in advance as they tend to fill up quickly.

Guide for Venice in 3 Days: Day 1

The question we asked ourselves was, “What not to see?” Therefore, we’ve created a perfect guide with everything most important, as well as alternative sites in case you don’t feel like visiting some places.

Once we’ve dropped off our luggage, we set out to explore Venice starting from the most beautiful hall in Europe, as Napoleon called it—Piazza San Marco.

Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica, St. Mark’s Campanile)

 

We begin our adventure by visiting this magnificent city, and our starting point is Piazza San Marco. From the square, you can see the majestic St. Mark’s Basilica, adorned with marbles and golden mosaics. Its architecture, primarily Byzantine, is a complex combination of Venetian Gothic, Byzantine, and Romanesque styles.

Inside the basilica, behind the main altar, is the Pala d’Oro, featuring thousands of gems and stones, a masterpiece of Byzantine and Venetian goldsmithing, among other beauties.

From the square, you’ll also spot the Campanile, or St. Mark’s bell tower. We recommend climbing to the top for stunning views of the city. The tower is open from 9 AM to 9 PM, with an entry fee of about €10.

Lastly, from the square, you’ll see two more buildings: the Museo Correr, the Clock Tower, and part of the Doge’s Palace. But before continuing, we recommend grabbing a coffee in the square. We went to Caffè Florian, located under the colonnades of the square.

If you want to discover more surprises in the busiest and most famous area of Venice, don’t hesitate to join the Free Tour Venice Must-See, where you’ll learn history and anecdotes not found in guidebooks.

Palacio Ducal de Venecia

A symbol of Venice’s golden age, the Doge’s Palace was the residence of the Duke of the Republic and the political seat of power in Venice for centuries.

This luxurious Gothic palace is divided into 3 main halls: the Grand Council Hall, the oldest; the Court Halls, which include the Sala dello Scrutinio; and the Duke’s quarters, along with various government offices.

The palace connects to the Old Venetian Prison via the Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners would enter the dark dungeons. The name comes from the sighs they would make as they crossed the bridge. You can visit the palace’s interior and cross the bridge by booking a guided tour with priority entry.

Santa Maria del Giglio

Santa Maria del Giglio dazzles with its classic Baroque Venetian style, known for its numerous ornaments (statues of glorious saints and angels with trumpets). Inside, you’ll find works like The Four Evangelists by Tintoretto and a Virgin and Child with St. John the Baptist, Rubens’ only work in Venice.

Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti

 

Built in 1565, with a later Venetian Gothic architectural style, this place is a must-see. If you feel like taking a Vaporetto, you can admire the Palazzo from the gondola. If you decide to enter, don’t miss the garden.

The view is breathtaking, and it takes you to our next stop: Dorsoduro.

Dorsoduro

We end our tour in Dorsoduro, the highest district in Venice. We hope you enjoy the incredible views.

This district houses the Church of Santa Maria della Salute, a sober building and one of the most important religious sites in Venice. Inside, you can admire works by Titian and Tintoretto.

Santa Maria della Salute

Guide to Venice in 3 Days: Day 2 - The Islands

This second day is reserved for visiting the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello, which are part of Venice. We recommend, just as we did, to go early.

The easiest way to get there is by using the vaporetto, the water buses of Venice. The price of a single ticket is €9.50 (with a duration of just 75 minutes), so we think it makes more sense to buy a one-day pass. For more information, check the price of the vaporetto in Venice.

There is also the option to reach the islands by taking a free tour to Murano and Burano with a guide, where you can learn about the glassblowing process on Murano and the beautiful pastel-colored houses in Burano.

Murano: The Little Venice

 

Of the three islands, Murano is not the most beautiful, but don’t be fooled; it’s a less majestic replica of Venice. Here you will find the famous Venetian glass factories and glass figurines.

You can also visit the lighthouse or admire some of the churches located in the lagoon, such as the Basilica of San Donato, a Romanesque church from the 7th century with beautiful mosaics inside, or the Church of San Pietro Martire from the 14th century with paintings by Veronese, Tintoretto, and Bellini.

Murano glass is very famous, and you will find numerous shops and even workshops where you can see the glassblowing process, which is quite an interesting spectacle.

Una muestra del cristal de Murano

Burano and Its Colors

Of the three islands, Burano is the most picturesque, filled with beautiful colorful houses lining its canals. According to what we’ve heard, you can find artisan workshops here and buy glass jewelry at much more affordable prices than in Murano.

Torcello

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta on the island of Torcello

 

Torcello is the oldest island in the Venetian lagoon. In its heyday, it was more populated than Venice and even more popular.

Here we recommend visiting the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, built in the year 639, and the stone throne located in front of the Cathedral, which, according to legend, was the throne of the King of the Huns, Attila.

Guide to Venice in 3 Days: Day 3 - The Less Typical

To see the best of Venice in a weekend, you should not miss visiting the neighborhoods of San Polo and Cannaregio. We recommend getting up early; we started before 6 AM because we wanted to see the fishermen arriving with their boats and experience a magnificent sunrise.

Rialto Market

The famous Rialto Bridge

 

We reached here by crossing the Rialto Bridge, the oldest and most important bridge spanning the Grand Canal, connecting the city to the dock. There we found the Rialto Market, which dates back to 1250. The market operates just as it did in its beginnings; here you can buy fruits, fish, and other groceries.

You can explore the Rialto Market and other historical sites in this area of Venice on the interesting free tour “The Venice of Marco Polo.”

The market is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM (except Mondays, when it is closed).

 

 

No neighborhood in Venice lacks an incredible church. Here we find the imposing Basilica of Santa Maria dei Frari, of Florentine Gothic architecture. You should at least see its facade.

The last stop we will visit in this neighborhood is Ca’ Rezzonico, a Baroque palace that belonged to the Bon family and, after being acquired by the Rezzonico family, was completed nearly a century later.

Campo di Ghetto Nuovo

 

Unlike other cities in Europe, the Jewish Ghetto in Venice was established in 1516, with the aim of housing the Jewish community in that area and thus preserving Catholics from Jewish influence.

Today, people of all religions coexist in this neighborhood. Parts of the film The Merchant of Venice were filmed on some of its streets. This area of Venice, including the Misericordia neighborhood, is well explained in the free tour of the Jewish ghetto of Venice, a two-hour walk that will change your perception of the city.

Church of Madonna dell’Orto

This church was built to honor Saint Christopher. However, in the 15th century, the church was completely destroyed. When it was rebuilt, a statue of the Virgin, of unknown origin, was found in an orchard that belonged to the church, which is why it changed its name.

Another interesting fact about this church is that the body of Tintoretto is buried here, in one of the chapels of the presbytery.

Venice in 3 Days, More Than Gondolas

In summary, our experience in Venice was incredible. We enjoyed excellent weather and the joy of the city. We traveled by vaporetto and visited the surrounding Venetian islands. If you have more time, we invite you to explore the Biennale di Venezia or consider other options to determine how many days are needed to see Venice.

Even if you are not traveling during the festival period, there is much to see related to art and cinema. The monument to the fallen, in memory of those who died during the Holocaust, and the National Archaeological Museum are some of the places you might enjoy visiting. ¡Presto!