Rialto Market
Farmers Market
Start on a Tuesday-to-Saturday morning for the fish stalls and produce market. Buy something small to eat by the canal, then cross Rialto Bridge towards St Mark’s.
Venice Long Weekend: 3 Days of Canals, Art and Islands
Three days for travellers who want Venice’s grand sights and its quieter canals. Start around St Mark’s, spend a day in Dorsoduro and Cannaregio, then take a boat to Murano and Burano, with extra art stops to choose from.
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Day 1 — San Marco & Rialto
Day 1 — San Marco & Rialto
Rialto Bridge
Bridge, Landmark
Cross the bridge for views along the Grand Canal, then explore the lanes on the San Polo side. Nearby bacari make a good lunch stop for cicchetti, Venice’s small bar snacks.
St. Mark's Basilica
Church, Attraction
$$
The gold mosaics are the reason to go inside. Reserve an entry slot through the basilica’s official ticket office, then explore the square before the palace visit.
Doge's Palace
Palace, Museum
$$$
Make the palace the day’s main historical visit for its grand chambers and prison route. The Bridge of Sighs is part of the interior route; the canal-side view comes next.
Bridge of Sighs
Historic Site
Look at the enclosed bridge from Ponte della Paglia after visiting the palace. The short waterfront walk nearby is a good pause before heading back into the old town lanes.
Day 2 — Dorsoduro & Cannaregio
Day 2 — Dorsoduro & Cannaregio
Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute
Church, Landmark
Start Dorsoduro at the domed church overlooking the mouth of the Grand Canal. Walk along the water afterwards towards the Guggenheim collection.
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Museum, Art Gallery
$$$
Choose this as the day’s main gallery for modern art in Peggy Guggenheim’s former home. The waterside terrace and sculpture garden give the visit a different feel from Venice’s grand state museums.
Campo Santa Margherita
Historic Site
Head into this broad Dorsoduro square for lunch or a coffee between the art visit and Cannaregio. The surrounding streets are good for a slower walk away from San Marco.
Venetian Ghetto
Attraction, Core Attraction
Take a vaporetto towards Cannaregio, then walk through the historic Jewish quarter. Continue along the nearby canals for the evening rather than returning to the busiest San Marco streets.
Day 3 — Murano & Burano
Day 3 — Murano & Burano
Glass Museum
Museum
Take an ACTV vaporetto to Murano for the glass collection, then explore the island’s canal-side workshops. The museum gives more context than simply browsing the shop windows.
Basilica of Saints Maria and Donato
Place of Worship, History Landmark
A short walk from the glass museum brings you to the basilica and its mosaic floor. Keep this as a brief visit within the Murano walk before continuing to Burano.
Murano Lighthouse
Lighthouse, History Landmark
Walk past Murano’s white lighthouse on the way to the Faro vaporetto stop. From here, line 12 connects the island with Burano.
Burano Lace Museum
Museum
After the boat journey, explore Burano’s canal streets and stop for lunch around Piazza Galuppi. Choose the small lace museum if the island’s craft history interests you; the village walk works well on its own too.
Tre Ponti
Historic Site
Finish the Burano walk around the linked canal bridges and colourful houses. The island day involves several boat journeys, so keep the evening in Venice simple.
Optional extras
Optional extras
Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore
Place of Worship, History Landmark
Take the short vaporetto crossing from San Marco for the church and bell-tower views over the lagoon. This is an alternative to part of the central sightseeing day.
Punta della Dogana
Museum, Contemporary Art Museum
Choose the contemporary art exhibitions for an extra gallery visit in Dorsoduro. For a shorter stop, walk around the exterior point for views towards San Marco and San Giorgio.
Gallerie dell'Accademia
Museum, Art Gallery
$$$
Choose this instead of the Guggenheim collection if Venetian painting interests you more than modern art. Its works by artists such as Bellini, Titian and Tintoretto make it a substantial visit.