Introduction
Venice has earned its reputation as one of the world’s most romantic cities, but no amount of research can truly prepare you for its winding canals and centuries-old cobblestone streets.
This floating city operates on its own logic, where roads are waterways, cars are replaced by gondolas and vaporettos, and getting lost is an inevitable part of the charm.
When my family and I decided to spend a couple of days in Venice, we knew we wanted to experience both the iconic landmarks that draw millions of visitors and the quieter neighborhoods where Venetian life still unfolds at an unhurried pace.
This visit coincided with my anniversary, which added an extra layer of romance to an already enchanting destination. Here’s how we all experienced the magic of Venice in just two days.
Train Logistics
Two transportation workers enter Venice Mestre, which is the station right before getting to the historic Venetian islands.
If you want to experience the winding canals and historic charm, book your ticket to the Venice Santa Lucia station. (not Venice Mestre).
Mestre is on the mainland. Santa Lucia is the train station located on the lagoon’s famous islands. The two train stations are just 4 miles apart, but very different.
With those logistics out of the way, here’s the itinerary!
Day 1
We got off the train at the Venice Santa Lucia station and navigated the cobblestone streets to our rental in the Cannaregio neighborhood.
We chose Cannaregio as our home base because it is one of the most culturally interesting parts of Venice. Plus, it’s removed from the more touristy attractions, which created a small-town feel unique from other Venetian neighborhoods.
Cannaregio also has a history steeped in Jewish culture (and oppression). I recommend exploring the Jewish Museum of Venice or taking a guided tour of Cannaregio to learn more.
Once we dropped our luggage, we headed out to feast.
Lunch and Leisure
Rio Terà Farsetti is one of the main streets in Cannaregio, and it is sprinkled with a host of delicious options. We ate lunch at Le Campane, followed by dessert at Goppion Cafeterria.
Then worked off our lunch by wandering around the Campo Santa Fosca region. This neighborhood is home to multiple attractions, including the Casino of Venice and the Ponte Chiodo bridge.
Venice is incredibly compact and walkable. Some highlights to add to your self-guided walking tour include:
Ponte dei Tre Archi, which is a triple-arched bridge
Chiesa della Madonna dell’Orto, which is a 14th century Catholic church
Constitution Bridge, which is a modern bridge made of steel and glass
The whole fam taking in the Venetian views.
Romantic Evening
The evening was met with rain, which only enhanced the romance.
This night fell on our anniversary. So Dave and I split off from the rest of the family and celebrated with a dinner for two.
We spent the night at Sullaluna, which is a book store and bistro that also serves wine.
aka: Our dream date night.
We spent multiple hours sharing tapas and a bottle of wine. We sat by the canal under a canopy. The candle light was warm, the rain splattered on the cobblestones, and the occasional canal boat passed by.
It was pure bliss.
I will travel back to Venice just to taste this fruit tart again.
A Walking Nightcap (Or Three)
After dinner, we met back up with the rest of the crew to keep the party going.
The older folks decided to call it a night while me and the rest of the youngins meandered our way to the San Marco neighborhood. This region is home to the iconic San Marco Square and Doge’s Palace.
Along the way we stopped into a few bacaro bars. A bacaro is a type of traditional Venetian bar that often serves spritzes in to-go cups.
Simply ask for a “spritz da portar via,” which translates to “spritz to take away“.
Throughout the night we indulged in the trifecta of Italian spritzes:
The Aperol Spritz has a sweet and orangey flavor, which is less bitter than other options.
The Campari Spritz is bold and bitter, with notes of grapefruit, orange peel, cinnamon, and cloves.
The Hugo Spritz is my personal favorite: Floral and sweet with notes of citrus and herbs.
Venice felt incredibly safe, even in the late hours of the night.
The winding canals seem intimidating at first, especially after a few drinks, but the city was surprisingly easy to navigate. It only has six, compact neighborhoods, and you can walk from end to end in less than an hour. In total, Venice is only 3 square miles.
Day 2
Embrace The Cafe Culture
Dave and I woke up before the rest of our crew so we decided to walk down the street for breakfast at a little cafe called Pasticceria Nobile.
From here, the rest of the family joined us, and we walked over to San Marco Square to see it in the daylight.
St. Mark’s Square
St. Mark’s Basilica is famous for its Byzantine-Gothic architecture and lavish gold mosaics.
St. Mark’s Square is the main public square in Venice.
Due to its opulence and harmonious blend of different architecture styles, Napoleon Bonaparte nicknamed it “The Drawing Room of All Europe.”
St. Mark’s Square is the true heart of Venice. It’s filled with vendors, cafes, and statues. This area felt like the convergence of all the island’s tourists, as well.
Grand Canal
Ponte di Rialto is a short, 8-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square. This is one of the four bridges that spans the Grand Canal.
The Grand Canal is the main waterway of Venice. This S-shaped artery is just roughly 2.5 miles in length, but it is the city’s central transport hub. As such, it’s the best place to understand the engineering mastery that is Venice.
Consider a boat tour or gondola ride to fully-experience the Grand Canal!
Souvenir Shopping
By this point, it had started raining again. So we took the opportunity to explore the many souvenir shops dotted around Venice.
If you want to stay near San Marco Square, check out Campo Santo Stefano. This street is lined with enough boutiques and shops to fill the rest of your afternoon.
I took home a piece of glasswork as an homage to the Venetian glassblowing industry, which began as early as the 8th century.
Dinner
We ended the night with dinner at Farini. This pizzeria has multiple locations all throughout Venice.
Truthfully, I wished we ventured into the Dorsoduro neighborhood to try places like:
Cantine del Vino gia Schiavi, which is a wine and ciccheti bar one of the city’s last gondola workshops
La Calcina, which offers seating right along the canal
Alle Zattere, which overlooks the nearby Giudecca island
Conclusion
Two days in Venice barely scratches the surface of what this remarkable city has to offer, but it’s enough time to fall completely under its spell.
The rain that accompanied much of our visit only enhanced the romantic atmosphere.
If I could do it again, I’d carve out more time to explore the Dorsoduro neighborhood and take a day trip to the nearby island of Murano to learn more about the region’s glassworking history.
Whether you have a weekend or a full week, Venice will deliver on every romantic promise.
Just remember: book your train to Venice Santa Lucia, not Mestre ;)