After just getting back from Italy, I’ve done a lot of reflecting about my trip: what I liked, what I didn’t like, what I’d change next time. The problem? I pretty much liked everything and I definitely wouldn’t change a thing about our trip!
However, if forced to pick favorites, Venice wins hands down as my favorite city. Ok, ok. Yes I got engaged there so I might be a little biased. But thinking long and hard about it- I loved it. Like can’t wait to go back loved it.
Ironically, Venice was the city we spent the least amount of time in. Due to some time restraints, we only spent one full day in the city. And for a first time visit I found that amount of time to be totally acceptable. In fact, only being there for a short amount of time just left me wanting more.
For anyone questioning whether or not it’s worth it to visit Venice for such a short time the answer is YES, absolutely. Check out the list below for all of the amazing things we were able to see in just one day!
Some Background
Venice is a city in northeastern Italy situated on a group of 118 small islands. The islands are separated by canals and are connected together by more than 400 bridges. I found Venice to be pretty walkable for the average able bodied person but they do have a great water taxi system as well. There are no cars or other motorized vehicles allowed in the city.
I’ve heard many people refer to Venice as “too touristy”. In fact, Venice is having a huge problem with tourism- the influx of tourists is increasing pollution and breaking down the beautiful bridges and walkways. True, Venice is packed with tourists, souvenir shops and mediocre tourist trap restaurants. To be fair though, I went to Venice with one purpose- to be a tourist.
The truth is in a country that relies heavily on and caters to tourists, you’re going to find some tourist traps everywhere. Some people don’t want that. They’re looking for a totally authentic experience- and that’s 1000% ok. Me? I’m not quite there yet with Venice. Of course I crave the authentic Italian experience but I also know that I wouldn’t be satisfied with going to Italy and not seeing St. Mark’s Square and riding a gondola.
So Venice in one day. Let’s do this.
Piazza San Marco
St. Mark’s Square is easily one of the most recognizable sites in Venice. Open on three of it’s four sides, the piazza is the perfect place to take in the morning. The center of the large piazza is a pedestrian only area and is surrounded by shops and cafes. One of the most famous cafes in Venice, Caffe Florian, is located here. It’s also a great starting location because it’s surrounded by several other Venice must sees.
Campanile di San Marco
Sitting at the end of St. Mark’s Square is the bell tower of St. Mark’s Basilica. I have to admit that when we got there it was rainy and I was exhausted from traveling the day before. I took one look at the line coming out of the side and was about to skip going to the top of the tower all together. Thank goodness for everyone else insisting, otherwise I would have missed out on an awesome experience.
The top of the tower can be reached via elevator and costs 8 euros. We did stand in line for about an hour- and this was considered a “short” line because of the rain. Looking back I probably would have spent the extra money and taken a tour for both here and for Doge’s Palace. You can learn from us and grab a spot for a St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace Tour HERE.
St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica is located just yards away from St. Mark’s Bell Tower. Once again, it started pouring and we only had to wait in line for about a half an hour. If you haven’t been keeping track, that’s still an hour and a half of line time. We could have been almost finished with this tour with the amount of time we were waiting in line. Live and learn.
Entry fee to the upper level and museum is 5 euros. Keep in mind backpacks and large bags are not allowed inside, however they did have an area where you could lock your belongings up while you were inside. I didn’t know it at the time but this restriction was particularly problematic for Sam who was hiding my engagement ring in his backpack (!!).
The inside of the basilica is beautiful, however there was a special event going on and part of the building was off limits to us. We did get to go upstairs though and get some awesome views. Please note that the stairs to get to the upper level of the basilica are steep, dark and a little uneven so prepare yourself.
Doge’s Palace
Located next to St. Mark’s Basilica is Doge’s Palace. Founded in the 14th and 15th centuries, this palace is one beautiful piece of architecture. Surprise- there was once again a 30 minute line. I’ve read that lines can be upwards of 2-3 hours on busy days so the rain really helped us out At the risk of sounding pushy, I really would suggest booking a tour and getting to see everything in a 2 hours instead of spending a collective 2 hours (or more) in lines. Plus you’ll have a guide to explain to you the history of a palace- I have to admit I don’t remember much of what I read in the pamphlet. The entrance fee to the palace is 19 euros.
Ponte dei Sospiri
Connecting Doge’s Palace with the Old Prison, the Bridge of Sighs is worth peeking down the Rio di Palazzo to check out. There are several stories that suggest how this bridge got it’s name but the most famous one is that prisoners would be marched across from the palace to the prison after sentencing only to sigh at their last look of freedom out the windows of the bridge.
Riva degli Schiavoni
Located right on the water, Riva degli Schiavoni is basically a marketplace full of all kinds of market stalls to purchase goods. Along with market stalls, you will find restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels intermingled. You’ll find all of your basic Venetian souvenirs here. This is also a great place to grab a snack.
Ponte di Rialto
The Rialto Bridge is located a little way away from most of the other sites, but that is absolutely the reason you should go check it out. Part of the charm of Venice is wandering around exploring. Most of the day we would head out with a general direction in mind but taking whatever path came our way in the meantime. The majority of the best restaurants are off the mainstream path anyway as are some of the prettiest bridges and scenery. You’re in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, if not the world- enjoy it!
The Rialto Bridge is probably the most recognized bridges in Venice. It is also the oldest of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal. Some of my best photos I took were from this bridge.
Gondola Ride
I hear all the time about how gondola rides just aren’t worth the money and time. I absolutely disagree. Can gondola rides be expensive? Absolutely, especially if you don’t know where to look. But what else is more Venetian than riding around Venice in a gondola? I knew I couldn’t leave Venice without riding in one.
The key is wandering off the Grand Canal around some of the smaller canals. There, gondoliers will be more likely to bargain with you. I also feel like you get more of a quaint ride through the smaller canals instead of feeling overwhelmed in the Grand Canal. Our gondolier took us to the Grand Canal to get some good views but the majority of our trip was spent in the smaller canals.
So there you have it. Everything we were able to see in our one day in Venice- without even feeling rushed! Venice is a great city, and I highly recommend the visit to anyone traveling to Italy. If I’m forgetting anything or you have anything to add to my list, be sure to let me know in the comments below!
Loving Venice so much you want some more Italy? Check out my Day Trips from Venice post HERE.
