Hi is three days enough. Cant really afford to stay longer, but would 3 days be enough to see the main sites.

Thanks

Venice is one of those cities where you could spend months and always find something new and interesting. But it is pretty expensive, so, just like you, my boyfriend and I spent there three days.
We didn't certainly see everything but we saw quite a bit.
I think 3 days are enough to see most of the major attractions.

3 days is a fair start.

I think 3 days is PLENTY.

Hi bunny,

No. A lifetime is not enough.

Will you have a full 3 days, or are you arriving in the PM and departing in the AM?

Where are you planning to stay? How much is 'too expensive'?

If three days is what you can do, then three days isn't bad. Of course I think that 3 weeks would be optimal.
But seriously folks, Venice is compact and you can absolutely see the highlights in three days. Do allow some time for just strolling or nursing an overpriced coffee or gelato in one of the cafes on St Mark's Piazza. It will be time and money well spent.

I have a long file on Venice, if you'd like to see it, email me at
[email protected]

Also, if you click at the top of this page on Destinations, fodors has lots of suggestions for a short visit to Venice.

Hello thanks for the help so far. No I havent booked anything yet but we are on a budget. When I do plan, I want to make the most of the days that I do have by arriving in the morning and departing in the afternoon or evening of the 3rd day.

If you can, leave the morning after the third evening. Evenings in Venice are extra special.

Hi there
My wife and I spent three days in Venice on our honeymoon last April. We managed to see everything we wanted to see, managed to eat a ridiculous amount of gelato (lemon was my fav), and get lost at least twice. I could have stayed longer but was happy with the three days we had.
Like others who've responded we also found it horribly expensive in the "tourist" areas. We found a few out-of-the-way places that were reasonable (through Rick Steves online of all places although some places he recommends aren't there anymore) - one place had 1/2 ltrs of decent red wine for 2E - no tourists in sight (other than us)!

Hi bunny,

What is your budget for hotels?

I spent a Friday to a Monday in Venice last year, between Florence and Rome, mostly because my brother-in-law urged me to go. He said it was like no other place on earth.
I was afraid it was expensive and swarming with tourists.

We were both right.

I stayed at Hotel Flora and the first morning I walked the few steps to San Marco and watched the sun rise. It was pretty much just me and the pigeons and the winged lions and it was magnificient. By 10 it was jammed with tourists but I avoided it without difficulty for the rest of my stay. I was constantly lost and constantly interested in what I saw. My best memories are of riding along the Grand Canal on the vaporetta (the 3 day pass worked well well), visiting the Frari and the Academia, and buying an apple from a greengrocer on a boat.
But it is the city itself that is the astonishing work of art here.

I'm visiting Rome and Paris this year - I have the good fortune to have a niece who lives in Rome and a nephew who is working in Paris - and I cannot resist returning to Venice for another 4 days. This time I am staying with the nuns in Domus Ciliota. I'll feast at lunchtime, nap, then wander and sketch by the hour.
One suggestion- take plenty of layers and a warm cap and gloves - it's cold in the morning and the evening and the wind can get icy.

Three days is enough, but three nights in San Marco Piazza listening to the orchestras is not nearly enough!

I agree that a lifetime is not enough in Venice. However, we were able to see the "big" highlights in three days but enjoyed the later trip with a full week as it gave us more time to simply wander and take in the feel of Venice. Enjoy the three days and you will be planning your return trip before you even leave.

I have been to Venice twice and stayed 4-5 days each time. I thought that was enough for a nice start. I'm in the "love Venice" camp and would return in a heart-beat.

Except for the hotel, I did not find it particularly expensive. My favorite entertainments are walking, walking, walking, riding the vaporetto, eating in the small sidewalk cafes, buying wine from a local shop, snacks at the grocery store, sitting on the bench in public squares or along a canal, like that.