Island or mainland?
San Marco and San Polo are convenient for the best-known sights but can be crowded and expensive. Check the walk from the vaporetto stop and do not assume that an old building has a lift. Cannaregio offers useful station connections, with quieter streets away from the main routes; Castello can suit a more local pace.
Dorsoduro works well for museums and walks. Consider how often your route crosses the Grand Canal. Mestre may offer larger rooms or lower prices, but daily train or bus journeys bring extra cost and evening timetable constraints.
Ask your accommodation for the recommended route from the station or nearest stop. With luggage, a short walk containing several bridges can be demanding.
A balanced three-day route
Day one: start early around San Marco and continue towards Rialto, using quieter streets later instead of retracing the busiest route. Day two: choose Dorsoduro for one half of the day and Cannaregio for the other, keeping space for unplanned walks.
Day three: consider a single lagoon excursion. Murano, Burano and Torcello involve boat journeys and waiting time. With limited hours, choosing one or two islands is more realistic than trying to see them all. Avoid filling every day with fixed-time admissions.
Public transport and airports
ACTV operates water and land services; Alilaguna provides water connections from Marco Polo airport, while ATVO operates land connections. Consult official information through Venezia Unica and the operators for current routes, ticket validity and services.
Allow for queues and crowding as well as sailing time. An airport connection and a city transport pass may have different conditions: check what your ticket actually covers before paying.
Before booking
Confirm whether the accommodation is on the islands or the mainland. Count changes and bridges on the arrival route, especially with suitcases or limited mobility. Check whether access procedures or visitor contributions apply on your travel dates.
For an early departure, verify the first available service to the airport or station. Leave generous gaps between lagoon activities and keep addresses and bookings offline. Do not assume that a straight line on a map represents a usable walking route.