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48 Hours in Romantic Venice of Italy: the Top 10 Things to See and Do

  • Writer: D. Schmitz
    D. Schmitz
  • May 29
  • 11 min read

Top 10 Things to Do in Romantic Venice in 48 Hours

In this article, Bubbly Tourist highlights the top 10 things to do and where to stay in the beautiful, romantic city of Venice, Italy in 48 hours.  Stay longer if you like, but Bubbly Tourist believes you can visit Venice in 48 hours. Also check out this article on other tips on where to eat and what else to know when traveling to Venice.

A view down one of the romantic canals in Venice; 48 Hours in Venice, Italy: Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
A view down one of the romantic canals in Venice

Possibly the most romantic city in the entire world, Venice is a must-see destination in Italy. The fact that so many cities around the world compare themselves to Venice tells you something about their desire to be compared to the most famous and romantic destination built around an extensive canal network. It's why we jokingly refer it as the "Venice of Italy". It's not the "Venice of the North" (Bruges or Amsterdam), or the "Venice of France" (Annecy), the"Venice of China" (Suzhou), or the "Venice of Portugal" (Aveiro). Venice is simply a unique small city that was founded in 421 AD. It rose to its height of its power in the 15th century as the Republic of Venice when it was the world's center of commerce with the largest port in the world. Once you get away from the major tourist sights, you'll really appreciate the narrow streets, canals, bridges and 138 churches that make it so charming and romantic. So between its history and charm, it's fun to wind your way through and get lost on the pedestrian only city streets where all vehicle transportation is only on the canals.


First Things First: Take a Venice Walking Tour Early On

Wherever we go, one of the first things we love to do is to go on a walking tour. By doing it early on in your trip, you get a historical overview while learning the lay of the land including some off-the-beaten-path gems. You get a local's perspective on what to see and do while visiting, what areas to emphasize and what to avoid, and their recommendation on what to eat and where to dine. We typically google "free walking tour" and you'll find a professional local from a reputable site who works on tips. Bring cash for tips (5 - 10+ euros per person). The tours last anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the guide and is always informative.

Listening to our guide in San Polo during our walking tour; 48 Hours in Venice, Italy: Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
Listening to our guide in the San Polo district during our walking tour of Venice

10 Most Romantic Things to do in Venice

1. Saint Marks Square (Piazzo San Marco)

Known as the city's social, religious, and political center, Saint Marks Square is often referred to as "the drawing room of Europe" and is our number 1 sight to see in Venice. The square is surrounded by iconic buildings like St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, and the Campanile bell tower. It has been the heart of Venetian life for centuries, serving as a gathering place and a hub for important government buildings and offers a unique and lively atmosphere, especially with its pigeons and the bustling energy of the all the crowds.

To avoid crowds, visit St. Mark's 
Square at night (seen here with the Campanile Bell Tower and St. Mark's Basilica); 48 Hours in Venice, Italy: Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
To avoid crowds, visit St. Mark's Square at night (seen here with the Campanile Bell Tower and St. Mark's Basilica)

2. Discover Venice's Rich History at Doge's Palace

The Doge's Palace on Saint Mark's Square is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and offers a fascinating glimpse into Venice's past and its role as a powerful maritime republic. Its impressive architecture, from its 14th and 15th century original foundations to its significant Renaissance add-ons, rich history, and stunning artwork make it a must-see for any visitor.

The courtyard of the Doge's Palace makes for an impressive entrance to the beautiful palace itself; 48 Hours in Venice, Italy: Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
The courtyard of the Doge's Palace makes for an impressive entrance to the beautiful palace itself

3. Get Lost in the Backstreets of Venice

Venice is such a lovely city, it's fun to get lost in its backstreets by exploring where nobody else is. As you get further away from the crowds at St. Mark's Square and at Rialto Bridge, the beauty of the homes and bridges on the narrow streets, alleys and canals becomes more apparent. Venice is safe, so feel free to explore the city even at night. You'll be surprised how many photo worthy moments you'll find. And never fear, there are signs that will point you in the direction of the major sights so you don't get too lost.

Even in the rain, the beauty of Venice - seen here in Castello - is quite apparent; 48 Hours in Venice, Italy: Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
Even in the rain, the beauty of Venice - seen here in Castello - is quite apparent

4. Take a Romantic Gondola Ride

A gondola ride is a quintessential experience in Venice, offering a unique perspective of its canals and waterways. Spend time with your loved one(s) on this romantic experience that is a must-do if you can stomach the price. The cost for a standard, 30-minute ride is €80 during the day and €120 at night. Gondolas can accommodate up to 5 people, making them a great option for families.

Take a romantic ride on a gondola if you're willing to foot the bill; 48 Hours in Venice, Italy: Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
Take a romantic ride on a gondola if you're willing to foot the bill

5. Explore the Rialto Bridge

The Rialto Bridge is the oldest of four bridges to cross the Grand Canal and for a long time was the only bridge to cross the canal. The location near the Rialto market, a bustling trading hub, further cemented its importance in Venetian history and economic power.

The bridge has been featured in countless paintings, films, and tourist memorabilia, making it a readily identifiable symbol of Venice. The Rialto Bridge has three stepped walkways, with the central one lined with shops and vendors. It is a major tourist attraction making it difficult to cross and therefore falls further down our list of sights to see in Venice.

The courtyard of the Doge's Palace makes for an impressive entrance to the beautiful palace itself; 48 Hours in Venice, Italy: Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
Bubbly Tourist on the San Polo side of the Rialto Bridge

6. Dine at a Cicchetti Bar

When in Venice, right? A cicchetti bar, also known as a bacaro, is a Venetian bar or tavern that serves small, flavorful bites called cicchetti, similar to tapas. These wine bars offer a lively atmosphere where locals and tourists gather to enjoy glasses of wine or drinks together with tasty small, bite-sized dishes like crostini, fried seafood, meatballs, and other local specialties.

Taking in a glass of vino with some cichettis along the Cannaregio Canal in Venice; 48 Hours in Venice, Italy: Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
Taking in a glass of vino with some cichettis along the Cannaregio Canal in Venice

7. Take a Romantic Stroll at Night

There something very special about seeing a city all lit up at night. Especially, the older cities where the monuments and buildings are aglow. The beauty of the architecture contrasted against the night sky in Venice is definitely worth a stroll or boat ride about.

A canal in the San Palo district of Venice at night aglow with colored lights; 48 Hours in Venice, Italy: Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
A canal in the San Palo district of Venice at night aglow with colored lights

8. Travel Venice in the Canals

You may have taken a gondola ride and seen a small part of Venice, but you can easily and cheaply travel the canals by ferry or water taxi and see more of the city by water. Better yet, travel it by night and see the city all lit up. Taking the water bus can also facilitate crossing of the city, especially if you have bags.

The courtyard of the Doge's Palace makes for an impressive entrance to the beautiful palace itself; 48 Hours in Venice, Italy: Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
View from the Grand Canal of the Basilica Santa Maria della Salute

9. Visit one of the Oldest Squares at Campo San Giacomo di Rialto

Campo San Giacomo di Rialto's quaint cobbled pathways and beautiful facades create a picturesque setting that invites you to explore. Steeped in centuries of tradition, this square is one of the oldest in Venice, providing a unique glimpse into the city's past. Also check out the Church of San Giacomo di Rialto, known for its distinctive clock tower and artistic features.

See the ancient Rialto Market selling fresh produce and fish to the locals; 48 Hours in Venice, Italy: Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
On the perimeter of Campo San Giacomo di Rialto, discover the painted arched ceilings

10. Buy Fresh Produce at Rialto Market (Mercato)

Only a four minute walk from the Rialto Bridge and still along the Grand Canal, you'll find the bustling Rialto Market selling vegetables, fruits and fish since 1097. Some of the buildings date back to the 16th century. It's closed on Sundays (and the Fish market on Mondays). This is where the locals go to buy fresh product.

See the ancient Rialto Market selling fresh produce and fish to the locals; 48 Hours in Venice, Italy: Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
See the ancient Rialto Market selling fresh produce and fish to the locals



Where to Stay in Venice


There are six districts ('sestieri') in Venice

This map of Venice (taken from one of the shops) shows its six districts: Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
This map of Venice (photo taken from a wine store) shows its six traditional districts (and additional islands)

Cannaregio

Northernmost district that contains the historic Jewish Ghetto


Santa Croce

Piazzale Roma, the main bus and ferry hub, and the Santa Lucia train station


San Polo

The oldest district


San Marco

The heart of Venice, containing most of its iconic landmarks and attractions


Dorsoduro

The student district


Castello

One of the quietest and perhaps authentic districts of Venice


Bubbly Tip: The lamp posts designate the district by initials (e.g., "SP' for San Polo).


Where should I stay in Venice?

Regardless of destination, Bubbly Tourist always recommend staying closest to the locations you'll be visiting most as long as it's not too touristy. For Venice this means staying in the districts of Santa Cruz or San Polo and some parts of San Marco taking care to avoid being right next to the Rialto Bridge or Plaza San Marco because of all the foot traffic.


As always, we recognize there are many factors by which you use to determine where to stay. Use the Bubbly Tourist process in finding a hotel to help find and narrow down the list of lodgings that best fits your needs.

View from the Scalzi Bridge in Santa Croce over the Grand Canal; Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
View from the Scalzi Bridge in Santa Croce over the Grand Canal

Hotel Antiche Figure

Bubbly Tourist chose Hotel Antiche Figure for our stay in Venice. Its location in Santa Croce makes it very convenient to the bus station where you are dropped off by the airport shuttle, only 10 minutes from the train station, about a 10 - 15 minute walk to the key sights, and is not heavily overrun by tourists. It's right on the canal so your morning breakfasts (included) or other meals can be outside watching the pedestrian or canal traffic. It's TripAdvisor reviews put it into the Top 5 Traveler Ranked hotels in Venice. The staff are extremely pleasant and helpful. It's a three star hotel and is excellent value. Highly Recommended.  


As a reminder, Bubbly Tourist is not compensated by any recommendations we make.

Watching the day getting started with our morning coffee on the terrace of Hotel Antique Figure; Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
Watching the day get started with our morning coffee on the terrace of Hotel Antique Figure

In Search of Bubbles and Bites in Venice

In an ongoing segment by Bubbly Tourist, we always search for a location - if not the best location - to have some champagne wherever we go. It is, after all, who we are.


La Terrazza Bar at H10 Palazzo Canova

Let's discuss bubbles first! At La Terrazza Bar on top of the hotel H10 Palazzo Canova, you'll find a perfectly located rooftop bar overlooking the Grand Canal in the San Polo district of Venice. This 4 star hotel is very nice and the indoor-outdoor bar is nicely done without being too fancy but perfect enough for bubbles. Highly Recommended.

Watching the day getting started with our morning coffee on the terrace of Hotel Antique Figure; Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
Bubbly Tourist drinking our bubbles overlooking the Grand Canal at La Terrazza Bar

Antico Gafaro

So when our walking tour guide told us to keep an eye out for where the locals hang, we were happy when we stumbled across Antico Gafaro, a small wine bar / pizza trattoria. We saw an elderly gentlemen sipping his wine and no tourists, so we stopped in and were happy for it. Situated in Santa Croce in a non-busy part of the city, it's nestled in around lots of colorful buildings with alleys between them. It's tiny on the interior, but has a few tables out front where you can watch the foot traffic go by. There is an excellent selection of cicchetti and the right amount of wine to enjoy a restful stop with some quality food. Recommended.

Bubbly Tourist off the beaten path in Santa Croce out front of Antico Garafo; Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
Bubbly Tourist off the beaten path in Santa Croce out front of Antico Garafo

Very Good - Pizzeria Bigoleria Gnoccheria

We must admit we were a little dubious of eating at a place named Very Good - Pizzeria Bigoleria Gnoccheria. It's in a great location right along the Cannaregio Canal, but the name and the casual nature of its tables led us to believe we might be heading into a tourist trap. It was packed at lunch though, so we gave it a shot and were thankful for it. The food is excellent and offers a wide variety of authentic sandwiches and bigoli, a thick, hand-rolled pasta similar to spaghetti at very affordable prices. Recommended.

Bubbly Tourist off the beaten path in Santa Croce out front of Antico Garafo; Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
The open faced rolls at Good Food along the Cannaregio Canal are really good

Osteria al Cicheto

This off-the-beaten-path wine tavern (barcolo), Osteria al Cicheto, is a fantastic place to have some local wine and cheese and a good meal. It's intimate with about six or seven tables and the bar. It's in the Cannaregio district on what looks at first like an alleyway to nowhere but is a narrow street for the locals and a nearby hotel. Highly Recommended.

Sampling the local wine and cheese with a bite to eat at the romantic barcolo, Osteria al Cicheto; Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
Sampling the local wine and cheese with a bite to eat at the romantic barcolo, Osteria al Cicheto

Things to Know About Venice


Take the Bus from the Airport (Marco Polo) to Venice

If you're heading into Venice from the Marco Polo airport, the easiest transportation is by bus. A taxi would take you to the same location. The ATVO express bus, which is the main airport bus service, drops you off at Piazzale Roma. Piazzale Roma is the main bus station and the only area in Venice accessible by road vehicles, serving as the entrance to the city. From there, you can easily transfer to vaporettos (water buses) or walk to your accommodation or other destinations within Venice.


Porters for your luggage

Hauling your luggage around Venice isn't too bad until you've got to cross one of the canal bridges. They all have steps and are not designed for easily rolling or dragging something. For this reason, the city has porters that will hand transport your luggage for you. Work with your hotel to arrange for one. They're cheap and worth it just for the bridges alone.


Water Buses (Vaporetto)

Vaporetto is the name for the water buses that operate in Venice, providing a key part of the city's public transportation system. They are operated by ACTV, the public transportation authority, and offer a convenient way to travel between different islands and parts of the city.

You can purchase tickets at ticket booths, kiosks, or on board the boats. Validate your ticket before boarding by swiping or tapping it on the machines. There are multiple routes that operate throughout Venice, including the Grand Canal and routes to the outer islands like Murano, Burano, and Lido. Look for signs indicating the route number and the stop name. Vaporettos have both indoor and outdoor seating.


The Santa Lucia Train Station in Venice

The train station in Venice is conveniently located in the Santa Lucia district right by the grand canal. In fact, the station was only 10 minutes on foot from our hotel in Santa Croce. If you are traveling to or from Venice by train, it's an easy way to access by high speed the rest of the country. It is not, however, a convenient means of transportation to the airport.


Best Place for Luxury Shopping and a Free Toilet

The Fondaco dei Tedeschi is a small luxury shopping mall near the Rialto Bridge where you'll find brands like Cartier, Chanel, and Gucci. It is located on the Grand Canal, offering stunning views from its rooftop terrace. Given as a tip by our walking tour guide, it has free toilets on the first floor.

Cartier, Chanel, Gucci and more in the Fondaco dei Tedeschi mall next to the Rialto Bridge; Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
Cartier, Chanel, Gucci and more in the Fondaco dei Tedeschi mall next to the Rialto Bridge

What is a sotoportego?

The sotoportego is a section of street that passes under a building, what in English is called a passageway or passage. They arose out of the need to go from one place to another through the dense network of houses in Venice. There are different types of sotoportegos to be explored.

A way of connecting streets under buildings, the sotoportego is found throughout Venice; Bubbly Tourist's Best Things to See and Do and Where to Stay
A way of connecting streets under buildings, the sotoportego is found throughout Venice

Should I go to the glass factory on the Island of Murano?

The majority of Venice's glass factories, renowned for their Murano glass, are located on the island of Murano. Murano has been the center of glass production in Venice since the 13th century. Bubbly Tourist asked a few of the locals if it was worth going to a glass factory and the short answer is no. What they told us is is that they can generally find glass products made at a local store in Venice for the same price, so you don't have to make it to one of the glass factories for this. One local did say in the 25 years she lived there, she had only gone once to find something unique and meaningful for a very special occasion.




Travel More, Travel Bubbly!

The Bubbly Tourist Authors

About Bubbly Tourist

Hello and welcome to Bubbly Tourist!  We absolutely love to travel and have now made it our life's work.  Through our travels, we identify the best things to see and do, we find and explore hidden gems, and then we put together the best travel itinerary guides with tips for you.  Learn from us.  We hope to inspire travel by providing you that needed information to help you plan the perfect trip to an idyllic location!

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