Day-by-day eating plans for Venice. weekend classics, family routes, vegan plans, on-a-budget editions.

Day-by-day plans

Venice weekend: cicchetti, the Pescheria and lagoon-fish dinners ★ 4.7

First-time visitor, two days2 days

A weekend built around the bacari cicchetti tradition, a Rialto Pescheria morning, two canonical lagoon-fish dinners and one historic-bar Bellini at Harry's Bar.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: Pescheria morning, bacari crawl, Castello fish dinner

    Morning
    Caffe del Doge at 08:00 for the single-origin espresso. Walk to Rialto Pescheria by 09:00 to see the morning fish market in full swing. The Mercato di Rialto fruit-and-veg stalls open until 13:30.
    Afternoon
    Bacari crawl: Cantina Do Mori at 11:30 (the 1462 bar), then Osteria All'Arco for cicchetti from the morning fish market, then Cantina Do Spade. Three ombre each, never more.
    Evening
    Aperitivo Bellini at Harry's Bar from 18:00 (downstairs bar only). Dinner at Trattoria Corte Sconta in Castello, 20:30. Antipasto misto and spaghetti vongole.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: Tonolo focaccia, Dorsoduro cicchetti, Cannaregio dinner

    Morning
    Pasticceria Tonolo at 08:00 for the focaccia veneziana and a cappuccino at the counter. Walk to Campo Santa Margherita, the Dorsoduro university quarter.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Estro Vino e Cucina from 13:00, modern Venetian small plates and natural wine on Calle Crosera. Walk across the Accademia bridge and through the Gallerie quarter.
    Evening
    Aperitivo at Vino Vero in Cannaregio from 19:00, the natural-wine bar on Fondamenta della Misericordia. Dinner at Vini da Gigio, 20:30 for fegato alla veneziana and bigoli in salsa.

Venice three days: cicchetti, the islands and one Michelin meal ★ 4.6

Returning visitor, three days3 days

A three-day plan covering the bacari heart of San Polo, a Burano-Mazzorbo lagoon-islands day for risotto di go at Al Gatto Nero and a 1-star dinner at Glam Enrico Bartolini.

  1. Day 1: Day 1: Rialto bacari and a modern bistro dinner

    Morning
    Caffe del Doge at 08:00 for espresso. Rialto Pescheria walk 09:00 to see the morning catch. The Mercato di Rialto fruit-and-veg stalls.
    Afternoon
    Bacari lunch crawl: Cantina Do Mori (the 1462 bar), Osteria All'Arco for cicchetti, Al Merca for spritz on the campo. Walk the Frari basilica and the Scuola Grande di San Rocco.
    Evening
    Aperitivo at Il Mercante from 19:00 for the speakeasy cocktails. Dinner at Estro Vino e Cucina in Dorsoduro, 20:30 for modern Venetian small plates and natural wine.

  2. Day 2: Day 2: Burano and Mazzorbo lagoon-island lunch

    Morning
    Pasticceria Dal Mas at 08:00 for cornetto and espresso. Vaporetto 12 from Fondamente Nove to Burano at 09:30 (45 minutes through the lagoon).
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Trattoria al Gatto Nero on Burano, 13:00. Risotto di go and bigoli al nero di seppia. Walk the colourful houses of Fondamenta della Giudecca.
    Evening
    Vaporetto back to Cannaregio. Aperitivo at Al Timon from 19:00 on the canal-side barge. Dinner at Osteria Anice Stellato, 21:00 for bigoli in salsa and marinated anchovies.

  3. Day 3: Day 3: Castello fish, hidden Cannaregio, Michelin dinner

    Morning
    Torrefazione Cannaregio at 09:00 for the Miscela del Ghetto espresso. Walk the Jewish Ghetto: visit Panificio Volpe for azzime dolci and the synagogue square.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Osteria alle Testiere, 13:00 (book a fortnight ahead). Gnocchetti with calamari and the daily branzino in salt crust. Walk to the Arsenale and Castello.
    Evening
    Aperitivo at Enoteca Mascareta from 19:00 with Mauro Lorenzon's chalkboard wine list. Dinner at Glam Enrico Bartolini, 20:30 for the 2-star tasting menu inside Palazzo Venart.

Venice on a budget: two days of bacari, panini and pasta ★ 4.4

Budget traveller, two days2 days

A two-day plan for a Venice stay under EUR 50 per day on food: Bacareto Da Lele's EUR 1 panini, cicchetti at the cheapest bacari and Dal Moro's takeaway pasta.

  1. Day 1: Saturday: panini at Lele, cicchetti crawl, takeaway pasta dinner

    Morning
    Pasticceria Dal Mas at 07:30 for a EUR 1.30 cornetto and a EUR 1.20 espresso at the bar. Walk to Bacareto Da Lele for a EUR 1 mini-panino and an ombra on the church steps.
    Afternoon
    Cicchetti crawl: Cantina Do Mori (francobolli at EUR 1.50), Osteria All'Arco (cicchetti at EUR 2 to 4), Al Merca for a EUR 3.50 spritz. Six cicchetti plus three ombre, under EUR 25.
    Evening
    Dinner takeaway at Dal Moro's Fresh Pasta To Go, EUR 8 for a fresh-pasta box, eaten on Campo Santa Maria Formosa. Late ombre at Enoteca Mascareta.

  2. Day 2: Sunday: Tonolo brunch, Cannaregio lunch set, late market

    Morning
    Pasticceria Tonolo at 08:30 for the focaccia veneziana and cappuccino (EUR 3.50 standing at the counter). Walk to Campo Santa Margherita and the Dorsoduro university quarter.
    Afternoon
    Lunch at Trattoria Bar Pontini in Cannaregio, a neighbourhood lunchroom plate from the carte (the EUR 14 weekday set does not run Sunday). Walk the Strada Nuova to Ca' d'Oro and through the Jewish Ghetto for the synagogue square.
    Evening
    Takeaway pasta from Dal Moro's Fresh Pasta To Go (EUR 8 a box, kitchen runs to 22:00 daily) eaten on Campo Santa Maria Formosa. Late ombre and cicchetti at Al Timon from 19:00 on the Cannaregio canal-side barge (EUR 2-3 a cicchetto, EUR 4 ombre) before the train.

Itineraries in Venice, FAQ

When is the best time to eat in Venice?

Peak food season in Venice is year-round.

What time do people eat in Venice?

Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.

How does tipping work in Venice?

service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.

What is the one dish to try in Venice?

Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Venice rewards trust.

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