First time in Venice for 2 1/2 days.

My only tip is to look for the directions painted on the corner of most buildings in Venice showing your way to "San Marco", "Rialto" or "Ferrovia" (train station). Just wander the maze, let yourself get lost every once in a while and don't have your nose pressed against your cell phone staring at Google Maps. Good luck.

We would love seeing the real Venice.

Head off in almost any direction down side streets that don't have many people. Before you know it, you'll be as close to the real Venice as you can get without living there. If you get "lost", good! Just keep wandering around and you'll "find" yourselves. Being on as island means you'll never be lost forever.

One often overlooked place you might want to check out is the Jewish Ghetto.

Ride the length of the Grand Canal by Vaporetto

Walk through the market area at Rialto, fish, vegetables, fruits,
Enjoy an expensive coffee and the music at Florian’s on Piazza San Marco - particularly nice in the evening
The Guggenheim Museum when you need a change from the Venetian Baroque style and Renaissance art - and enjoy their pleasant garden.
Get off the busy streets, explore the smaller alleys and areas quieter areas like the Jewish Ghetto
If time permits, take the Vaporetto to one of the other islands, Murano or Burano or to the Lido for beach time
Take the Vaporetto to the Giardini stop and enjoy the park like setting of the Bienniale grounds
Look for the gondola workshop in the Dorsoduro area, tours are available
Buy a Vaporetto pass you will use it a lot!
Relax and enjoy this unique city,

Check out Rick's recommendations under the At A Glance section:

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/venice

https://veneziaautentica.com/ has recommendations for an “authentic” experience.

Put away all maps & phones. Take turns being the person in front who decides at each little lane intersection which direction to go. Do this until you’re ready for a snack break at an outdoor cafe. Afterwards, pull up your phone and see where you’re sitting.

*Thank you all!* If we go to Doge's palace, the Basilica, and Bell Tower, can we tour those on our own and get "fast pass" tickets?

Thank you all!* If we go to Doge's palace, the Basilica, and Bell Tower, can we tour those on our own and get "fast pass" tickets?

If by "fast pass" you mean advance purchase timed tickets,then yes, those are available. If you don't want a tour, I'd encourage you to at least use an audio guide for the Doge's palace.

Although Piazza San Marco — home to the three major tourist attractions you're aiming to visit — is absolutely breathtaking, it’s also the most crowded spot in all of Venice, which can be frustrating. Most visitors head straight there, not realizing Venice has so much more to offer.

As others have mentioned, make time to “get lost” off the beaten path. Dorsoduro, for example, is both picturesque and rich in landmarks - a perfect area to explore more of the city's charm without the heavy crowds.

Ride vaporetto line #1 along the Grand Canal, as others have suggested - but be sure to do it after dark too, when a sense of mystery fills the air and the lit interiors of grand palaces hint at the lavish parties and intrigues that once took place within. The stretch from the San Marco basin to Rialto is particularly wow.

I really appreciate this post and everyone's suggestions! We will be in Venice for 4 nights in May, and I have tickets for St. Mark's, Doge Palace, and St. Mark's Bell Tower. But we definitely want to do "off the beaten path" stuff, too. Getting lost sounds fantastic, and I will have to make sure my husband does not turn on his phone to look at Google maps! And I am so glad we decided to stay in Dorsoduro especially since several people recommend spending time there. We won't have to go out of our way!