Billy & Britny How a Walking Tour Made Me Fall in Love with the Floating City
Some cities charm you slowly. Venice just sweeps you off your feet. On our second day, we had one of those travel days that starts before the sun is up and ends with a pasta dish you’ll think about for weeks. It was filled with history, spontaneous wandering, incredible food, and a few moments that honestly felt like a movie.
Sunrise at St. Mark’s Square with Flytographer
We started the day early. Really early. But for good reason.
We had booked a Flytographer photo shoot in St. Mark’s Square and it ended up being one of the most memorable moments of our trip. The piazza was completely empty except for our photographer and a few birds flying overhead. It felt like we had Venice all to ourselves.
The light was soft, the city was quiet, and we got some of our favorite couple photos ever. If you are heading to Venice and want beautiful memories without having to stress about taking your own pictures, I can’t recommend Flytographer enough. They made the whole experience fun and easy.
After our shoot, we had breakfast at Caffè Florian, which is one of the oldest and most iconic cafés in Italy. Sitting outside in that quiet square with a cappuccino and fresh pastries while Venice slowly woke up around us was pure magic.
Starting the Morning with a Venice Walking Tour
After breakfast, we joined a walking tour through Walks of Italy and I cannot recommend it enough. Venice is beautiful on the surface, but this city has centuries of stories beneath it and our guide, made them all come to life. She’s a Venetian local with a great sense of humor and a true gift for storytelling.
She showed us parts of the city we would have never found on our own, and every corner came with a fun fact, a hidden detail, or a bit of scandalous history. It was like having a fashionable history teacher with amazing restaurant recs.
Highlights From Our Venice Walking Tour
Rialto Market
We started at the Rialto Market, and it was buzzing. Local chefs and home cooks were out early buying seafood, artichokes, fresh herbs, and beautiful fruit. The smell of basil was in the air and it instantly made me hungry. It’s one of the few places in Venice that feels completely local and unfiltered.
Libreria Acqua Alta
Next up was the famous bookstore where the books are stacked in bathtubs and gondolas. Libreria Acqua Alta is quirky, chaotic, and wonderful. We climbed the book-staircase out back, snapped a few photos, and I found a vintage postcard that now lives on our fridge. This spot is definitely a must-see.
St. Mark’s Basilica
Even though we had been in the square earlier, we returned for our skip-the-line entry into St. Mark’s Basilica. Thank goodness we had those passes, because the crowd outside was no joke. Inside, the gold mosaics glowed and our tour guide gave us insights into the symbols, architecture, and wild history that most visitors completely miss.
Bridge of Sighs
The final stop was the Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners would take one last look at Venice before heading to their cells. It is haunting and beautiful at the same time. It’s also one of the most iconic photo spots in the city.
Coffee and Wandering with No Plan
After the tour, we wandered back toward Cannaregio and grabbed cappuccinos at Torrefazione Cannaregio, which had a relaxed vibe and great people watching.
With no map and no plan, we spent the rest of the afternoon just wandering. Every turn revealed a quiet canal, a small piazza, or a crumbling but beautiful building. We ended up at a tiny wine bar filled with locals, sipped prosecco for just a few euros, and shared fried artichokes.
Sunset Cruise Along the Grand Canal
Around golden hour, we hopped on the Vaporetto, Venice’s public boat system, and cruised along the Grand Canal. The light turned golden, the water shimmered, and we stood at the back of the boat just soaking it all in. It was peaceful, romantic, and completely unforgettable.
I wore a silky midi dress and gold jewelry, with comfy flats so we could walk straight to dinner without needing a stop back at the apartment.
Dinner at Antiche Carampane
We wrapped up the day with dinner at Antiche Carampane, a local favorite tucked away in a quiet street not far from the Rialto area. The restaurant is small, cozy, and exactly the kind of hidden gem you want to find on a trip like this. We ordered the seafood pasta and shared a bottle of local white wine. It was simple, delicious, and absolutely perfect.
If you’re in Venice and want a dinner spot that feels special without being overly touristy, this is it.
Travel Tips for Day 2 in Venice
- Book your Flytographer shoot for early morning to get St. Mark’s Square to yourself
- Skip-the-line tickets for popular attractions are 100 percent worth it
- Wear stylish but comfortable shoes, you’ll be walking a lot
- Take time to just wander without a destination
- Ride the Vaporetto at golden hour for the most beautiful view of the Grand Canal
- Make dinner reservations ahead of time, especially for local favorites
Final Thoughts
Venice is the kind of city that builds a story with every step. On Day 2, that story was filled with beauty, laughter, history, and quiet in-between moments that ended up being the most meaningful. From our early morning photo shoot to dinner under glowing string lights, it was the kind of day I will remember forever.
If you’re planning your own trip to Venice, I hope this gives you inspiration to slow down, soak it in, and maybe book that early morning cappuccino. It’s always worth it.
