To the point
The City of the Doges is a must-see on any trip to Europe. Reward yourself with points and take a trip to Venice!
When I hear the name Venice, it immediately springs to mind: serenade, romance, history, architecture or the city of secrets. Venice continues to enchant and inspire over the years.
Here are our ideas for activities in Venice!
Venice - Its history
The birth of the City of the Doges dates back to the early5th century. It was built gradually with the maritime traffic on the Adriatic, the obligatory passage for merchants from the East and the West.
Independent, powerful and intriguing, the Serenissima, as it’s also known, developed its own internal politics, led by the Doges or Dukes, hence the Doge’s Palace. It was weakened by various historical crises and invasions, before finally joining the Kingdom of Italy.
Over time, during the Renaissance, Venice charmed many artists, painters and architects, allowing it to become a culturally active city. Many noble families lived there, some in beautiful mansions and others in numerous palaces.
Receptions and banquets were commonplace, as were cultural outings to the theater, public festivals and the carnival, which lasted six months of the year. The Venetians loved to celebrate and always found an opportunity to do so.
Take time to admire the world-famous La Fenice theater. Does carnival intrigue you? Discover its origins on this tour.
The party was a means of social cohesion, allowing to forget the daily worries (that’s why we still party today!). This led to the development of a new market for costumes and masks, which in turn led to the development of acting.
How about a luxury cabaret dinner show at Avanspettacolo or a visit to one of Europe’s most important modern art exhibitions, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Venice - Recommended activities
The City of the Doges will seduce you with its cultural offerings. Its monuments. Its shops and its atmosphere. It can be discovered easily on foot or by boat or gondola along the canals. A pleasant, soothing tranquility along the water’s edge.
Coming here is like stepping back in time as the gothic architecture has remained in time with Byzantine and Islamic inspiration in its colourful facades and patterns.
A guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica Museum and the Doge’s Palace is not to be missed.
For a first glimpse of the city, nothing beats a ride on the Vaporetto, along the Grand Canal. That’s how we reached our hotel before strolling through its narrow but inviting streets.
During your stay, you will find that you often sail between the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square. A good way to organize your visits. Walk around each of these two points.
Go to the globally famous St. Mark’s Square and admire the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Campanile. Stroll along the Piazzetta quay and take a break (or even have a picnic) in the Royal Gardens!
A free two-hour walking tour of the main monuments is ideal.
Go window shopping in the alleys. Why not take home a traditional souvenir, such as a Venetian mask? There is also a course in Venetian mask decoration.
As well as souvenirs, the City of the Doges also boasts some fine fashion boutiques: from small manufacturers to luxury outlets, there’s something for everyone. For my part, I fell in love with a small jewelry shop, Il Baule D’Oriente.
Or simply get lost, wander where the bridges will take you. Make it a game! You’ll see that it’s not so easy to get where you want to go without a map: bridges are often tricky, but that’s how you get to know the city!
One of the most popular activities is of course the gondola ride. Each gondola is unique as it is handmade and painted and then decorated. A walk along the water’s edge that appealed to us, whether as a romantic getaway, a family outing like ours, or a get-together with friends!
It’s also an opportunity to learn more about the city, its history, its monuments and its issues by asking your boatman!
Lovers will be tempted by a sunset dinner cruise on a Venetian galleon, or a private guided tour of Venice.
As our boatman told us, the city boasts over 400 bridges, the most famous of which are the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs, a closed bridge that prisoners used to sigh across on their way to their cells after being sentenced in the Doge’s Palace.
The city has more than 120 churches. Some are not to be missed: a concert of the Four Seasons in Vivaldi’s church is pure enchantment.
It’s quite an experience to enter these places, to feel the soul of these monuments that have stood the test of time. A perfect place to take a break on a hot summer’s day!
There are several islands around Venice to visit, including Murano, world-famous for its glassmaking expertise.
Murano’s glassblowers use a technique that’s unique to them, an art to be discovered on a private tour.
Another island to see if you have more time is Burano. A town known for its colorful facades and lace-making expertise.
Discover it and San Francesco del Deserto on a tour that includes a boat trip.
Watching the sunrise is another moment worth taking, relaxing, in silence, listening to the birds. The place will be all yours.
Enjoy a coffee at the counter in the alleys of Venice with a good pastry. It’s always a good way to start the day; we loved the Pasticceria Bonifacio.
If you have more time, have breakfast on a terrace. I recommend the one at Rialto, where you can watch the comings and goings of boats, vaporettos, tourists and deliverymen. A pleasure to live with!
This will give you a better understanding of the local daily life, with the setting up of the Rialto market for example, the cleaning of the streets, the deliveries of goods by boat or the sportsmen who run in the deserted streets.
To end your visit strong, don’t miss the sunset on St. Mark’s Square, which is adorned with shimmering colours. You’ll be amazed by the atmosphere!
For an even more delightful sunset, take a seat on a perched hotel terrace like the one at Danieli, a Luxury Collection Hotel , or enjoy one of Serenissima’s many canal-side or piazza-side restaurants.
The atmosphere changes in the evening, the terraces and bars fill up. It was the opportunity for us to test several nice terraces to have a drink including the one of The Gritti Palace, The Luxury Collection. It offers a magnificent view of the canal, a small luxury that leaves a memorable impression.
As Venice is very busy with tourists in general, the shopkeepers have adapted. You can easily find businesses that openly accept American Express credit cards.
A very good point for all the holders of these cards and the Milesopédiens who follow us! For example, you can use your American Express CobaltMD Card in many restaurants and bars to earn 5 points per dollar.
And if you want to go for a swim, you can! The nearest beach, Lido, is about 45 minutes away. The sand is fine and golden.
Gas & Transit
Every visitor “crosses” the Freedom Bridge or Ponte della Libertà, whether coming by train (railway line parallel to the bridge leading to Santa Lucia station), by car (parking lots at its exit on the Piazzale Roma), or by air (Treviso airport or Marco Polo airport with onward train service).
From here, board an Actv vaporetto on line 2 which will sail, for example, through the Grand Canal to the Rialto Bridge (pier F) or through Giudecca to St. Mark’s Square or S.Marco (pier G).
Venice has taken steps to protect its heritage and environment from mass tourism. In addition to ships of around 200 passengers, large cruise ships are not allowed in the lagoon, and have been banned from docking in Venice since 2021.
You can buy your bus and navigation tickets on site at one of the automatic ticketing machines or at the counter, or buy them online.
You can find all the information on this subject on the Venezia Unica website.
Finally, if you want to fly to Venice, use your Aeroplan points. According to Air Canada’s points predictor, a minimum of 35,000 points is required for a one-way economy flight from Montreal.
Venice - Book your accommodation or hotel with points
To discover Venice, Airbnb rentals remain a good solution. You will be able to discover the city from a different angle, like a local. Thanks to credit card points, you can save a lot of money.
Otherwise, turn to hotels. We tried two hotels in the Marriott chain:
Prices are quite high, so it’s worth using Marriott Bonvoy points. There are two Marriott Bonvoy credit cards that allow you to quickly earn Marriott Bonvoy points. Thanks to these cards, you can enjoy several free nights.
We also recommend that you travel with the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite* Card, which has no foreign currency conversion fees and offers excellent travel and purchase insurance.
In fact, Milesopedia voted this card the Best No Conversion Fee Credit Card of 2024.
Bottom Line
If you are coming to Venice for a weekend, you will need to get organized and know your priorities. You won’t be able to see everything in three days. Enjoy your visit!
What's the best time of year to visit Venice?
Venice is a city in Italy with cold, wet winters and hot, heavy summers. To visit, go from spring to autumn, avoiding midsummer.
How long will it take to visit Venice, Italy?
The city boasts over 400 bridges, the most famous of which are the Rialto and Sighs bridges. It will take several days to see the city’s main attractions.
How to visit Venice in three days?
For a short stay, it’s best to concentrate on the main activities, including St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Campanile, the Bridge of Sighs and the Rialto Bridge, as well as the islands in the lagoon.
Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
