I think Venice is one of the most magical cities in the world! It’s a city on the water, literally!

People leave their house with a boat because their house is literally on the water! It’s amazing!

Today I am going to share with a 24-hours in Venice travel guide.

Even though Venice is perfect for a weekend getaway, a day trip is fine as well. You can definitely explore Venice in one day.

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The Grand Canal

A little background:

The Grand Canal is the main waterway in Venice which splits the city into two parts.

This waterway (and a few other smaller waterways) is the main transportation system in Venice.

In the Grand Canal, you will see many traditional gondolas, small boats, jet skis, and many other water vehicles.

The Grand Canal usually gets busy during the day, due to it being right in the middle of the city, and a very popular tourist spot.

I recommend visiting the Grand Canal early in the morning, take pretty pictures without hundreds of people next to you. Enjoy the peace and quiet.

The Grand Canal bridges at four points in the city, the oldest and most famous bridge is the Rialto Bridge (which you can take amazing photos at).

Rialto Market

Open Hours: Tuesday to Saturday – 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: Campo della Pescaria | Vicino il Ponte di Rialto, 30125 Venice, Italy

The Rialto Market is a historic and local favorite market. It is a fun place with good vibes, and it is also a great way to see Venice locals walking around buying stuff and living their everyday life.

In the market, you can find fruits, vegetables, fish and even carnival masks!

But I will warn you if you are sensitive to fish smell I will be careful going, or maybe just go on a little walk because sometimes the fish smell does get pretty strong.

Beyond the fish smell, I highly recommend visiting this local market, it is such a great way to experience Venice from a local’s point of view.

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco is one of the most beautiful places in Venice. It is the main square in Venice and holds a very rich history and many important buildings.

My favorite thing about this square is the Basicilia which is one of the prettiest architecture buildings I’ve seen in all of Italy!

Sadly, because I was wearing ripped jeans and a tank top I couldn’t go in, but it was beautiful from the outside as well.

You should be prepared for a large crowd of people because this place is one of the popular spots in Venice.

If you would like to avoid the crowd, I would recommend visiting here early in the morning (before 10 am for sure).

Also, keep in mind that the restaurants in Piazza San Marco are quite expensive.

So if you are traveling on a budget I would recommend either bringing your own meal or eating outside the piazza at a more affordable place.

Pro Tip: If you are planning to visit inside the basilica, I highly recommend purchasing a skip-the-line ticket because the crowds and lines ARE HUGE.

If you really are visiting Venice for a day or even for a weekend, your time is precious and you won’t want to spend it on standing in long lines.

I highly recommend walking around the square, looking at the beautiful buildings or even going on a tour around the piazza.

Go On A Gondola Ride!

To be honest, I didn’t go on one when I visited and I deeply regretted it afterward.

I was on a tight budget and it was too expensive for me.

Which is something you should also keep in mind, these gondola rides are expensive, but when looking back I think they are definitely worth it!

Pro Tip: If you want a good price for your gondola ride, I highly recommend purchasing your tickets in advance through this website. You can find here discounted tickets for a reasonable price!

These gondola rides take around 30 minutes where you cruise around the beautiful city of Venice.

Also, if you pay an extra €10 the gondolier will serenade you while rowing you through the city.

This ride is definitely a must if you are traveling as a couple!

Venice Boat Tour

When I visited Venice I got on the boat to get back to Venice’s train station (because we didn’t feel like walking all over again), and it was such a fun experience! It was also during sunset time, which made everything even prettier and magical.

I highly recommend being prepared and buying your tickets in advance, and also having in hand all the needed information (hours, pick-up spots, etc).

Walk Around And Explore!

Honestly, what I enjoyed most about Venice was just walking around this magical city.

I always recommend walking around a city, or a new destination to get to know the place, but in Venice, it is definitely a must.

The architecture in this city is amazing, the houses on the water, the beautiful bridges that connect between all parts of Venice, the smells, the people, the souveniers shops – the list can go on and on.

Exploring Venice by walking around, is definitely a must. Also, you won’t want to miss all the instagramable spots in Venice!

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