Venice Itinerary for One Day: Self-Guided Walking Tour

Venice is one of those destinations that you end up loving or you end up hating. And that is probably going to be entirely dependent on your tolerance for crowds. Honestly, before getting to Venice, I was worried that I would hate it!

So many people online complain about its crowds, its mosquitos, its flooding… The list of negatives seemed endless to me! But after just my first hours in Venice, I really felt like people give it a bad rep.

Yes, Venice is way too crowded in the center. But honestly, the crowds are completely justified. I would describe Venice as: so beautiful, it’s unreal. And can you really blame crowds for flocking to something like that?

My advice for visiting Venice is that you try to knock out all the main sights at less-crowded hours. Then, spend the middle of the day exploring the attraction-free parts of the city, where it’s much, much less crowded, but just as beautiful.

I will be honest, though, that with just one day in Venice, that is going to be a little more difficult to do! But even if one day in Venice is all you have, I still think it is possible to have a nice time.

So today, I’m sharing my self-guided walking tour Venice itinerary for one day. My hope is to guide you through this beautiful city of canals in an order that makes the most sense. The goal is to maximize sightseeing and minimize crowds where possible. Ready? Then let’s get to it.

Where to Stay in Venice

If you are traveling on a budget or have limited mobility, it would be helpful to stay within walking distance of the train station (Venezia Santa Lucia). That way, you can save money on water taxis to and from your hotel, plus you can avoid waking any bridges (which have stairs) with your luggage. If you don’t mind traveling via water taxi right after arriving or are traveling light, then consider staying deeper in the heart of Venice instead. Either way, Venice is quite compact. So you won’t be too far from anything!

Where to Stay in Venice

Hotel Abbazia: Mid-range option, just 3-minutes walk from the train station (no bridges to cross with luggage).
Hotel Becher: Higher-end option with rooms ranging from single to family suites, many of which offer balconies overlooking the canal, with drapes around beds (to ward off Venice’s summer mosquitos), and a delicious breakfast.

Piazza San Marco

This main square is where most of the (tourist) action is. So head here first thing in the morning in an attempt to beat what crowds you can. Here in this piazza, you will find the Basilica San Marco, the Campanile, and the Doge’s Palace.

Basilica San Marco

This church, as well as the square, is named after St. Mark. He was the saint who evangelized the people of Veneto region (the region where Venice is), and, because of that, he is the city’s patron saint. I was really surprised upon entering this church and loved the intricate mosaics.

Entry will set you back €3 (shoulders and knees covered!) if you purchase in person. But there can be a very long line most hours of the day. That’s why I’m recommending you head here first on your one day in Venice.

But if you’d rather not risk it, you can book your time slot online at the official site for an extra €3 more. Large bags are not allowed inside, but there’s luggage storage nearby that the basilica will tell you to use.

Campanile di San Marco

Like the church, this bell tower is also named after the patron saint. You can take the elevator up it for €10 if purchasing in person, or pay a €2 booking fee to reserve online in advance. If you want to skip the line, it’s the same website as the basilica.

Doge’s Palace

Venice didn’t really come to be until after the fall of the Roman Empire. And it was ruled by the doge (or duke). Over the centuries, the Doge’s Palace that we can see today was built. It was where the Doge lived, the seat of the government, and also housed a jail.

Entry to the Doge’s Palace is €25 if booked over 30 days prior (or €30 otherwise). I personally booked the Secret Itineraries Tour, in order to see the prisons and walk through the famous bridge (next on this itinerary) that connected them to the palace. Regardless of which ticket you’re interested in, you can see the official site to purchase in advance or for more deets.

Bridge of Sighs

After you finish your visit to the Doge’s Palace, walk around the building, heading towards the lagoon and making a left turn around the corner. From the first bridge you come across, you’ll see the famous Bridge of Sighs to your left.

It’s named so because it connects to the prisons, and prisoners sighed while taking one last look over beautiful Venice as they walked through the bridge to their doom. This is the bridge in the special tour I mentioned above.

Accademia Bridge

Now, it’s finally time to start heading out of Piazza San Marco! I’m sure by now, it’s gotten pretty busy. Head to the Accademia bridge (my favorite in all of Venice!) Here, you’ll enjoy that view over the grand canal that I’m sure you’ve seen several times already while planning your Venice trip.

Grand Canal in Venice from Acadamia Bridge during sunset

Basilica Santa Maria della Salute

After you’ve snapped enough pics and enjoyed the lovely view, we can finally leave the most central part of Venice (until later!). Crossing the Accademia Bridge, you’ll end up in the Dorsoduro neighborhood.

Head to Basilica Santa Maria della Salute, where you can admire not only the stunning church’s architecture, but also a different angle of Piazza San Marco, which you’ve just spent all morning exploring.

Lunch Break

By now, I’m sure you’re famished! Start heading out of the Dorsoduro neighborhood, passing through Santa Croce until you reach Cannaregio. All three of these neighborhoods are going to be a lot calmer than the center, so take your time wandering down whatever streets pique your interest while you look for a spot to get lunch and refuel.

Rialto Bridge

Once it’s late in the afternoon, it’s time to head back into the madness of central Venice. So your next stop is the famous Rialto Bridge. If you haven’t figured it out by now, Venice has a lot of cool bridges! But this one is probably the most famous, due to its unique design.

Fondaco dei Tedeschi

Right next to Rialto Bridge, you’ll find this shopping center. It’s located right at the edge of the Rialto Bridge on Calle del Fontego. From its rooftop, you can enjoy free views over Rialto Bridge. But you’ll need to book in advance (I recommend at least a day or two prior to get your ideal time slot).

The Grand Canal

Your day in Venice is winding down, but you can’t leave Venice without experiencing its Grand Canal!

The obvious way to float around Venice is on a gondola. This will set you back €80 per gondola (six people max) in the daytime, or €100 sunset and later. Prices are fixed, so check current gondola prices, and don’t let anyone overcharge you.

Alternatively, if traveling on a budget (like yours truly was!) you can ride the vaporetto (water taxi) between San Marco and the train station. To avoid paying for the physical card, you can purchase a ticket from the official AVM Venezia Official APP (iPhone and Android). I reeeeally recommend timing this during sunset. It’s SO pretty (and a lot less hectic).

What Do You Think of This Venice One Day Itinerary?

Well, there you have it folks! That’s how I would spend one day in Venice. Knock out the main tourist draws as early as you can, hide in the calmer neighborhoods in the middle of the day, and then enjoy the remaining few stops and a gondola ride after the midday madness has started to calm.

Do you have any questions or thoughts on this one-day Venice itinerary? Feel free to drop them in a comment below. I’m pretty good about responding.