Even a single day is enough to make a visit to unforgettable Venice worthwhile. The possible itineraries are endless, and none can truly be ranked above the others—because Venice, in all its uniqueness, is truly an open-air museum.

The most classic route, however, begins in St. Mark’s Square, framed by the Procuratie Vecchie and Nuove, the Correr Museum, the Doge’s Palace, and the famous Basilica with its stunning bell tower. This is the city’s most iconic image, and no visit to Venice is complete without passing through here!

If you’ve arrived from the train station, you’ve likely already seen the Rialto Bridge, with all its characteristic shops. So, after touring the Doge’s Palace and admiring, across the San Marco Basin, the island of San Giorgio with its magnificent church designed by Andrea Palladio, we recommend heading south.

You’ll walk along the so-called Mercerie, the bustling shopping streets lined with boutiques of the most famous fashion brands, until you reach the Gallerie dell’Accademia—one of Italy’s most important state museums, a true treasure trove housing masterpieces of Venetian art from the 1300s to the early modern period.

Not far from the Accademia is the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Housed in Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, with its lovely garden, this collection of contemporary art was once the Venetian residence of the famous collector and remains one of the most admired international destinations. Just a short walk away, it’s well worth visiting the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, reached by strolling along Le Zattere. From here, the view over the lagoon is absolutely breathtaking!

Leisurely walking, you can return to the train station in about half an hour, passing through the famous Campo Santa Margherita—a popular spot for university students and the perfect place to stop for a coffee, an aperitivo, or a cicchetto (a traditional Venetian snack).