Our Venice 4 Days Travel Plan on a Budget starts with the plane landing at Treviso airport at 2.00 pm, eating some pizza slices while preparing for airport transfer, and then a vaporetto tour to St. Mark’s square.
Day 1: Arrival in Venice and Grand Canal Travel
Airport Arrival and Hotel Check-in
Airport transfer by ATVO express bus – 70 minutes – Piazzale Roma – first go get the Venetia Unica vouchers and Rolling Venice cards from the Venetia Unica office. Then arrive at Hotel Airone around 3.30 pm.
Exploring Santa Croce and Rialto Bridge
At 4.15 pm at the latest – take a walk to the Rialto Bridge through Santa Croce to San Polo sestiere.
! Keep in mind that in Venice restaurants are closed until 6 – 7 pm the, so you can have some slices of pizza at Antico Forno (3 – 4 euros a slice) or, if you don’t want pizza, try the Café del Doge place (10% discount with the Rolling Venice cards). Both places are in the San Polo side of the Rialto Bridge.
Dinner Options and Evening Stroll
Cross the Rialto Bridge and then return on the same path to Santa Croce; or, if not eating in the San Polo side of the Rialto Bridge, cross the Rialto Bridge and then go forward on Strada Nova until finally reaching the McDonalds in sestiere Cannaregio (prices from 4 euros).
Vaporetto Ride and Nighttime Venice Views
At 6 pm at the latest – return to Ferrovia Santa Lucia: there are 2 options: 1. through sestieri San Polo and Santa Croce and then crossing the Scalzi Bridge; 2. through Cannaregio, going all the way through Strada Nova until arriving at the Ponte delle Guglie – Campo San Geremia – and finally arriving at the Ferrovia.
Then, from the Ferrovia walk to the Constitution Bridge, cross it and arrive in Piazzale Roma.
Take ACTV No. 1 vaporetto and go on a full tour of the Grand Canal: Piazzale Roma – San Marco (San Zaccaria stop). The tour takes approximately 1 hour – 7 pm. It is better to get on the vaporetto from Piazzale Roma and not from Ferrovia stop, because at Piazzale Roma is the beginning of Line No. 1 and you can get some seats in the open-air area in the back of the boat, in order to better see the itinerary and all the touristic sights.
Evening in St. Mark’s Square and Vaporetto No. 2 Tour Back to Santa Croce
Stroll on Riva degli Schiavoni, the famous promenade, and also visit the Piazzetta and St. Mark’s Square.
Around 8/8.30 pm – return to Ferrovia Santa Lucia by Vaporetto No. 2, which goes from San Zaccaria, through Giudecca Canal, to Piazzale Roma, and afterwards walk to Ferrovia from there. Vaporetto No. 2 takes approximately 30 minutes, so you will arrive around 9/9.30 pm.
Cross the Ponte dei Scalzi and walk till San Stae vaporetto stop, so you can see Ca’ Vendramin Calergi (Casino) across the Grand Canal; there takes place the official ball and dinner of the Venice Carnival, which starts at 9 pm.
Then cross the Grand Canal by taking the vaporetto no. 1 for 1 stop, so get off at Ca’ d’Oro stop. From there go on Strada Nova in the direction of the Ferrovia. AMcDonalds restaurant is near Ca’ d’Oro stop, and near McDonalds you can also find Trattoria Ca’ d’Oro alla Vedova (but it closes at 10.15 pm).
Or you can go on Strada Nova in the direction of San Marco until the street ends and there you can find Osteria Ai Promessi Sposi (also closes at 10.15 pm). Or close to Osteria Ai Promessi Sposi you can also find Pizzeria Perla – just across the street from Venice Cinema Giorgione (I don’t know if Pizzeria Perla would still be open, because I couldn’t find the schedule). Pizza costs between 6 and 12 euros, coberto is 1 euro + 10% service.
Travel Budget for Day 1
- Airport transfer round trip: 44 euros for 2 persons
- Hotel charge: 16 euros
- Meal: 10 – 15 euros for both
- Dinner: max. 20 euros for both
Total travel budget: approx. 100 euros
Day 2: Venice Landmarks
Hotel Airone – breakfast (available between 8 and 10 am) around 8.00 – 8.30 am/ 8.30 – 9.00 am.
Morning at Rialto Market and by the Rialto Bridge
9.00 – 9.30 am – walk towards Rialto Market (the market is opened between 6.00 and 11.00 am/1.00 pm the latest), visit the fish and vegetables market, then cross the Grand Canal in a traghetto from Santa Sofia to Ca’ D’ Oro, and then continue walking towards St. Mark’s Square: Rialto Bridge – Campo San Bartolomio – Mercerie Streets, found on Google Maps under the following names: Marzarieta 2 Aprile (where you can find Da Mamo restaurant),Marzaria del Capitello, Marzaria San Zulian – and finally arrive at the Torre dell’Orologio (St. Mark’s Clock Tower), around 10:00 am/10:30 am.
Exploring St. Mark’s Square and Attractions
Visit the Campanile (St. Mark’s Bell Tower), open between 9.30 am – 4.45 pm; it costs 16 euros for 2 persons.
Moreover, take a look (and also take pictures) of Caffe Quadri, Caffe Florian, the statues in St. Mark’s Square and the Piazzetta: the Lion in Piazzetta dei Leoncini, near Basilica San Marco, the Horses of Saint Mark, placed on the Basilica, the Tetrarchs (Monumento ai Tetrarchi), on the side of the Basilica di San Marco, towards Palazzo Ducale, Porta della Carta, the door between the Basilica and Doge’s Palace, and also of Colonne di San Marco e San Teodoro – in the Piazzetta.
Visit the Correr Museum + Procuratie Nuove (ex Palazzo Reale) + Venice National Archaeological Museum + Monumental Rooms of Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana tour, included in the price of Museum Pass + Rolling Venice Card; the tour takes around an hour and a half, so by around 12.00 pm the tour will end.
Also you must visit Basilica San Marco and the roof (illuminated between 11.30 am – 12.45 am). In order to skip the line, leave a bag at Ateneo San Basso (a former church) situated on the corner from the main entrance to Basilica San Marco on Calle San Basso. Consider visiting Pala d’Oro for 4 euros for 2 persons.
Lunch: Pako’s Pizza & Pasta – opened non-stop; 25% discount the Rolling Venice card, close to the Clock Tower. A slice of pizza costs 5 – 7 euros, so a meal for two in Venice St. Mark’s square can cost 10 – 15 euros.
Afterwards, go on Ponte dela Cannonica from where you can see the Bridge of Sighs.
Afternoon at Doge’s Palace and San Giorgio Maggiore Island
Between 2.30 pm – 4.00 pm – tour the Doge’s Palace – included in the price of Museum Pass + Rolling Venice Card.
4.00 pm – walk around in Piazzetta San Marco, cross the Ponte della Paglia from where you can see the Bridge of Sighs. Stroll on the famous promenade Riva degli Schiavoni.
Take the vaporetto No. 2 from S. Zaccaria stop and arrive on San Giorgio Maggiore Island. Visit the island and San Giorgio Maggiore Church and the Campanile. Take panoramic pictures of San Mark’s square.
Get back on Riva degli Schiavoni, visit the Royal Gardens (Giardini Reali) – if open.
Evening in Dorsoduro and Santa Margherita
6.00 pm – 7.00 pm – take vaporetto No. 1 and get off at Ca’ Rezzonico stop, and then turn right on Fondamenta Alberti, go on Ponte dei Pugni and then go right on Rio Tera Canal and you can find Osteria Ai Pugni, where you can have cicchetti, or go left on Rio Tera Canal and you can find Gelateria Il Doge where you can have ice cream for 1.5 euro a cup.
In this area you will find Campo Santa Margherita, a place in Venice where you can have street food all night, for example at Pizza al Volo – 2 euros a slice, or at 5 euro you can have 2 slices of pizza and a bottle of water; or who says you can’t have a kebab when in Venice? Try a kebab at Marina Kebab. From there, go back to Ca’ Rezzonico vaporetto stop and take the vaporetto to Rialto or Ferrovia, or just walk to Hotel Airone.
Travel Budget for Day 2
- Traghetto cross: 4 euros 2 persons
- Entrance tickets for 2 to go up the Campanile: 16 euros.
- Check in a baggage at Ateneo San Baso, to get a skip the line ticket to visit Basilica San Marco: I don’t know the price, but it can’t be much.
- Pala d’ Oro entrance tickets for 2: 4 euros.
- Lunch for 2: 10 – 15 euros.
- Entrance tickets to Campanile San Giorgio Maggiore: I don’t know the price, but it must be cheaper than the entrance tickets to St. Mark’s Campanile.
- Have some cicchetti: maximum 10 euros for both 2.
- Ice cream for 2: max. 5 euros
- Fast – food: 5 – 10 euros for 2.
Total travel budget: approx. 65 – 75 euros
Day 3: Travel from Venice to Murano and Burano Islands
Hotel Airone – breakfast 8.00 – 9.00 am.
Travel from Venice to Murano
Ferrovia vaporetto stop – take Circolare No. 3 diretto Murano. The trip will take 30 minutes. You will pass through the Cannaregio Canal, underneath the Tre Archi bridge, and then pass by the Isola San Michele (Cemeterio).
At 10.00 am the latest – arrive at Murano, Colonna stop. Go on Fondamenta dei Vetrai, find an open glass factory or workshop where you can assist to a glass blowing demonstration, which would take about 10 minutes. Glass factories/workshops are opened till lunch time.
Around 10.30 am – arrive at Basiliaca St. Pietro Martire, in Campo San Stefano. There you can also see Cometa di Vetro and Torre dell’ Orologio.
11.00 am – arrive in the center of Murano. Cross Ponte Longo, go right on Riva Longa and arrive at the Glass Museum – Museo del Vetro, within Palazzo Giustinian. Visit the museum – included in the price of Museum Pass + Rolling Venice Card.
Buy some souvenirs from shops in this area. Shops are opened till around 12.30 am. Glass beads or candy shaped glass souvenirs are the best.
Go further on Fondamenta Giustinian, and at 12.00 am/12.30 am – arrive in Campo San Donato where you can see Basilica S. Maria e Donato.
Then go back on Fondamenta Giustinian and on Riva Longa where you can find an Incoop Supermarket and by some food and drinks.
Go back to Campo S. Stefano, go on Fondamenta Manin and turn left on Calle Bressagio before Ponte del Mezzo. Then go on Calle Bressagio until you can see the lagoon. There you can find Faro di Murano and Faro vaporetto stop.
Afternoon in Burano
Finally arrive at Faro stop at 1.30 pm the latest. Take Line 12 to Burano. The trip takes 40 minutes.
At 2.00 pm the latest arrive at Burano.
Once you get off the vaporetto, you can see Mazzorbo island and the long wooden bridge that connects Burano and Mazzorbo.
From the Burano vaporetto stop go on Via San Mauro, you will get to a canal, turn left and go on Fondamenta San Mauro till you get to a crossroads, there cross the bridge and get on Via Baldassarre Galuppi and arrive in Piazza Baldassarre Galuppi at around 2.30 pm/2.45 pm. Visit the Lace Museum (Museo del Merletto) – included in the price of Museum Pass + Rolling Venice Card.
Around 3.00 pm see Duomo di San Martino and Oratorio di Santa Barbara. In this area you can find souvenir shops, pastries and restaurants. You can have lunch and try some bussolai – typical donuts from Burano.
Travel from Burano to Venice and Dinner Options
At 4.00 pm the latest go back to the vaporetto stop and take Line 12 to Venice, Fondamente Nove stop. The trip will last an hour.
5.00 pm – arrive at Fondamente Nove. Take Circolare 4.1 to San Zaccaria stop and then arrive in St. Mark’s square, or just walk the streets of sestiere Castello to St. Mark’s square.
Buy souvenirs – postcards from the postcard shop at St. Mark’s Basilica.
At 6.00 pm the latest – from St. Mark’s square, from Caffe Florian to the left, follow the yellow signs and go on Calle Larga XXII Marzo towards Accademia, go forward, arrive in Campo San Stefano and then go forward till arrive at the Accademia Bridge.
Dinner around 6.30 pm. You can eat by the Accademia Bridge at Cantione Gia Schiavi – have some cicchetti or 2 panini and 2 glasses of wine at 10 euros. Then from Accademia Bridge take vaporetto No. 1 to Rialto. Or you can eat near Rialto at Da Mamo – open 7.00 pm – 10.00 pm, pizza at 12 euros, 10% discount with the Rolling Venice card.
Another option is Devil Forest Pub, near Da Mamo. It is open until 1.00 am, and you can have burgers, without paying coberto and have free wifi. Or have some typical Venetian cicchetti at Cantina Do Mori, near Rialto Market, open until 7.30 pm. Casanova frequented this place.
Also, you can stroll around the Rialto Pescaria and then walk to the hotel or take the vaporetto.
If still hungry, you can have something to eat at Burger King, opened till midnight. There are menus at 4 euros per person.
Travel Budget for Day 3
- Meals in Murano and Burano: 10 – 15 euros for 2 people.
- Souvenirs from Murano, St. Mark’s Square or Rialto area: 15 – 20 euros.
- Dinner for 2: 20 euros.
Total travel budget: approx. 55 euros
Day 4: Venice Travel Hidden Gems and Cultural Sites
Hotel Airone – breakfast 8.00 am – 9.00 am.
Morning Museums
Visit Fontego dei Turchi (Natural History Museum) – 9.30 am/9.45 am – included in the price of Museum Pass + Rolling Venice Card.
Visit Palazzo Mocenigo – open from 10.00 am – included in the price of Museum Pass + Rolling Venice Card.
Walk towards Carampane area, see Ponte delle Tette.
Midday at Rialto and Dorsoduro
Then walk to Rialto Market and cross the Rialto Bridge. Continue on Grand Canal’s shore on Riva de Ferro till Palazzo Cavalli boat stop and then walk on Calle Cavalli and find Scala del Bovolo (Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo).
Then go back to Rialto Bridge and can have a meal in the area of Rialto Market.
At 12.00 am/1.00 pm take vaporetto No. 1 and get off at Ca’ Rezzonico stop. Pass by Ca’ Foscari university. Visit Ca’ Rezzonico Museum – it takes maximum an hour. The museum is open until 4.00 pm – included in the price of Museum Pass + Rolling Venice Card.
Afterwards, have lunch in Dorsoduro. Take vaporetto No.1 from Ca’ Rezzonico to Accademia. Eat at Taverna San Trovaso – from Accademia stop to the right till the end of the street and then left on Fondamenta Piruli. The restaurant is open for lunch between 12.00 am – 3.00 pm. You can have pizza, Venice famous tiramisu, at around 10 – 20 euros for 2. Or you can also eat at Cantione Gia Schiavi – 10 euros for 2.
Walk along the canal, pass by San Trovaso church and then find the Squero di San Trovaso – a workshop where you can see how gondolas are made.
Travel to Salute and the Venice Arsenal
Walk back to Accademia and take vaporetto 1 to Salute stop. Pass by Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Ca’ Dario Palace, and Gritti Palace and Club del Doge, across the Grand Canal.
Visit Santa Maria della Salute church – free of charge, I think.
See Dogana di Mare (Punta della Dogana).
Take vaporetto 1 from Salute stop and get off at Arsenale stop. From there go right and walk on Riva S. Biasio, cross a bridge over a canal and then go left on Fondamenta Arsenale.
There you can find Arsenale din Venezia, closed for public, and Museo Storico Navale – it is closed for visiting, but you can still visit Padiglione della Navi, located on Fondamenta Arsenale. It is open until 5.00 pm. You can also buy discounted entrance tickets by having the Rolling Venice cards, the discounted price for 2 would be 7 euros.
Then go back on Riva S. Biasio and go right and then continue on Riva degli Schiavoni and reach Piazzetta San Marco from where you can take vaporetto No. 1 to Ferrovia stop. You have to return to Santa Croce sestiere before 5.00 pm/6.00 pm when the Venezia Unica 3 days tickets will expire.
Evening in the Jewish Ghetto
From the Ferrovia go left on Rio Tera Lista di Spagna, cross Ponte delle Guglie and then pass through the rectangular arcade near Gam Gam Kosher restaurant and finally arrive in the Jewish Ghetto. Ghetto Vecchio is the first you will pass through. Then keep walking forward on Calle Ghetto Vecchio and you will finally arrive in Campo di Ghetto Nuovo.
Then go back and you can have dinner at Gam Gam Kosher. Take away is also available. You can also buy something for later in the hotel room. Dinner would cost around 20 – 30 euros for 2.
Travel Budget for Day 4
- Lunch or 2 snacks: 30 euros for 2 people.
- Entrance tickets to the Naval Museum: 7 euros.
- Dinner for 2: 20 – 30 euros.
Total travel budget: approx. 60 – 70 euros
Venice Travel – Departure Day
Hotel Airone – breakfast 8.00 am – 9.00 am.
A little stroll through the neighborhood.
Check out at 10.00 am/10.30 am.
Not sure at what time the buses for Treviso leave. So, go early to Piazzale Roma. Take the ATVO express bus to Treviso airport – 70 minutes.
Plane takes off at 3.00 pm.
Pizza in Venice – Travel on a Budget
Venice can be expensive, but pizza is one of the best cheap-food options in the city. Choosing pizza al taglio (sold by the slice) or takeaway shops can keep your food costs very low.
Why it’s a good budget choice while in Venice: Pizza by the slice usually costs only a few euros.
Takeaway shops avoid extra restaurant fees like coperto (table charge).
Supermarkets also sell cheap focaccia, sandwiches, and ready-made pizza.
Venice 4 Days Travel Budget
The total travel budget for 4 full days in Venice would be approximately 300 euros for 2 persons.
Read On
Make sure to check out our Our Venice Carnival Italy Visit – Day 1 to continue exploring — from hidden corners to grand vistas, there’s much more to discover. You can find all our posts about Venice on this page. Also, for more inspiration and practical tips on visiting Italy, grab our maps and travel guides and head over to our Italy Travel Hub and Italy Bucket List — your starting point for all things Italian! Are you looking to expand your itinerary? Don’t miss our posts on Milan, Bergamo and Lake Como!
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