72 Hours in Venice with Teens

Venice is one of those cities that looks as beautiful in real life as it does in photos, and it’s easily one of the best places in Italy to go on a family vacation. I visited last summer, and the gentle canals, regal architecture and incredible museums already have me ready to return. There’s so much to see and do in La Serenissima, and I know I barely scratched the surface.

While Venice is a great place to visit with children of any age, it’s especially wonderful for teenagers. The variety of activities you can do in the city will keep your kids busy no matter how long you’re in town, and this is genuinely one of the few cities in the world where I’d feel comfortable letting my teens roam around on their own for a while — it’s that safe.

But if you only have 72 hours in Venice with teens, you’ll need a plan to help you see and do the best the city has to offer. This guide will help you hit all the can’t-miss attractions in Venice and the surrounding area, paired with some special off-path experiences that connect you with local culture and customs.

Best 3-Day Itinerary in Venice with Teens

Day 1: San Marco

Morning

Any good trip to Venice begins in San Marco, the most popular sestiere (neighborhood). If you’ve ever seen photos of Venice’s striking shoreline and towering buildings adorned in the city’s signature Venetian Gothic architecture, they were probably taken here.

Begin your day early so you can visit this famous neighborhood before it gets too busy. Make no mistake about it — Venice is always bustling, and nowhere more so than in San Marco, but you can avoid the bulk of crowds by setting out first thing in the morning.

If you can convince your teens to rise early enough, San Marco’s position on Venice’s eastern shores makes this an excellent spot for catching the sunrise. From there, spend some time wandering through Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square), the only officially designated piazza in the city, and taking in the beauty of St. Mark’s Basilica and looming cathedral tower nearby. You’ll also see the Doge’s Palace here, but it’s best to save that for later.

TIP: While the basilica is a stunner any time of day, it feels especially magical after dusk, when the lights are brought up to highlight the shimmering mosaics within. Ciao Bambino’s Travel Advisor team can book a nighttime tour with a vetted partner — reach out for more info.

Afternoon

After a morning of exploring, you and your kids will likely be hungry. Dive deeper into San Marco on a tasty tour that gives you insight into a Venetian culinary staple: cicchetti. Conceptually similar to Spanish tapas, these snacks can include everything from seafood on bruschetta to cheese and salumi, and they’re filling if you eat enough of them.

While it’s possible to scope out local wine bars selling traditional Venetian cicchetti on your own, an easier way to find the best bites is by taking a cicchetti-hopping tour. These excursions are perfect for families who want to combine the joy of learning about local culture with the ease of having a meal plan already created for you.

Evening

Without a doubt, one of the most popular things to do in Venice with teens is visit the Doge’s Palace, or Palazzo Ducale. During the day, throngs of visitors come here to marvel at the Renaissance staircases and pass across the white limestone Bridge of Sighs, which connects the interrogation rooms of the palace to the former prison. You can also see the jail cell that housed local lothario Giacomo Casanova.

The palace is a can’t-miss, but it’s much more enjoyable to explore the grounds during a private or semi-private evening visit. Depending on the tour you take, your guide might also lead you to the crypts below St. Mark’s, where the city’s patron saint is said to be buried. Either way, these after-hours tours allow you to take in the grandeur of the Doge’s Palace without bumping elbows with hundreds of people.

Day 2: Dorsoduro and San Polo

On your second day in Venice, guide your teens into two quieter parts of the city: Dorsoduro and San Polo. These neighborhoods sit opposite San Marco on the Grand Canal, and they offer curious visitors an intimate look into Venetian life and artistry.

Dorsoduro

Dorsoduro, which means “hard back” in Italian, is where you’ll find some of Venice’s most noteworthy museums. The Peggy Guggenheim Collection, focused on 20th-century European and American Art; the Gallerie dell’Accademia, home to the most important collection of Venetian Renaissance paintings in the world; and Ca’ Rezzonico, themed around 18th-century Venetian art and life, are all here. On the other hand, if you’d rather spend your day outdoors, Dorsoduro is also a great place to try your hand at gondola rowing.

You’ve no doubt seen or heard about Venice’s famous gondolas, which locals and visitors use to navigate this car-free city. But in neighborhoods like Dorsoduro, you can participate in the tradition for yourself. Learn how to guide these vessels down Venice’s scenic waterways during a private rowing lesson (which CB! Advisors can arrange) — all while you learn even more about Venetian history along the way.

San Polo

If you’re traveling with artistically inclined teens, head to San Polo for an afternoon of insight into Venetian craftsmanship. Here you’ll find various bookbinding shops that can teach your family about this traditional form of practical artistry, and at some, you may get to see a live bookbinding demonstration.

After your lesson, spend some leisurely time getting lost along the neighborhood’s winding cobblestone streets. Depending on the path you take, you might find yourself at the Da Vinci Interactive Museum at the Scoleta di San Rocco, which I especially recommend if you have younger kids or tweens in the family. Alternatively, if you head farther east toward San Marco, you’ll eventually arrive at the famous (and photo-worthy) Rialto Bridge, which dates from the late 1500s.

Day 3: Murano, Burano and Torcello

For your last day, it’s time to explore beyond central Venice. Head over to nearby islands Murano, Burano and Torcello to get a look at the region’s glassblowing tradition and experience a quieter side of the local culture.

If you book a private tour to these islands, you’ll traverse the Venetian Lagoon via boat with an expert guide who will teach you about each location’s history before you dock. Throughout your excursion, you’ll be able to watch glass masters create beautiful artwork in Murano, and you can even get in on the action with a hands-on glassblowing workshop.

Afterward, gaze at the brightly colored houses that line Burano’s streets and visit one of the oldest local churches, the 11th-century Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, in less-touristed Torcello. Your teens will love the variety of attractions you can see on this tour — and you’ll be able to squeeze in some quality time together before your 72 hours in Venice come to an end.

Relevant Links:

Browse all accommodations and activities in Venice on Ciao Bambino

52 things to know before traveling to Italy with kids

Essential guide to central Venice neighborhoods with kids

Visiting Venice with kids? Get off the beaten path

10 ideas for a memorable mother-son vacation

Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.