Venice things to do- be there in 2 days

Dig through your luggage and pull out the blue and yellow Rick Steves Venice guidebook. Have a read in there and follow a couple of the walks. No charge at all since the book is paid for. Go at your own pace and enjoy. The one down the Grand Canal is a great introduction. Have you put the audio version on your IPod?

On your own, for sure. First, download Rick's free guides if you have an mp3 or such. There's one for the Grand Canal - just ride the vaporetto. Go to the Basilica (St Mark's). Amazing mosaics - they are floodlit for an hour each day around noon. I think they turn the lights on at 11 am and off at noon. The Basilica is free. There is a museum upstairs, costs a few euros, well worth it for the views of the church from the balcony and the views of the Piazza from the outside balcony. Next door is the Doge's Palace. The audio guide is good. See if you can get on the Secret Itineraries tour in English. You can book online thru VeniceConnected or the official Venice museum site http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/?lin=EN If you like museums, get one of the passes (then you get a discount on the Secret Itineraries tour). The Correr museums (3-in-1) on the opposite end of the Piazza, are very good - lots of ancient Roman sculpture and other stuff too. Pop in to every church you pass - each is interesting and different. If you like Renaissance art, go to the Frari Church (one of the RS audio guides). Don't waste money on a gondola ride. Get a vaporetto pass and ride the different lines. Take the vaporetto up or down the Grand Canal once during the day and once after dark. Grab a seat at the front (bundled up against the wind) or at the very back, for the best views.

I will be visiting Venice next year and found some reasonable one's such as listed below. You could go to the islands on your own with a vaporetto pass but if you want a tour this one is $26:
http://www.partner.viator.com/en/967/tours/Venice/Murano-Burano-and-Torcello-Half-Day-Sightseeing-Tour/d522-2495ABTOUR2

Lisa and Chani- Thank you very much!!

Rrin
Look into the walking tours of Venice that Rick recommends. We did this last month and had a great time. Walking tour of Dogge Palace, The canal ride later in day and St Marks Square. Yes we did get lost but it was fun.

If you like museums, visit either the Accademia or the Guggenheim (or both!).

i enjoyed using rick's suggestion from his book...going on a backdoor walking tour then a cicchetti wine pub crawl with a nice italian gentleman name alejandro schezzini...he makes a brief appearance in rick's venice show...you meet at rialto bridge at 4pm...very interesting little walk and then great wine and cicchetti...

The best part of being in Venice is getting lost. Wander the little streets and whatnot. Remember, it's really not a big city. 2 days, in my opinion, is enough. If you stay near the train station there's probably still a real grocery store (it's been a few years for me) if you hang a left and if that's the case you can easily save money getting things there for lunch. Bring along a swiss army knife and you'll be okay in that regard. I'm a professional chef, eat dinner in Venice! Spend the cash.

Joseph, you're thinking of the Coop supermarket I think.... By the way picnicking is illegal in Venice except for the small park by San Marco.

oops, I bet we're talking to ourselves. OP posted on the 6th and was 2 days away...