Venice in 48 hours was a gamble, but it was a city that had been on my bucket list for a really long time. Mostly, because I felt the images I kept seeing weren’t doing it justice. I just needed to visit this magical destination for myself.
The city has been in the news a lot in the last few months. Particularly for its residents’ outrage at the sheer number of tourists arriving each Summer from cruise ships. It started to feel like somewhere I needed to see before the local government really does start to impose restrictions. Also, for this reason, it made complete sense to visit out-of-season, when hopefully the crowds would be less.
Turns out this was a great decision. I experienced far fewer crowds than expected and the canals and laneways weren’t smelly (as we had heard this was an issue). A little more warmth could have been nice but crowds vs warmth on a European city break is a bit of a no brainer!
Where to stay
Due to our Friday night flight being a late one, we chose to stay in a farmhouse nearer to the airport. Ca’Tessera Hotel was the perfect base outside of the city. They offered a free pick up late at night, as well as really adorable, old, quaint rooms and lovely staff.
The next morning, we enjoyed early morning dips in the pool and a slow breakfast, before heading into the city by public bus.
A fairly long walk through the canals and using the delight that is Apple Maps, we arrived at our truly palatial hotel, the Palazzo Paruto. Booked as a treat (€220 a night!), this was an incredible stay with an amazing breakfast spread and opulent rooms – perfect for a princess!
Where to eat
Venice is a bit of a tourist trap, but we paid up for the experience of eating by the River and the Rialto Bridge. This restaurant was the Riva Del Vin – pricey but good. Due to the sheer lack of time we had in the city, the other main meal we had was in Burano – less expensive and definitely more tasty!
What to see and explore
Venice is a wonderful city to explore by foot (and gondola, of course), even in just 48 hours. To enjoy a ride on a gondola though is more than €80 euro for just a short time, and as savvy travellers, we decided to just enjoy the city by foot. We of course stopped by the famous Piazzo San Marco, Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Rialto Bridge. But we found the real joy in the city just came from wandering and exploring the canals and laneways. From tiny coffee shops and artisan clothing stores (just ignore the tourist tack, of course).
We had the greatest surprise when our hotel offered us a free private speedboat over to Murano, a Venetian island famous for its glass-blowing. We had such a brilliant day exploring Murano, before hopping over to Burano on the public ferry, which we also used to head back to the mainland of Venice. Its a simple vaporetto ferry, with line 12 running to and from Venice and Burano, taking about 45 minutes and costing €6.50 per person.
Have you been to Venice? Let me know in the comments below!
If not, I hope this post on 48 Hours in Venice has been helpful if you’re planning on heading to Venice in the coming months, or inspiring if you didn’t already have plans!
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What an awesome experience, I am so glad you got to tick this one off your bucket list. Its somewhere I’d love to visit one day. I think your pictures do it justice, they are truly stunnng! That is so sweet your hotel arranged the surprise trip too, what wonderful people!
Author
Thank you! Fingers crossed you visit this year!! 🙂 And yes I know, so sweet!
Stoooop, you’re making me desperate to go back with all these lovely pictures! Glad you enjoyed Venice as much as I did.
Author
Definitely go back and yes, I loved it! 🙂
Your pictures came out great, looks like you had a great time….happy travelling
Author
Thank you! 🙂
I want to go to Venice so bad!! This is on my travel bucket list. I bet the food was amazing!
Author
It was sooo good! Quite expensive in actual Venice but a lot cheaper in Murano/Burano!
Venice truly looks stunning, I would love to visit one day. It looks like you had a brilliant time exploring 🙂
Author
Fingers crossed you visit soon! 🙂 It was awesome to explore 🙂
OH wow . Look at all these photos. Venice looks like the place to be. Venice is surely on my bucket list. I hope to visit soon.
Author
Fingers crossed you visit this year! 🙂
Wow! Your photos are stunning and it seems that you really had an amazing time there. I always wanted to visit Venice and hope this 2018 will.
Author
Fingers crossed you visit in 2018!
Venice is magical indeed and your pics are equally magical. I say so because I have lived this magic myself when I visited Venice. With all the mystical feels I experienced I had seen my dream come true.
Author
That’s sweet! It sure is a magical place!
I have been to Venice and it is indeed too beautiful. All your pictures and the details are making me want to go back to Venice. I visited Venice in summers, I think I would love to visit it in the offseason when it is quieter.
Author
Yes, I would definitely advise this as the crowds weren’t so bad 🙂