How to Explore Venice in 2 Days: 10 Must-Visit Spots

In this post I’m sharing 10 must-visit spots in Venice Italy, based on our recent two day trip there in the spring.

A Visit to Venice: “The Floating City”

In two earlier posts I shared some of the highlights of our April cruise in the eastern Adriatic from Athens to Venice. (My post about our trip to Athens Greece can be found here, and details of our stops in Croatia can be found here.) We had a fantastic time on our trip and have lots of fun memories to look back on. In this post, I’m sharing the final stop on our cruise where we spent two days exploring the city of Venice.

History

One of the most interesting things I learned about Venice is that the city was built on water by driving wooden stakes into the waterlogged ground of the Venetian Lagoon until they reached the clay bottom. Wooden platforms were then assembled on top of these stakes, providing a foundation for the buildings. The use of wooden piles, along with Istrian limestone, helped create a stable base for the city’s architecture, which has endured for centuries.

Of course, the most famous feature of Venice is its miles of canals, which replace the traditional streets of other cities. Water is everywhere and transportation is almost exclusively by boat. The canals wind through the old city providing picturesque views everywhere. It is truly a magical place.

Our hotel was located on an island in the Venetian lagoon outside of the city. The Isola di San Clemente is a 20 minute water taxi ride from the famous Piazza San Marco and is the location of the beautiful San Clemente Palace Kempinski hotel. This 5 star hotel and its grounds take up the entire small island.

While we would have preferred to stay in Venice proper so that we could take advantage of all of the fantastic restaurants in the city, we did have a comfortable stay and had no trouble getting to and from the city on their private shuttle.

What to Do During Your Visit

Our Day 1 Explorations

We knew that we wanted to take a gondola ride in Venice so we made that a priority. The gondoliers are located primarily in and around the Grand Canal, so we spent the better part of our first day exploring the winding streets and neighborhoods along its banks. We decided not to wait in line for a tour of St. Mark’s Basilica because the square was packed with tourists and we wanted to get away from the crowds in St. Mark’s Square. However, if we ever make it back to Venice we will make an effort to take the tour.

We crossed the Rialto Bridge during our wanderings on the first day and took in the view of the Grand Canal from the top of the bridge. We also stopped to enjoy cocktails at a little cafe next to the canal. It was fun to sit outside the cafe and watch the world go by. After our cocktails we boarded a gondola for 30 minute guided tour. Watching our gondolier maneuver the long gondola through the narrow side canals was fascinating.

We also walked a lot! Wear comfortable shoes! The streets and walking lanes are old and uneven. We explored the central part of the city and stopped for dinner at a cute cafe. Restaurants are everywhere so you will not go hungry! It was easy to get lost in the city but we managed with a map and our phones. Since we didn’t have a plan, we were content to wander through the neighborhoods taking in the sights. I recommend exploring some of the areas away from the tourists where you can see residents going about their daily lives.

In the more touristy areas you will find ample shopping and delicious treats like gelato. The island of Murano, famous for their beautiful glass artistry, is also located in the Venetian Lagoon. While we were unable to make it there this trip, there were shops all over Venice selling glass art pieces of all shapes and kinds.

Day 2 Explorations

On our second day, the weather became cloudy and rainy. We learned very quickly that the narrow streets and alleyways of Venice were not designed for thousands of people carrying umbrellas. I recommend wearing a rain jacket and leaving the umbrella at your hotel.

Since this was our last full day in Venice we made a concerted effort to explore more of the heart of the city. We explored lots of different piazzas and neighborhoods. We discovered an adorable little cafe and had a delicious pizza lunch.

One of my favorite memories from that day is our self-guided tour the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. We ducked inside to get out of the rain and were amazed at what we saw inside. We spent the better part of an hour taking in the spectacular art and history of this immense church.

Our explorations eventually took us to the far end of the Grand Canal, where we crossed the famous Ponte dell Accademia bridge. We eventually wound our way back to St. Mark’s Square and hopped back on our water taxi to take us back to our hotel. Although we were a little cold and wet, it was a fantastic day.

Venice is a city full of iconic sights and hidden gems. Although we did see many of these places, two days wasn’t nearly enough time to see all of them. I would especially like to visit some of the museums and tour St. Mark’s, and also visit other islands like Murano and Burano. Because our visit was a planned extension of our cruise itinerary, we didn’t have any control over our hotel’s location. I recommend staying in Venice proper to maximize your sightseeing time. You’ll also have easy access to restaurants, bars, gelato, etc.

Thanks for being here today! For more travel posts, check out my other posts where I shared some spectacular sights in Greece and reasons to visit the stunning country of Croatia. Have a great week!