(MY BUDGET TIPS ARE IN BOLD and the cost break down is at the bottom of this post. This is how we did Venice for $100 p/day!)
If you've ever dreamed of gliding through romantic canals, sipping espresso in sun-drenched piazzas, and stepping back in time on ancient bridges, Venice is your dream destination. With just two days in this magical floating city, you can soak in its charm without feeling rushed.
Walking the beautiful city is free. There are churches to explore with incredible art and architecture. Walk the bridges and the canals - so much of Venice is about being in the midst of the magic. But there are few things you can do on a budget to get extra magic out of your stay.
This city was the first stop on our 10 day tour of Italy in celebration of my daughter's graduation. A friend joined us for the festivities. This is my first suggestion for making your trip more affordable - travel with friends to share expenses.
Sharing expenses with friends can include renting an airbnb instead of multiple hotel rooms. We found a 2 bedroom apartment, a couple of blocks from Piazza San Marco, and split 3 ways, it was less than $35 per person/ per night! The gorgeous ceiling in the loft was a breathtaking reminder that this building had originally been a palace before it was converted into apartments. The image of the canal below was the view from our patio!
Ok, are you ready? Let's spend 48 hours in Venice: the ultimate dreamy getaway.
Day 1: Classic Venice – Bridges, Piazzas & Gondolas
Morning: A Grand Welcome at the Piazza San Marco
Land at the Venice airport in the morning and enjoy a water view of the city by boat as you arrive in this magical place. Our water taxi disembarked right outside of Piazza San Marco, and because our apartment was nearby, we dropped off our bags and started there. ThePiazza San Marco is Venice’s heart and soul so it's the perfect welcome. Here you can marvel at the intricate mosaics of St. Mark’s Basilica and the towering Campanile (you can climb to the top for breathtaking panoramic views!). Don’t miss the legendary Doge’s Palace, a stunning Gothic masterpiece filled with centuries of history. A general admission ticket to the Doge's Palace costs €25, with reduced tickets available for €13.
Midday: Exploring & a Gondola Ride
As you leave Doge’s Palace, step onto the famous Bridge of Sighs—legend has it, prisoners sighed at their last glimpse of Venice before imprisonment. Your sighs will be because of its beauty.
Now, it’s time for the most Venetian experience of all: a gondola ride! Going after 7pm will cost around 100 Euros. We chose a quiet tour down narrow, less popular waterways to the sounds of the oars and the singing birds, and we left the dock before 7pm. The cost was split three ways - $27 p/person.
Evening: Dinner with a View
Watch the sunset paint the sky as you toast to an incredible first day. We chose to share a pizza on the patio overlooking San Marco Square while the bells tolled. On the walk home we lingered at the waterside and soaked in the atmosphere.
Day 2: Island Escape – rialto bridge and touring Burano’s colorful streets
Morning: The Wonder of Rialto Bridge
Start your day with a stroll to Rialto Bridge, the most iconic bridge in Venice. It’s an architectural masterpiece, offering picture-perfect views of the Grand Canal, where gondolas and vaporettos (water buses) glide past pastel-colored buildings. Wander through the bustling Rialto Market nearby—perfect for a fresh Italian breakfast of cicchetti (Venetian tapas) and an espresso. My tip: arrive very early. This is the busiest place in the city that we experienced, so we didn't linger here very long. If you arrive in the afternoon you will wait in line for even a picture in front of the bridge.
If follow me on IG you can find a reel of walking up the bridge and looking out over the Grand Canal.
Midday: Burano Adventures, Lace & Lunch
Hop on a vaporetto (water bus) and head to Burano, the island famous for its brightly colored houses and intricate lacework. A Venice Travel Card is the cheapest option to see the most things in one day on the vaporetto: A 1-day card costs €25, offering unlimited vaporetto rides, including Murano and Burano, and making it a good option for a day trip around Venice. At Burano, Venetian lace is a timeless souvenir to bring home, but because it is not machine made, expect to pay a pretty penny for this treasure. My daughter & I just enjoyed the demonstration and the window shopping then headed back to the waterfront for lunch. If you want to keep going, this would be a great time to hop back on the vaporetto and head to Murano for lunch and a Venetian glassblowing demonstration instead. We stayed on Burano and wandered the colorful streets, taking lots of pictures.
One of the best ways to save while traveling is to try local foods as bites instead of big, fancy dinners and three meals out per day. We stopped at the seafood stand by the water in Burano and chose from local delicacies to share. The breakfast options both mornings were also big enough to share.
Evening: One Last Stroll & A Toast to Venice
My souvenirs are usually Christmas ornaments, which tend to be more affordable and also fit into my luggage easily. The one exception to this in Venice was a Venetian mask purchased at www.sanmarco596.com. One idea for getting your treasures back home is to ask if they have a website and order from there so that items are shipped directly to your home.
Before you leave this dream world behind you can stop by a cozy bacaro (wine bar) for a glass of Venetian wine and one last round of cicchetti. We sat by the water and soaked it all in one last time. In the morning we would take a boat taxi to the train station for our next stop. But I have to admit, it was hard to say goodbye to Venice.
Final Thoughts: Venice, You’ve Stolen My Heart
Two days in Venice may seem short, but trust me, you’ll leave with a lifetime of memories. Whether it’s the quiet magic of the canals, the grandeur of San Marco, or the charm of Burano’s lace shops, Venice is a place that stays with you forever.
Here is the daily budget breakdown:
DAY 1:
water taxi to the main island from the airport - €17 each incl tip
lodging - €35
shared breakfast - €7 each
small bites to share - €20 each
Doge's Palace - €25
shared pizza - €8 each
___________
€95
DAY 2:
lodging - €35
small bites to share - €10
vaporetto for island hopping - €25
ornament souvenir - €7
pasta dishes shared -€13
Venetian mask - €15
__________
€105
(included in the next day's expenses: we took a morning water taxi to the train station - €17 each incl. tip)
There you have it! Next time I'll share about our time in Rome.
Do you have a cost saving tip? I'd love to hear it!
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