2 days in Venice

St Mark's Square

The main square of Venice, closed in by the basilica, the arcaded Procuratie and the Campanile, with the lagoon at the open end. It is free and open at all hours.

1 h 30 visitAlways open

Cross it before 09:00 or after dark, when the tour groups are elsewhere and the arcades are empty.

Open at all hours. The square is the lowest point in the city and floods first when the tide is high, and raised walkways go up.

Source: Venezia Unica, checked October 5, 2026

Doge's Palace

The seat of the Venetian Republic, with the state rooms, the Great Council Hall and the Bridge of Sighs. The ticket also covers the Correr Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the Marciana Library rooms.

3 h visitOpen 9:00 am–7:00 pm · last entry 6:00 pmAdult ticket €35

Go at opening. The big halls are far easier to take in before the first tour groups arrive.

The palace recommends reservations. It now also sells tickets without a fixed entry time, so booking ahead does not tie you to a slot.

Open daily 09:00 to 19:00 from 1 April to 31 October and 09:00 to 18:00 from 1 November to 31 March. Last admission is one hour before closing, and closing procedures start 30 minutes before. Closed on 25 December and 1 January.

Source: Palazzo Ducale (Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia), checked October 5, 2026

St Mark's Basilica

The Byzantine basilica covered in gold mosaic, begun in 828 to house the relics of St Mark. Entry is by booked time slot, and the Pala d'Oro, the museum and the loggia over the porch cost extra.

2 h visitOpen 2:00 pm–5:15 pm · last entry 4:45 pmAdult ticket €10

Book the first slot of the day, then walk straight on to the Doge's Palace while its queue is still short.

Tickets are named from the moment you book, and you can only enter in the slot you chose, with five minutes of tolerance. Book on the official ticket site. A slot showing zero is sold out.

Monday to Saturday 09:30 to 17:15, Sunday and religious holidays 14:00 to 17:15. Last entry is 16:45. On Sundays the museum and the loggia open from 09:30 while the basilica itself waits until the afternoon. Times can change with events and services.

Source: Procuratoria di San Marco, checked October 5, 2026

Rialto Bridge

A stone arch with two rows of shops, built between 1588 and 1592 and for centuries the only bridge over the Grand Canal. The view from the outer walkways is the reason to cross.

45 min visitAlways open

Cross early in the morning, when you can stop on the steps without blocking the stream of people.

Source: Venezia Unica, checked October 5, 2026

Gallerie dell'Accademia

The main collection of Venetian painting, from gold ground altarpieces of the 14th century to Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese. The rooms are compact enough to see in a morning.

2 h 30 visitOpen 9:00 am–7:00 pm · last entry 6:00 pmAdult ticket €20

Take the first slot of the day. The rooms are quieter early and the light on the large canvases is better.

The museum recommends buying online to skip the line, and also sells tickets at the door by card or cash.

Open Tuesday to Sunday 09:00 to 19:00, closed on Mondays. Ticket sales end at 18:00, and visitors are asked to leave from 30 minutes before closing. Entry is free on the first Sunday of each month, without booking and in order of arrival.

Source: Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia, checked October 5, 2026

Santa Maria della Salute

The domed baroque basilica at the mouth of the Grand Canal, built as a thanks offering after a plague. The rotunda is free to enter, and the sacristy with Titian's paintings needs a ticket.

1 h visitOpen 9:00 am–5:30 pm

Visit in the late afternoon, when the white stone catches the sun and the wide steps are a good place to sit.

The basilica is open daily 09:00 to 17:30 and may close briefly for services. The sacristy is closed on Mondays and open 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 on other days.

Source: Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, checked October 5, 2026

St Mark's Campanile

The bell tower on the square, with a lift to a viewing gallery above the roofs. It is the highest viewpoint in the historic centre.

1 h 15 visitHours not confirmed. Check the official site.Adult ticket €15

Go up on a clear afternoon for the best light. On foggy or hazy days the view over the lagoon is poor.

All tickets are named. Buy on the official ticket site before you go, since the same shop sells the basilica tickets.

The ticket site gives two sets of hours. In the summer period the tower opens at 09:30 and closes at 21:15, and in the winter period it closes at 19:15, with last entry roughly an hour before closing. It does not state the changeover dates, so check the ticket site for your day. Hours can change with weather and events.

Source: Procuratoria di San Marco, checked October 5, 2026

Grand Canal by vaporetto

The main waterway of Venice, lined with palaces from the station to St Mark's. Line 1 stops at every landing, so one ticket turns public transport into a slow ride past the facades.

1 h 30 visitAlways open

Take line 1 rather than a limited stop line, because it calls at every landing, and stand at the front or back of the boat if you can for a clear view.

Line 1 runs along the whole canal and makes every stop on the Grand Canal and in St Mark's Basin. The ride from the station to St Mark's takes well under an hour.

Source: ACTV (AVM Venezia), checked October 5, 2026