How To Spend One Day In Venice: The Perfect Itinerary

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There is no city in the world more enchanting than Venice. It’s a city where time seems to stand still, and every corner holds a hidden story. 

It’s one of the most visited cities in the world and is famous for its labyrinth of canals and historic architecture, as well as the sobering fact that the city is slowly sinking each year, giving it the nickname “The Floating City.”

But if you only have one day in Venice, it’s easy to become frustrated with what to do and see in such a short amount of time.

But don’t worry, we’re here to relieve that headache from you, as we’ve prepared the best itinerary for 1 day in Venice, from exploring the iconic St. Mark’s Square to getting lost along the charming canals of Dorsoduro – this itinerary encompasses all the beauty, history, and culture of this unique destination. 

We recently only spent one day in Venice on our European summer trip. We visited from the nearby town of Verona, catching the early train in.

 We’re sharing our tips with you on how we spent our day in Venice, as we feel we did the best of Venice, combining the top attractions mixed with a touch of quieter local. 

So, lace up your walking shoes, and let’s dive into the magic of Venice in just one day!

Is One Day in Venice enough?

Before we get into all the things to see in Venice in one day, you might be wondering if one day is really enough to explore Venice? 

The answer is no, one day is not enough to see everything in Venice. You will need to wake up early and spend a full day exploring to see all the highlights, and even then, you will need to be comfortable missing some spots.

Personally, I think Venice is a little overrated. This is my second visit to Venice, and on both times, I only spent a day here. 

BUT I do absolutely think Venice is worth a visit as it is so unique. I actually enjoyed it more on this visit as I feel I dug a little deeper into Venetian life, and on my previous visit 20 years ago, I was a broke backpacker and couldn’t do much.

So, if you’re a little ho hum about Venice, or on the fence, then one day should be enough. 

If you think it will be the place of your dreams, then ideally, you should set aside three full days in Venice to be able to explore it properly and more leisurely, however we know that not everyone…