🇮🇹 Venice One-Day Guide | Churches More Worth It Than St. Mark‘s

🔸 If possible, visit in autumn or summer. February in Venice is foggy ❄️🌫️, which really affects the island’s beauty + it’s cold! 🔸 After seeing so many amazing museums and churches in Rome and Florence, the famous St. Mark’s felt a bit disappointing — impressive but not soul-stirring 😅. 🔸 Not recommended to stay on the main island — cobblestone paths and bridges make rolling luggage loud and annoying 🧳😬. If I could choose again, I’d stay in Florence and take an early train to Venice for a day trip. One day is enough! 🔸 Transport tip: Water bus 🚤, land train/bus €1.5 per ride. The island is small — very walkable 👣. 🔸 Venetians know how to do business — almost every church charges entry 🎫. Lots of small shops, some with cool handmade “Made in Venice” crafts 🎭. ♦️ One-Day Route ♦️ ❣️ Basilica di Frari 🙏 Highly, HIGHLY recommend! Franciscan church with Titian’s tomb, Giovanni’s Madonna and Child — way more meaningful than St. Mark’s! Free right at opening around 8 AM — loved it! ❣️ St. Mark’s Basilica Entry €3, Pala d’Oro €5 (golden altarpiece), Museum €7. The museum is small — skip unless you want to see Napoleon’s original horse statues. But you CAN shoot the basilica from upstairs — great view 📸! ⚠️ Museum Correr opposite sells glass magnets — St. Mark’s bookshop was nowhere to be found 🧐. ❣️ Bridge of Sighs 😮💨 Best photo spot is through the bridge holes. Portrait shots work well from the bridge looking down. Fog was heavy though — if prisoners saw this view on their last look, they’d be confused too 🌁. ❣️ Acqua Alta Bookshop 📚 Unique little bookstore with its own themed magnet! ❣️ Gelateria Ducale 🍦 Really excellent gelato — a standout in my whole Italy trip! ❣️ Fondaco dei Tedeschi 🛍️ Free toilets 🚽, luxury mall. Rooftop sunset viewing — must book early! Super popular. ❣️ Rialto Bridge 🌉 Grand Canal views 🛶, tons of water buses and gondolas here. ❣️ San Salvador Church Pretty nice church — worth a quick stop! #VeniceTravel #OneDayInVenice #StMarksBasilica #Venice #VeniceGuide #TravelTips #ItalyDiaries