48 Hours in Venice: What I Would Do, See, and Eat

If you only have 48 hours in Venice, don’t stress. You can see so much of the city, eat incredibly well, and experience the magic of the canals.

Here’s exactly how I would spend two days in Venice, including gluten free finds, kosher food options, and a few spots that are absolutely worth the crowds.

What To See and Do in Venice

Take a Free Walking Tour of the Jewish Ghetto

Starting our trip with a walking tour of the Jewish Ghetto was one of the best decisions we made. It gave us so much context and history before wandering through the rest of Venice. There are several tour options depending on the season and the days you’re visiting, especially on platforms like FreeTour and GuruWalk.

The Venetian Ghetto itself is worth exploring even without a tour. It’s one of the most historic Jewish areas in Europe and has some really cute shops and galleries. 

The Jewish Ghetto is located in Cannaregio and centered around Campo del Ghetto Nuovo. You can learn more through the official Venice Jewish community website here: Ghetto Venezia 

Don’t Skip the Gondola Ride

Yes, it’s touristy. Yes, it’s expensive. I still think you should do it.

There’s something about seeing Venice from the water that completely changes the experience. The tiny canals, the quiet corners, the old buildings right against the water. It honestly felt magical and I would absolutely do it again. The prices are set and standardized and if you are just two and want to keep costs down you can ask others waiting in line for a ride if they’d like to share a boat as the boats fit up to 5 people. 

Murano and Burano

We skipped Murano and Burano because we were exhausted by the end of the trip, but if I went back I would 100% make time for them. Murano is famous for glassmaking and Burano is known for its colorful houses and lace shops. Everyone we spoke to said they were worth visiting and were their favorite part of visiting Venice. 

Rialto Bridge

The view is beautiful, but prepare yourself because it gets PACKED.

If you want photos without shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, get there early. Like really early. Venice in the morning before everyone wakes up feels like a completely different city.

Piazza San Marco

Another Venice classic that you really can’t skip. It’s busy almost all the time, but it’s stunning in person.

While you’re there, stop into Caffè Florian, one of the oldest coffee houses in the world. Even just grabbing a coffee or drink inside is worth it for the atmosphere alone.

Address: Piazza San Marco 57, 30124 Venezia
Website: Caffè Florian 

Catch Sunset From a Bridge

One of my favorite moments in Venice was watching sunset from the bridge near the edge of the Jewish Ghetto, just to the right of BaGhetto. It had a completely open view of the sky and water and I could see planes on their way to and from the airport.

That said, Venice is one of those cities where you can accidentally stumble into the perfect sunset spot almost anywhere.

Libreria Acqua Alta

If you love books, this place is a must.

It’s quirky, crowded, chaotic, and probably one of the most difficult bookshops to actually shop at in the world. Books are stacked in gondolas, bathtubs, and basically every corner imaginable because of Venice’s flooding. There’s also a staircase made of books overlooking the canal. It will be hard to browse the books due to the number of people in the store, but it is absolutely worth a visit and hits all the tourist lists for a reason.

Address: Calle Longa Santa Maria Formosa 5176b, 30122 Venezia
Website: Libreria Acqua Alta