Vibrant Venice

Arrive in Venice via Venice Marco Polo Airport, landing in the evening or late afternoon. Walk from the terminal to the water transport area. You will wait for a short time for the Alilaguna, which takes you to the closest stop to your accommodations in Venice. A short walk from the Alilaguna stop to your accommodation gives you a quick taste of what's to come. After settling in at your accommodations, you will head out to experience Venice in all of its glory, exploring the local canals. Generally, your accommodations will be in a quieter part of Venice, allowing you to choose when to engage with crowds, or when to stick to parks and less traveled areas. A great local restaurant sits around the corner. Indulge in Italian classics including pizza and pasta. No day in Venice is complete without gelato, closing out the day. Get some sleep, you have an incredible day ahead.

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc.

Start your first full day in Venice seeing the Rialto Bridge and the Grand Canal with a private boat tour. After disembarking the boat, this area will be much more populated than where you are staying, but it is worth seeing the many small bridges and alleyways in this area.

Head to Fondaco Terrace, giving a panoramic view of the Grand Canal.

Check out Piazza San Marco, the main square of Venice, seeing the campanile, St Mark's Basilica, and the outside of Doge's Palace.

Surrounding these sights are many shops and places to eat for lunch. You can get arancini and other street foods or have a great sit-down meal in this area.

Self-guided tour through Doge's Palace, which at one point also housed the government of Venice. This museum has a well-marked route with great information supplied throughout the many ballrooms, government chambers, and even the prison. Pass over the Bridge of Last Breaths for an alternative view of the famous bridge. Want to relax more? Save Doge's palace for day 6.

Eat dinner at a fantastic local restaurant, known for seafood. For a more relaxed option, try an incredible take-out pizza place, eating back at your accommodations. Try a traditional margherita or mix it up with one of their unique creations!

Head home, grabbing a gelato on the way, to prepare for a Murano and Burano day trip tomorrow.

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc. Head on a self-guided day trip to Murano and Burano. If interested, visit Torcello as well, as it is very close to Burano. Torcello is a beautiful little island with a few restaurants, a small museum, and a small basilica. - Our favorite glass shops and furnaces on Murano to visit will be included in our full itinerary. Before leaving Murano for Burano, make sure to stop at our recommended lunch spot and gelato shop. Head to Burano for beautiful multi-colored buildings, the lace museum, and stop at a bakery in town to get famous local cookies. Towards the end of the day, the streets start to empty as day trip tourists return to their ships or travel accommodations. Eat a set meal at a beautiful local restaurant, consisting of 7 courses. Return to your accommodation, but not before grabbing a gelato on the way back!

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc. Explore Lido, iconic for the film festival, in a quieter Venetian setting. Relax at the beach or by the pool. Head down the road from the beach to a unique lunch experience. Eat a fresh crafted sandwich on a double decker bus! Catch some more sun at the beach. (Rather catch some art than soaking up the sun? After exploring Lido, return to mainland Venice and head to Ca’ Pesaro International Gallery of Modern Art to experience art from the 19th and 20th centuries.) Return to the main part of Venice to have dinner at a local favorite. No day is complete without gelato. I recommend the stracciatella, which is vanilla with chocolate throughout.

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc. Explore the beautiful Peggy Guggenheim Museum, a collection of art in her Venice home. Around this area, are some shops and galleries to explore, catering to artistic tastes. A very short walk east is also Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, boasting stunning architecture and also providing a beautiful view of Venice. Lunch at a delicious restaurant towards the Accademia Bridge. Head back towards Piazza San Marco via the Accademia bridge. If you are interested in local art, there are many artists set up willing to paint/draw/create custom art pieces, along with their other works for sale. Stop at a cafe or a bar for a drink, relaxing in the streets at a table. View Venice how it was meant to be seen, from a gondola! For a different option, save this for after dinner for a nighttime experience. Enjoy a dinner at a local small restaurant, in an intimate setting. No night is complete without gelato. For an interesting combo, see if they have an affogato, which is espresso poured on your choice of gelato.

For breakfast, head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc. Stroll through Venice's green areas, enjoying the quieter parts of the city. Giardini della Biennale, located in the eastern part of Venice, houses some sculptures and architecture. Get a takeout pizza from a delicious local place, eating back at your accommodation. Stop at a local bar in the park, with tall glass windows, giving the feeling of being in a conservatory. Return to favorite locations from your trip, to savor your last day in Venice. Eat dinner at a fantastic local favorite, showcasing fine regional favorites with quality ingredients. Get some sleep to prepare to fly out early afternoon, but not before one last gelato.

Eat like a local for your last Venetian breakfast and head to a small local shop to get a pastry, quiche, espresso, etc. Depart Venice on the Alilaguna, heading to the Venice Marco Polo Airport to catch your flight home. Return to Venice one day, feeling confident and comfortable in one of the most unique cities in the world.