Venice 3-day itinerary
Italy
Where to go and what to see in Venice to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Nicky Swallow.
Bucket list experience:
© G.A.VE Archivio fotografico, foto di Matteo De Fina
A one-stop-shop of Venetian painting, the Accademia Gallery is to Venice what the Uffizi is to Florence and one of Italy’s foremost repositories of art.
From the glittering Byzantine-style devotional works to Carpaccio’s scenes of Venetian life, complete with lissom gondoliers and little white dogs and Tintoretto’s magnificent portrayal of the Transport of the Body of Saint Mark, it is not only a dazzling collection of masterpieces but also a voyage through the history of Venice itself.
The collection was made possible by Napoleon, who closed many Venetian churches and convents, moving their artworks here not only for storage but also to be used by students for study.
Carpaccio’s extraordinarily vivid fresco cycle illustrating the Life of St. Ursula (1490-95).
The views of the Grand Canal in both directions from the highest point of the Accademia Bridge (right outside the gallery) are magnificent.
Want more recommendations in this destination?
Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
Italy
Where to go and what to see in Venice to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Nicky Swallow.
Italy
Where to go and what to see in Venice to get the most from your trip – a 5-day itinerary from destination expert and travel writer Nicky Swallow.
The museum lies a 20-minute walk – or a 40-minute vaporetto ride – from the train station. For independent visitors, there are audio and multimedia guides available for a fee; highly recommended for anyone keen to delve beneath the surface of the Accademia’s masterpieces.
Five minutes’ walk from the Accademia, the large, standing-room-only Cantinone gia Schiavi is brilliant stop for a glass of wine and a selection of cichetti and you can perch of the wall of the fondamenta outside.
The gallery is open all year round, seven days a week (closed Monday afternoon). In high season, there are likely to be queues to get into the gallery, but at other times of the year (and especially during the week) is relatively empty. Nevertheless, if you can brave an early start when the doors open, you’ll have its breathtaking beauty to yourself.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Venice, Veneto, Italy[0.2 miles]
A three-star, reasonable-priced charmer in the artsy Dorsoduro neighbourhood, close to the Accademia gallery, with glorious views over the Giudecca canal.
Official star rating:
Venice, Veneto, Italy[0.3 miles]
The Grand Canal meets Philippe Starck – think glamour, glitz, seduction and gorgeous views from the waterside terrace and many of the rooms. There’s an excellent restaurant too.
Official star rating:
Venice, Veneto, Italy[0.4 miles]
The grandest Dame of Venice’s classic hotels and wonderfully opulent, the Gritti lords it over the Grand Canal from a superb spot across from the Salute church and just 10 minutes’ walk from Piazza San Marco.
Official star rating:
Venice, Veneto, Italy[0.5 miles]
Perfect for a honeymoon or other romantic celebrations, this intimate, stylish and sophisticated bolt-hole lies just across a pretty bridge from the Salute church in artsy Dorsoduro. The rooms are extravagant and sexy, the service personalised and charming.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Veneto, Italy
Crammed with picturesque canals, Renaissance palazzos and artistic masterpieces, this unique and alluring city is heaven-on-earth for art lovers and romantics.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Venice, Veneto, Italy[0.3 miles]
American millionairess collector Peggy Guggenheim’s glittering display of avant-garde art is housed in her own 18th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal.
Best for ages: 18+ | £12
Venice, Veneto, Italy[0.9 miles]
It’s huge, and often crowded, but St. Mark’s square is one of the most emblematic spots in the city and is lined with over-priced cafés that offer live music. But out of season, on a foggy winter’s evening or at dawn, it’s undeniably atmospheric.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Venice, Veneto, Italy[1 miles]
A glittering monument to the Golden Age of Venice – ducal, divine and downright decadent. From Casanova’s rooftop escapade to the twisty tale behind Tintoretto’s enormous Paradise paintings, these walls have seen Venetian history at its most decadent and devious.
Best for ages: 18+ | £25
Venice, Veneto, Italy[1 miles]
Surely the most exquisite, beguiling and opulent place of worship in Italy, St Mark’s cathedral was built to satisfy the wildest dreams of the Doges and is rich in glittering Byzantine mosaics, Gothic carvings and sumptuous treasures.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Venice, Veneto, Italy[0.4 miles]
Although Carnevale falls in February/March, you can learn to make your own Venetian Carnival masks year-round at one of several workshops in the city. Experienced artisans teach the art of papier-maché mask making and decorating in traditional Venetian style. Great for kids and adults alike.
Best for ages: 6+ | £42 | 1 hour
Venice, Veneto, Italy[0.5 miles]
Magnificently located at the entrance to the Grand Canal, this vast pale – and unique – church was built in honour of St. Mary of Health in thanks for deliverance from the plague of 1630-31. The best artworks are in the Sacristy, most notably Tintoretto’s Marriage at Cana.
Best for ages: 18+ | £3
Venice, Veneto, Italy[0.5 miles]
Venice’s magnificent opera house was all-but-destroyed by fire in 1774, 1836 and 1996 and is all faux Baroque opulence. The programme of excellent opera productions and symphonic concerts offers a chance to put on your glad rags. You can also take a behind-the-scenes tour.
Best for ages: 18+ | £50 | 3-4 hours
Venice, Veneto, Italy[0.6 miles]
Japanese superstar architect Tadao Ando was brought in to convert Venice’s 17th-century customs house on the tip of Dorsoduro and 18th-century Palazzo Grassi into stunning exhibition spaces to house French billionaire businessman Francois Pinault’s vast contemporary art collection.
Best for ages: 18+ | £12