2-Day Venice Carnival Itinerary

Arrival day

Before Day 1. Carnevale ends on Shrove Tuesday, so its dates follow Easter. Check the program for your year and book early.Details

The date rule: Carnevale runs about two weeks and ends on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, so it falls between late January and early March, depending on Easter. These three days are the closing weekend: Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Add the Tuesday if you can, for the last day.
Getting in: Venice has no cars. Arrive by train, by a flight to Venice or nearby Treviso, or by bus, then walk or take the water bus. On the closing weekend the water bus can be full and some streets are one way. Book rooms very early, and check ahead for any rule for day visitors.
Being a good guest: Costumes are a tradition, and some people spend weeks on one. Ask before taking a photo, do not touch a mask or a hem, and do not block a bridge for a picture. If you wear a mask, keep your eyes open in a crowd, and take it off in a church or a shop.
Cold, then Day 1: February is cold and damp, often foggy, with slippery stone and wet steps. Wear layers and boots with a good grip. Keep valuables close in a crowd, keep a quiet lane in mind for when a square fills up, and drink water. Day 1 begins on the quiet side, along the canals.

Day 1. Cannaregio and the Rialto and San Marco and the waterfront

4 stops · 2.3 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1
MorningGo at first light
Piazza San Marco
The great square, ringed by arcades and the basilica. Go at first light, when the stone is empty and the first costumed figures appear. Later on Sunday it fills, stages go up, streets near it may be closed or one way, and the program changes each year, so check ahead.
Go when First light on the Sunday, long before the stages fill.
Local tip Costumed figures pose here, and many are happy to be photographed if you ask. Leave before late morning, when it is packed, and follow any one-way signs or barriers.
Photo: Matthias Süßen, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 15 min walk1.2 km
2
MorningWorth a short stop
Fondamenta della Misericordia
A broad walk beside a straight canal in Cannaregio, with old warehouses, small bars and few visitors. A calm start to a busy weekend, and a good place to watch costumed families heading toward the center.
Go when Morning, on the way into the center, before the day gets going.
Local tip Walk the whole length along the water, then turn back. Cannaregio is a home neighborhood, so keep your voice low and give people room to pass.
Lunch
Cicchetti
Cicchetti are small bites, bread with creamed cod, a slice of ham or a fried olive, eaten standing at a bacaro, a Venetian wine bar. A few of them make a light lunch.
Local tip Point at what you like and order a few at a time. Ask what each contains if you have an allergy.
Photo: Benreis, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 9 min walk0.8 km
3
MiddayWorth a short stop
Santa Maria dei Miracoli
A small marble church beside a canal, faced in pale stone and often called the jewel box of Venice. Look at the outside and the bridge in front. Check ahead if you want to go in, since lines may form on a busy weekend.
Go when Midday, as a pause between canals.
Local tip The outside is the best part, so you can enjoy it from the bridge. Cover your shoulders and knees if you go in, and check ahead for entry on a busy weekend.
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 4 min walk0.3 km
4
EveningCrowded, plan ahead
Rialto Bridge
The old stone arch over the Grand Canal, lined with small shops, and the market streets behind it. At dusk on the closing weekend it is crowded, so look from the quayside or step in and out quickly rather than stopping on the bridge.
Go when Early evening, before the crowd thickens, or at first light.
Local tip Do not stop dead in the middle of the bridge, because people behind you cannot pass. Look down the canal from the quayside instead, and keep a hand on your bag.
Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Dinner
Sarde in saor
Fried sardines, sweet and sour, with soft onions, raisins and pine nuts, a classic Venetian dish eaten cold or at room temperature. Small family places near the Rialto have it on the menu.
Local tip It is a fish dish with nuts, so tell the staff about any fish or nut allergy first.

If it rains. Santa Maria dei Miracoli is covered, so keep it. Move Piazza San Marco, Fondamenta della Misericordia and Rialto Bridge to a dry day if you can.

Day 2. Dorsoduro and the Zattere and San Polo and the Grand Canal

4 stops · 1.3 km

Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.

1
MiddayWorth the time
Grand Canal
The main street of Venice, an S-shaped canal lined with palaces. On a closing weekend the water bus is packed, so ride early or walk beside the water in sections. A traghetto, a standing gondola crossing, is a short way to see it from the water.
Go when Early morning, or for a short crossing at midday.
Local tip The water bus may be crowded and full on the closing weekend. Walk beside the water in sections, or take a traghetto for a short crossing, and check ahead for the water bus.
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 7 min walk0.5 km
2
AfternoonWorth the time
Santa Maria della Salute
The great white domed church at the mouth of the Grand Canal, built as a thank-you for the end of a plague. Walk the steps outside for the view back to the square, then step in to the round, cool interior when services allow.
Go when Afternoon, when the light turns soft on the dome.
Local tip Climb the steps outside for the view over the water to the square. If you go in, keep your voice low and cover your shoulders and knees.
Photo: This Photo was taken by W…, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Lunch
Bigoli in salsa
Thick, rough whole-wheat pasta in a sauce of onion and anchovy, an old Venetian dish made without meat, a good choice before Lent. A plate of it is filling, and many places around the square serve it.
Local tip The sauce is made with anchovy, so tell the staff about any fish allergy. It is meat-free.
About 6 min walk0.5 km
3
AfternoonPick your rooms
Gallerie dell'Accademia
The main gallery of Venetian painting, set in a former convent beside the Grand Canal. Choose a few rooms instead of all of them, and check ahead for entry and for the Monday opening.
Go when Afternoon, with a ticket booked ahead if you can.
Local tip Choose three or four rooms and take your time. Look for the big paintings of Venetian life and the saints. Check ahead for entry on a Monday.
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons
About 4 min walk0.3 km
4
EveningA calm evening walk
Zattere
A wide, open promenade along the Giudecca Canal, where Venetians stroll as the day ends. A calm place to leave the crowds behind, with the island of the Giudecca just across the water. Walk west as the lights come on.
Go when Late afternoon, around sunset (about 5:37 PM).
Local tip Walk west along the water and watch the light change over the Giudecca. Fog can hide the far shore, so wrap up warm and watch the wet stone at the edge.
Dinner
Seafood risotto
Rice cooked with the day's fish from the lagoon, stirred until creamy and often served soupy. Many small places in Dorsoduro make it. A comforting end to a long cold day.
Local tip It takes time to cook, so allow for it. Tell the staff about any shellfish or fish allergy.

If it rains. Santa Maria della Salute and Gallerie dell'Accademia are covered, so keep them. Move Grand Canal and Zattere to a dry day if you can.

Departure day

After the last day. Shrove Tuesday is the closing day of Carnevale, and then Lent begins and the city grows quiet.Details

Check-out: Pack the evening before. Ask your hotel to hold your bags if your departure is later, so you can walk the last lanes with your hands free, and so you are not caught on a bridge with a case.
To the airport: The airport and the main train station are across the lagoon or on the edge of the city. The water bus and the shuttle bus can be crowded after the closing day, so check the schedule the night before and leave extra time for steps and bridges.
If you have a few hours: If Tuesday is free, it is the final day of Carnevale, with the great square at its busiest in the afternoon. Otherwise have a last coffee standing at a bar, then walk the quiet canals before the day visitors arrive.

Questions people ask

When is the best time to visit Venice?

By average weather from 2021 to 2025, April, June and September to October are the most comfortable months for walking around Venice. This plan is built for early February, which is a good month. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.

How many days does this plan cover?

It covers 2 days in Venice, planned for early February. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.

Who is this plan for?

It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.

Is anything on this plan booked?

No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.

Can I plan my own days like this?

Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.

Can I change this plan?

Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.

How much walking is there?

Each day has about 1.3 to 2.3 kilometers between its stops, and 3.6 kilometers in all across 2 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.