3 Days in Venice: The Queen of the Adriatic Sea

There is no place like Venice! I fell in love with it the moment our train reached the train station Santa Lucia, and I saw the Grand Canal flowing right outside.

The beautiful city of Venice is surrounded by the Adriatic Sea on all sides. There are about 118 small islands that are connected by canals and bridges that together make up Venice.

At the end of this blog, I have compiled a list of important tips for visiting the popular attractions in Venice to help you plan the perfect 3-Day itinerary.

Is Venice Worth Visiting?

Before I discuss the tourist attractions of Venice in detail, I'd like to address the many conflicting views that I'd read about Venice on various media platforms before our visit. You might also come across many such views.

On the one hand, there are people like me who would swear by the sheer romanticism of the city....an entire city connected by canals! What could be more alluring for tourists who are always looking for picture-perfect backdrops?

On the other hand, though, there are people who get too flustered by all the crowds that throng the city and the high prices that come with visiting one of the most famous cities in the world.

Let me try to put this debate in perspective for you...and also share my opinion with you.

• Venice is highly touristy, so much so that you will hardly come across any locals except the ones working in restaurants or in other service-oriented fields.

  
  

• There are tourists everywhere; this comes with certain problems for everyone. The prices of all basic commodities shoot up, not to mention the massive toll such tourism takes on the fragile ecosystem of the city.

• More tourists obviously translates into more expensive hotels and restaurants.

• There are tourist traps everywhere in the form of restaurants that overcharge and shops that quote exorbitant prices.

• So, the only way to enjoy your stay in Venice is to have all your bookings in place with a clear-cut itinerary and keep extra time to navigate through all the crazy crowds.

Best Time to Visit Venice

Choosing the best time to visit Venice depends on the kind of experience you're looking for.

• The most popular time to visit Venice is from April to October, when the weather is pleasant, and the city is lively. However, July and August are the most crowded and expensive months.

• If you want fewer crowds and want to go easy on your wallet, then going in winter, December to February, might be a good idea. Venice feels quieter and more atmospheric.

• But this time of the year, one important thing to keep in mind is the possibility of Venice getting flooded, locally known as Acqua Alta. Acqua Alta is a temporary phenomenon that occurs between October and March due to high tides.

• While the water level recedes quickly, it can affect transportation and the walking routes across the city. However, Venice is well prepared for it, and elevated walkways are often installed in affected areas, but it might dampen the overall touristy experience of the city for you.

Personally, I feel that the shoulder seasons, April to June and September to October, offer the best balance between pleasant weather, manageable crowds, and overall experience.

How to Spend 3 Days in Venice

Day One in Venice

Anyone visiting Venice for the first time is totally enamoured by the canals. There are boats parked in front of houses instead of cars, giving the city an out-of-this-world feel.

We started our first day in Venice, loitering around the canals and clicking pictures around the city. There are people everywhere, walking around, shopping in the narrow winding streets for glass jewellery and watches and not to forget, masks.

I also bought some trinkets from the alleys only to discover later that the best place to buy glassware is Murano. We'll come to Murano later in the post.

St. Mark's Square

Keep walking along with the other tourists in the narrow alleyways, and you suddenly reach a big public square, called Piazza San Marco or Saint Mark's Square.

There are hundreds of people in the square....we couldn't stop wondering how so many people could walk through the narrow streets to reach here.

This is one of the most iconic public squares in Italy. Surrounded by grand historic buildings and important landmarks like St. Mark's Basilica, the square captures the grandeur of Venice.

St. Mark's Basilica

Located right on St. Mark's Square, the basilica is one of the most magnificent churches in Venice, famous for its Byzantine architecture.

Entry to St. Mark's Basilica is free. But that really doesn't help because there are so many people waiting in the queue to gain entry. If you're keen on seeing this basilica, then a guided tour is your best bet.

It is best to book skip-the-line tickets in advance. Dress modestly as it is an active place of worship.

Doge's Palace

On the far side of the Basilica is a beautiful Gothic-style structure called the Doge's Palace. Doge, I learnt later, was the highest authority in the Republic of Venice, and this was his residence.

Tickets to the palace are available at the main entrance ticket counter, but remember, you will have to show some ID to get access to the palace. We were not carrying our passports, so we could not go inside.

The safest way to see the palace is to make advance bookings; you will also be able to beat the crowd.

Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal

The Grand Canal offers some of the most iconic views in Venice. Lined with historic palaces, charming bridges, and bustling water traffic, this main waterway of Venice cuts beautifully through the heart of the city.

One of the most popular ways to see the Grand Canal is by taking the traditional gondola ride through the smaller canals connected to the Grand Canal.

We hired a gondola from St. Mark's Square. The ride was a memory worth cherishing. The gondoliers are all dressed up in traditional attire, the boats are spic-and-span, and the ride is accompanied by anecdotes of history. Our gondolier, I forget his name, was not just talkative, but he also hummed his way melodiously through the entire boat ride.

Day Two in Venice

Visiting the Island of Burano

We started our second day in Venice with a visit to the beautiful islands of Burano and Murano, starting with Burano.

The easiest and most common way to get to Burano is by Vaporetto, a Water Bus, which takes about 45 minutes to reach.

The island is really small; you can see the entire island in about 2 hours.

The charming seaside village of Burano will entice you with its rows of colourful houses and its shops filled with lacework. The village seems to belong to a different era; you will see elderly women making intricate patterns with lace, oblivious to the tourists watching them.

The island is so beautiful that words fail me to describe it. We spent the first hour just ogling at houses; it seemed as if witches from some fairytale would fly on their brooms out of the chimneys atop these houses.

The locals are friendly. On enquiring about the coloured houses, I learnt from a local shop owner that these houses were painted in bright colours so that fishermen could find their way back to the village even during thick fog. And then, the village came to be recognised by its colourful houses, so the tradition stuck.

You can start your Burano trip by visiting Piazza Baldassare Galuppi, the square with the statue of the famous composer Galuppi in its centre. If you look around, you will see the local church, Saint Martin Bishop, and the Leaning Tower. Yes, Burano has its very own tower that leans. It's not as dramatic as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, though.

Piazza Baldassare Galuppi, Burano

After loitering around Burano and seeing the beauty of this enchanting village, we headed back to the ferry point to go further to Murano.

Visiting the Island of Murano

The journey with the vaporetto to Murano takes about 25 minutes, and is as much fun as the ride to Burano from Venice.

Murano is world-renowned for its glassware.

Murano greets you with a beautiful glass sculpture!

The island of Murano is a group of 7 small islands connected by bridges.

Again, we spent an hour just walking around this quaint island, past shops displaying fascinating items made of glass. There are some cafes also where you can sit and bask in the romanticism of this island over a snack or a cup of coffee.

There is a Glass Museum in Murano that takes you on a tour of glass-making techniques and the history of glass-making in Murano.

This was our second last day in Italy, and we'd had our fill of museums in Italy. We decided to look at the shops selling very interesting glass artefacts instead.

You can even buy Venetian masks made of glass!

Another beautiful structure to see in Morano is the Basilica di Santa Maria e San Donato.

The church is known for its stunning mosaic floors and rightfully so! You can spend about 30 minutes to an hour inside.

One of the most famous attractions of Murano is its glass factories. If you're interested, then you can book tours of these factories that include taking you around on a tour of the factory and glass-blowing demonstrations, depending on the tour you buy.

Day Three in Venice

St. Mark's Campanile (Bell Tower)

We started our day with Saint Mark's Square again. We wanted to wander the streets of Venice one more time on our last day here.

On our first day in Venice, we had not seen Saint Mark's Campanile. The Bell Tower is situated right next to St. Mark's Basilica. You can buy a ticket and go up the elevator to get scenic views of Venice.

Bridge of Sighs

We also wanted to see the famous old baroque bridge, the Bridge of Sighs. Normally, tourists see this bridge on the gondola ride from the canal. I might have also seen it, but at that time, we were so enamoured with the ride itself that we missed the bridge.

I'd read about this bridge and the many myths attached to it. Its name, the 'sighs', refers to the sighs of prisoners who must have passed over it since the bridge connects Doge's Palace to the New Prison. The myth is that if lovers kiss each other right under the bridge, then their love will become eternal. Don't miss the opportunity to do that on the gondola ride. The other good way to see it is from the Bridge of Paglia. This bridge is just behind St. Mark's Square, and you can see the Bridge of Sighs from here.

Rialto Bridge

From there, we went to see the iconic Rialto Bridge. It is only a 5 to 6-minute walk from Saint Mark's Square.

You don't have to look for the bridge on a map or anywhere; the Rialto Bridge is like the central point of Venice, and you will see a lot of signage at various places in the city giving directions to the bridge.

The Rialto Bridge is one of the oldest arched bridges in Venice, built over the narrowest point of the Grand Canal and the most frequented attraction in Venice.

Very close to the Rialto Bridge is the Rialto Marketplace. A visit to this market will give you an interesting insight into everyday Venetian life. Here you can get all kinds of fruits and vegetables, and some amazing seasonal fruits. You can spend some time here rummaging through preparations with local herbs and spices. We got some ready-to-use Italian sauces, and they were amazing.

Rialto Bridge is touristy and crowded. However, the view of the canal is stunning from here. You should plan to spend a day and an evening here.

This was our last day, not just in Venice but also in Italy. We just wanted to soak in the vibe of this romantic city, stroll along its canals and eat at a canal-side restaurant.

And that's what we did before wrapping up our trip to this beautiful, vibrant country!

Things to Know Before Visiting Venice

Tips for Visiting the Doge's Palace

• Book your tickets online in advance, especially during the summer months, as queues can get very long.

• Plan to visit early in the morning for a relatively quieter experience.

• Keep at least 2 hours for the visit. The palace offers extensive interiors, museums, prison cells and artwork.

• Don't miss the Bridge of Sighs, which connects the palace to the historic prison.

• It's a good idea to opt for an audio guide because of the insight it can give into the rich history of the palace.

• Wear comfortable shoes, as you will be walking through large halls, staircases, and multiple exhibition rooms.

• Carry your ID with you. In some cases, staff may ask international travellers you for their ID for entry.

Tips for Visiting the Islands of Burano and Murano

• Start your day early as both islands become crowded by late morning.

• The easiest and budget-friendly way to go is by taking the Vaporetto (water bus) from Venice.

• Burano is known for its brightly coloured houses and peaceful canals, making it one of the most photogenic spots around Venice.

• There is a lace museum on the Piazza in Burano. If you have time, you can see the museum and learn about the history of lace in Burano.

• Murano is famous for its glass-making workshops, so visiting a glass-blowing demonstration can be a fun thing to do.

• Like all touristy places, restaurants and cafes on both islands are expensive, so check for reviews before you settle on one.