Best 3 Days in Venice, Italy: Your Budget Travel Guide

I know the logistical problem – you and your partner have only a few days to spare in Venice. You’ve probably googled blog posts and video shorts to find out how best to spend your limited time in the city.

Personally, I’m against spending just a couple of days in Venice. I believe it doesn’t do justice to your travel history. You’ll end up rushing through your visit, missing out on hidden gems, and dealing with long flights home (hello, jetlag). If you need recovery time from jetlag, then it’s worth extending your stay.

The Internet, however, is trending against me. Thousands of posts recommend “3 days in Venice.” To keep up with that, I’ve decided to provide my own version of the best three days in Venice for my readers. If that’s what’s trending, then why not join in?

So without further ado, let’s dive in.

Fondamente Nove will be your best friend in Venice. Photo: Wikipedia

Getting Around

For better travel planning, I recommend staying near Fondamente Nove. This vaporetto (public water bus) stop connects to many routes, giving you access to almost anywhere mentioned in this post.

If staying in Venice is too expensive, you’ll still be better off booking accommodation on the mainland in areas like Forte Marghera, Mestre, or Dolo. These are well connected by buses that go directly to Piazzale Roma, a major public transport hub in Venice. From here, you can catch buses, trams, and even the Tronchetto “people mover.”

ACTV offers a 3-day transport pass that gives you unlimited rides on buses and vaporetti within Venice. Do note, however, that ACTV doesn’t operate every mode of transport at Piazzale Roma, so check carefully what’s included. And if you ever take ACTV transport without a valid ticket, speak to staff immediately or risk a fine – just don’t be rude.

Venice is a car-free city, so your car must stay outside. You can park at Piazzale Roma or in Mestre, but parking may cost up to €30 per day. I’d rather invest that money in the ACTV pass and enjoy unlimited rides.

If you’re arriving from outside Italy, long-distance trains from Munich, Vienna, Ljubljana, or Zagreb are a comfortable option. Night sleepers let you travel in style and arrive rested at Venice Santa Lucia, just a five-minute walk from Piazzale Roma.

Venice Treviso Airport. Photo: Wikipedia

Arriving in Venice via Marco Polo or Treviso

Major international airlines fly into Venice Marco Polo, while low-cost carriers like Ryanair often land in Treviso, about 40 km away. Both airports are well connected to Venice by public transport. ACTV buses run frequently, and the Alilaguna vaporetto even links Marco Polo with Murano.

From Treviso, Trenitalia trains travel to Venice Santa Lucia – the regional (RE) takes about 40 minutes, while the Frecciarossa express is much faster.

This is the Rialto (Bridge) I will be talking about shortly. Hopefully it will be less crowded like this if you go there at late night. Photo: schlappohr of Pixabay

Day 1

On arrival, check into your accommodation or leave your luggage at a deposito bagagli (luggage storage). You’ll find plenty of options on Google, or you can use apps like Bounce and Nannybag, which partner with local stores in Venice.

For transport, I don’t recommend buying the Venezia Unica pass. It offers many discounts for food, bars, and museums, but with only three days you won’t have time to benefit fully. Instead, purchase a 72-hour ACTV pass, which gives unlimited rides on buses, trams, and vaporetti in the Venice municipality.

Don’t forget to activate a paper pass before use. Digital tickets are automatically validated upon purchase.

The quieter Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square) probably early in the morning. Photo: StockSnap of Pixabay

If you arrive in the morning, visit Piazza San Marco or Rialto before the city fills with crowds. These are iconic landmarks, but between 8 am and 9 pm they can be suffocating. If you can’t make it early, then visit late in the evening after 9 pm when the atmosphere is calmer.

A word of caution: food and drinks in tourist-heavy areas are pricey. For example, cafés on Piazza San Marco often add a €10 surcharge for outdoor seating. It’s up to you whether the experience is worth it.

Still, no one should leave Venice without seeing Piazza San Marco or Rialto, so I don’t recommend skipping them – just be strategic with timing.

If your first day falls on a Sunday, don’t miss the Rialto Market, where you can get a glimpse of local life. Pick up spice mixes and sweets to take a taste of Venice home with you.

Rialto Market

Another unusual stop is the DeSpar Supermarket in Cannaregio, housed in the former Teatro Italia. The old theatre is now a chic supermarket, though photography is strictly forbidden – respect this rule and blend in as a considerate visitor.

DeSpar Supermarket, formerly Teatro Italia.

Also in Cannaregio is Venice’s Jewish Quarter (New Ghetto), easily accessible from Piazzale Roma or Santa Lucia station. Here you’ll discover the city’s cosmopolitan past, when international communities thrived as part of Venice’s role as a pan-Mediterranean trade hub. Bookstores preserve histories and biographies of this unique neighborhood, and local restaurants and bakeries serve kosher specialties with a Venetian twist.

The Jewish populace of Venice was forced to confine themselves in this tiny corner of Venice for centuries to come. Now home to Jewish organisations and Jewish restaurants as well as cafes.

Nearby, the Tre Archi bridge crosses the Cannaregio Canal. With its distinctive three arches – unlike any other bridge in Venice – it even lends its name to a vaporetto stop. On a sunny day, it makes a perfect postcard photo.

If you decide to visit Doge’s Palace on Day 1, don’t plan for much else. This landmark deserves ample time, and rushing through it would only spoil the experience.

Day 2

The Vaporetto (waterbus) route 12 by ACTV. Photo: visit-venice-italy.com

Your first full day in Venice is perfect for exploring the lagoon islands. Take vaporetto line 12 from Fondamente Nove to Murano, Burano, and Torcello. Each island offers something unique.

Instagrammable rainbow-colored houses on Burano. Photo: Pixabay

Murano, the closest, is the home of Venetian glass. You can attend glass-making workshops or shop for authentic pieces. Look for the Venetian Glass Certificate and don’t hesitate to ask shopkeepers about authenticity – they’ll gladly explain.

Burano is famed for lace and its colorful houses, which have made it a favorite among Instagrammers. While lace-making workshops are rare today, you’ll find beautiful souvenirs from bookmarks to tablecloths. The pastel streets alone are worth the trip.

If the crowds in Burano overwhelm you, cross the bridge to its quieter sister island, Mazzorbo. This largely residential area is serene, with one notable restaurant set amid a vineyard. Even non-guests are welcome to stroll through the vineyard and take photos.

A vineyard by the canal. A snapshot of a serene and peaceful village life.

Finally, venture on to Torcello, about 30 minutes by vaporetto. This island feels worlds away from the bustle of Venice. Its Byzantine-Venetian church is a masterpiece and occasionally hosts weddings. If the church is closed for private events, climb the Campanile (bell tower) for just €5 and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the lagoon.

An archaeological square surrounded by museums and churches. A good place for family picnics and for having meals under the sun.

Day 3

Accademia Bridge in Venice Photo: Wikipedia

On your last full day in Venice, slow the pace and soak in the essence of the city. This is your chance to wander through quieter neighborhoods, explore museums at leisure, and enjoy Venice without constantly checking the clock.

Start in Dorsoduro, a district that feels more laid-back than San Marco or Rialto. Here you’ll find the Gallerie dell’Accademia, home to masterpieces by Bellini, Tintoretto, and Veronese. If you love art history, this museum is worth every minute. Just across the wooden Accademia Bridge, the views over the Grand Canal are unforgettable.

Continue to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, one of Europe’s finest collections of modern art. Housed in Peggy Guggenheim’s former palazzo, it features works by Pollock, Picasso, Dalí, and Magritte. Even if you’re not a modern art enthusiast, the sculpture garden and canalside terrace are worth a visit.

A peak into the Guggenheim Collection.

From Dorsoduro, follow the canal paths until you reach the Zattere promenade. This sunny walkway is a favorite among locals, perfect for gelato by the water or a quiet afternoon stroll. Compared to the crowded Riva degli Schiavoni near Piazza San Marco, Zattere is far more peaceful.

In the evening, consider a classic gondola ride. Yes, it’s touristy, but gliding through Venice’s canals at sunset is a once-in-a-lifetime memory. If gondolas feel too expensive, hop on a traghetto instead.

A typical gondola pier near Rialto Bridge

These public gondola ferries cost only a couple of euros and carry passengers across the Grand Canal at different points. The ride is short, but it gives you the gondola experience without draining your budget.

For dinner, skip the tourist traps and head to a traditional osteria in Cannaregio or Castello. Order cicchetti, Venice’s answer to tapas, along with a glass of local wine. These small bites let you sample the city’s flavors in a cozy, authentic setting.

cicchetti should look like this – fingerfood plates served in wine bars. Photo: aperol.com

End your day with a nighttime stroll. Venice after dark is magical – the crowds are gone, the canals reflect the lights of lanterns, and the city feels timeless. Walk across the Rialto Bridge or linger in a quiet campo to let the experience sink in before your journey home.

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