Day trip — Don't do this
You arrive at 10am, queue for everything, eat badly near San Marco, leave at 6pm, and think Venice is overrated. This is the #1 Italy travel mistake. Please stay overnight.
2 nights — The minimum
Day 1: Doge's Palace + San Marco area + Grand Canal vaporetto. Day 2: Dorsoduro + Guggenheim + Accademia + getting lost. Evening: cicchetti at a bacaro. This is when Venice reveals itself.
3 nights — Ideal
Add: Burano (colours) + Murano (glass) or Torcello (ancient). An extra evening for a gondola ride at sunset. Time to explore Cannaregio and Castello — the real Venice.
4+ nights — The full experience
Add: Lido beach, Jewish Ghetto, a rowing lesson, Giudecca island, the Biennale (if running). Four nights means you stop consulting the map and start navigating by instinct.
Our recommendation: 2-3 nights minimum
Buy a 48hr or 72hr vaporetto pass immediately on arrival (€35-45) — it pays for itself fast.