Venice, “the city of bridges” or “the city of canals” was as beautiful as the movies make it. I always have my doubts because we know everything looks better in the movies but Venice truly was beautiful and quaint with all the canals.
I spent 1.5 days in Venice and stayed in the center of Venice to utilize my time best. An alternative is to stay off of the island which is cheaper but still allows access via train. If your also tight on time make, you can make use of the public water taxi which have tickets per ride, per day or a multi day pass. They are easy to use and located throughout. I did choose to walk because I believe that is part of the charm of Venice.
Thus, walking around the narrow streets and crossing the various canals is a must do activity I’d recommend. Just roam and get lost and take in the beauty of the city!
Take a gondola tour. Yes…this is a super touristy activity but I mean you came all the way to Venice so why not? We got on a gondola on the smaller canals and also circled out to the Grand Canal briefly so we were able to enjoy and view both. The total is 90 euro for 30 minutes (there are few companies that tried to double the price so be aware).
Visit St Marks Square! Yes, the square you see on TikTok as “constantly flooding.” This was not our case as it did not rain but we did further inquire while there and ultimately with heavy rain and the tide it is common for the square to flood as it is the lowest point in the city. However, it is normally for a few hours and then is clear again.
In St Marks Square you can visit the Basilica, Doges Palace and climb the campanile or tower for epic views of the city and canals. Also grab a drink at one of the cafes for a more relaxing admiration of the square.
And while we did not have time, if you are staying longer than a day, it would be worth visiting the neighboring islands of Murano and Burano. Murano of course known for the blown glass, here you can take a tour and watch glass blowers in action and Burano for the intricate lace work.
While in overall enjoyed the beauty of Venice, I’ll gently say it was not my favorite spot in Italy as it can be quite crowded and the food lacked in comparison. I do think it’s worth visiting and seeing but I felt my 1.5 days was plenty for my needs.