24-Hours To Explore Venice: Must See Sights

When we planned our trip to Italy we focused on seeing Rome and the Amalfi Coast and weren’t sure if we would make it to Venice. We visited Venice towards the end of our trip to Italy.

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Venice, Italy Overview

Venezia is a city of islands, canals and bridges link Venice together. Venice is in northeastern Italy on the Adriatic Sea. It is around 165 miles from Florence.

Explore Venice’s ancient streets
Walk over the Rialto Bridge
Take a Gondola Ride through the canals
Palazzo Ducale Secret Tour
Grab some lunch and Gelato in St. Mark’s Square
Buy a book at the unique Libreria Acqua Alta
Shop

Where is Venice?

Where to Park

Parking is limited in Venice just outside the historical center. Alternatively you can park in the many parking lots just outside Venice and take the bus or train to Venice. There is very little parking on the island.

Are you visiting Venice as a day trip? If so rearrange your schedule to allow a few days to explore this beautiful city. Seriously 24-hours is not enough time. I could of spend days just exploring all the narrow streets, nooks and crannies of the city. While all of Europe seems to have these narrow streets, Venice’s side streets were like a maze begging to be explored.

Getting Around Venice

You can drive to Venice, but will need to park outside of the historical city. The city of Venice is car-free. To get around put on your walking shoes or use the canal system.

If you purchase a timed ticket to the Doge’s Palace don’t run across the city like us just to get there in time, take the ferry terminal so you can see the sights along the way. It is just under two miles from the Venice bus terminal to Doge’s Palace.

Explore the Streets and Shops

The main streets of Venice are crowded with pedestrians, however the narrow side streets are not.

Cross the Rialto Bridge

The city’s oldest bridge, Rialto bridge is also the most famous bridge in Venice. It is also extremely crowded. You are shoulder-to-shoulder crossing this bridge.

Take a Gondola Ride

Yes, I know it is touristy. It was fun and a great way to see the city from a different point of view.

Palazzo Ducale Secret Tour

Doge’s Palace was a very interesting tour. We took the secret tour and I am so glad we signed up for this one. The tour takes about 3 hours.

You can see all the hidden rooms and where the Venetian government administration took place such as the Chamber of the Secret Chancellery, Chamber of the Inquisitors, and secret passages.

The tour will also take you to the Pozzi, Piombi and torture chamber. See where Casanova was held.

St. Mark’s Square

One of the most popular if not the most popular spot in Venice. This square offers a variety of restaurant, gelato shops, and unique shopping.

Libreria Acqua Alta

If you love books and cats, well you just have to see this one-of-a-kind bookstore in Venice. They have a canoe of books and cats roaming around the bookstore.

Rest Rooms

Like most areas in Europe finding a rest room in Venice can be challenging. Expect to pay around 1 Euro to use a rest room in Venice.