How to Spend 2 Days in Venice
The Floating City offers more than canals and Carnival—it’s also made up of bustling markets, delicate glass factories, and off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods beloved by locals. With a bit of planning, you can see the major landmarks and engage with contemporary Venetian culture, too. Here are a few ways to spend two days in Venice.
Day 1: Cruise, Snack, and Explore
Morning: See the Floating City from the water with a scenic boat or gondola tour. Choose an authentic gondola ride complete with serenade; a canal cruise that explores smaller, peaceful waterways; or a hop-on hop-off boat tour, offering easy access to Venice’s many landmarks.
Afternoon: Spend the afternoon hours on a guided Doge’s Palace tour to learn about Venice’s royal history and gothic architecture. With prebooked skip-the-line access, you’ll beat the crowds and see more in less time.
Night: After your Doge’s Palace tour, stick around the area for an exclusive after-hours visit to St. Marks’ Basilica. You’ll see the cathedral after dark with a small group for a one-of-a-kind Venice experience.
Day 2: Glass, Home Cooking, and Ghosts
Morning: Discover the artistic side of Venice with a photography walking tour, a trip to the island of Murano for a Murano glass factory tour and workshop, or a class devoted to learning how to paint intricate Venetian Carnival masks.
Afternoon: When hunger strikes, choose a lunchtime tour of the Rialto food market complete with traditional snacks (cicchetti) and local wine, or a cooking class in the private home of a Venetian chef. Either way, you’ll get an insider’s taste of Venetian food culture.
Night: For an evening out, explore Venice’s Jewish Ghetto or Dorsoduro district on a guided neighborhood tour. Then finish your trip with a nighttime ghost-themed walking tour to hear spooky stories about restless spirits.
13 Tours and Activities | All Venice Tours
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Murano & Burano Islands Half Day Guided Tour by Private Boat
Explore the intricacies of two famed Italian handicrafts with a day trip from Venice to the nearby islands of Murano and Burano. Watch centuries-old glassblowing techniques in Murano, and marvel at the detailed stitches of exquisite Burano lace. Your knowledgeable guide will share the history of these two artisan islands while you visit local workshops and wander the picturesque streets.
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From
$48.32
Price varies by group size
From
$48.32
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
St Mark's Basilica After-Hours Group or Private Tour with Optional Doge's Palace
See the wonders of Venice's St. Mark's Basilica without the crowds during this after-hours, small-group tour. Learn about the basilica's famed mosaics from your guide and explore the crypt below the church to see where St. Mark's remains are said to lie. Upgrade to see the Doge's Palace after the basilica and wander the former home of the Venetian Republic's government.
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From
$117.70
From
$117.70
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Venice Gondola Ride and Serenade
Experience Venice in the most Venetian way possible: via a shared gondola ride while being serenaded. Choose between an afternoon or evening ride and then hop on the six-person gondola by a gondolier who is clad in traditional garb. Then begin the ride, as part of a group of eight different gondolas, with a singer aboard one of the boats. In addition to the song being sun to you, enjoy the sites of Venice's main landmarks, including the grand Canal and Palazzo Barberino.
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From
$47.08
From
$47.08
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Venice Super-Saver: Doge’s Palace, Walking Tour & Grand Canal Boat Tour
Explore the best of Venice at a 10% discount with this Super Saver combo of three popular tours. Skip the line at the Doge’s Palace, where you can wander through ornate public rooms and across the notorious Bridge of Sighs. You’ll also head to the front of the long queue at St Mark’s Basilica to tour the dazzling interior of this Byzantine masterpiece including Pala d'Oro and enjoy a guided walking tour of Venice’s hidden gems. Finally, cruise down the Grand Canal aboard a motorboat and soak in the majestic passing scenery.
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From
$172.21
Price varies by group size
From
$172.21
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Small Group or Private Venice Food Tour: Cicchetti and Wine
Taste your way through the backstreet bars of Venice on this delicious food and wine tour. Follow your local guide to different ‘enotecas’ (wine bars) to discover where local Venetians go to drink and mingle. At each stop, sample regional wines and Prosecco served alongside plates of the popular Venetian appetizers called ‘cicchetti.’ Group size is limited to 12 to ensure a personalized experience.
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From
$123.46
Price varies by group size
From
$123.46
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Venice Carnival Mask-Making Class
Take a course on mask making from a master artisan in Venice, and learn about the history of this ancient tradition. You can choose from a production class or a decoration class, or you can even take both. In the production class, learn how to make your own papier-mâché mask, and in the decoration class, you can paint or use materials to decorate your mask. No matter which option you choose, you get to bring home your creation—just in time for Carnival.
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From
$70.62
From
$70.62
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Jewish Ghetto Food Tour in Venice: Pasta Wine Gelato And Much More!
Eat and drink your way through one of Venice’s most distinctive neighborhoods on a walking food tour through the Cannaregio district, also known as the former Jewish ghetto. Learn about the area’s rich history and culture from a local guide as you stroll through its narrow winding streets, stopping to sample some of the best and most authentic delicacies around, from traditional kosher dishes and wine to creamy risotto and fresh-baked goods. Buon appetito!
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From
$136.28
From
$136.28
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regular temperature checks for staff
Murano Glass Factory Experience: Factory Tour and Workshop
Get an inside peek into the world-famous glassblowing factories of Murano on a 2-hour escorted tour. Meet your guide in central Venice, and ride a water bus across the Venetian Lagoon to the colorful island of Murano. Get a private glassmaking demonstration from a master craftsman, and enjoy time to browse the factory showroom featuring finished works of art. Finally, attend your choice of hands-on workshop to create a take-home piece of jewelry or mosaic using authentic Murano glass.
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From
$37.17
From
$37.17
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Venice Canal Cruise: 2-Hour Grand Canal and Secret Canals Semi-Private tour
Discover Venice’s hidden gems on a 2-hour cruise through the city’s secret canals. Watch scenes of daily Venetian life as you glide through the lesser-known neighborhoods of Cannaregio, Dorsoduro and the Jewish Ghetto. A guide will share insight into the city’s history, architecture and local legends. For a grand finale, head out into the wider waters of the Grand Canal and float beneath the iconic Rialto Bridge. Numbers are limited to nine people on this small-group tour for a more intimate experience.
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From
$142.48
Price varies by group size
From
$142.48
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Rialto Market Food and Wine Lunchtime Tour of Venice
Enjoy a real taste of Venice on a tantalizing lunchtime tour of the Rialto Market and discover the city’s impressive culinary credentials. Follow your guide on a tour of Venice’s foodie hotspots, browse the fresh produce at the city’s famous markets, and tuck into traditional cicchetti (Venetian tapas) at a local inn. Finally, sample fine regional wines and prosecco at the city’s legendary Bacari bars, then leave armed with plenty of recommendations for where to shop and dine in the city.
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From
$110.26
From
$110.26
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regular temperature checks for staff
Venice Ghost and Legends Walking Tour
As night falls on Venice and the crowds disappear, discover the city’s darkest secrets on this devilishly entertaining ghost tour. Wander through narrow passageways and past the blackened, vacant canals to uncover Venice’s haunted history. Listen to your ghost-hunter guide spin tales about the sinister deeds and tragic ends of the figures who once walked the streets—some of whom are believed to still wander as restless spirits.
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From
$33.45
Price varies by group size
From
$33.45
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Traditional Home Cooking Experience in Venice
Learn insider secrets of Italian cuisine with a cooking class in a Venetian home, located in the bustling Polo Quarter of Venice. Choose between a lunch and dinner class and get hands-on experience creating traditional Italian dishes with guidance from a passionate chef. Enjoy the meal you've made, complete with wine.
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From
$117.70
From
$117.70
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Venice Photography Walking Tour with Private Guide
Take an artistic approach to Venice with this private photography walking tour. Whether you’re a novice or expert photographer, you’ll find endless opportunities for the perfect shot as you explore Venice’s picturesque streets, squares and canals. A professional photographer guide will lead you on a 3-hour walking tour of magnificent landmarks and hidden backstreets, giving you tips on lighting and composition along the way. Bring your camera or smartphone and leave Venice with a collection of beautiful, print-worthy images to memorialize your holiday.
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From
$201.46
Price varies by group size
From
$201.46
Price varies by group size