Venice is a timeless city, built to forever float in the lagoon waters of the Adriatic Sea. Follow the grand S-shaped canal snaking through her heart, and Venice will show you colorful, sinking buildings to opulent churches and palaces. Stocked with endless canals, bridges, history, and waterfront cafes, Venice is a canvas for the imagination and an artist’s paradise. After personally wandering her canals, sipping wine on her docks, and people-watching in her piazzas, I’ve come up with 5 things you must do in Venice.

Blue Sails Tip:

Arrive in style via water taxi. Nothing beats jet lag better than sun and sea mist on your face as you’re whisked away to your hotel by boat. Whether you’re arriving into Marco Polo Airport or Santa Lucia Train Station, a water taxi to your hotel or city center can easily be arranged online ahead of time.

There are private water taxis and shared ones. The shared option is lower-priced, and you get the same experience, just with about 6 new friends. I got lucky with my shared taxi as I was the last one off and got to enjoy the last half of the ride with the whole boat to myself. Be sure to bring a hat, as the ride is about 20-30 minutes from the airport to city center, and you don’t want to start your lovely Venice weekend with a sunburn.

1. Stroll Across Rialto Bridge:

Out of the 5 things you must do in Venice, Rialto Bridge is a quick and easy stop you can make while out exploring the city. This tall, stone bridge arches across the grand canal and provides amazing photo opportunities of the city below. It’s been rebuilt several times since it’s inception, and was at one point a draw bridge that would open for tall ships to pass through. This iconic city symbol is a popular tourist spot, so be sure to get there early or late to avoid crowds.

2. Visit Saint Mark’s Square:

This central plaza is the one you likely always see in photos. Surrounded by shops, cafes, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Doge’s Palace, it’s a gorgeous place to explore, take photos (especially at sunrise!), or stop for lunch and people watching. In the evenings in the summertime on opposite sides of the square, dueling bands and string quartets compete on the cafe stages set up outside. The music that fills this place is something out of a dream. Have a seat at one of the tables in front of the band, order a drink or two with an appetizer, and enjoy. I recommend staying at least one night in Venice, if not two, because nighttime in Venice to me feel likes one big magical movie set. The ambiance is so perfect that it doesn’t seem real, especially in St. Mark’s Square.

Here is where I will digress to share one of my favorite travel memories:

During our honeymoon in July, my husband and I were out for a nighttime walk after dinner, and the outdoor music drew us into St. Mark’s Square. The band was playing to a small audience, scattered throughout the cloth-lined bistro tables in front of the stage. Maybe it was the magic of Venice, maybe it was the romance of my honeymoon, or maybe it was one too many Bellinis, but I walked up to the side of the stage and asked the accordian player if they could play our wedding song “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis. He happily agreed and the band began to play the song we had come to know so well. I pulled my husband up near the stage and we proceeded to dance the choreography we had performed at our wedding days earlier, this time in the warm Venice breeze. This was my proud Zelda Fitzgerald moment. Two drunk beautiful Americans dancing in the square, madly in love. The song ended, we did the big dip at the end, the crowd and the band applauded, and we dropped one giant tip on the piano before we left.

I am really only myself when I’m somebody else whom I have endowed with these wonderful qualities from my imagination.

Zelda Fitzgerald

3. Explore the Winding Venice Canals:

If you’re a free spirit, wing-it kind of person, you need no direction on this one. Give yourself a few hours and start early while the light is good to ensure you get awesome photos. If you’re more of a planner, I recommend planning out a route that includes some must-sees, and letting yourself wander in between stops.

I recommend the San Marco area. On my most recent trip I knew I basically wanted to see St. Mark’s Square, Bridge of Sighs, Rialto Bridge, Liberia Acqua Alta, and that plaza and library area in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (you know, X marks the spot?), among some other cool things I had looked up online. I figured out the general direction in which I needed to go and set off. In the end, all we accomplished was Rialto Bridge and the Indiana Jones library (a church/museum in real life), which we totally stumbled upon. I immediately recognized the area in which Indy pops out of a manhole in the middle of an outdoor plaza cafe, terrifying the locals as he stands there dripping wet, and says “Ah, Venice.” In between the bridge and “library,” we just enjoyed being lost. We came across an outdoor market, picturesque cafes, endless colorful canals and alleyways, and an amazing brunch spot with a view.

For my fellow Indiana Jones nerds out there, here is the address for that filming location: Campo San Barnaba, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy

4. Take a Gondola Ride:

One of the most iconic symbols of Venice is the beautifully decorated gondolas. Taking a gondola ride is one of the 5 things you must do in Venice. You can purchase a ride on the spot, any time of day, from multiple vendors in the city. You can’t miss the gondoliers, standing around in their black and white striped t-shirts, waiting to make a sale. It’s cheesy and really touristy, but it is so much fun. You can share your gondola ride with another family or couple, or pay extra for a private ride. You can pay even more and they will sing to you as you glide down the canals, their voices echoing under the bridges and through the small, algae-lined alleyways.

Blue Sails Tip:

Take your gondola at night, have the city to yourself, and feel like royalty. Wait until after dinner, when most of the day cruise tourists have departed, and get the gondola all to yourself. The city monuments, cafes, and hotels will be lit up as you cruise down the dark canals. A quiet falls over the canals at night and all you can hear is the lapping water on the sides of the boat. Bring some wine and you’ve got the romantic experience of a lifetime. There will be less gondoliers available at the end of the day, but when you do find one, chances are you are going to get a much lower price since it’s probably their last ride of the day.

5. Set Yourself up With Some Good Food and a View:

This is notoriously my favorite thing to do in any destination, anywhere in the world. Something about the cafes in Venice though, whether they are canal-facing or in the central piazzas, just seem like they were made for sitting and enjoying a cappuccino, a glass of wine, or a pizza and a beer (I think I could eat Italian pizza every day and never get tired of it). Adopt that relaxing, Italian pace of life, and just sit somewhere and enjoy. You can scout locations on your canal walk, and this can be done morning, noon, or night. Or all three if you like. Wherever you choose, make sure you’ve got some shade and a good view.

When to Go to Venice

Venice is a slow paced city. If you’re jam-packing your Italy itinerary, Venice can act as a nice relaxing stop for you. Located in the north of Italy, it’s a great way to start or end your vacation. From October – January the city is prone to flooding, so unless you want to explore the town in your wellies or waders, pick a different month to visit. I always recommend travel in Spring or Fall, as any summer month in Italy is going to be hot. But if summer is your only time for vacation, go for it. Just be sure to take a long break mid-day to avoid the peak crowds and heat. Whenever you do get there, take lots of pictures, remember the 5 things you must do in Venice, and prepare to get lost in the magic and colors of this gorgeous city.

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Paris is always a good idea. If you’re traveling through Europe and have a chance to make a quick weekend trip to Paris, you’ve got to do it. I was in London recently and took the Eurostar to Paris for a quick 1 night stay (about 24 hours in Paris total) to celebrate my husband’s birthday. This was his first time in the city of light, so I stacked the weekend with the iconic must-sees. I was impressed by how much ground we were able to cover in that limited amount of time, so I’m sharing the itinerary here. Please note that this is an unapologetically touristy, quick, smash-and-grab kind of weekend with some local flavor sprinkled in. A more in-depth, less-touristy Paris article will be coming in the future.

Getting There

Chances are you will be arriving into Gare du Nord train station or Charles du Gaulle airport, both from which you can easily catch a taxi or Uber outside to take you to your hotel. Taking the metro is a less expensive option, but is often harder to navigate and takes more time. Since you’ve only got 24 hours in Paris (and if you’re directionally challenged like me), Uber is probably the best way to go. You can enter your destination into the app, which helps you avoid butchering the French language. I also like that the rates are regulated by Uber, so you know you’re not getting ripped off, and that you pay and tip right from the app.

Where to Stay

Since you’ll only be staying one night and won’t be spending much time in the hotel, I’d say location is going to be the most important factor in choosing your hotel on this trip. Paris is made up of twenty districts, called arrondissements. I recommend staying in the 7th arrondissement, home of the Eiffel Tower, because that is where we will be spending most of our time. There are so many hotels, Airbnb’s, and apartments for rent that you are bound to find something in your style and price range. My go-to for quick and easy hotel bookings is Expedia.com.

Travel Tips

• Language: Brush up on your conversational French. You don’t have to be fluent, but at least attempting a few basis phrases like “hello,” “goodbye,” “how are you,” and “I’m fine” is always a respectful thing to do. In addition to the basics, I always like to know how to say cheers, order my favorite dish or cocktail, and, most importantly “check, please.”
• Restaurant Etiquette: As with most European restaurants, you will have to ask for the check. No one is going to check on you and bring it to you. If you don’t ask, the waiter or waitress will assume you want to stay and you will be waiting a very long time. It’s also only customary to tip in Paris if your waiter or waitress has given exceptional service. Otherwise, there is a service fee already included in your bill.
• Packing: Bring comfortable shoes, a jacket for nighttime, and a picnic blanket if you want to have lunch outside.
• Plan Ahead:
  • Download your apps ahead time, like Uber, Google Translate, and a currency converter.
  • Get a data plan on your phone. So helpful for getting directions or calling an Uber. After a couple of trips without a data plan, I’ve learned that no wifi= no Uber= you’re getting stranded somewhere. Unless you want to wander the streets and linger outside hotels trying to mooch some free wifi, get the data plan.
  • Get your tickets ahead of time to the Eiffel Tower and Seine Cruise. Different types of tickets and packages exist, but I’ve always had good experiences booking through Viator.com.
• Free Touring: Again for the sake of time. If the opportunity presents itself, feel free to ask your Uber or taxi driver if they can drive by a famous site or monument (obviously only if it’s on the way). On the way to our hotel, we told our driver it was my husband’s first time in Paris and we only had one night. The driver took us down Champs Elysees and drove full circle around the Arc du Triomphe, narrating in broken English the whole time. It was really sweet and a great welcome into Paris.
• All the Croissants: Eat all the French pastries you can get your hands on. Morning: coffee and pastry. Dinner: pastry for dessert. Window shopping and come across a little cafe: Go in and get a pastry. You will not regret it.

Day 1: Arrival and First Night in Paris

1.1 Check in to your hotel

First things first: head to your hotel. If your room isn’t ready upon arrival, ask the front desk to check in any luggage so you can go out and enjoy your day baggage-free. Be sure to bring a backpack or day bag with you.

1.2 Stroll an Open-Air Market

Let’s start with some shopping. If you arrive on a Wednesday or Saturday, head to the bustling, open-air market of of Marché Président Wilson, open until about 3pm. You will be welcomed with the sights and smells of Paris as you wander down colorful rows of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and cheeses, and other necessities. Take some free samples and take lots of pictures. Pick up some cheese, fruits, and baguettes if you want to save money and have a picnic later instead of a restaurant dinner.

Address: Marché Président Wilson, Avenue du Président Wilson, 75016 Paris

1.3 Visit the Trocadero Gardens

If you’re at the Marché Président Wilson, the Trocadero Gardens (Jardins du Trocadero) are less than a 10 minute walk away. Hard to miss, Trocadero is a large, beautiful area of greenery, fountains, and attractions across the Seine River from the Eiffel Tower. You’ll find plenty of great photo opps here with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Stroll along the fountains and admire the architecture. Even though you only have 24 hours in Paris, take a moment to relax in this spot. If you’re opting for a picnic, find a comfortable spot with good views and enjoy. There are plenty of benches in the shade, or, if you brought a blanket, find a good spot on the grass.

1.4 Dine in a French Restaurant

Whether this part is in addition to or in place of your picnic in the gardens, let’s head to a restaurant for some authentic French cuisine. Choose one nearby in the 7th arrondissement for the sake of time, and make a reservation if you can (online is best if your French is lacking). I recommend using your translation phone app in the restaurant as some menus have English descriptions, but a lot are entirely in French. Don’t be afraid of the language barrier. Pointing to the item on the menu is totally acceptable. Just remember your French words of “please,” “thank you,” and “check please.” This is the place to splurge. Get a restaurant with a view and a good bottle of wine. Bon appetit.

1.5 Ascend the Eiffel Tower

Did you know the Eiffel Tower sparkles at night? I had no idea until I was visiting my first time with my family. I was on the 2nd level of the tower, the sun had just set, and that’s when huge golden lights starting flashing all around me. I saw people in the park below looking up and taking pictures, so my family and I literally ran down the tower, all 600+ stairs. My legs were rubber by the time I reached the bottom, but I ran into the park below, turned around, and looked up. There was the Iron Lady, sparkling in all her glory. I will never forget that serious wow moment.

For the Eiffel Tower, I recommend buying your tickets in advance. Unless you’re crazy, take the lift up instead of the stairs. You can stop at the 2nd level, where there is a gift shop and a macaron bar, or continue all the way to the very top. Stop at both levels if you’re not too afraid of heights. The views at the top aren’t much different than on the 2nd level, but there is something triumphant about making it to the very top of the tower.

Blue Sails Tip:

There is a champagne bar at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Do it! Go for the overpriced champagne. At this time, it is probably nearing sunset. Enjoy the sun setting over the city from 900 feet in the air, glass of champagne in hand. Welcome to Paris.

1.6 Cruise Down the Seine River at Night

You can always re-work your itinerary to include this Seine River Cruise in the daytime (pronounced SEN river), but I think night is the perfect time. These boat cruises are usually open-air, so be sure you’ve brought along a jacket or sweater. Cruise down the quiet, dark waters of the Seine, and enjoy a beverage on board while you pass by the icons of the city, lit up from below. As long as you begin your cruise after sunset, you will see the Eiffel Tower sparkle. It sparkles on the hour, every hour until 1am. The chance to marvel at the sparkling tower while open-air night boating through one of the most romantic cities in the world? You’re welcome.

Tickets need to be purchased in advance for this as well. There are multiple operators to choose from, and some even offer ticket packages combined with the Eiffel Tower. Due to seasonality and changing availablility, I recommend just doing a quick google search and buying something that is open air and is at least an hour long. Sights along the river include the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Notre Dame Cathedral, iconic picturesque bridges, and countless gorgeous buildings with amazing lit-up architecture.

Day 2: Morning in Paris

2.1 Enjoy a Parisian Cafe Breakfast

Say bonjour to the city and head out to breakfast. Sitting out front of a picturesque cafe is a must-do when you only have 24 hours in Paris. You will probably want to stop at a cafe that is close to your hotel for the sake of time. Hopefully you spotted some cute places while you were out wandering yesterday. When in doubt, ask the hotel concierge. And remember: get the pastry.

You will have probably had to check out of your hotel at this time, so be sure to leave your luggage with reception in the lobby so you can continue exploring without your bags.

2.2 Admire the Notre Dame Cathedral

You can take the metro if you want to save and also get in that Paris Metro experience. For the sake of time, I recommend just grabbing an Uber. Notre Dame is only about a 10 minute drive away. If you’re unsure where to have your cafe breakfast, there are some good spots near Notre Dame. A bit overpriced for the touristy location, but a good experience just the same.

Since its construction began in 1160, the Notre Dame Cathedral has stood the test of time, including desecration in the French Revolution and the devastating fire of 2019. She continues standing tall, however, and remains a stunning icon of history, craftsmanship, and gothic architecture. Positioned along the Seine River, Notre Dame provides a great photo spot and a lovely area in which to wander.

2.3 Visit Sainte-Chapelle, Royal Chapel

A two minute walk from Notre Dame is a breath-taking, gothic style chapel with more stained glass than you’ve ever seen in one place. The dramatic exterior draws you in with its tall, skinny spires jutting into the sky. The interior opens a world of color, with purple light streaming across the marbled floors. Surrounded by long panes of stained glass, take a seat and admire the beauty of this place.

2.4 Head on to Your Next Adventure

Say au revoir as you head back to the train station or airport, as your 24 hours in Paris come to an end. With a quick sampling of the life and beauty of Paris, you will now be able to return someday and see the city more in-depth.

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