Venice 5-day itinerary
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.
Bucket list experience:
Venice, Veneto, Italy
Venice is set in the middle of a lagoon joined to the mainland by a manmade causeway and surrounded by water and 39 islands.
Murano is the best-known island thanks to its glass-blowers, and colourful Burano is the subject of many an Instagram shot, but there are others that are worth exploring, especially if you fancy getting away from it all. Each offers a very different atmosphere; some are all but deserted apart from the odd church, and on others, life seems to continue almost oblivious of the tourist madness just across the lagoon. All are accessible via vaporetto from Venice proper.
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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.
Venice’s ACTV public transport network of vaporetti, or water buses, reaches even the smallest of the islands. Journey times vary of course; San Giorgio and the Giudecca are really part of Venice (and a single vap stop from the Zattere) while Torcello lies way up in the northern lagoon and takes a good 40 minutes.
The efficient and regular service makes it easy to island hop independently, but an organised tour that handles all of the arrangements makes life significantly easier.
As ever in Venice, Murano and Burano will be crowded with tourists throughout the spring, summer and autumn. Only in winter will you find these places near empty. The smaller islands are less popular; Sant’Erasmo is never full.
Venice, Veneto, Italy
Burano is famous for its picture-perfect coloured row houses, and its lace-makers although there are only a few of these left; most of what you see is imported schlock. When it gets too crowded in summer, the adjacent island of Mazzorbo (reached via a bridge) is a tranquil escape.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Venice, Veneto, Italy
The Giudecca was once one of Venice’s poorer areas, home to factories and prisons. Today it is a thriving, residential neighbourhood attracting wealthy foreigners and artists. Visit Palladio’s Redentore church, have a waterside lunch at Alla Palanca, and hop over to the island of San Giorgio to see another superb church by Palladio.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Venice, Veneto, Italy
Watch in fascination as authentic artisans blow, snip, twist and tug at fiery blobs of liquid to transform them into exquisite glassy artworks – as they have done for centuries.
Best for ages: 8+ | Free
Venice, Veneto, Italy
The Lido – a long, slim sand barrier separating Venice from the open sea – is a tranquil residential suburb that morphs into a beach destination in summer; it’s THE place to be seen during the Film Festival. For swimming and sunbathing, head to the free beach at Alberoni.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Venice
€10 | Rating 4.25 / 5 [20 ratings]
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Venice
€27 | Rating 4.05 / 5 [72 ratings]
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Venice
€35 | Rating 4.50 / 5 [453 ratings]
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Venice
€39 | Rating 4.50 / 5 [2230 ratings]
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Our writer’s recommended tour operators to book with
Venice, Veneto, Italy
This local operator offers several different full or multi-day itineraries touring around the islands on the Eolo, an old-fashioned bragozzo (traditional wooden boat), staying overnight in upscale inns. Food onboard is gourmet standard. The captain, Mauro, is one of the best seafood chefs in Venice.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Venice, Veneto, Italy
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.
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Venice, Veneto, Italy
A legendary 5-star resort hotel that combines the beauties of La Serenissima with A-grade facilities and service. Its dreamy Giudecca location is a boon when the calle of Venice’s historic centre are clogged with tourists in high season.
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Venice, Veneto, Italy
An 11-room boutique hotel with a lovely courtyard, personalised service and a centralissima location within easy reach of the Accademia, the Rialto and Piazza San Marco. The contemporary, design-led interior provides a refreshing contrast to the usual flock wallpaper and swathes of brocade.
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Venice, Veneto, Italy
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.
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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.