Venice in 3 Days: Canals, Cicchetti, and Craft

Map

A relaxed 3‑day Venice plan from a city‑center base using vaporetti and easy walks. Classic sights, authentic food, and artisan shopping woven into each day.

Day 1: San Marco, Doge’s Palace, and Rialto

08:00

Breakfast near City Center

08:45

Walk/vaporetto to Piazza San Marco

09:00

Basilica di San Marco visit

10:00

Doge’s Palace tour

11:30

Mercerie browsing (boutiques & paper)

12:15

Cicchetti lunch near Rialto

13:30

Rest at hotel (City Center)

15:00

Fondaco dei Tedeschi terrace & shopping

16:00

Grand Canal cruise (Vaporetto Line 1)

17:15

Aperitivo around San Polo

18:15

Seafood dinner

19:45

Gelato stroll

20:15

Return to City Center stay

Trattoria alla Madonna - San Polo
Classic Venetian seafood near Rialto
All’Arco - San Polo
Tiny, beloved bacaro for cicchetti
Cantina Do Mori - San Polo
Historic wine bar; quick bites
Da Ivo - San Marco
Elegant, old‑school Venetian
Suso Gelatoteca - San Marco
Creative gelato flavors

Fondaco dei Tedeschi - Rialto
Designer mall + rooftop view
Mercerie - San Marco
Main shopping lanes, fashion to crafts
Legatoria Piazzesi - San Marco
Marbled paper & stationery
Giuliana Longo - Rialto
Traditional Venetian hatmaker
Rialto Market - San Polo
Produce & fish; best early

Day 2: Dorsoduro Art, San Rocco, and Cannaregio

08:00

Breakfast (Pasticceria stop)

08:45

Vaporetto/walk to Dorsoduro

09:15

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

10:45

Accademia Bridge & artisan browsing

11:30

Mask workshop visit

12:15

Cicchetti lunch (Dorsoduro)

13:30

Rest at hotel (City Center)

14:30

Scuola Grande di San Rocco

15:45

Basilica dei Frari

16:45

Coffee; stroll to Cannaregio

17:30

Aperitivo on Fondamenta della Misericordia

19:00

Dinner in Cannaregio

20:30

Twilight walk back to City Center

Pasticceria Tonolo - Dorsoduro
Beloved pastries & coffee
Cantinone Gia Schiavi - Dorsoduro
Top cicchetti & wine
Antiche Carampane - San Polo
Hidden gem for seafood
Al Timon - Cannaregio
Hearty bites on a canal
Ostaria da Rioba - Cannaregio
Modern Venetian on the water

Ca’ Macana - Dorsoduro
Handmade Venetian masks
Signor Blum - Dorsoduro
Wood toys & puzzles
Campo S. Margherita Stalls - Dorsoduro
Casual food & craft stands (mornings)
Gianni Basso Stamperia - Cannaregio
Letterpress prints & cards
Libreria Acqua Alta - Castello
Quirky bookshop for photos & finds

Day 3: Murano Glass, Burano Lace, Farewell Venice

07:30

Early breakfast

08:00

Walk/vaporetto to Fondamente Nove

08:30

Vaporetto Line 12 to Murano

09:00

Murano glass studio tour & shopping

11:00

Coffee & canal stroll (Murano)

11:30

Vaporetto to Burano

12:00

Burano photo walk & lace ateliers

13:15

Seafood lunch (Burano)

14:30

Optional Torcello hop (cathedral)

15:30

Return to Burano dock + gelato

16:15

Vaporetto to Venice (Fondamente Nove)

17:00

Back to hotel (City Center) & refresh

17:30

San Giorgio Maggiore viewpoint (Line 2)

18:15

Farewell dinner near City Center

19:45

Last‑minute shopping stroll; end at stay

Osteria al Duomo - Murano
Garden trattoria; pizza & seafood
Busa alla Torre - Murano
Local dishes by the old tower
Al Gatto Nero - Burano
Iconic seafood risotti
Riva Rosa - Burano
Romantic terrace, seafood focus
Pasticceria Palmisano - Burano
Buranelli cookies to go

Venini Showroom - Murano
Design‑led glass pieces
Wave Murano Glass - Murano
Contemporary studio & shop
Vetreria Anfora - Murano
Artisan furnace; collectible glass
Museo del Merletto Shop - Burano
Lace with provenance
Martina Vidal Venezia - Burano
Lace atelier & fine linens
Panificio Palmisano - Burano
Bussolà/Buranelli biscuit gifts

Timings are flexible. Check local hours/closures (Rialto Market best before noon; some sights close one day weekly). Reserve San Marco/Doge’s and Fondaco terrace slots in advance. Use Vaporetto Lines 1, 2, and 12; validate tickets.

Getting Around

Base: City center. Move mostly on foot and by vaporetto (Lines 1, 2 on the Grand Canal; Line 12 to Murano–Burano).
Buy a 72‑hour ACTV pass and validate before boarding. Allow extra time for bridges and crowds.

Day 1 – San Marco & Rialto Classics

Morning

Start at your city‑center stay and stroll to Piazza San Marco. Visit Basilica di San Marco (dress modestly) and the Doge’s Palace (reserve skip‑the‑line when possible). Browse the Mercerie lanes for first souvenir scouting.

Afternoon

Cross to Rialto. Peek into the Rialto Market (best mornings, closed Sundays) and do a cicchetti lunch near the bridge. Rest back at the hotel, then pop up to Fondaco dei Tedeschi’s terrace for a sweeping canal view and quick upscale shopping.

Evening

Take Vaporetto Line 1 at golden hour for a slow Grand Canal cruise. Aperitivo near San Polo, then seafood dinner. Gelato stroll back to the city‑center base.

Day 2 – Dorsoduro Art & Cannaregio Vibes

Morning

Head to Dorsoduro: Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Accademia Bridge area. Browse artisan spots around Campo Santa Margherita (paper, wood toys, small markets) and visit a quality mask workshop.

Afternoon

Santa Croce/San Polo: Scuola Grande di San Rocco (Tintoretto masterworks) and Basilica dei Frari. Coffee pick‑me‑up, then wander into Cannaregio for letterpress prints and canalside browsing.

Evening

Aperitivo on Fondamenta della Misericordia; dinner along the quiet canals. Unhurried walk back to the center.

Day 3 – Lagoon Day: Murano & Burano

Morning

From Fondamente Nove, take Line 12 to Murano. Tour a reputable glass studio/showroom and the glass museum if you like; shop thoughtfully (ask about authenticity certificates and shipping).

Afternoon

Continue to Burano for pastel‑house photo walks, lace ateliers, and a seafood lunch. Optional Torcello hop for the ancient cathedral mosaics before returning to Venice.

Evening

Detour to San Giorgio Maggiore (Line 2) for a postcard sunset view, then a leisurely farewell dinner near the center and last‑minute souvenir stop.

Smart Shopping (Souvenirs to Seek)

Murano glass: Prefer studios with working furnaces and signed pieces; ask for authenticity card and insured shipping.
Burano lace & linens: Hand‑finished lace is pricier and slower to make; buy from ateliers with provenance info.
Venetian masks: Look for hand‑painted papier‑mâché; many workshops offer mini demos.
Marbled paper & stationery; artisan prints; quality hats; gourmet items (spices, coffee, biscotti buranelli, local wines).

Practical Tips

Many churches/museums close mid‑day or one day weekly; check hours locally. Rialto Market is best before noon.
Book major sights early (Doge’s Palace, San Marco); Fondaco terrace entry often requires a free reservation slot.
Acqua alta can occur in cooler months; ask your hotel about tide timing and raised walkways.
For Americans: keep receipts for tax‑free forms when eligible; arrange glass shipping from reputable vendors.

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