To begin your 72 hours in Venice, why not start your holiday in style and take a picturesque water taxi transfer directly to your hotel? Once checked-in, head straight to Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square), the heart of the city. St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace are well worth a visit and consider booking skip-the-line tickets in advance to save time. Enjoy a traditional Venetian lunch at a local trattoria. Try some local specialties like seafood risotto or sarde in saor (sweet and sour sardines).

Wander through the narrow streets and canals of Venice, getting lost in the charming neighbourhoods of San Polo and Dorsoduro. Visit the Rialto Bridge and don’t forget to get a souvenir at the bustling Rialto Market.

Don't let the sun go down without a gondola ride along the Grand Canal before enjoying delicious and fresh seafood at one of the many waterfront restaurants while watching the city come alive at night.

Rise early to make the most of your day and after breakfast, head to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, one of the premier museums of modern art in Italy. Admire works by Picasso, Pollock, and Dali, among others.

For lunch, stop at cicchetti bar, where you can sample small plates of Venetian tapas-style dishes paired with a glass of local wine. Having been lucky enough to visit Venice five times, a personal favourite is crostini, small open-faced sandwiches with all sorts of toppings.

After, explore the lesser-known islands of Murano and Burano, the former being famous for its glassmaking tradition. Burano is known for its colourful houses and intricate lace-making.

In the evening, return to Venice in time for dinner at a cosy osteria, where you can savour Venetian classics like bigoli (thick spaghetti) with ragu or squid ink risotto.

Begin your final day in the ‘City of Canals’ with a visit to the hidden gem of Giudecca Island. It enjoys a beautiful view of San Marco and can be reached with just one stop by vaporetto, crossing the Giudecca canal. Explore its quiet streets and visit the historic sixteenth century churches of Redentore and San Giorgio Maggiore.

Have a leisurely lunch at a local bacaro (wine bar), where you can enjoy more cicchetti – you are in Venice after all – paired with a glass of prosecco. Spend your afternoon wandering through the less-touristy neighbourhoods of Castello and Santa Croce. Visit the Scuola Grande di San Rocco to admire Tintoretto's masterpieces.

End your 72 hours in Venice with a sunset aperitivo at one of the city's rooftop bars. Reflect on your time in Venice as you watch the sun dip below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the city's rooftops, before returning to the airport for your late evening flight home.