Known as the floating city and once the centre of European trade, Venice evokes images of gondolas filled with adoring couples gliding along its many canals. Its appeal has enthralled visitors for centuries and despite threats of it disappearing, Venice will no doubt be here for a long time yet. With so much to Venice, could it really be a destination to visit in one day? When my best friend suggested flying there and back in one day for my birthday celebrations, I was initially hesitant. London to Venice in one day, would it be worth it? In the end, I simply thought ‘why not?’ and booked the flight.
We both agreed our day trip to Venice was a resounding success: it was surprisingly easy to fly from London to Venice in one day, we saved money on not booking accommodation and it was helpful to be back home on Sunday to see family. Having both been to the city previously, we didn’t feel the need to rush around seeing all of the tourist sites.
I may have left my children at home but this itinerary for one day in Venice could also work with kids (although you may want to stay overnight especially if you have younger children). Read on to see how we spent one day in Venice.
Travel From London To Venice
We got a relatively inexpensive flight from London Stansted to Venice with Ryanair, landing at Marco Polo airport. When planning our trip, we chose a destination which was easily accessible from the nearest airport. Venice ticked that box with the airport a bus ride away from the centre. You can also get a boat taxi into the centre of Venice or a normal car taxi.
We got the 7.50am flight from Stansted and with the hour difference, arrived in Venice around 11am. Outside the airport, we hopped onto a bus (around 10€) and by 11.30am we were in Venice! Some Saturdays we are barely getting out of the house by that time.
What’s Special About Venice?
A truly unique city, Venice is made up of 118 small islands separated by 150 canals and linked by 438 bridges. Venice is small city with only 55,000 inhabitants, a place to wander and get lost amongst its narrow, carless streets.
Venice was once a centre of trade where goods would flow in and out, bringing huge wealth to its merchants, as reflected in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. There is evidence of this along its canals and streets while the centre of exchange (The Fondaco Dei Tedeschi) is now an upmarket shopping centre.
Venice evokes thoughts of masked balls thanks to its annual carnival and you don’t have to go far to find a shop selling the famous Venetian masks. Venice is a world away from London and the UK, a big part of the appeal for us visiting, even if it was only for one day.
When we went in mid January it was cold, as you’d expect at that time of year, but the sun was shining and the canals glistening. Going off season meant there were far less people than at the height of summer.
What to do in Venice for one day
During our day in Venice, we wandered around the city occasionally getting a little lost. We immediately got away from the busy main streets and walked over smaller bridges. All are unbelievably picturesque and instagrammable. The narrow canals are filled with people on gondolas with the larger, Grand Canal, bustling with water taxis and tourists taking photos from the larger bridges.
During our day in Venice we experienced travelling on its canals as well as crossing its famous bridges. We immersed ourselves in art at the Galleria Academia, browsed shops for masks and its famous Mauro glass. I even popped into my daughters’ favourite stationary shop, Legami, to take home some favourite items. We also ate some delicious food.
Lunch in Venice
As it was almost lunchtime when we arrived, we browsed some eateries before settling on Bar da Gino in the south of the city. It had a Italian brasserie feel to it. We tucked into some hearty vegetable soup and salad with a glass of the Italian favourite, Aperol Sprintz, which helped steer away signs of fatigue from our 6am start.
St Mark’s Square
St Mark’s Square is one of Italy’s most famous squares dating back to the 12th century. It is filled with historical buildings, museums, shops and restaurants. It’s a place to sit and have a coffee (or something stronger) take in the architecture and people watch – before or after exploring some of the treasures it holds.
St Mark’s Basilica
The wondrously ornate St Mark’s Basilica will immediately catch your eye if entering from the west side. The foundations of the cathedral dates back to the 9th century while much of the present structure was formed in the 11th century. We didn’t go inside, instead admired its colourful external architecture. Entry to St Mark’s Basilica is 3€. If we were to do it again, I would buy a ticket in advance to skip the queues and get an audio guide.
The Doge’s Palace
The Doge’s Palace, from where the elected leaders of the former Venetian republic governed, is next to St Mark’s Basilica. It’s stunning Gothic architectural will have you gazing up at it in wander. Inside there is much to see. To fully appreciate the Doge’s Palace, you should allow around 2 to 3 hours. Again, you can pre-book tickets to avoid queues. If you want to do combine the the basilica and Doge’s Palace, you can book tickets to visit both sites. If you are keen to make the most of your visit to Venice, then how about combining the two sites with a gondola ride, book in advance here.
St Mark’s Bell Tower, Campanile
One of the first things you will notice in the square is St Mark’s Bell Tower, the Campanile. You can go up the structure where you will get impressive views of Venice. Either climb the 323 steps or get the lift. You can pre-book tickets which cost 14€ for an adult.
Shops and cafes line St Mark’s square with tables spilling out onto the pavement. When we visited, some of the paving was being renovated so we went to the side facing the Grand Canal for a sit down. We enjoyed a coffee in the winter sunshine. As expected, it was slightly overpriced but we expected nothing less to sit in this famous square. Just beware of the pigeons if you are eating food there!
Close to St Mark’s Square is the famous Harry’s Bar once frequented by the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Katherine Hepburn. I had been there on a previous occasion and wasn’t in a huge rush to go back for an overpriced Bellini. Best to book ahead if you do.
Venice by boat
It’s the quintessential activity to do in Venice but, controversially, we didn’t go on one of city’s famous gondolas, deciding it was something to do with a romantic partner or bigger group of people. That didn’t stop us from people watching those who did.
To see Venice by boat, you can also go on a private water taxi or the bus taxi service to get you from place to place. We got the taxi from Rialto Bridge to the Gallery of Academia. You can buy a single ticket at the station or if you can get a day pass (around 25€ ).
Rialto bridge
It’s the oldest of the four bridges to cross the Grand Canal and arguably the most impressive. Originally built in 1173, the present stone structure dates back to 1591. The Rialto area was once the centre of Venice trade with vendors selling their wares. Today, it is mainly filled with tourists vying to get the perfect shot on the picturesque bridge.
There’s still a market there and the nearby Fondaco Dei Tedeschi, originally housing German merchants and not filled with boutique stores and a panoramic rooftop which is free but you need to book in advance.
We got to the Rialto Bridge around sunset which gave beautiful hues and views. As it was winter, we saved the indoor part of our day in Venice until it was dark. We got some of the last glimpses from Rialto Bridge and as we travelled by water bus to the Gallery of Academia.
Gallerie dell’Accademia
Wanting to fit in some art during on our trip to culturally-rich Venice, we headed to the Gallerie Dell’Accademia. It houses art from some of the Venetian greats of the late 15th to 18th century. Some classic pieces on display include The Tempest by Giorgione, Pieta by Tiziano, the Cycle of the stories of Saint Ursula by Carpaccio and Feast in the House of Levi by Paolo Veronese. We enjoyed absorbing the art on our own but if you want to get a more in-depth look, book a guided tour.
Where to eat in Venice
To complete our one day in Venice, we pre booked a birthday dinner at Impronta, a fusion restaurant combining modern Asian and Italian food.
We booked a restaurant fairly close to the bus station to get our flight back. We could have stayed out a bit longer. The one negative my friend thought about the day was that we had too much time at the airport! I’m glad we got there in plenty of time. Our flight was slightly delayed but we arrived in London Stansted by midnight.
A full 18 hours of fun and travel adventures.
One day in Venice, what a great way to spend a birthday!
Places to stay in Venice
If you wanted to stay overnight in Venice (or extend your trip by days), there are plenty of places to stay in Venice, have a look at booking.com for some options.
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