A Perfect 3-Day Itinerary in Venice for First-Time Visitors

Venice: the idyll and dream of every romantic traveler. Have you never been to Venice and don't know where to start? Come with us to discover the perfect 3-day itinerary for First-Time Visitors. We will trace an ideal route that with the right pace and without rushing will allow you to have a complete overview of the Serenissima, but that will leave you the desire to return once again.

Here you will find advice on how to move between the calli and the campi, but also how to use the water transport and fairytale of the Lagoon without spending excessively. You will discover how to orient yourself in choosing accommodation, finally you will mix with the local culture with the right tips if you do not want to pass for a lost tourist. Shall we go?

If you have never been to Venice, it would be strange not to start from the heart of Venice: Piazza San Marco. In this square, which is the only one with the honor of being called Piazza, the others are called Campi, are the symbolic buildings of Venice. The main one is the majestic Basilica di San Marco, the city's cathedral and seat of the patriarchate, nicknamed the golden church, since it houses the treasure of San Marco and wonderful mosaics. It is this church with all its charm that represents the symbol of the power of the Serenissima.

Adjacent to the Basilica, the splendid Palazzo Ducale, with rich rooms and access to the feared Piombi, the prisons where Giacomo Casanova also stayed. It was the Bridge of Sighs that connected the Palace to the prisons and its name is due to the fact that the prisoners, before entering, sighed at the idea of no longer being free in the world. Still in Piazza San Marco, in front of the Palazzo Ducale, the rich Marciana library with all its cultural treasures, further on the great Correr Museum that preserves the long history of Venice, with furnishings and objects that remind us of its luxurious past. In short, as you will have understood, your first day is to be dedicated to Piazza San Marco, the heart of Venice.

Another iconic place in Venice is the famous Rialto Bridge, the sumptuous Bridge on the Grand Canal that populates all the postcards of Venice, today on the large bridge you will find numerous artisan workshops, jewelers and souvenir shops for tourists. Before becoming as elegant and beautiful as you see it today, the Rialto Bridge was a simple bridge of boats, it was rebuilt several times, until the current version that dates back to 1591. Our second day begins from this nerve center where you will also find the Rialto Market and then venture towards the Cannaregio District.

Cannaregio is a Sestriere full of charm, where a genuine Venetianness lives, it is located in the northern area of Venice, but do not worry Venice is a city that can be easily explored on foot and in a short time. Venture into Sestriere, here you can see: the Jewish ghetto, dating back to the 16th century, is the first ghetto in Europe, here you will discover the synagogue and the Jewish Museum. In the eastern part, less than 10 minutes walk away, you can admire the house of the famous painter Tintoretto, where the artist spent his entire life. In this district, a rare pearl, little known by the tourist masses, is the Church of the Madonna dell'Orto, this splendid place of worship dates back to the 14th century and it is here that the remains of Tintoretto are preserved. Finally, in the southern part of Sestriere you will find the Venice Casino, active since the 17th century, the building is in Renaissance style and overlooks the Grand Canal, before its function as a gambling square, it was the residence of the Doges and also of the great musician Richard Wagner.

On the third day, to broaden your horizons, we suggest you explore the islands of the Lagoon. Venice has many, some better known, others less known and wilder. You can reach them via the water transport system of Venice: the famous ferries. The most famous and largest islands are Murano, the island of glass, where you can see artisans at work and learn about the Glass Museum; and the island of Burano, known for the art of Lace, where you will find the Lace Museum that preserves the entire history of this ancient art that is still actively practiced.

The island of Torcello is more distant than the others, this island has very ancient origins and is considered the cradle of Venetian civilization, if you want unusual and silent landscapes, this is the right place, you will find wild nature and wonderful relics of the past such as the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, Santa Fosca and the throne of Attila. The last island we recommend you explore is the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, you can see it from Piazza San Marco and it can be reached in a few minutes by ferry. Very interesting to see on this island is the Borges Labyrinth, dedicated to the famous Argentine writer, the labyrinth is located inside the Cini Foundation which regularly hosts temporary exhibitions in the Stanze della Fotografia. Also on the island of San Giorgio is the large Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore, designed by Palladio, where you can find the Last Supper by Tintoretto.

In Venice, the aperitif is an iconic gesture, it belongs to the cultural tradition of the city. Treating yourself to an aperitif is one of the best ways to experience Venice like a local! A fun way to get to know Venetian life is a Bacaro tour.

A bacaro is a typical Venetian tavern, small in size, where you can consume glasses of wine, ombre in Venetian, or spritz, accompanied by the characteristic ciccheti, or cicheti, or tastings of food that accompany your glass. The cicchetti can vary from bacaro to bacaro and can consist of: meatballs, fried fish, called lo scartosso di pesce, creamed cod and anything your imagination has not yet thought of. Cicchetti are the most famous street food in the city.

Looking at it from above with all its canals, narrow streets, alleys and endless squares, getting around Venice may seem difficult, but it isn't! The entire city can be explored on foot, wear comfortable shoes, no heels, study the map carefully and you will see that after a while you will have an excellent sense of direction, if you sometimes get lost, it will be nice to discover unusual surprises.

If your feet can't take it anymore, consider water transport and the vaporetto system, the network is very efficient and you can reach all the places in Venice without getting tired, the only disadvantage is that taking the vaporettos can be very expensive, for this reason we suggest you consider a Pass to use all the vaporettos and be sure of never finding yourself in difficulty. Alternatively, some City Passes, such as the Venice Pass, have the option to travel unlimitedly on public transport in Venice.

Where to sleep in Venice may seem difficult to choose considering the amount of accommodation dedicated to hospitality present in all the Sestieri: luxury hotels, simple hotels, apartments for rent of various sizes and even hostels. The choice of area depends on your tastes, how much you like to walk and finally on your budget. But how do you choose the right Sestriere? Let's quickly take a tour of the Sestieri to help you understand.

If you choose areas such as Piazza San Marco or Campo San Polo you will be practically in the center and will have all the attractions within easy reach, but these are very touristy and popular areas. If you want a quieter Sestriere where there is not so much crowding you will have to go to the Sestriere of Cannaregio (Northern area of Venice), another very quiet area and suitable if you come to Venice to visit the Biennale, is the Sestriere Castello, which is located between the Arsenale and the gardens near the eastern tip of Venice. If you love art, instead, we suggest you choose Sestriere Dorsoduro, it is in this area that you will find the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and contemporary art museums such as Punta della Dogana of the Pinault Foundation. Finally, if you want to spend less you will have to choose Mestre. Mestre is connected to Venice by train, it is infinitely cheaper than Venice, if you choose this location we suggest you use it only for the overnight stay and spend your whole day until dinner in the Lagoon to make the most of your trip.

With our 3-day itinerary for first-time visitors at your fingertips, you have the opportunity to have a complete overview of both the places and the culture. Venice is easy to explore on foot, wear comfortable shoes and put everything you need in your backpack, if you have difficulty moving or want to sail the waters of Venice then take advantage of the vaporetti, don't forget that the most convenient option is the Pass.

Once again we recommend you consider the Venice Pass, an App that has all the accesses to the main attractions of Venice and you can also include the water transport services. Remember that Venice is a jewel that must be preserved, respect the environment and the culture of the place and try to choose the less popular places to diversify the tourist masses, you can make the difference!