Ah, Venice… Gondola rides, stunning squares, reminiscent of Paris on water, and… the smell of sewage – but luckily, despite the summer stink, a first trip to Venice and spending two days there is more than worth it if you’re planning a big trip to Italy.

I can’t speak for other times of the year, but if you have a sensitive nose and go in the middle of July like me… there’s a good chance you’re going to find that the stereotype is true.

Here’s the good news: the stereotypes in Venice are pretty much all true – meaning it’s also just as magical as everyone says it is.

Venice; July 2018. — Venice, Italy; July 2018.

❤️🇮🇹 If You Like... Visit Here in Venice 🇮🇹

If You Like...	Go Here
📸 Photography & stunning panoramic views	St. Mark's Campanile
🏛️ Beautiful European squares	St. Mark's Square
🌈 Colorful streets like Notting Hill in London or Rue Crémieux in Paris	Burano
🚤 Seeing a city on the water but want to skip the cliché gondola ride	A sunset speedboat tour through Venice
🤫 Quiet, local & under-the-radar neighborhoods	The Jewish Quarter

Is venice worth visiting?

Yes, Venice is worth visiting especially if it’s your first trip to Italy – as the city’s canals, bridges and gondolas make it a unique travel destination. Just keep in mind that as a result of climate change, Venice floods from time to time.

Is 2 Days in Venice Enough?

Yes, two days in Venice is plenty for you to see all of the main sites at leisure and still have time to explore extra places in this romantic city on the water – like the colorful houses on the island of Burano or the local-vibe found in the Jewish Quarter.

Venice has an enchanting personality and some of the most beautiful architecture I’ve seen around Europe. Now, how do you spend your time there?

Let me break down our 36-hour itinerary to you:

How to Spend 2 Days on a First Trip to Venice

🌅 Day 1 – Venice from the Water

⏱️ Time Needed: Afternoon & Evening (4–6 hours)

🚤 Venice by Night Speedboat Tour (1.5–2 hours)
Watch Venice transform from sunset to moonrise while cruising through the canals. This ended up being my favorite experience in Venice—even more than the gondola ride—as we covered much more ground and saw iconic landmarks like the Rialto Bridge from the water.

🌉 Rialto Bridge from the Water (10–15 minutes)
Seeing Venice's most famous bridge from a boat gives you a completely different perspective than walking across it.

🌅 Sunset over the Grand Canal (30–45 minutes)
Watching the sky turn pink over Venice was one of my favorite moments of the entire trip. If you're lucky enough to get good weather, don't miss it.

Day 1:

We got to Venice late in the afternoon, and our tour group had an optional excursion to go on a Venice by night water taxi tour. It was actually almost cancelled because there was supposed to be a massive rainstorm, but we had a change of fate…

…and I’m sure glad that we did.

red buildings on water in venice — Riding the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy; July 2018.

Go on a Sunset Speed Boat in Venice

Watching Venice shift from sunset to moon rise is a must. In my opinion, this was better than taking a Gondola ride: as we actually covered ground and saw major sights instead of just dwindling in one area.

We saw the Rialto bridge from the water…

white bridge at sunset on water in venice — Rialto Bridge from water taxi in Venice, Italy; July 2018.

… and witnessed this mind-blowing sunset.

Summer sunset in Venice; July 2018. — Summer sunset in Venice, Italy; July 2018.

It’s well worth it and I highly recommend you put this on your to do list while you’re in Venice.

🏛️ Day 2 – Venice's Main Highlights

⏱️ Time Needed: Full Day (8–10 hours)

🌉 Rialto Bridge (20–30 minutes)
Start your morning with one of Venice's most famous landmarks before the crowds really begin to arrive.

⛪ St. Mark's Square (1–1.5 hours)
Visit early in the morning while it's quieter. Between the Basilica, Clock Tower, pigeons, canals, and intricate architecture, I honestly think it's one of the most beautiful squares in Europe.

🛶 Gondola Ride (30–45 minutes)
An iconic Venice experience that lets you see hidden canals and beautiful houses from the water. I'd recommend going early in the morning before gondola traffic builds up.

✡️ Jewish Quarter (1–2 hours)
One of my favorite parts of Venice. It has all of Venice's charm but with far fewer tourists, making it perfect for a peaceful stroll and lunch.

🗼 St. Mark's Campanile (45–60 minutes)
For only around €8, you'll get some of the best panoramic views of Venice. Even though the square gets packed later in the day, the line for the tower moved surprisingly quickly.

🍨 Gelato & Gondola Watching (45–60 minutes)
Finish your trip with gelato from Gelatoteca Suso before finding a quiet spot along the canals to simply sit back and watch the gondolas drift by—it's one of those little Venice moments you'll remember most.

Day 2:

Take Pictures at Ponte di Rialto

Our day started with a photo stop at Ponte di Rialto.

teal water in venice — Ponte di Rialto in Venice, Italy; July 2018.

We were informed by our tour leader that the best way to discover Venice, is on foot. It’s true; public transportation in Venice can get expensive.

narrow streets venice — The best way to discover Venice and it’s endless-narrow-streets is on foot.

Marvel in St. Mark’s Square

One of the first things on our list that morning was St. Mark’s Square – as we were told it gets crowded in the afternoon.

st. marks palace in venice sunny no flooding — St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy; July 2018.

I advise you do the same. In all of my European travels, I think this is one of the most stunning square I have ever seen across the continent… others that come to mind are Grand Place in Brussels (which really takes the crown) and Hero’s Square in Budapest… but this one is up there…

… and I’ve seen a lot of squares in Europe.

The clock tower, the pigeons, the distinct color of the water surrounding the square, the Basilica, the intricate, lace-like detailing... it’s stunning.

Palazzo Ducale

detailed palace in venice — Palazzo Ducale in Venice, Italy; July 2018.

Go on a Gondola Ride

We also opted to take our gondola rides early in the morning to avoid gondola traffic (yes, in Venice – that’s a very real thing).

girl in teal tank top on gondola in venice — Smiling, because I was on a gondola in Venice!

Should you go on a gondola ride if you’re sensitive to motion sickness?

Now, I don’t get motion sickness or anything – but if you’re sensitive to that sort of thing… you might want to hold off on this one. After the ride, I had a really bad headache.

Yes, I was in Italy in July and it was hot. Yes, I could’ve been dehydrated… but I knew I wasn’t.

My mom, who sat out the gondola rides and watched us embark, said that the gondolas were rocking back and forth pretty vigorously, and I quickly realized, in retrospect…

… she was right.

It took a long time for that headache to subside, so I advise that if you’re migrant prone – to skip the gondola ride all together.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m so glad that I did it – because you get to see the crevices of the houses that you couldn’t see on foot; you get to see where the house meets the water of the canals and it’s really cool.

old buildings venice with brick — Viewing the Venetian houses up close whilst on a gondola in July 2018.

Explore the Jewish Quarter

My mom and I then opted to walk through the Jewish Quarter. We had realized in our time in Italy that a lot of the good Italian dishes are served with pork or seafood – and being someone who keeps kosher, my mom had her heart set on finding some seafood-free linguine.

We didn’t find any, but we did peruse the Jewish Quarter and enjoyed it. Why?

Because it was still Venice in all its charm – without the crowds.

bridges in venice — The Jewish Quarter in Venice.

Tips for going up St. Mark’s Bell Tower

After that, we went back to St. Mark’s Square because I had my heart set on going up St. Mark’s Clock Tower, and the rumors were true… it was crowded by three in the afternoon.

busy plaza in venice with white detailed building — The tourist filled, summer crowd at St. Mark’s Square in the afternoon in Venice, Italy; July 2018

However, surprisingly, the line for the clock tower wasn’t bad at all – and for only €8… (the ticket now costs €12 as of 2025 ) the views were epic.

dome and orange rooftops view of water venice — Views from St. Mark’s Clock Tower in Venice, Italy; July 2018.

The view of Venice from St. Mark’s Clock Tower looks a lot like the views of Berlin and Prague from their T.V. towers… massive.

panoramic view of venice — Venice is huge! Did you know it’s made up of over *100* different islands?

Views from St. Mark’s Clock Tower in Venice; July 2018. — Views from St. Mark’s Clock Tower in Venice, Italy; July 2018.

Enjoy a Gelato from Gelatoteca Suso

We ended our day with Gelato and gondola watching. I had Gelatoteca Suso in my phone for the longest time; it’s known for having a lot of dairy free options… and it was good.

strawberry chocolate gelato with wafer cookie — Strawberry & Dark Chocolate Gelato from Gelatoteca Suso in Venice, Italy; July 2018.

Is Gelatoteca Suso in Venice worth going to?

I do have to say, that all of the gelatos in Italy start to taste the same once you’re there for two weeks and eating it kind of (absolutely) every day… but this one was exceptional. The line is long, and for good reason – it’s in a good spot and they have flavors that you can’t find anywhere.

When in Venice, you should get a gelato with a macaroon – as there’s a lot of French influence amongst Venetian cuisine.

We sat on some steps and gondola watched… because we were in Venice, and we could.

It’s kind of the only place in the world where you can gondola watch… so I suggest you do it, too!

colorful alleys and gondolas lined up in venice — Gondola watching in Venice; the traffic there gets amusing!

Is venice the best place in Italy?

The final takeaway? I liked Venice, I liked it a lot, but it’s not my absolute favorite place in Italy.

I preferred the smaller places in Italy such as Cinque Terre and the Italian Lakes.

canals in venice relfecting water — View of canals in Venice, Italy; July 2018

It’s always crowded, especially in the summer, gondola rides are slightly overrated, it smells… but it has its beautiful moments, little side streets, and distinct pockets of charm that are hard to find elsewhere.

🚤✨ Venice FAQs ✨🇮🇹

🚤 Is Venice worth visiting?

Yes, Venice is definitely worth visiting—for its gondolas, unique bridges and canals lined with colorful buildings, and the stunning St. Mark's Square. There's definitely a romantic charm to Venice that simply can't be found anywhere else.

⏳ How many days do you need in Venice?

I think 2 days in Venice is ideal for a first trip, as you'll have time to see all of the main attractions—like the Rialto Bridge, a gondola ride, St. Mark's Square, and St. Mark's Campanile—without feeling rushed. We found it to be the perfect balance between seeing the famous sights and exploring some of Venice's quieter neighborhoods.

🚶 Is Venice walkable?

Venice was surprisingly very walkable. We only found a water taxi necessary if you want to travel farther away, like to Burano and its famous colorful houses.

💶 Is Venice expensive to visit?

We found accommodation, food, gondolas, and attractions to be pretty much what we expected in Venice. It's about as expensive as Rome, being one of Italy's most touristy destinations. That being said, prices definitely drop once you venture into quieter neighborhoods like the Jewish Quarter.

🌊 What is the best time of year to visit Venice?

Summer is sunny, but I have to be honest—Venice smelled pretty bad in the heat! I think the sweet spot for visiting Venice is during shoulder season, meaning April or September, when crowds are smaller, flooding isn't at its peak, and the unbearable summer heat is kept to a minimum.

📸 What should I prioritize if I only have 2–3 days in Venice?

If you only have 2–3 days in Venice, I recommend visiting St. Mark's Square and going up St. Mark's Campanile for incredible views over the city. You should also take a speedboat along the Grand Canal to see the Rialto Bridge and enjoy the sunset from the water, while leaving time to explore quieter neighborhoods like the Jewish Quarter.

iron gate fences venice — View of Venice, Italy; July 2018

If you’re looking for other things to do in Italy, click here.

Additional articles you might find helpful include:

Never want to miss one of my adventures around the world? Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to never miss my next destination!

About the Author

Hi, I'm Stephanie Safdie, a travel writer and content creator based in Paris. Since living here, I've spent years exploring the city and regularly update my Paris travel guides with firsthand experience while also exploring destinations across Europe and beyond as a solo female traveler. I've been solo traveling for the past decade, having visited more than 70 cities and nearly 30 countries before turning 30.

Before moving abroad, I grew up moving all around the United States, having lived in New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Tampa – which sparked my desire to discover and experience new places and cultures from a young age.

As a true writer at heart passionate about being open-minded, adventurous, and diaristic – it's my goal to share honest, practical travel advice, local insights, detailed itineraries, and real-life experiences that go beyond typical tourist recommendations. With over 200 guides published on Destination Dreamer Diaries, I’m here help you plan the most memorable trip of a lifetime with confidence.

When I'm not traveling or working professionally in content creation, you'll find me doing just about anything creative: writing, practicing my photography skills (the large majority of photos featured on this blog were taken during my own travels), playing my music at open mic nights, editing videos for my YouTube channel, cooking, or creating travel content.

Last updated: May 31, 2025

How to Spend 2 Days in Venice: First Trip Travel Guide