Has Venice been on your wishlist for what feels like forever, yet you’ve never quite managed to make it happen? A well-planned one day in Venice might be the answer.
If you’re worried that visiting Venice in just one day—especially for your first time—won’t be worth it, I’m here to prove the opposite.
Our day trip to Venice became the highlight of our latest Italian adventure, and it can be the same for you. With my carefully planned itinerary, you’ll be able to see the city’s top sights in just a few hours while still leaving time to simply wander, take it all in, and savor la dolce vita—even on one of the hottest days of summer, as we did.
I’ll also share the delicious food stops that made our Venice experience even more unforgettable.
So, let’s dive into our one-day journey through Venice.
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Table of Contents
One Day in Venice – Breakfast & Top Sights
So you made it to Venice (don’t worry, I will share more tips on how to get there at the end of this post). Get ready to let the magic of this city guide you, and my itinerary too!
It’s morning time, and you still haven’t had any breakfast.
Even if you did, I suggest you don’t skip breakfast in Venice. It’s one of those once in a lifetime experiences, especially if you choose to have it at Cafe Florian, like we did.
Did you know that..
Caffè Florian is the oldest cafe in Italy, and also the oldest in Europe in operation since 1720?
If you appreciate history and old cafes, you know this is a must visit. It’s on the pricey side, but it’s worth it in my opinion. The food is delicious and the service is great. The only thing is that in summer it can get very hot as they don’t have air conditioning.
I will give you a full review later on.
Even if you decide to have breakfast elsewhere, I still suggest you stop by Cafe Florian entrance and take in the setting and decor. They also have an outdoor seating area in St. Mark Square with a full orchestra.
Assuming you are arriving by train at Venezia Santa Lucia Train station, we’ll start our itinerary there.
Before you make your way to Cafe Florian, there are a few amazing sights in Venice you need to stop at. It’s just a 35 minute walk, and then you can reward yourself with breakfast.
First stop is just a few steps away from the Train station exit. I am referring to Ponte delle Guglie. This is your first taste of Venice, so soak it all in, take a few pictures, and march on!
PS: If you’d rather have breakfast now..
there’s a popular cafeteria just 3 minutes away from the train station. It’s called Pasticceria dal Mas. Just keep in mind that this has no seating, but you can stand at the bar.
Another breakfast option I would consider is Ponte delle Paste Cafe, which is on our route, just a few minutes walk from Rialto Bridge.
With that in mind, let’s walk towards Rio Marin. There’s nothing particularly famous about this street, but it’s a beautiful quiet spot, away from the crowds that gives you a glimpse into what life in Venice looks like for the locals. It’s also idyllic in the morning, and there’s another breakfast spot I will happily consider stopping at – Pasticceria Rio Marin, located right on the rio it’s named after.
Rio is what they call streets on smaller canals in Venice, so expect to go through many of them while you are there!
One thing to keep in mind is that you will feel like a kid in a candy shop moving from one canal and bridge to the other. There will be plenty of perfect picture spots along the way, so take advantage of that in the morning, while the light is beautiful and the sun is not too high.
In Venice, it’s truly about the journey and not the destination. If you don’t believe me look at the images below. You’ll get to see those same spots on your way there.
Rialto Bridge
Our next stop is the Rialto Market, housing one of the most impressive fish markets in Europe. It’s located inside the neo-gothic style Loggia. You’ll find the rest of the market vendors selling fruit, vegetables, and more just outside the loggia in Campo della Pescaria square, right next to the Grand Canal.
Next to the Rialto market, you’ll find both a Ferry stop (called Traghetto) and a Gondola stop.
Next is you guessed it.. the famous Rialto Bridge. Why is it so famous you ask? That’s because it’s one of the oldest standing bridges in Venice, first built in wood in the 12th century, and then rebuilt in its current stone structure in 1591. Its architecture is stunning and it’s also a very practical structure linking two major districts in Venice – San Marco and San Polo.
The most surprising part of visiting this iconic Venetian sight was learning how many stairways it has, 6 in total – 3 on each end going into different directions to let people access the centre of the bridge. The centre stairways feel like a shopping street as they are lined with gorgeous boutiques on each side. While the side stairways overlook the canal and connect different parts of Venice.
By now, you’ve likely started experiencing the busy, crowded side of Venice. Do you, however, agree that it’s not as bad as one would imagine it to be? Even on a very hot day, there’s still plenty of space for everyone to enjoy this wonderful city. So if you are on the fence whether to visit Venice or not, I urge you to go, and that’s coming from someone who hates crowds.
St Mark Square
We are only 8 minutes away from the one and only, St Mark Square, which means that breakfast is coming next, unless you choose to have it elsewhere.
Once you get to Piazza San Marco you can choose to go straight to Cafe Florian, or make a loop around the square under the porticos first.
Those porticoes are actually called Procuratie, and are divided into three parts – old Procuratie, new Procuratie and Napoleonic Procuratie. They were named Procuratie after the St. Mark Procurators, who held the highest lifelong appointment after the Doge within the Venetian Republic (la Serenissima).
Many of the most important things to see in Venice are concentrated around St. Mark’s Square. I will list them for you next.
What to see in Venice near Piazza San Marco:
- Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica)
Famous for its Byzantine architecture and golden mosaics. Admission to the basilica is free, but some areas inside, like the museum and Pala d’Oro altar, require a ticket. - Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace)
A stunning example of Gothic architecture and former seat of Venetian power. Admission is ticketed and includes access to the palace, prisons, and the Bridge of Sighs. - Campanile di San Marco (St. Mark’s Campanile)
The bell tower with spectacular views over Venice. Tickets are required to take the elevator to the top. - Museo Correr
Located in the Napoleonic Wing at the end of the square, this museum showcases Venetian art and history. Admission requires a ticket. - Torre dell’Orologio (St. Mark’s Clocktower)
The Renaissance clocktower with its famous astronomical clock. Visits inside require booking a guided tour.
If you plan to visit any of these, do yourself a favor and book tickets in advance. Keep in mind that each attraction can take a few hours to explore fully. So if you want to see other parts of Venice too, I’d recommend choosing just one to visit during your day here.
We didn’t visit any of the above on this trip, saving them for when we return to Venice for a longer stay.
Is Cafe Florian Worth It?
Honestly, this was one of the stops I was most excited about our Venetian adventure, other than being in Venice, and it didn’t disappoint.
I do have a thing for visiting old cafes, so keep that in mind. I am always looking for the oldest cafe in the places I visit, and checking whether they are well rated. We visited these popular old cafes in Italy, and I reviewed all of them in separate posts, in case you are interested:
Caffè Gilli in Florence
Antico Caffè Greco in Rome
Caffè Cova in Milan
So how did Cafe Florian compare?
It was the second most expensive one, but much more worth it than the most expensive of the bunch. In terms of food, it was my third favorite, but that’s simply because we visited the other two multiple times and got to try different options.
I was actually pretty surprised with the quality of the food at this very popular cafe. The only thing I didn’t like is their small breakfast pastries selection, and the fact that they don’t have a proper display where you can look at the options and choose from. You instead choose from the menu after you get seated.
What did we order?
My husband ordered a savory croissant and iced coffee, while I opted for a classic croissant filled with apricot jam and a peach iced tea. Everything was delicious and good sized. They also brought us a complimentary glass of water each.
We spent at least an hour there, and we would have stayed longer had it not been so hot.
Where should you sit?
If you are torn between sitting inside and outside, I understand because both options are gorgeous. However, there’s nothing like sitting inside and admiring the decor that has been there for centuries.
In case you are wondering, the bathrooms were small but clean, and it’s a convenient place to come when you are in the city just for one day, and don’t have a hotel or airbnb to go to. Of course, you need to order something first!
What To Do In Venice After Breakfast
Here’s what we did; feel free to copy us.
We looped around the square, like I suggested earlier, and then headed to see the Bridge of Sighs or il Ponte dei Sospiri. The latter is located on top of Rio del Palazzo.
Something to note is that you can’t go on the Bridge of sighs, unless you book a private tour of the Dodge’s Palace. Instead, the easiest way to see it is to admire it from far from one of these two bridges – either from the right side while standing on Ponte della Paglia, or from the left side on Ponte della Canonica.
We opted for the first option.
The next stop on my itinerary was Rio de San Zulian, so we made our way there.This is not a popular place in Venice, but was listed among one of the most beautiful streets in the city, so it made it on my itinerary. You can also get a glimpse of what I wore in Venice, on one of the hottest Summer days.
Time for gelato
My breakfast was quite small and I was still feeling peckish, especially since it was already nearly noon. We had lunch booked for 2pm, so there was still a long time to go.
Ice cream seemed like the perfect idea, and what’s better than enjoying gelato in a new city?
When planning my itinerary, I looked for the top ice cream shop in Venice, one that was given 3 cones by Gambero Rosso, but I couldn’t find any in the centre. So I continued my search by looking at the top rated gelato shops on Google, and ended up with just one choice – Gelateria Gallonetto. It has nearly 3.5k reviews and 4.9 stars.
The queue was fairly short, the staff was so nice, the shop was small but cosy (just two bar stools, so no seating area inside), and I ordered one of my favorite combinations – tiramisu and pistachio. In case you are wondering, my most favorite gelato pairing is tiramisu and nocciola (hazelnut). My husband had a fruity pairing and we both agreed the ice cream was delicious. So I really recommend it!
Next stop was Strada Nova – one of the main streets and proper roads in the city that are wide enough to look like a street.
We then made our way to lunch since we had a long walk to get there. And we also needed a break from the scorching sun.
Lunch In Venice
If you want to have lunch in Venice, make sure to book yours a few days in advance. They will send you a booking confirmation, and you don’t have to waste time finding a spot while you are there.
After a lot of research, these were the restaurants I shortlisted:
Trattoria al Gazzettino
La Lanterna da Gas
Rio Novo (on water)
Trattoria ai Cugnai (on water)
Two of them were on water, and the others not. Because it was Summer and in the midst of a heatwave we decided to leave the outdoor restaurants for next time and opt for one where we could sit inside under the air conditioning.
We sent a request to book the first two restaurants, and got accepted, but we opted for La Lanterna da Gas. I am not sure whether it was the best choice, simply because I didn’t enjoy my lunch. However, my husband’s pasta looked and smelled delicious, and he said it was nice. The restaurant was full, and many of the people were Italians, which is always a good sign that the restaurant it’s not a tourist trap.
I think what happened is that I asked for something that was not on the menu and they tried to make it for me as well as they could. I would still recommend the restaurant, just stick to the menu.
Here’s what we ordered:
Paccheri with fresh tuna for my husband
A simple grilled fillet of fish (I believe it was sea bass) for me
The problem with my fish is that it was very dry, but not because it had no dressing but the way it had been cooked. It tasted fresh but the consistency reminded me of salted cod (baccala in Italian) which is dry and needs to be soaked and cooked in a sauce for a long time.
Wrapping Up Your Day In Venice
My biggest tip, which I will explain further below, is to make your way to the train station or the bus stop earlier than you believe needed, because it’s easy to get lost in Venice, even when you use Google maps. That’s what happened to us after lunch. Luckily we had plenty of time left.
You could go to the train station early and have a drink inside, or perhaps you could stroll around on the other side of the Canal di Cannareggio knowing that you are just a bridge away.
Or you could leave a few last stops on the itinerary closer to the station, which is what we did. These were the places we saw after lunch on our way to the train station:
Rio de S. Barnaba
Rio de Ca Foscari
Rio della Misericordia
Rio Novo
Once in Rio Novo, we realized we couldn’t find a way back that didn’t include water transportation, so we opted to take the ferry.
I am glad it happened because it gave us the chance to experience the ferry, something I was actually anxious about, as I don’t like boats. It was fine, and I would now happily take it multiple times a day.
Once we arrived at the station, we had another gelato at Venchi and then waited for our train reflecting on what an amazing time we had.
And that’s how we wrapped up our time in Venice.
It’s your turn to go visit now! Will you?
Useful Tips For Your Venice Day Trip
In this final section, I will be answering common questions about Venice and sharing tips along the way.
How to Get to Venice?
Although you can drive to Venice and park in Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto parking, the most common way to get there is by train and bus. I haven’t explored the latter, so I will tell you how we arrived in Venice by train.
We were staying in Trieste, and took a direct nearly 2 hr train ride to Venice, early in the morning. We made it to Venice just after 9 am.
The journey was spectacular, with changing landscapes throughout, and getting to Venice on a train on water was such a special experience. The water was glistening in the sun, and it all added to the magic of arriving in such a unique city.
You can have the same experience arriving from other main cities in Italy. All the main cities in the north and centre have direct train connections to Venice Santa Lucia Train Station that take a maximum of 3 hours, with Rome and Turin being the longest and Bologna the fastest.
In case you are wondering, I always use the Trainline to book my trains for Italy and most places in Europe.
Moving Around in Venice
As you can see I didn’t jam pack this day in Venice, because I knew it was going to be hot, and it was also our birthday week, so we wanted to take things extra slowly.
We still walked and saw a lot, but I think it’s important for Venice to lower your expectations of things you can fit in one day, especially since Venice is a city mostly on water, and very often you will find yourself in front of a canal with no bridge to cross to the opposite side. When that happens, you will just have to walk back and find a new route. Other times, the only way to cross will be taking a ferry.
I am telling you that to emphasize the fact that you must leave enough time to get to booked museum slots, restaurants, and the train station, otherwise you risk missing those bookings.
In order for that to be possible, you need to put less stops on your one day itinerary and just take the time to appreciate those places you get to visit. Don’t see this as a limitation but as a way to experience la Dolce Vita in one of Italy’s most idyllic cities.
If you have mobility issues or are coming with young kids in a stroller, you should know that Venice is full of stairs. Those are essential to get on and off bridges, connecting the canals from one side to the other.
I am going to link two guides for your reference: Venice with a Wheelchair and Venice with stroller.
Is Venice Expensive?
It is and it’s not. The only two things I found to be extremely expensive were breakfast and the ferry. However, I knew breakfast was going to be expensive, and I know that other breakfast spots are going to have more normal prices.
The ferry on the other hand was a big surprise. Paying €20 for two people to cross the canal and reach the train station on the other side was a little outrageous. We were planning to walk it, but Google maps was messing up our path, and we were tired, hot and worried we wouldn’t make our train. Of course, paying that much just once it’s not a big deal, but imagine having to do it multiple times a day.
Definitely, if you are coming to Venice, and budget is a concern, look further into transportation options, and plan ahead.
Should You Stay in Venice?
If you can stay a few days, definitely do that. I am usually happy to go back to my base at the end of the day trip, but this time I didn’t want to leave. While we had an amazing day trip, probably one of the most wonderful ones, It felt like there was so much we hadn’t seen, so many food spots to try.
The most pressing thing was that we were longing to see Venice at night, when all the lights light up and the canals – small and big, get illuminated. We imagine it being the most romantic place on earth, and we would like to admire those views, wander through the streets at night, have dinner there, and wake up in this spectacular place at least twice.
While we don’t regret making Trieste our base, as Venice would have been incredibly hot in June, we will definitely return to stay. We do believe that Venice in one day is definitely feasible and we recommend it to anyone who can spare a day on their Italian day trip.
More Italian Travel Guides
If you enjoyed this one day in Venice guide, I have plenty more you can read and use for your next Italian trip. Here is a small selection:
Intrigued into learning more about Trieste, so maybe you could make that your base? Read this Trieste Guide.
Finally, I’d like to take the opportunity to suggest two Italian cities that might not be on your radar, but that are as amazing as Venice, in their own way.
What To Do In Bolzano (Charming Town + Mountains)
There you have it, my one day in Venice guide and itinerary, with plenty more travel reads to keep your next coffee breaks entertained, as well as give you new Italy travel destinations to plan for!
Please give this article a heart, if you found it useful or interesting, and share it with a friend who loves Italy as much as you do.
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Buon viaggio,
Alessia
