One long day in Venice

They are all in the same place. The order doesn’t matter. You also have time for Rialto bridge. It’s not a long walk from St. Mark’s.

Should I take the 7:30 train or the 10 pm overnighter?

I wouldn't expect to get much sleep on the overnight train.

What do you have planned for Thursday?

Arriving at 10am, you'll be in Venice exactly when everybody else is, so I am wondering if it is possible to take the night train from Rome the night before and get to Venice super early in the morning. See if there is such a train and if that idea appeals to you.

As for what to see, it depends on what you are interested in. I've now spent a total of 3 weeks in Venice and never wanted to visit the Doges palace or the Rialto bridge --- I like art, so I'd go to the Accademia and to several churches with paintings I want to see. I love riding the vaporetto, so I'd arrive at the train station and buy a one-day vaporetto pass and get on a vaporetto with outdoor seats in the front and stay on it past San Marco to a stop like Arsenale or Giardini. I'd take another vaporetto to San Giorgio Maggiore to go up in its belltower to get a better and less crowded view of Venice than from the belltower next to San Marco.

For sure, get a reservation to go into the basilica and spend some time in the square --- I really like the tops of the columns on the Doges palace, each with its own sculpted story. Then I would walk a lot and also use my vaporetto pass to get around and to cross the Grand Canal.

Other people here will give you other ideas. But try to get away from the famous places that will be crowded beyond belief.

The vaporetto app Che Bateo, and the interactive vaporetto map (https://actv.avmspa.it/sites/default/files/avm/navigazione/MAP/interattiva.html), and Google Maps are all useful.

Arriving at the train station at 10am will put you there at the same time as all the other day trippers from cruise ships. It will take you some time to get to St. Marks square from there, either walking or taking the vaporetto. I second the idea of getting a day pass for the vaporetto. Some of the best views of the city are from the water. The problem you are going to have is getting into the popular sights without a timed ticket. St Mark’s Basilica will be one that may be impossible. It is right beside the Doges Palace, and I have been in Doges twice without a timed ticket and didn’t have to wait in line, either, but I would suggest later in the afternoon. I enjoy this building for its opulence, all the grand paintings on the walls and ceiling, then contrasted with the dark, dingy dungeon and displays of arms and armour. The Correr museum is also nearby, and covers the naval history of Venice. There will be a bit of a lineup, but not as bad as other places. The Acedemia gallery is one of the best, but may be impossible without a timed ticket. I have walked up at 0830 and gone right in and the place was almost empty, but that was early in May. The Peggy Guggenheim opens at 10am, and at that time I stood in line for about 20 minutes to buy a ticket and get in. I would also suggest taking the vaporetto from St. Marks across to San Giorgio to go up the tower. Twice I’ve done it and never waited in line. If you are interested in Murano glass, you can take the vaporetto from the F. Novo stop ( on the top of the ‘fish’) and it’s only two stops from there to Murano. The most fun you will have in Venice is wandering and getting lost, so don’t worry if you can’t get into any of the big sights, just wander, go into some churches, and ride the vaporetto down the grand canal. You will love it.

The places you'd want a reservation for are likely sold out. It might be best to get a guided tour for the day to try to maximize your sightseeing. If don't have anything pressing scheduled for Thursday morning, I would stay late and take the 10pm train. That way you can enjoy a nice dinner and walk around after the other day trippers have gone back to their cruise ships.

I just tried reserving for San Marco and there were tickets available for Wednesday: https://basilicasanmarco.skiperformance.com/en/store#/en/buy?skugroup_id=2524

Choose the 10PM train!

That will give you time for dinner and a drink (wine or coffee) on Piazza San Marco, before taking a late vaporetto back to the station.

I agree, take the 10 pm train. A bellini and dinner would be my choice for the extra time in Venice. I like Murano, no reservation required. St. Mark's Basilica has a daily mass. Attending mass does not require a ticket, that's what we did on our last visit.

That 10 pm train takes 8.5 hours and makes 10 stops
I would not plan on getting any sleep
Ugh

That 10 pm train takes 8.5 hours and makes 10 stops

Right. It's an IC train versus a 'fast' one only taking 4 - 4+ hours or so. Unless one is a really heavy sleeper, I wouldn't count on being in any sort of shape for sightseeing once back in Rome. Honestly? Given this trip, even all with 'fast' trains, is going to involve abt. 9 hours of rail time in total, you might want to consider that those hours might be better spent sightseeing in Rome, or much closer to it, versus sitting on trains? That's almost the same amount of sitting time as you'd have for Venice itself!

Venice from Florence (3 hours versus 4 - 5) and back isn't a completely unreasonable day trip - although 6 total is still too many hours spent on a train for this gal - but from Rome isn't usually recommended. I would also ask how much time you've set aside for Rome itself?

Any chance you could come back to Italy in the future and 'do' Venice on a less compressed schedule?

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. Actually, it's my parents first trip to Europe and they wanted to see Venice for once, so I thought to do it even if we have just a day for it.

I didn't know the overnight train had so many stops. Thanks to Christine, Kathy and Joe for pointing that out. Decided to skip it.

So, have booked this tour for the four of us:
https://www.getyourguide.com/rome-l33/day-trip-from-rome-to-venice-with-high-speed-train-t44418

They tell me we reach Venice station at 11:30 am and we will leave Venice by 6:30 pm. This isn't a guide tour and covers just the train tickets, a one-way waterbus ticket and a tour leader (not guide) for assistance.

Now, in terms of reservations, should we reserve a private Gondola Ride like this one .. https://www.getyourguide.com/venice-l35/private-gondola-ride-up-to-6-people-t169207

Or should we buy a shared ticket? Are there any recommended providers?

Blockquote St. Mark's Basilica has a daily mass

Thanks, Julie. So, we can just get in directly? Are there published timings?

Blockquote The Peggy Guggenheim opens at 10am, and at that time I stood in line for about 20 minutes to buy a ticket and get in.

Is this worth doing in this compressed day?

Blockquote The vaporetto app Che Bateo, and the interactive vaporetto map are all useful.

Thanks, Nancy.

Blockquote Any chance you could come back to Italy in the future and 'do' Venice on a less compressed schedule?

Yes, I think we would come again, thought it might not be with parents the next time around. This trip is largely for them. :)

Reading the original post, I assumed two things. That the OP had to, had to, had to see Venice even just for a day no matter what. And that he or she is someone who can sleep no matter what. OK, three things --- that he or she is willing to do the kind of travel that our older son did once when he was 15 years old and flew from China to Minnesota, did his laundry, took a nap, and then got onto the first of three planes to come to Sicily. And he was fine.

Have a wonderful time!

They tell me we reach Venice station at 11:30 am and we will leave
Venice by 6:30 pm. This isn't a guide tour and covers just the train
tickets, a one-way waterbus ticket and a tour leader (not guide) for
assistance.

Too late now but you would have saved some money if you had booked all this yourself. Unless you can still cancel and buy your own train tickets.
That vaporetto ticket is only good for 1 ride- no hop on hop off and you will be walking back to train station or spending for another ticket (9:50 euros each now). A 24 hour pass would have allowed you to ride multiple times.
Be sure you validate that ticket before you board the vaporetto.

Now, in terms of reservations, should we reserve a private Gondola
Ride like this one ..
https://www.getyourguide.com/venice-l35/private-gondola-ride-up-to-6-people-t169207

Just go to the many many gondola stands and book that gondola ride while there and it fits your schedule. Then you are not tied to any certain time or location. You don't save any money by booking that GYG tour. It will be a private ride- just you and your parents. You can search here for average rates- it is a set rate. I think about 100 euros per gondola for a day time ride.

Holy Mass at St. Mark's is typically at 8:30 and 10 am- you won't be there. Next is 6:45 pm. You will be on your way home. If you want to visit the interior you will have to wait in line.

Get Your Guide does not operate any tours- they are a reseller.

The Peggy Guggenheim opens at 10am, and at that time I stood in line for about 20 minutes to buy a ticket and get in.

Is this worth doing in this compressed day?

Definitely not. While it's a captivating collection, there's so much more to see that’s quintessentially Venetian.

But you could walk past it, continue by the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (free entry), and head all the way to Punta della Dogana, where you'll be rewarded with a breathtaking view over the San Marco basin.

Also, try to avoid the route between the train station, Rialto, and San Marco (north of the Grand Canal) — it's extremely crowded and, frankly, a bit dull. Take instead the southern path through the picturesque Dorsoduro district instead. Along the way, peek inside Basilica dei Frari or even the Scuola Grande di San Rocco.

To top it off, return by vaporetto (Line 1) — it’s the DYI way to cruise the Grand Canal from end to end.

I assumed two things. That the OP had to, had to, had to see Venice
even just for a day no matter what. And that he or she is someone who
can sleep no matter what...

I had much the same assumption.
From the liberal use of "I", it sounded to me like the OP was a young adult making this trip themselves and not with the parents. The younger folks do tend to have impressive stretches of stamina! That it's all 3 of them does shed a different bit of light on the subject. It is what it is at this point, though. Priyanka, report back and let us know how it went for your trio?