Venice is one of the most fascinating and romantic cities in the world, known for its canals, ancient palaces, and unique architecture. If you are planning a trip to Italy and have only two days to visit the city of Venice, here is a list of things to see that will help you discover the best views of the city and its main tourist attractions.

Summary

Visiting Venice in 2 days: Day 1

Spending a couple of days in Venice is an unforgettable experience. In the two days you will spend in this Italian city, you will have the opportunity to admire some of the most beautiful historical and artistic landmarks. If you are interested in seeing the best of Venice in two days, here are some must-see places for the first day.

Start your day by visiting Piazza San Marco, the heart of Venice. Here you can admire St. Mark’s Basilica, its Campanile, Doge’s Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs. Remember to also visit the famous Rialto Bridge and experience a gondola ride, an opportunity to enjoy a tour on the water and see the city from a completely new perspective.

St. Mark's Basilica and Campanile

St. Mark’s Basilica and its Campanile are two of the most iconic symbols of Venice. The basilica, built in 832, is one of the city’s main tourist attractions, famous for its golden mosaics, Baroque art, sculptures, and splendid decorations.

St. Mark’s Campanile, standing at 98 meters tall, was built in the 12th century and offers a panoramic view of the city that you must not miss. If you have the opportunity, climb to the top of the bell tower to admire the extraordinary view and take wonderful photos

Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs

Discovering the history of Venice through Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs is an extraordinary experience not to be missed. Doge’s Palace is one of the greatest examples of Venetian Renaissance civilization, once the seat of political power in Venice. Inside, you can explore the rich collection of artworks and the sumptuous halls that were inhabited by the Venetian Doges.

The Bridge of Sighs is one of the most famous bridges in Venice, connecting Doge’s Palace with the New Prisons. The bridge gets its name from the fact that, according to legend, the prisoners condemned to death who crossed the bridge from the prison to the interrogation rooms of Doge’s Palace would sigh as they looked out of the bridge’s windows towards the city. The bridge was the last glimpse they saw before being executed, and thus their sigh represented their last farewell to the city of Venice.

New Prisons Palace

The building was constructed in the 16th century as part of the Doge’s Palace complex, to house the new prison of the city, intended to expand the existing prisons in Doge’s Palace.

If you have the opportunity to spend at least 2 days in Venice, we recommend visiting the New Prisons Palace. You can discover the history of the New Prisons and admire the torture instruments dating back to the time of the Serenissima. Additionally, musical and theatrical performances are organized at the New Prisons Palace.

Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge is one of the most famous and ancient bridges in Venice, located on the Grand Canal in the historic center of the city. It is considered one of the symbols of Venice and one of the main tourist attractions.

The first version of the Rialto Bridge dates back to the 12th century, but the current stone structure was built in 1588 to replace a previous wooden bridge. Designed by the architect Antonio da Ponte, the Rialto Bridge has a Renaissance-style architecture, with a series of arches and a wide central staircase that leads to the top, where there are a series of shops and artisan workshops.

The Rialto Bridge has always been an important artery connecting the two parts of the city divided by the Grand Canal, facilitating trade and the transport of goods. Over the centuries, it has become a meeting point and gathering place for Venetians and visitors to the city.

Today, the Rialto Bridge is a very popular tourist attraction, especially for the panoramic view that can be admired from the top of the bridge, with the canals and historic palaces of Venice stretching in every direction.

Gondola Ride

If you only have 48 hours to visit Venice, we recommend experiencing a gondola ride. With its shimmering waters and characteristic houses lining the canals, a gondola ride is a romantic and relaxing opportunity to admire the city. A traditional gondola tour lasts about 40 minutes. You can also take a shorter ride around the city or book customized tours for special occasions.

Visiting Venice in 2 days: Day 2

The second day in Venice is the perfect opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful islands in the Venetian Lagoon, such as Murano, Burano, and Torcello. The island of Murano is famous for its glass masters, while Burano is known for its colorful buildings. Additionally, you can also visit the island of Torcello, where you can admire ancient churches and the remains of the Roman civilization.

Excursion to the Islands of Venice: Murano, Burano, and Torcello

Explore the beauties of Venice with an excursion to the three most famous islands: Murano, Burano, and Torcello! You can choose from numerous organized tours by Venice Tours and comfortably cross the lagoon while seated in a boat, enjoying the wonderful northern lagoon.

The first stop is Murano, the island famous for glassmaking. Here you can visit some of the oldest glass factories and admire the artworks created by skilled artisans. Burano, on the other hand, is famous for its colorful houses and the lace-making tradition, which still represents one of the island’s main artisan activities.

Finally, Torcello is the oldest site in the Venetian Lagoon, where you can visit the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, dating back to the 8th century.

Learn more about excursions to Murano, Burano and Torcello!

Venice City Tours organizes various full-day or half-day excursions to the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello. The excursions can be booked directly online, and the duration varies depending on the chosen option.

Starting from Venice, the first stop will be Murano, known for glassmaking. Here, you can admire the work of glass masters and browse their products in the shops. Next, we will head to Burano, a picturesque island with its typical colorful houses. Finally, we will proceed to Torcello, the oldest island in the Venetian Lagoon, offering splendid panoramas of the countryside.

Among the proposed tours is also the excursion to the island of Murano. The tour departs from Venice and includes a short private boat ride to Murano. Once on the island, the tour includes a visit to a glass factory, where you can see the glass masters at work and admire the artistic glassmaking process, along with explanations of the history and tradition of Murano glass

Do you have more than 2 days to see Venice?

Do you have more than 2 days to visit Venice? Do you have more than two days to visit Venice? If so, you are lucky! The city offers a great variety of places to see, each with its unique and fascinating history. The ones mentioned in the article are just some of the places to visit in Venice in two days. Of course, the city offers many other cultural and artistic attractions. Don’t forget to take the time to walk through the alleys and squares, discover Venetian traditions and flavors, and fully enjoy this marvelous city.

The article What to see in Venice in 2 days comes from Venice City Tours - Blog .