Venice is a city that we’ve all heard of; the romantic Gondola rides through weaving canals, festive masks, art, and ancient tales about an underground order. There is so much to see in the historic city within just 24 hours in Venice!
Located in the Venetian Lagoon, Venice’s unique construction has replaced traditional roads and cars, with boats and canals.
Venice is a world-renowned city for its unique construction using shallow canals. It is romantic, beautiful, accessible, and has so much history for you to get a glimpse of in one day in Venice. Explore churches, basilicas, gardens, and beautiful viewpoints to take in this coastal city!
Check out my top suggestions for what to do & see in Venice, with helpful guidance on getting to the city and parking as well! Spend less time planning, and more time seeing with this guide on 24 hours in Venice.
Table of Contents
Know Before You Go
- There are no cars or scooters, so there will be a lot of walking! Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- There are stairs to cross over the canals, make sure everyone you’re traveling with is comfortable with a lot of stairs.
- Venice experiences a lot of over-tourism. If you are planning to visit, go in non-peak times like the winter and weekdays.
- Plan to arrive in the city early, parking and the streets fill up quickly.
- Watch out for the seagulls! They will shamelessly steal food straight out of your mouth.
- Check the conditions of the canals. If you’re planning a Gondola ride, look at the schedule of the tides & plan your ride during high tide.
- As with any city, watch for pick-pocketers and stay safe!
- Be respectful of the culture 🙂
Climate change has caused some major changes to the Venetian canals, and overtourism is making things worse. In recent years, the city has faced intense flooding, and this past year a drought has struck the area. Do your part to reduce your carbon footprint so world heritage sites like this can be maintained!
Venice Visitor Fee
The city of Canals will officially be imposing a tourist fee for daily visitors. All non-residents will be required to pay a €5 daily fee during peak travel times including summer months and weekends. This is their latest overtourism solution to help reduce the impact that excessive travelers cause in the city.
This is different from the Tourist Tax, which is required by all travelers staying in the city of Venice.
24 hours in Venice Must-Do's
Things to do if you have extra time
Parking Areas
Morning in Venice
If you are lucky to have some early-morning time to explore Venice before the crowds roll in during your 24 hours in Venice, use it well! Find yourself a nice cappuccino and croissant, and hit the city to explore. Since there are a few iconic sights that everyone hustles to get to, I suggest getting there early so you can enjoy them all without the crowds.
St. Mark's Square
The most iconic place in Venice is St. Mark’s Square. Here, you will be surrounded by historic buildings including St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and the Procuratie Vecchie. By far the most popular, it is also the most crowded, especially in the afternoon. This is a perfect first stop during your 24 hours in Venice!
This serves as the religious, political, and social center in the city of Venice. Take some time to experience the grandeur.
Cost: FREE
Time: 30 minutes
St. Mark's Basilica
The most notable building in Venice is St. Mark’s Basilica. Construction began in the 9th century and was continuously expanded over 8 centuries with impressive detail and accuracy. Access to the Basilica is FREE for an adult, with possible add-ons if you want to explore fully so I highly recommend it! Entrance lines can be over 45 minutes of a wait, but you can purchase ‘skip-the-line’ tickets for only €6 between April-November!
While in the Basilica, no photos or videos are permitted, audio guides must be through headphones, and appropriate clothing must be worn (no bare shoulders or shorts). The Basilica is open 9:30-17:15 Monday-Saturday, and Sunday is 2:00-17:15. The Basilica also houses the Pala d’Oro alter (€5) and a Museum (€7). The Basilica’s bell tower is also by extra ticket only, for €10 (*see below).
If you don’t want to spend the time and money to go inside the Basilica, you can still marvel at the artistic masterpiece from the front. Grab some gelato, sit back, and look in awe at the work done over generations to create the centerpiece of the city.
Cost: Basilica: free (or €6) | Pala d’Oro: €5 | Museum: €7 | Basilica Bell Tower: €10
Time: 90 minutes – 3 hours
Skip the line and buy your tickets online here.
Doge's Palace
Located next to St. Mark’s Basilica on the waterfront, Doge’s Palace is another iconic destination in Venice. This palace was constructed with a unique Venetian Gothic style and used as the residence of the Doge (seat of the government). There have been centuries of history in these walls, which you can now explore in the Doge Palace Museum!
Take a quick peak at the Bridge of Sighs connecting the back of the Palace to an old prison!
*If you are doing Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica, check out the combined tours to save!
Giardini Reali Garden
Now that you’ve seen the best sights before the busy afternoon, take a moment to sit back in this serene garden and relax (and rest your legs, you’re not done yet)! A city this compactly built doesn’t have a ton of green space, so it’s nice to take it when you can!
While you’re letting some of that art and history sink in, you may start to feel your stomach grumbling ready for lunch. Check out the bottom of this article on some of my top recommendations for food in the city before you head off for some more exploring.
Near St. Mark’s Square, you’ll find medieval gardens lined with benches in the shade. This is a perfect place to sit down with a slice of pizza, do some planning, or sit back and listen to an audio tour of the area.
Afternoon in Venice
Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge is the most notable bridge that spans the Central Canal. This is a great place to watch the boats come in from above, and it’s totally free! However I will say, this bridge is usually packed with tourists all trying to get the best photo.
In my opinion, the best photos are taken from the small bridges in the private narrow canals where you can see Venice in a more intimate setting, but with only 3 bridges crossing the Grand Canal, you’ll inevitably cross Rialto at some point within your 24 hours in Venice!
Gondola Ride
Now that you’ve seen the iconic gondolas in the canals, it’s time to check it out yourself. It is time to take a ride in the famous Gondola where you get serenaded by a local in a striped shirt, as you weave through the old city. You get many different perspectives of the city, and experience how the city was designed to be used – by boat!
Typically a gondola ride costs €80 for 40 minutes (€100 after 19:00). Be sure to agree on the cost and duration before getting into the boat! If you want your driver to sing, that will cost extra. There are places to book online in advance, which may be necessary for peak season, but in the off-season, you will see the gondoliers standing on the sidewalks waiting for someone to want a ride.
Cost: €80
Time: 45 minutes
T Fondoca Terrace
One of the best free attractions in Venice that you cannot miss out on! The T Fondoca Terrace is completely free of charge, but you cannot enter without a reservation, so make sure you plan!
Fondaco dei Tedeschi is a luxury retail area, that has an awesome opportunity to sightsee as well as shop! The terrace can be reached by a spiral staircase or an elevator making it accessible to everyone.
If you don’t mind spending a little bit of money for a unique experience, check out ‘Scala Contarini Del Bovolo’ below in the honorable mentions!
Cost: FREE
Time: 20 minutes
Time slots must be booked online here.
Just Walk & Explore!
By this time in the day, you’ve seen a lot of the ‘main attractions’. But, in my opinion, the best of Venice lies within the smaller side streets that tourists usually pass over. Venice has some very well-known spots, some of which are on this list, but it’s always refreshing to get off the beaten trail a bit and see the city more authentically.
Take some time to explore local glass-blowing shops, a local claim to fame. Find yourself a classic Venetian mask and learn about the interesting history and people behind it, or check out the second-hand stores with one-of-a-kind gems! This city is filled with so much beauty and history, that you could fill your entire 24 hours in Venice by just wandering around.
Download a Venice walking audio tour from Voice Maps, and check out the other best travel apps to get the most out of your travels!
Evening in Venice
Sunset Cruise to Church of San Giorgio Maggiore
This is the only attraction listed here that you cannot access by walking, so no better way to explore it than a sunset cruise to the island! San Giorgio is an island to the south of the central part of Venice, which boasts a huge white church with a tempting black door. This is a great spot to go to escape the crowds and get off the beaten path.
Entry to the church is free, and you can go into the bell towers for €8 to get the best views! To get here, you’ll need to take the water bus or a water taxi.
Live Music @ Venice Jazz Club
The best part about having a whole 24 hours in Venice is being around for the night life. Venice hosts a vibrant jazz scene with many clubs around the city. Although I haven’t been myself, the Venice Jazz Club stands out as a fan favorite. Check out some of the upcoming performances so you can grab dinner and a show!
Performance at the Teatro la Fenice
If you’re a theater lover, then you can’t miss the chance to witness a performance at the Teatro la Fenice – a world-renowned performance hall. Here, you can find operas, ballets, orchestras, and concerts, all for a reasonable price! Although the theater isn’t my cup of tea, it’s always fun to join in on the local affairs!
Grab a drink at a Bacaro
A bacaro is a traditional Italian tavern with a laid-back atmosphere, small bites, and nice cocktails. It gives the feels of what it could have been like during the prohibition era, and it’s a great way to tap into the underground scene in Venice. Usually, there is a tasteful selection of live music, making it a perfect stopping point before going out for dinner!
Other Things To Do In Venice
The world is big and you will never see it all, so I am a huge proponent of seeing a few things fully! Since this is focused on just 24 hours in Venice, some awesome options were left off my list. However, they are still worth mentioning so you can plan your trip exactly how you want!
- Bridge of Sighs. Cross the Ponte della Paglia bridge to get a glimpse at the eerie covered bridge where inmates used to walk.
- St. Mark’s Campanile. Get unique views of the city from the top of the tower that stands in St. Mark’s Square, for only €10!
- Scala Conarini Del Bovolo. Featured in the classic film, Othello, this funky spiral staircase feels like old Italy, accessible for only €8.
- Libreria Acqua Alta. For any book lovers, this is a must-see. A library filled with quirky set-ups including books inside of boats and gondolas to protect them from the frequent flooding.
- Glass Blowing Class. Venice is renowned for its glass arts. Get your hands involved and try it out for yourself, earning a self-made souvenir to take home with you!
Getting To Venice
The Old City of Venice is a car-free zone, leaving a few limited options to get into the city. You can either take a bus/train across the lagoon, park your car just outside the city, or take a boat from the mainland (but I don’t recommend that last option).
If you have 24 hours in Venice, try to find a parking location that offers rates by the day, since hourly prices will get pretty steep!
For more info on parking prices, check out Parkopedia.
Parking Inside the City
- Piazzale Roma – the closest you can park, but it costs €4/hour and is limited to 1 hour, not leaving enough time to explore
- Autorimessa Comunale – Parking garage just across Liberty Bridge costing €35/24-hours, limited to 2.2-meter tall vehicles
- Garage San Marco – Various rates based on the length of stay (€20/5 hours, €32/10 hours, €45/24 hours). There are 2 lines for shorts vs long-term parking so be sure to get in the right line!
- Park 280 (RECOMMENDED) – A little bit further to walk into the city but it only costs €4/hour, perfect for short-term visitors. Be aware: once you come to the entrance of this parking lot, if you don’t enter, you have to go back across Liberty Bridge… it happened to us 2 times!
Parking Outside the City
If you don’t want to risk not finding a spot across the Liberty Bridge in Old Venice, you will have plenty of options in Mestre on the mainland of Italy. Here you will find much more affordable options, with cheap and convenient public transport that will drop you off as close as you can get!
The best option is Venice City Park SRL at only €5.5/day, and is located right next to a bus stop! There are a ton of options around here, including Parcheggio via Righi Venezia and Park Petroli.
From Mestre, you can take either the bus or tram across the Liberty Bridge, with daily times available at the parking gate.
Summary - 24 Hours in Venice
Venice is a city of romance and unique architecture, with a medieval history (and the Illuminati, but you didn’t hear it from me). No matter what you may have seen in photos or heard in stories, this is a city that needs to be explored in person to get a feel for its beauty and impressive construction.
Even if you only have 24 hours in Venice, you can see a lot! With only a few hours, get a good parking spot that will give you the freedom to explore for as long as you want. Weave through the city towards Rialto Bridge, where you’ll get your first glimpse of the Grand Canal. Cross over the Bridge and check out the city from above at the T Fondaco terrace!
From here, make your way to the main attraction; St. Mark’s Square. Take some time here to sit and marvel at the beauty of the Basilica before you head inside!
Head towards the Grand Canal and find a restaurant where you can sit outside and watch the boats go by with a Cappuccino. And then, head down the nearest side street until you find a Gondolier to take you out on the boat!
If you want more than just 24 hours in Venice, find ways to take on more slow travel, so you can see the sights without racing through them!
Explore the other destinations waiting for you in Europe!
