A trip to Northern Italy is not complete without spending at least 2 days in Venice. Overall, Venice is considered to be the “Queen of the Adriatic Sea”, “City of Water”, “City of Masks”, “City of Bridges”, “The Floating City” and “City of Canals”.

Not only is the city of Venice, Italy just magical, the lifestyle is what truly amazes me! The locals travel, commute and live their lives around the canals. To me, it seems like a very difficult lifestyle, but the Venetian people are all used to living this traditional way of life. That is one thing about old-world Europe that I truly love; you could still experience cultural traditions that you cannot find anywhere else.

Venice holds a special place in my heart. Not only is it a timeless city, it is also where my ancestors are from. I had the opportunity to visit the city of Venice twice. The first time I visited this beautiful city was in May 2018 with my family and then I had the opportunity to revisit in August 2021 with fellow blogger Ashley of World to Wander. In this blog post, discover the best things to do with 2 days in this amazing city of canals and enjoy following my Venice itinerary.

**Please note that this blog post uses affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase via my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote and talk about products and services that I have used and like. During my time in Venice in August 2021, Venice Times Hotel hosted me for one night.

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Traveling to Venice and Getting Around:

During my first trip to Venice with my family, we were already on a 10-day Northern Italy and Switzerland trip, so we traveled to Venice via train through Omio. The main train station in Venice is located right along the Grand Canal, called Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia, so it is super easy to hop on a water taxi from there to your hotel.

Thankfully, through Crawford Concierge, we had a private transfer waiting for us. I highly recommend everyone to book his or her own private transfer ahead of time, especially if you are hauling around a lot of luggage. It is so worth it! Our private transfer dropped us off right in front of our hotel.

My second trip to Venice was actually the start of my Balkans trip. Because of timing and our route, it was best that Ashley and I started our journey in Venice. The main airport in Venice is Marco Polo Airport. (I flew from Newark Airport with a layover in Lisbon.)

From there, I recommend taking the ATVO bus to Piazzale Roma, which is the main bus station in Venice. Just like at the train station in Venice, you can catch a water taxi from the bus terminal to your accommodation, but since we stayed at Venice Times Hotel, it was only a 10-minute walk from Piazzale Rome to the hotel.

You can find affordable flights into Venice through Skyscanner! In addition, if you’re looking to explore beyond Venice and are planning to do a road trip, it is best to rent a car. (You can pick up a rental car near the bus terminal.)

Another important factor to take into consideration about renting a car in Italy (or anywhere in the European Union) is that you will need to have an international diver’s permit in addition to your regular license. I don’t know how the process works for every single country out there, but for U.S. residents, you could easily obtain one by going to your local AAA office.  

When I first arrived in Venice, it was like all of those photographs from Google, paintings in my house and drawings from Italian restaurants came to life in front of me. I will admit that it was so surreal seeing the canals and Venetian Gothic architecture in person. I couldn’t wait to start exploring!

Where to Stay in Venice, Italy – Venice Times Hotel:

During my first trip to Venice with my family, we stayed at Palazzo Veneziano. On my second trip to Venice with Ashley, we stayed at Venice Times Hotel, which is part of Mood Hotels by Tridente Collection.

I absolutely loved staying at Venice Times Hotel when I visited Venice during August 2021. It is an upscale hotel situated in the heart of the city that is located steps from Venice Casino, Piazzale Roma (near the station) and the Grand Canal. The hotel is also a 15-minute walk from Rialto Bridge, St. Mark’s Square and Teatro La Fenice.

We stayed in the Cosy Room that was decorated with a modern design and included a large double bed with hypoallergenic linens. The fact that they had these types of linens is huge for someone like myself since I suffer from a skin allergy! It is great to know that Venice Times Hotel cares about its guests and ensures everyone is comfortable. Our room also included an en-suite bathroom as well.

The other rooms at Venice Times Hotel include the Classic Room, which features a king sized bed and spacious bathroom; the Superior Room is a large room that also includes a king sized bed and spacious en-suite bathroom; the Executive Room includes a large king sized bed or two twin beds with a pullout couch, making it great for a party of three and lastly, the Open Suite is a stunning suite with a king sized bed or two twin beds, a pullout couch, spacious bathroom and more.

In addition to the wonderful rooms at Venice Times Hotel, there is also a bar, classic dining room and an outdoor courtyard. During our morning at this lovely hotel, Ashley and I savored fresh croissants, tarts, eggs, fruit and cappuccinos while enjoying the beautiful Venetian weather.

The rich buffet breakfast offered to guests at Venice Times Hotel features all organic and local products as well as gluten-free and lactose-free food items.

Overall, Venice Times Hotel is the perfect place to stay during 2 days in Venice and I loved how it was situated near all of the must-see spots in the city.

Where to Eat with 2 Days in Venice:

No matter where you go in Italy, the food does not disappoint. Since Venice is surrounded by water all around, seafood is a popular staple in this city. In fact, seafood paired with different pastas and raviolis are dishes you will not have trouble finding in Venice. Also, I’ve had some of the best pizza during my two visits to Venice!

During my travels, I have found that asking a local resident is the best gateway to finding great food! Below are some restaurants and dessert spots we enjoyed during our 2 days in Venice:

Ristorante Diana: When we first arrived in Venice during our family trip in 2018, we were somewhat in a rush to get to our Venetian Rowing Lession (I go more into this below), so we had to quickly find a place to eat near the area we were going to row at. When we got to the information desk for the Venetian Rowing Lesson, the woman working there recommended a lovely restaurant alongside the canals. Ristorante Diana was one of the best places we ate at during our time in Italy. I got spaghetti with fresh tomato sauce and it was amazing! Northern Italy isn’t known for having dishes with tomato sauce, so it was nice to change it up.

Ostaria al Vecio Pozzo: On our first evening in Venice during our family trip in 2018, we all were craving pizza! We asked the woman who was working at the front desk of our hotel where her favorite pizza place was located in the city and she recommended Ostaria al Vecio Pozzo. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were seated inside, which was so adorable. I felt like I was in an Italian fairytale cottage. For dinner, I ordered the Mediterranea Pizza with tomato sauce, bufala mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil. It was amazing!

Ristorante Baccarandino ai Corazzieri: During our second day in Venice on our family trip in 2018, we explored the nearby islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello (I will talk more about this excursion below). Unfortunately, during our tour, we didn’t have time to grab lunch on one of the islands, so when we went back to the main city of Venice, we found an amazing restaurant that was quietly hidden in a corner. This wonderful restaurant, called Ristorante Baccarandino ai Corazzieri was absolutely adorable and quaint. For lunch, I enjoyed mouthwatering spaghetti with squid ink and fresh fish from the local Adriatic Sea.

Muro Venezia: During my second trip to Venice in August 2021, Ashley and I visited Muro Pizzeria, which offers delicious pizza pies, pastas, meat and seafood dishes as well as desserts. (It also isn’t too far from Venice Times Hotel.) We sat outside and enjoyed the lovely ambiance that the streets of Venice offers. Muro also has a warm and informal interior that is perfect on a chilly or rainy day. During our evening at Muro Venezia, I savored a delicious pizza with cooked ham and mushrooms. (There are two Muro restaurant locations in Venice and I definitely recommend visiting one during your 2 days in Venice.)

VizioVirtù Cioccolateria: Thankfully my good friend who studied abroad in Italy recommended a must-try chocolate shop in Venice. Since I am a huge chocolate lover, I just HAD to try this place! VizioVirtù Cioccolateria is located not too far from the famous Rialto Bridge, but I will admit that it is very hard to find since most smart phones do not navigate the narrow streets of Venice very well. When we finally arrived, we were in heaven. This place literally had some of the best chocolate I have ever eaten! Even though we picked up a lot of chocolate to snack on, I cooled off to the best pistachio and dark chocolate gelato. It was out of this world!

2 Days in Venice – The Perfect Venice Itinerary

Venice, Italy is a gorgeous European city filled with charm, canals and gondolas floating by. It is truly fascinating! Between the medieval architecture, water transportation, friendly people and great shopping, I loved Venice! Check out the best things we did during our 2 days in Venice below:

Day 1:

Take a Venetian Rowing Lesson:

Instead of doing a traditional gondola ride, we opted to take the more active and sustainable route by participating in our own rowing lesson! Through Crawford Concierge, we were able to personally row the canals of Venice through Row Venice. As a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of traditional Venetian culture, Row Venice’s employees consist of predominantly females creating the perfect experience for locals as well as visitors.

Our lesson started off with the introduction of the traditional batelina, which was once one of the most prolific craft in Venice. It is now rare, but the batelina is a great first-time rowing boat that is both stable and comfortable. After that, our awesome instructors let us all practice the basic stroke before taking off. The whole experience offered a great guided tour through the Venetian canals.

When we finally took off, we all got to row along a wide and quiet canal, away from the main tourist areas. We felt like true gondoliers! As we made our way around the canals, we even had the opportunity to row on the popular Grand Canal where there was more traffic. It was such an awesome experience that I recommend everyone to try during their 2 days in Venice!

Get Lost around Venice:

Throughout my travels, I have found that Venice as well as many other European cities are perfect to get lost in! As I strolled the streets of Venice during my first trip in 2018, I fell in love with all of the charming bridges that connected each little island in the city along with the beautiful Gothic architecture. (I enjoyed strolling through Venice’s alleyways even more during my second trip there.)

As I admired each building, I also noticed some Arabic touches to the architecture. It was gorgeous! One thing I learned during my time in the city is that the Venetian style originated in the 14^th century with the confluence of Byzantine styles from Constantinople, Moorish influences from Al Andalus and early Gothic forms from the mainland of Italy.

Overall, Venice is a romantic city! It is the perfect place to stroll around with a loved one and enjoy a comforting espresso, delicious gelato and heart-shaped pizza pie! Even though most of the city is crowded, there are plenty of areas you could find that are quiet.

Venice is also the perfect city to shop in! Near the Rialto Bridge, you could find a plethora of shops ranging from high-end designer boutiques to local Venetian stores. Even though I wasn’t looking to spend a lot of money during my 2 days in Venice, I did enjoy thoroughly window-shopping!

Another perk to getting lost in Venice is finding some iconic spots. Even though it was an overcrowded area, I was so fascinated by the Rialto Bridge! Since I was so used to seeing and walking over the mini bridges throughout the city, it was so cool to see this massive one that has been around for centuries!

In addition to the Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs is also cool to see. It is the beautiful limestone bridge that connects Dodge’s Palace to the New Prison. It is named Bridge of Sighs because of the sighs prisoners made as they crossed over from trial to prison.

Saint Mark’s Square or Piazza San Marco is one of the most popular and breathtaking squares in Venice. It is a must-see during your 2 days in Venice and it boasts Saint Mark’s Basilica, which is a Roman Catholic church that best represents Italo-Byzantine architecture. Ps. Watch out for the pigeons!

Discover the best walking tours and where to find the best views in Venice.

When it comes to food, I recommend enjoying lunch at Ristorante Diana, grabbing gelato atVizioVirtù Cioccolateria and savoring dinner atOstaria al Vecio Pozzo. Scroll up to read more about these awesome food spots.

Day 2:

Enjoy an Island Tour of Murano, Burano and Torcello:

On our second day in Venice, during our family trip in 2018, we did a tour of the three islands off of the main city – Murano, Burano and Torcello.

We did this tour with Very Viva Venice and it was great, but I will admit that I would have preferred to tour these three islands on my own because I just wanted to spend more time in Burano. If you’re looking for a guided tour to see these islands, I definitely recommend the tour we did because the guides were awesome resources.

We traveled to each island via a ferry that the tour company provided for us. It was around a 30-minute ride from the Grand Canal to our first stop in Murano. The other islands we visited on the tour were definitely closer to each other. I will admit though that the ferry ride was super relaxing!

Murano:

The island of Murano is renowned for its tradition of glassmaking. This was the first stop on our tour and we were so lucky to have been able to see a glass making demonstration! I was so fascinated by the glassmith (or glassblower) as he had many talents and even put on a mini show for us. He made a gorgeous bowl as well as a cool giraffe! This is definitely something I recommend everyone to experience during their 2 days in Venice.

After the glassmaking demonstration, we entered into a gift shop where we were able to purchase different glass items. Since we had a long flight home, we purchased small souvenirs that wouldn’t break on the plane. I got a glass globe as well as a gorgeous aqua blue glass bracelet!

Discover more to do and eat in Murano.

Burano:

Ah Burano, one of my favorite spots in Italy! Not only do I love this charming fisherman village because of its vibrant houses, beautiful culture and amazing lace shops; my ancestors are also from there! My nana’s parents (my great grandparents) came over to the United States from the island of Burano. Just like how it was amazing visiting my pop’s parents’ village in Ragusa, Sicily last summer, it was just as exciting seeing another village that my roots came from!

According to Italian folklore, Venetians living in Burano painted their homes bright colors so that the fishermen could see them even during the grayest days to avoid crashing into shore after a long voyage at sea. Nowadays, if locals want to repaint their home a different color, they have to have it approved by the Italian government. 

Just like I mention above, I really wish I could’ve spent more time in Burano because I fell in love with everything about it. The little time that I had there was spent making sure that I took advantage of strolling the adorable streets, wandering through the gorgeous lace shops, touring the leaning church tower of San Martino and admiring the lively, but also quaint culture.

Since Burano is known for its lace making, the Museo del Merletto has exhibits on the development of lace production in the area. There are also numerous shops on the island that sell lace products like linens and clothing. I actually bought a gorgeous lace outfit from a local shop. I wore it during my day in Tuscany and received so many wonderful compliments on it!

Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to grab lunch in Burano, but many locals had told me that no matter where you go to eat there, you will not have a problem finding an amazing restaurant. Not only is the island known for its delicious seafood, but they also have amazing butter cookies called bussolai buranei. You could find these famous butter cookies on local street stands throughout the island.

Discover more to do and eat in Burano.

Torcello:

The gorgeous island of Torcello is the most northerly island of the Venetian Lagoon. Most of Torcello is uninhabited and the dozens of people who live there mainly reside in farmhouses, whose only source of income is tourism.

There are a few restaurants on the island as well as several coffee and snack stands. One iconic landmark that you cannot miss as you walk towards the main square is the Devil’s Bridge. According to legend, this bridge was built in one night by the devil to win a bet. It’s always so crazy hearing these folkloric stories whenever I travel.

I thought Torcello was so beautiful! The entire island is surrounded with flowers, vineyards, gorgeous homes and even a beautiful church. The Church of Santa Fosca is so peaceful and gorgeous. In fact, it was one of the most beautiful small churches I’ve seen! Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take photographs inside.

Discover more to do and eat in Torcello.

When it comes to food, I recommend enjoying lunch at Ristorante Baccarandino ai Corazzieri and savoring dinner atMuro Venezia. Scroll up to read more about these awesome food spots.

I hope you all enjoyed discovering the best itinerary if you plan to spend 2 days in Venice and reading about my experience staying at Venice Times Hotel. If you have any questions, please email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com

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Basic Facts of Italy:

Currency: Euro, Capital: Rome, Time Zone: Central European Standard Time

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