Venice: 5-Day Itinerary with Islands
Five days gives Venice room to breathe: the core sights, all the main sestieri, a full island day, and the quieter Castello district most short trips miss. City-centre first, then out in widening circles. Prices are 2026 figures, so treat each as verify on site.
Day 1: San Marco and the Rialto
Piazza San Marco before 9am: St Mark’s Basilica on a timed slot (nave free, Pala d’Oro about EUR 5, dress code enforced), then the Doge’s Palace (about EUR 30 to 35) to the Bridge of Sighs. Bacaro lunch, the Rialto market side, and a spritz to close.
Tip: book the first Basilica slot to clear both big sights before midday.
Day 2: Dorsoduro and the Grand Canal
Ride Line 1 down the Grand Canal (EUR 9.50), then Dorsoduro: the Accademia, the Peggy Guggenheim, and the Zattere, ending at Campo Santa Margherita.
Tip: buy a multi-day vaporetto pass now if you will ride three or more times a day.
Day 3: Cannaregio and the Ghetto
Cannaregio, the Jewish Ghetto (founded 1516), the Strada Nova and the northern Fondamente, plus the Scuola Grande di San Rocco in San Polo (about EUR 10) for its Tintoretto cycle.
Tip: catch the northern Fondamente at sunset for the best free view in the city.
Day 4: the lagoon islands
A 24-hour vaporetto pass (about EUR 25), early from Fondamente Nove: Burano, then Torcello, then Murano on the way back. The islands are exempt from the access fee.
Tip: reach Burano before mid-morning to beat the tour boats.
Day 5: Castello and San Giorgio
Walk quieter Castello: the Arsenale, the Biennale gardens and less touristy dining. Hop across to San Giorgio Maggiore for the bell-tower view back at San Marco, better than the queue-bound Campanile.
Tip: take the San Giorgio lift late afternoon for warm light on the Doge’s Palace across the Basin.
Read more: the 6 day Venice itinerary adds Giudecca and the Lido, the main Venice guide ranks the sights, and the Venice and its Lagoon page sets day four in context.