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A day trip to Venice is always a good time. I have this city on my list for a very long time. Like I mean a very long time. And I would say for very good reason. But this wasn’t my first time in Italy. I have gone to Italy many times. I’ve been to Milian, Rome, Bologna, Florence and written about it, but for some odd reason I just hadn’t yet made it to Venice.
I had done a lot of travelling this year and so thought one day in Venice would be sufficient. The flight was with Ryainair and only cost me £29 (bargain right?) After all I know I will definitely come back, and you will see why if you keep reading.
My flight was slightly delayed because we had to change planes last minute, which meant my carefully planned arrival time disappeared almost immediately. And to my surprise there was at least seven other people on the flight that were also doing a day trip to Venice which felt reassuring as I was worried I wouldn’t be able to go in the end.
In just one day in Venice I was able to do a food tour, eat overpriced pasta, experience a delayed flight, and finishing the evening with a photoshoot, I managed to pack a lot into just one day in Venice and if you follow this realistic itinerary for Venice you can too. Here’s exactly how I spent one day in Venice what I loved, what I’d skip, and what I’d do differently next time.
Related post: 5 Ways on How to Spot the Best Restaurants in Italy
About Venice
Venice is one of the most unique and iconic cities in the world, built on over 100 small islands and connected by canals and bridges instead of roads. Located in the northeastern part of Italy, the city is famous for its winding waterways, historic palaces, romantic gondolas and landmarks such as St Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace.
One thing I noted was that Venice has no cars in the historic centre, so the city feels timeless. The bridge and canal is made for wandering, photography and slow exploration. You can easily do a day trip to Venice or on a short trip. I would say it’s perfect for food lovers, photographers and anyone doing a European summer tour.
Entry Requirements
Italy is part of the Schengen Area, which means entry rules apply across much of Europe. British and American passport holders can visit Italy visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180 day period, as long as their passport is valid for at least three months beyond their departure date, is less than ten years old, and they can show proof of onward travel and sufficient funds.
However, Nigerian passport holders do require a Schengen visa to enter Italy and must apply in advance through the Italian embassy or an official visa centre, providing documents such as accommodation bookings, travel insurance, proof of funds and return flights. As visa rules can change, it’s always best to check the latest requirements with your local Italian embassy or consulate before travelling. For any other countries you can check via iVisa here.
Venice in One Day Itinerary
There are so many things to do in Venice in one day here is everything that I did while there.
Stop 1: Morning Arrive
Arrive early hours in the morning around 9am ish. And start the day at 10 am with a food tour especially if you are doing a day trip to Venice or it’s your very first time. Italian food is always a win, but Venetian cuisine has its own character. You can read about the food tour – Everything to Eat in Venice: 9 Must-Try Foods & Drinks. You can book the exact tour here.
N.B. One Day trips anywhere are good for affordable budget travel, but can also be exhausting if your flight is at 5 to 6 am in the morning so get as much rest before. I would advise getting to sleep before 9 so you can leave for the airport around 1am in the morning.
Stop 2: Afternoon Lunch
For lunch, I went to Pasta at the Gritti. I ordered the spaghetti and it cost me around 32 euros. It came with no meat just some bland tomatoes sauce so I wouldn’t recommend. The setting was stunning right by the water, which was the selling point for me . However, it was overpriced and the pigeons wouldn’t leave me alone!
I wrote a post on how to spot the best restaurants in Italy, clearly I didn’t follow my advise for this trip! Read post –5 Ways on How to Spot the Best Restaurants in Italy.
Stop 3: Late Afternoon
After lunch, I spent the afternoon doing exactly what Venice is perfect for wandering and taking photos. I organised to have my photos taken with a photographer via Airbnb, you can book with the same person here.
Venice has such a unique spots and I thought it was a good way to walk through different parts of the city, stopping whenever a street or bridge caught my eye.
Stop 4: Evening Time It’s Home Time
Once you have done the photo shoot you can then head over to the airport after a long day exploring one day in Venice. I would suggest getting the boat to the airport. It’s nice views and cost around 20 euros. Get the last flight out which was around 9pm for me.
Other Travel Resources
- My Instagram and TikTok have quick reels and specifics on your one day in Venice.
- Always carry some cash, for smaller businesses they use Euros, and card is widely accepted, but to be sure just have XE to know the daily exchange rates.
- Before going to any of these countries, I recommend visiting the Foreign Advice Page for U.K. travellers. Check if you need visas here.
- Book with Viator or Get Your Guide if you want specific tours for a one day in Venice. Please read the reviews before booking!
One Day in Venice: Conclusion
One day in Venice is intense, fast paced. I would say you will need a few days to recover if you are going, but there is a lot you can get done in just one day. If I was going back I might do one or two days, but what I really would love to do is Burano. However, it is quite far from the city centre and takes time to reach by boat.
On a day trip, it felt like it would have been too rushed to fit in properly, but next time, I would absolutely dedicate half a day to Venice and go to Burano alone. If you have more than one day in Venice, I would strongly recommend adding it to your itinerary.
Have I convinced you to take a one day trip to Venice? Let me know and if you have any questions please do ask via the comments or Instagram. As always do subscribe to the blog for more budget friendly travel.
Speak soon,
MBV x
