Venice 2 days 1 night

Hi Suzy - To answer your question things not to miss - Piazza San Marco , the focal point of Venice, The Rialto Bridge area with it's Markets and shops, Walking down The Grand Canal to see the sights, the vendors, the wonderful Cafes, any of which are excellent, A Gondola ride, even though they are a bit pricy, simply getting "lost" walking the streets off The Piazza San Marco (look up on the buildings as you reach a choice of direction and you will for example "per Rialto" - to the Rialto area - you will always get back to where you start - It's fun to explore.
Oh - excuse me all to H--- Doug - you really are something!! along the Grand Canal - funny - I'm Italian and you pretend to actually know something - Hmm????

Enjoy your time in Venice - Ciao, greg

I think Tim posted his response in the wrong place. There's another posting about swimming in the CT in May.

As to your question, do try to time St. Mark's Square around the tourist peak (10 to 4). You don't say when you're going to be there. That makes a difference as to what you do and when.

You must visit the BASILICA DI SANTA MARIA GLORIOSA DEI FRARI, I called it the Frari Basilica and everyone knew what I was talking about. Although not fantastic from the outside, it's quite moving from the inside and left me breathless. I cannot give directions because I'm terrible at that...but it's in the RS tour book. This is a MUST see!!!!

Um, Greg...

You said,

"Walking down The Grand Canal to see the sights,"

You do know the Grand Canal is full of water, don't you?

for me- St. Marks at night, gondola ride in the back area canals not along the Grand Canal, walking the crooked streets, enjoying a glass of wine and a small panini at an outdoor cafe I read about in Rick's Venice book, Accademia, going up the tower over in San Giorgio, riding around in the vaporetti.

ate dinner outside at Naranzaria right next to the Grand Canal...was a beautiful night...

Get out of your hotel and just get "lost" for a while. It is a relatively easy place to navigate and your hotel will most likely furnish some sort of a fold-out map for you to use as a reference.

Have your hotel book the Doges Palace secret itinaries tour.Its a great tour and allows you to skip the line.

Make sure you visit the Duomo when the lights are on inside; it's spectacular.

Best activity is wandering, especially in the evening when it's quiet.

Best food technique is to get away from tourist center and look for a place with a bustling local trade. Our best dinner was a small cafe run by an Asian family, the place was packed with locals.

The Vaporetti run to the nearby islands but don't spend all your time on that, you want to enjoy Venice too.

Get lost! Venice is at it's best in the evening, and San Marco at night is incredible! I thought that Santa Maria dei Miracoli was perhaps one of the most beautiful churches in Venice, not flashy, but beautiful. Do a pub crawl in the evening, and get the best of many restaurants. Stand in the middle of san Marco at night, and try to realize that this is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Have a great time, that is the most important thing. Jeff
I almost forgot, there is a real Venetian glass bead maker on a side street at the ponte dei miracoli. Her name is Lisette Caputo, and she is very good. We met her one night in San Marco, and really enjoyed watching her in her shop amking glass beads. So much more meaningful than the cheap chinese crap that you can find most everywhere. Have a great time!