In a nutshell
- Planning a Venice day trip from Florence, Milan or Verona? It’s definitely worth it – as long as you know what to see. We’ll guide you through the ideal Venice day trip itinerary.
- Our route covers the must-see sights: St. Mark’s Square with St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Rialto Bridge and a classic gondola ride under the Bridge of Sighs.
- You can easily drive into Venice by car. We suggest parking at the Autorimessa Comunale garage.
- Starting April 2025, day visitors must pay a Venice entry fee. Tickets can be booked in advance on the official city portal.
Table of Contents
How to Get to Venice
Are you in northern Italy and thinking about a day trip to Venice? Great choice!
Venice is well connected to other cities and makes a perfect destination for a day trip from Florence, Lake Garda, Milan or Verona.
From Rome, it’s about a 4-hour train ride. That’s a bit too far for a proper day trip.
A four-kilometre-long bridge connects the city to the mainland and is used by both trains and cars.
Parking in Venice
There are two main parking areas in Venice: at Piazzale Roma square or on the man-made island of Tronchetto.
Use the left lane of the bridge to reach Piazzale Roma, and the right lane for Tronchetto.
Piazzale Roma is closest to the historic center. It’s also where all types of transport with bicycles must stop. From here, you can only continue on foot or by water bus.
There are three parking garages at Piazzale Roma:
- the Autorimessa Comunale garage (our top pick),
- the Garage San Marco (another option, but more expensive),
- the S. Andrea garage (for short stays).
We recommend the Autorimessa Comunale. At 30 euros per day, it’s the cheapest of the three. Booking a spot online is a smart move.
Tronchetto is a more affordable option, but it’s a bit farther from the historic center. It’s also where the car ferry to Venice’s beaches on Lido island departs.
Parking here costs 22 euros per day. From Tronchetto, take the People Mover cable car to Piazzale Roma, and then head straight into the old town.
You can also hop on water bus line 2 from Tronchetto to get directly to St. Mark’s Square.
Arriving by train
Taking the train is a hassle-free option. No parking, no traffic – just relax and enjoy the ride.
Train tickets in Italy are usually quite affordable. You can book tickets via Trenitalia or Italo, the country’s two main train operators.
Venice’s main station, Santa Lucia, sits right on the Grand Canal. It’s easily reached by direct train from many cities in Italy.
The station itself is a regular terminus. But the moment you step outside, you’re right on the Grand Canal – a pretty unforgettable start to your Venice in one day adventure!
The Venice Day Ticket
If you’re planning your Venice day trip on a weekend between April and July 2025, you’ll likely need a day ticket.
You’ll need to register on the Venice city portal and pay a 10 euro entry fee. Book at least four days in advance to get the reduced rate of 5 euros.
Getting Around Venice
If you’re planning to see Venice in one day, you can easily explore the city on foot. It’s compact, and you’ll never have to walk too far.
Still, if you’re traveling to Venice with kids or have limited mobility, the water bus — the “vaporetto“ — is a great option.
A single ride costs 9.50 euros, while a day pass is 25 euros. Children under 6 ride for free:
A day ticket is especially worth it if you’re staying overnight in Venice or planning to visit the islands of Murano and Burano.
Our 1 Day in Venice Itinerary
Our 1 day in Venice itinerary covers six kilometers with several stops along the way. If you arrive in the morning, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy it during your Venice day trip.
We’ve also included a few great restaurant tips.
Start from Piazzale Roma or the main train station — they’re right next to each other.
Mercato di Rialto
Your first stop is the Mercato di Rialto, just before the famous Rialto Bridge.
This is Venice’s oldest market, running daily from 7:30 am to 3 pm for about 500 years.
Locals shop here for fresh, regional produce — since there aren’t many supermarkets in the old town.
The fish stalls under the historic loggia are especially worth checking out.
Our tip: If you skipped breakfast, now’s the time to grab one. Around the market, you’ll find lots of cafés where locals enjoy croissants and cappuccinos in the morning. A very Italian start to your 1 day in Venice itinerary!
Rialto Bridge
Just a short walk from the market brings you to the Rialto Bridge, which spans the Grand Canal.
Like the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, it’s lined with shops — jewelers, antique dealers and souvenir stands.
Don’t rush across just yet — walk a few steps down to the Riva del Vin. From there, you’ll get the best view of the bridge and a great spot for photos.
Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
After crossing the Rialto Bridge, take a short detour before reaching St. Mark’s Square.
At the end of the narrow Scala Contarini del Bovolo alley — which most tourists skip — you’ll find the quirky Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo.
This hidden gem features a snail shell-like spiral staircase you can climb. Inside, there’s also an exhibition of contemporary Venetian artists.
If there’s no line at the entrance, it’s definitely worth a visit!
To the ticket for the Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
Piazza San Marco
From Palazzo Contarini, it’s just a 5-minute walk to St. Mark’s Square — the heart of Venice.
This vast square stretches 172 meters in length.
St. Mark’s Square is home to some of Venice’s top attractions, including St. Mark’s Tower, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Doge’s Palace.
To make the most of your 1 day in Venice itinerary, it’s best to admire them from the outside.
St. Mark's Tower
Galileo Galilei is said to have studied the stars from up here, and Goethe caught his first glimpse of the open sea.
St. Mark’s Tower is the tallest in Venice. Naturally, the views over the city and the lagoon are spectacular.
And good news — there’s an elevator. If you book ahead, you can go straight up and enjoy the view.
To the ticket for the St. Mark’s Tower
Caffé Florian
Yes, the cafés in St. Mark’s Square are pricey — but it’s still worth stepping inside. Caffé Florian, in particular, is a must-see.
It’s the oldest coffee house in Italy, open since 1720. Incredible!
The interior is pure opulence: wood-paneled walls, giant mirrors, stucco ceilings, chandeliers, and painted frescos.
By the way: If you drink your cappuccino standing at the bar, it’s more affordable. That’s the case all over Italy — if you sit down and get table service, it’ll cost a few euros more. You’ll find more tips like this in our Italian etiquette guide.
St. Mark's Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica is arguably the most iconic building in Venice. It sits at the eastern end of the square. Even from outside, it’s impressive — but the interior is truly stunning.
Think black marble, vaulted ceilings covered in thousands of golden mosaics, and even a rooftop terrace.
And entry is free. But unfortunately, so is the massive queue.
For a day trip to Venice, it’s best to enjoy the view from the outside and move on to the next stop.
Our tip: If you really want to see the inside, book a guided tour. You’ll get fast-track access. Just know that you’ll likely have to skip the gondola ride to stay on schedule.
To the guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica
Doge's Palace
The Doge’s Palace was home to the Doges. But who – or what – were the Doges?
The Doge was the head of state back when Venice was still a republic.
So the Doge’s Palace was basically what the Reichstag in Berlin is today – the political heart of the country.
And since Venice was such a powerful and wealthy place, the Doge’s Palace had to show it. And it certainly does!
Inside, you’ll find huge halls, grand staircases, incredible art, an armory, hidden passages, and even dungeons. You should plan at least 1.5 hours to explore it properly.
To the Doge’s Palace ticket with fast track entry
Bridge of Sighs
If you walk from the Doge’s Palace towards the water and turn left, you’ll reach the Ponte della Paglia bridge.
From there, you’ll get a perfect view of the famous Bridge of Sighs.
It links the Doge’s Palace to the New Prison. The name comes from the sighs of prisoners as they glimpsed Venice for the last time while being led from the palace to their cells.
You can only see the bridge from the outside – unless you have a ticket for the Doge’s Palace.
Our lunch tip:
You’re right in the middle of Venice’s old town, where most restaurants cater to tourists. A cozy spot where locals eat too is Trattoria alla Rivetta. Be sure to book ahead!
Gondola ride under the Bridge of Sighs
After lunch, it’s time for a gondola ride.
Luckily, there’s a gondola station near the Bridge of Sighs, where rides pass right underneath it.
This isn’t always the case, since Venice has so many canals and routes for gondolas.
To find it, cross the Ponte alla Paglia bridge and take the second alley on the left. There’s a ticket office in Campo San Zaccaria square where you can sign up for the ride.
As always in Venice, it’s smart to book ahead.
To the gondola ride under the Bridge of Sighs
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
After your gondola ride, head west toward the Ponte dell’Accademia bridge to cross the Grand Canal. From here, you’ll also get a fantastic view of Venice.
Then walk a bit further to reach the Peggy Guggenheim Collection – one of the most famous museums in Venice. Peggy Guggenheim was an art lover who collected works by Dalí, Picasso, and Kandinsky in the 1930s and 1940s.
Today, those works are on display in this museum. It’s not huge, so an hour is enough. If you can fit it into your 1 day in Venice itinerary, it’s definitely worth it.
To the ticket for the Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Ca' Dario
If you walk around the museum and follow the Fondamenta Venier dai Leon alley, you’ll come to a tiny bridge after a few minutes – the Ponte San Cristoforo.
Look to your left from the bridge and you’ll see Ca’ Dario on the opposite bank – a real hidden gem in Venice.
So, what makes it special?
This palace is said to be cursed. It dates back to the 15th century, and many of its owners or guests met tragic fates.
Some died by suicide, others were murdered or died in strange accidents. Some went completely bankrupt.
Among them: the manager of the rock band “The Who,” who died in a fall shortly after buying the palace. The band’s bassist, John Entwistle, died a week after staying there.
In the 1970s, another owner was killed by his partner – who was later murdered himself in London.
And that’s just a few of the stories tied to this eerie place. Weird, right?
Today, Ca’ Dario is privately owned and no one lives there. You can’t go inside – and maybe that’s for the best!
Eating Cicchetti
It’s probably getting late in the afternoon, the perfect time in Venice for a few cicchetti and a glass of white wine!
Cicchetti are small slices of bread topped with the tastiest ingredients: mortadella, olive tapenade, pesto, and more.
You’ll find them in Venice at a bacaro, a cozy bar with a counter and a few tables. It’s a great afternoon snack.
We can totally recommend the Bacaro Osteria al Squero. It’s just a 10-minute walk from Ca’ Dario.
Pick a few cicchetti at the counter, order a glass of wine, and enjoy it outside by the canal — with a view of a gondola workshop. It doesn’t get more Venice than this!
Church of San Barnaba
On your way back to your car or train, you’ll pass a spot that may look familiar — especially if you’ve seen the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.
The Church of San Barnaba is the one where Indiana Jones breaks through the floor and climbs into a hidden tunnel.
That tunnel doesn’t really exist, but the church is indeed desecrated. Today, it houses a museum about Leonardo da Vinci.
That was our guide for the perfect day trip to Venice!
Have you ever explored Venice in one day? What did you see, and would you change anything in your 1 day in Venice itinerary? We’d love to hear from you!