48 hours in Venice – Weekend Edition
Venice In Less Than 48 Words
New York Times’ Luigi Barzini once said Venice is “undoubtedly the most beautiful city made by man.” As a matter of fact, the statement rings close to the truth. Stretching across the Venetian Lagoon, made up by some 117 islands, Venice is really a sight to behold.
Rialto Bridge (Photo by Shaun Dunmall)
First 24 Hours
In order to visit the lovely city of Venice you can fly to the Marco Polo International Airport, located some eight kilometers north of the city center. From there, you can ride a bus down to the city’s Piazzale Roma, a journey that will usually take around 20 minutes and cost €3.
Alternatively, you may take the ferry to Piazza San Marco, which will take around an hour and cost €12. You can also opt to take a private water taxi, although they will charge you up to €80. If you arrive via the Treviso Airport some 35 kilometers north of the city, you will have to take the one-hour ATVO Eurobus to the Piazzale Roma, costing around €5.
Venice is made up of a complex series of canals and 117 islands; so you stand a fair chance of getting disoriented. It is advisable that you first head to one its main tourist offices, one at Piazza San Marco 71/F (00 39 041 529 8711), and the other at the Venice Pavilion. Both are open daily, with the former between 9 am and 3:30 pm, and the latter from 10 am to 6 pm. Don’t forget to buy a Venice street map for around €2.50.
CHECK IN: Get some rest at Venice’s comfortable hotels
Al Ponte Antico Hotel (Photo by Calvin Chan)
Once in Venice you may arrange your accommodation in one of the several excellent hotels in the city. Here are some of the best options:
- Al Ponte Antico Hotel (Calle dell’Aseo|Cannaregio 5768, +39 0412411944, website) – one of the top hotels in the city, with high-class facilities
- AD Place Venice (Fondamenta della Fenice 2557/A, website) – a gem among the Venice hotels, with excellent location, top-rated staff, and modern rooms
- Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo (S. Croce 2063, +39 0415244797, website) – has a great location far from the busy tourist areas, with Venetian-style rooms
- Hotel Canal Grande (Santa Croce, 932|Campo San Simeone Grande, +39 041 2440148, website) – offers outstanding service, luxurious rooms, and helpful staff
- Ruzzini Palace Hotel (Castello 5866, website) – a popular hotel in a beautiful location, with luxurious rooms
CAMPANILE: See Venice from up high
You may start your 48 hour tour of Venice by heading to the impressive St. Mark’s Basilica (San Marco 328 30124, +39 041 2708311). It is considered as one of the world’s greatest medieval buildings. In fact, its design, and symbolic status have led people to call it the “Church of Gold.” The first thing that will greet your eyes there is the square in which it is located. You can take a stroll there, or sip a hot cup of coffee at the cafes. Then, you have to brave the long line of tourists waiting to enter the church. It is open daily between 7:30 am and 7 pm.
St. Mark’s Basilica (Photo by Mohan S)
From there you may move to the top of its bell tower, or the St. Mark’s Campanile. Standing 98.6 meters tall, it offers some of the best views of the city around. Access to the lift that will take you to its viewing platform will cost €6, and it is open daily from 9:30 am to 4:15 pm.
GRAND CANAL: Take a ride around town
The next best thing to do in Venice, of course, is a trip down its world-famous canals. Of these, the most popular is the Grand Canal, which forms an S-shape through the city districts – stretching over 3,800 meters in length. It is the best way to see the numerous attractions lining the canal banks, especially some of the most impressive palace facades in the city. You can do it by yourself by riding a vaporetto (local waterbus). Both number 1 and 82 will take you from one end to the other, and an hour’s ride will cost you around €5.
Grand Canal (Photo by Brian)
An alternative would be to hire a private water taxi, although this will cost much more. You can also take a guided tour via Grand Canal boat tours. One of these is the Avventure Bellissime (1063 San Marco, +39 041 970499), which offers a one-hour luxury boat ride along with a running commentary on the sights by an expert guide. The tour usually costs around €40.
RIALTO BRIDGE: Relax with the sights
After a leisurely boat ride, you may proceed to the Rialto Bridge. It is the oldest bridge spanning the Grand Canal, and is a remarkable attraction in itself. From there you can have a breathtaking view of the city. People claim that the view is exactly like a living Canaletto painting, with a scenic sunset, palace facades, boats, and busy gondolas.
DINNER TIME: Discover Venice’s restaurants
Conclude your first 24 hours in Venice by having a dinner at the superb restaurants seen all over the city. Here are some of the most popular tourist hotels:
- Algiubagio (Cannareggio 5039|Fundamente Nuove, +39 041 5236084, website) – one of the best restaurants in the city, with excellent service, top-class menus, and a fabulous wine list
- Osteria Antico Giardinetto (Calle dei Morti 2253|Santa Croce, 30135, 041-722882, website) – offers first-class food and excellent service
- Osteria Ae Sconte (Corte Pelini S. Lio Castello, 5533, 39 041 5239592, website) – a restaurant located in a quiet square off the beaten path, with a classic Italian menu
- Sangal Restaurant (San Marco 1089, 00390413192747, website) – serves contemporary and Italian menus, plus excellent wines
- Ristorante La Caravella (2397 Via XXII Marzo, 0415208901, website) – offers fresh fish dishes, with excellent service and a warm ambience
Next 24 Hours
The second day can be treated as a chance to explore Venice’s other attractions. Start off by visiting the Scuola Grande di San Rocco (San Polo, 3052, +39 041 52 34 864). It is a historical building that contains impressive rooms and 54 colossal Tintoretto paintings. You can reach it via a five-minute walk from Piazzale Roma, or riding a vaporetto up to the San Tomà stop. The site is open daily between 9:30 am and 5:30 pm, and admission will only cost €7.
Scuola Grande di San Rocco (Photo by David Cunningham)
You can then head to the Doge’s Palace (St. Mark’s Square 31024). It is a historic gothic building that houses an impressive collection of artifacts, including paintings by Tintoretto and Veronese. You can also see the famous bridge of sighs there. It is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm, and the entrance fee is around €5.
SANTA MARIA FORMOSA: Go to church
Going to church can be the next thing in the itinerary. You can visit the Santa Maria Formosa Church (Campo Santa Maria Formosa, I-30122 Venice), a Renaissance-style structure dating back to 1492. Inside, you’ll see various artworks. Some of the most prominent are St. Barbara by Palma the Elder, Madonna of Misericordia by Bartolomeo Vivarini, and the Madonna with Child and St. Dominic by Giambattista Tiepolo. It is open from Monday to Saturday between 10 am and 5 pm, and admission will cost around €2.50.
ACCADEMIA: Visit Venice’s museums
Have a cultural afternoon by visiting Venice’s array of museums. One of the best is the Gallerie dell’ Accademia (Campo della Carità, Dorsoduro n. 1050, +39 041 5200345). The museum offers a collection from more than five centuries of unique Venetian art. There, you will see works such as The Tempest by Giorgione, Pieta by Titian, and Feast in the House of Levi by Pablo Veronese. You can also get a glimpse of the famous Vitruvian Man drawn by Leonardo da Vinci.
Michaelangelo’s masterpiece, David (Photo by Michael Jefferson)
You can reach the museum by riding an ACTV Line 1 boat up to Accademia, or by a 30-minute walk from Piazzale Roma. It is open between Tuesdays and Sundays from 8:15 am to 7:15 pm, and on Mondays from 8:15 am to 2 pm. Admission costs €6.50, although European citizens are generally given free entrance, but there is a €1 reservation fee for all.
Head next to the Museo Correr (Piazza San Marco 52, +39 41 522 5625). It is a civic museum that preserves Venice’s history from the 13th to 16th centuries. Inside, you will see various collections of paintings, coins, weapons, military regalia, and so on. The highlights are the art works of the famed Bellini family. Visit its Napoleonic Wing, which contains neo-Classical décor and works by Antonio Canova. The site is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, and admission will cost €5.
SHOPPING: Shop to your heart’s content at the end of your 48 hour visit
Selection of Venetian masks (Photo by carlsa)
Finish off your 48 hour visit to Venice by shopping to your heart’s contentat its numerous fashion haunts. One of the most popular is St. Mark’s Square. The main street between it and the nearby train station is lined with top-end stores such as Calvin Klein, Benetton, Versace, Armani, and Max Mara. You’ll also see unique clothing lines like San Polo and Sottoportego di Rialto. If you are in for souvenirs, look no further than the island of Murano, one of the centers of the city’s celebrated glass industry. Calle San Giovanni Crisostomo is packed with stores specializing in novelty gifts, as well as artworks. Flea markets are usually found at Campo San Maurizio.
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