Situated in the Northeast region of Italy in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea, Venice is one of the most unique places to visit in Europe. It’s made up of 121 islands and connected by 435 bridges. Known as “The City of Canals” its capital city has no roads; only waterways running throughout the island. Venice dates back to the 10th Century BC, and was a major financial center during the Middle Ages and Renaissance period. Today it is one of the most visited cities in Europe.
It is a pretty small island and can be quite busy during the summer, so two or three days is plenty to see everything in Venice. We were there for just over two days in early July, when my kids were 12 and 15. We traveled on to Rome after visiting, which is a great add-on to this itinerary. The food and wine can’t be beat here, so no dieting allowed here! And the mosquitos are no joke with all of the water around, so be sure to pack some bug spray, and let’s go to Venice!
Here is a sample 2-day itinerary for Venice, based on our family trip with kids in July:
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DAY 1: THE GRAND CANAL, ST. MARK’S SQUARE, AND THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS
We arrived late in the day from Paris, in to Marco Polo Airport (VCE). There are a few options to get from the mainland to the island, but I recommend taking the Alilaguna Ferry. It takes about an hour and a half depending on where your stop is, but it’s fairly inexpensive (around 16 Euros per person…don’t confuse this with the private ferry…that one is a splurge), and very scenic, taking you right down the Grand Canal. Keep your eye out for the Rialto Bridge and the Giant Hands. It’s a comfortable ride, and a great way to kick-off your visit.
There are a lot of hotel options in Venice, but finding a large enough room for a family of four was a little challenging. After some research, I finally found Palazzo Paruta, which has these great family apartments. It had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small kitchen, a living room, and this great little patio. The location was very central, and breakfast in the main hotel was delicious!
On Day 1, after breakfast, plan to walk the 10 minutes or so to the iconic St Mark Square (Piazza San Marco). Within this square is Doge Palace, St. Mark Basillica, Campanile Tower, and the Bridge of Sighs. You can spend the entire day here if you tour everything, plus here are plenty of photo opportunities, cafe’s, and shops to explore there too. I’d recommend booking tickets in advance for the tours you definitely don’t want to miss, but don’t over-book yourself either, as too many tours in one day can be exhausting too…especially with kids!
We decided to climb to the lookout of the Campanile Tower, which is a great way to get some spectacular views if you have time. Standing at right around 300 feet tall (check out the staircase inside!), it was once used as a lighthouse for shipping purposes.
After spending a full day exploring the sites in St Mark Square, you’ll probably be ready to get off your feet! We had the best pasta, pizza, and wine (so good and so cheap!) near the hotel at Ristorante Pizzeria Al Vaporetto. Definitely check it out! After dinner we spent the evening on our patio playing cards and called it a night.
DAY 2: MURANO ISLAND GLASS FACTORY, SHOPPING, AND A GONDOLA RIDE
Murano and Burano are islands just a couple of miles from Venice, that can be accessed via a Waterbus or Vaporetto ferry. From the Palazzo Paruta, Fontamenta Nove port is about a 20-minute walk. I’d recommend buying the tickets in advance, because it can be confusing! If you have time you can visit both islands in one day, but we decided just to visit Murano. Murano is known for it’s world-famous glass making (think elaborate chandeliers and glass-blown art pieces like the ones in the Bellagio in Las Vegas), and Burano is known for its colorful buildings and lace making. No trip to Murano is complete without touring a glass-making factory like this one, so be sure to book this in advance!
After touring the factory, there will be an opportunity to buy a small souvenir (there are some great Christmas ornaments if you like to collect them from your travels), or even a very large souvenir (like a vase or chandelier) that can be shipped home for you. We wandered the shops for a bit, and then had a seafood and pasta lunch along the water at Ai Vetrai before heading back on the ferry to Venice.
We did some more souvenir shopping in Venice (there are some great shops to buy food products, glass, Venetian masks…creepy!, and Italian leather goods too), and then found Gelato Fantasy for a cool treat…so good!
And no trip to Venice would be complete without the traditional gondola ride through the canals. Just a two-minute walk from Palazzo Paruta is Christian’s Relaxing Gondola Rides. It’s definitely a must-do, and is a great way to see the island and the bridges throughout. If you’re not able to see the Rialto Bridge either on your water taxi or your gondola ride, be sure to make the short walk over to see it and take some pictures. It’s Venice’s oldest and most unique bridge, crossing the Grand Canal.
