Things to do in Venice (Italy) in 48 Hours

Get to Know Venice

Venice is divided into six sestieri with the Grand Canal snaking its way through the middle. The winding of the canal makes keeping your sense of direction a challenge at times. Get a map from your hotel or at a Tourist Information Center (TI) and get a good feel for the city and what you might want to see. Cannaregio is home to the Jewish Ghetto and Museum and some of the most characteristic streets for wandering. In Castello you will find the old shipyard of Arsenal and the Naval History Museum. San Marco is full of tourists during the day who are trying to see Piazza San Marco, the Bridge of Sighs, Doge’s Palace, Campanile, and Rialto Bridge. Cross the Rialto Bridge into San Polo to find the food and fish markets. Santa Croce is probably the oldest, least crowded part of Venice and a good choice for budget hotels and restaurants. Dosoduro is home to both the Guggenheim and Academia museums and also has lively nightlife. 

Things to do in Venice in 2 Days

Start early! Even though large cruise ships are now banned from the center of Venice, by 10:00 many cruise passengers will have begun to flood the streets. The major sights become inundated with people, especially in the summer. But if you get an early start it can be surprising how empty the city seems. Get up early and visit Piazza San Marco and the Bridge of Sighs, then make your way over to the Rialto Bridge to avoid the crowds that will fill these sites later in the day. We can help you plan a trip with our Italy Itinerary if you’d like to explore more than Venice.

Explore the Rialto Food and Fish Markets

We love the open-air markets in Europe and the markets near the Rialto Bridge in the San Polo sestiere are some of the best. Coming from San Marco, cross the bridge and make your way along the Grand Canal to explore these markets and get some great views across the canal. The produce is lovely and the colors are a treat for the eyes. The fresh fish is brought in on boats and unloaded early in the morning. You can see chefs buying fish for their restaurants as well as locals looking for something for their table. If you choose accommodations with a kitchen, you could make fresh Venetian Vongole e Cozze (Venetian Seafood with White Wine Sauce) using the food purchased at the local market!