Two Days in Venice: Where to Go & What to See

My mother and I planned for two full days in Venice before we boarded our MSC Lirica cruise, which departed and returned to Venice’s Marghera port. Two days was just the right amount of time to tour the city—if you’re okay with skipping the many museums the city has to offer. We traveled in April, and the weather was in the mid-50s to 60s—perfect for walking around.

We headed straight for our hotel from the Marco Polo Airport. Our flight landed mid-morning, and I contacted the hotel ahead of time to arrange for an early check-in. This is when the perks of working with a travel advisor really pay off. I would pay extra to immediately unpack, settle in, and shower after a cross-Atlantic flight, but we didn’t have to!

Executive-level room at Hilton Molino Stucky Venice

We took the Alilaguna (water taxi) Blue Line to our hotel, the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice, in the Giudecca area of the city. It has an Alilaguna dock literally steps from the front door, making it so easy! The Hilton also has its own private water taxi, which takes guests to and from St. Mark’s Square and Zattere promenade multiple times an hour. It is just $15 per person for unlimited use.

Hilton Molino Stucky Venice

View of Venice from Giudecca

I would highly recommend staying at Hilton Molino Stucky Venice. It is a gorgeous restored mill that offers amazing views of Venice from across the canal. The rooms are opulent, and the staff was so friendly and helpful. The breakfast buffet is one of the best I’ve ever seen, where you could eat there for four days and not have the same meal twice.

Touring Venice on foot was easier than I thought. Yes, it is easy to get turned around in the small walkways, but the city isn’t that large, so you’ll eventually stumble upon a landmark that helps you go from lost to found.

On the first half-day of sightseeing, we walked from St. Mark’s Square to the Rialto Bridge and had a decent meal at Riva Rialto overlooking the Grand Canal.

On our second day, we went the opposite direction from St. Mark’s Square and walked toward via Garibaldi, in Castello, which offered a look into how the locals lived. We stayed on the outskirts of Giardini della Biennale before doubling back through town toward the Accademia Bridge, stopping for gelato along the way, of course. Instead of the overpriced gondola rides, we opted to take the Aliliguna from Venezia Santa Lucia down the Grand Canal, back toward Zattere to take the ferry back to our hotel. The Hilton Molino Stucky’s rooftop cocktail lounge was the perfect way to end the day with a bellini as the sun set.

View of Venice from Hilton Molino Stucky's rooftop cocktail bar

My mom and me, overlooking the Grand Canal

It was easy on our final day in Venice to head to the cruise terminal, which is located near the train station. Private water taxis or the Alilaguna Blue Line take you to the Tronchetto, which is connected to the cruise terminal via People Mover. It was very easy to find the MSC cruise check-in area, where we took a ferry to the Marghera port.

If you take a cruise from Venice’s Marghera port, you check in at the Tronchetto. There is no check-in at the actual dock, which makes it even easier to access from Venice.

We found the weather in mid-April to be perfect for walking and exploring. It was on the cooler side, but it allowed us to walk most of the day. The city had some busier areas than normal, but it was never overwhelming and wasn't busy outside those tourist centers. I would highly recommend visiting at this time of the year to avoid the heat and crowds.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Venice page.