The Perfect Five Day Venice Itinerary

Day 1 Tick the Lists See the Venice Highlights

“Getting Lost in Venice” is a phrase you will often hear about this labyrinth of a city. Getting lost is the best advice you can get.

Even armed with a map or your phone’s trusty sat nav you will still lose yourself in the maze of canals and countless bridges. Don’t fight it, embrace it!

Get up Early to See the Best of Venice

Our advice- wake up very early and hit the streets by 7 am. Early morning is a rare and fleeting time in Venice when you will nearly have the city all to yourself. Before the maddening crowds of tourists converge on the city blocking the streets and obscuring the best views.

Early morning is also a very good time to get your bearings in Venice- if that is at all possible.

Piazza San Marco

Make a beeline to Piazza San Marco and stroll the square unencumbered by throngs of tourists. You may well happen on the occasional bride and groom also making the most of the rare quiet for some opportune wedding snaps.

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Sunset from Accademia Bridge

While the cost of a gondola ride in Venice may not be in everyone’s budget, watching the sunset from Accademia Bridge is free. For one of the best views in Venice, head to Accademia Bridge at sunset before setting off for an aperitivo.

Watching the gondola’s cruise down the Grand Canal at sunset while enjoying one of the most beautiful city views in the world is definitely within everyone’s Venice budget.

Day 2 Murano and Burano Islands

A trip to Venice is not complete without visiting the Islands of Venice. In particular, the famous glass and lace-making islands of Murano and Burano, two of the most charming islands in Venice and Italy.

Murano Island

Jump on a ferry to the island of Murano in the Venetian Lagoon. Famed for the high-quality glass produced there since 1291, when glassmakers were ordered to move their foundries from Venice to Murano.

The Venetian Republic feared fire could break out and destroy the mostly wooden buildings in the city. From the 14th century on, Murano’s glassmakers were held in such high regard they enjoyed an elevated social standing and many statutory privileges.

See a Murano Glass Blowing Demonstration

For centuries Murano’s glassmakers have handed down their craft from generation to generation, developing and perfecting many technologies ensuring a monopoly in the high-quality glass market.

Book yourself in for a 30 min glass blowing demonstration, something not to be missed when visiting Murano Island. The glass factories also have showrooms offering good deals on original Murano Glass if you happen to be in the market.

Getting to Murano Island

• Take the line 12 Vaporetto (public ferry) from Fondamente Nove.
• The ride will take approx 15 minutes and will cost around €7.
• You can also do a half day Venetian Islands tour for approx €20.

Burano Island

In the afternoon visit the prettiest island in Venice and possibly Italy – Burano.

Shop for Burano Lace

As Murano is famous for its glass, Burano is famous for its lace. In the 16th century, the women of Burano were known for the delicate, detailed lace they produced. Intricate pieces created by not one, but as many as seven women.

Each woman specialised in a single stitch, so each piece, no matter how small was passed from one woman to the next taking as long as a month to complete.

Due to the time and cost of the finished piece, today’s Burano lace is made by machine but by no means any less beautiful.

Enjoy the Brightly Coloured Houses of Burano Island

Burano is also famous for its brightly coloured houses. Families used to paint their home different colours to designate where one family’s quarters finished, and the next started.

Legend has it such bright colours were used so during the thick fogs, the fishermen could establish which was their home. The tradition and legend have stuck leaving us one of the most photographed towns in Venice.

While Burano can be inundated with tourists, there is still a lovely local atmosphere. It is also touted as one of the best places in Venice to dine out.

Small local restaurants serve up exceptional food, especially locally caught seafood at very reasonable prices. A perfect place for a lazy lunch.

Getting to Burano Island

The line 12 Vaporetto will continue from Murano Island to Burano Island and return to Venice.

Day 3 Day Trip From Venice to Ferrara

Ferrara city on the banks of the River Po is a perfectly preserved medieval and Renaissance city largely overlooked by the average tourist.

At only 112kms south of Venice and only 50 km’s north of Bologna, it is a wonder the bike-friendly, car-free streets, within this beautiful walled city are not awash with tourists.

Ferrara is truly one of Italy’s little treasures. Medieval quarters, superbly intact, weave a path through the Jewish ghetto opening onto spacious streets revealing palaces and castles and impeccably preserved cathedrals.

Overtly rich in history, Ferrara also has a lovely laid back exuberance that may have you wanting to stay a weekend or more. Perhaps this is to do with the lack of traffic; a city that has twice as many bicycles than inhabitants.

Or, is it the contrast to Venice in the absence of tourists. Regardless, a day trip to Ferrara will be as rewarding as it is refreshing. A brief reprieve from the bustling hordes of Venice.

Getting to Ferrara

• Ferrara sits on the main train line that connects Bologna and Venice, 112kms from Venice.
• Travel times will vary between 50 minutes to 1 hr 20 min depending on direct services.
• There are more than 40 services per day. Ticket prices may range from €15 – €21 per trip.

Tip: Discounts of up to 50% on train fares are available if booked in advance. See train timetables and available discounts here

Day 4 A Day Trip From Venice to Verona

“In fair Verona, where we lay our scene”. – William Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s take on a collection of poems and stories written in the late 1500s about feuding families and star-crossed lovers made Verona a household name. Stories based loosely on real events and real families of Verona.

There is so much more to do in Verona than just the tourist pilgrimage to Juliet’s balcony. The city has a romantic outlook independent of the fictional tragedy – so much so that we voted it one of the most romantic places for couples to visit in Italy.

Visit Juliet’s Balcony

Of course, you could not visit Verona and miss the opportunity to stand under the balcony where Juliet is said to have stood in the courtyard where the real Capello family once lived.  With, of course, a few hundred others. But once you have had your fill of romance, Verona offers so much actual history to see and enjoy.

Discover Verona’s Distinguished Past

Strolling the medieval streets, you will be rewarded with upmarket boutique shopping and charming traditional trattorias scattered amongst Roman columns and fossils embedded in the marble streets. The remnants of the cities distinguished past are evident everywhere you look, such as the elaborate tombs of the infamous Della Scala family.

Verona flourished under the Della Scala families rule in the middle ages. A family renowned for being both murderous tyrants as well as passionate patrons of the arts. The cities passion for the arts continues today.

A visit to Verona is so much more than just Romeo & Juliet. A beautiful and cultured city steeped in fascinating history, there is so much to do and see in Verona.

Getting to Verona

• Verona is 121 km’s inland from Venice.
• Train services run all day from Venice to Verona.
• Travel times will vary from 50 min to 1hr 20 min depending on the service.
• See times and prices for Verona here. Look out for advance purchase discounts.

Day 5 A Morning in Padua Then, an Afternoon in Venice.

At only 45 km’s or half-hour by train from Venice, it is surprising Padua is often overlooked by many visitors to Venice. Although in saying that, we have it on good authority this is where Venetians move to when they have had enough of Venice.

Home to Italy’s second-oldest university, this handsome medieval town brimming with Renaissance grandeur and a stunning Byzantine skyline has a more youthful and carefree vibe than its bigger sister Venice.

Much like Ferrara, Padua boasts a bike-friendly city, plenty of pedestrian-only streets and large, uncongested piazza’s that feel like a breath of fresh air after tourist-clogged Venice. Padua oozes charm and history with a healthy dose of style and social pizzaz.

Aside from enjoying the space and sociability of this lovely town, Padua also offers quite a varied tourist itinerary. If you want to venture beyond delightful alfresco dining, open-air markets and boutique shopping. Padua hosts some of Italy’s most important historical treasures. 

See the Famous Padua Anatomical Theatre

The University of Padua was founded in 1222 and lays claim to Galileo among its many noteworthy tutors. It is also the home of the first and one of the most beautiful anatomical theatres in the world.

The beautifully preserved six-tier, wooden anatomy theatre was carved entirely from walnut in the 16th century. It is said students were serenaded by live lute music to calm their nerves as they watched cadavers being dissected.

The Basilica of Saint Anthony

Padua is also an important place of pilgrimage. The Basilica of Saint Anthony or “il Santo” was built in 1232 to enshrine the tomb of the Franciscan monk.

The magnificent church is not just the burial place of one of the world’s most revered saints; it is one of the most popular sacred monuments in the world. Many make the pilgrimage to witness the relics of Saint Anthony and to place a hand on his tomb.

Basilica di Santa Giustina and the Scrovegni Chapel

Then for some contrast, visit the Basilica di Santa Giustina and the tomb of Luke the Evangelist. An imposing church although quite modest in comparison.

Then head to the Scrovegni Chapel to witness Giotto’s frescoes. Completed around 1305, the frescoes are considered one of the most important pieces of art in Italy and the western world.

Getting to Padua

• Padua is only 42 kms inland from Venice.
• Regular train services leave from Venice.
• Expect travel times of 25 mins.  See train timetables and prices here

A Final Evening in Venice

As Padua is so close to Venice, it is possible to enjoy the best of this beautiful town and be back in Venice to appreciate the ebbing tide of tourists.

Take time to stroll the streets one last time then, settle in for an apertivo and watch the sun go down on one of the world’s most romantic cities. Five days in Venice might not be enough.