A Friday-evening arrival gives you a full two days to settle into Venice's unhurried rhythm, no rushing between a dozen sights. This weekend keeps things simple: the grand set-piece sights on Saturday, then a slower, wander-and-boat-trip Sunday around the lagoon.
Start the morning at St. Mark's Square, arriving early while the light is soft and the square still quiet, then step into St. Mark's Basilica to take in its mosaics at a relaxed pace rather than rushing the queue. Next door, the Doge's Palace fills a comfortable couple of hours, and if you'd rather see beyond the main halls, the Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries Tour is worth booking ahead for a quieter, behind-the-scenes look. Cross the nearby Bridge of Sighs and climb the Campanile di San Marco for a rooftop view over the rooftops and lagoon before lunch. Spend the afternoon strolling toward the Rialto Bridge, pausing at the market stalls along the way, and let the evening unwind with a leisurely dinner at a bacaro in the Cannaregio District, where canal-side tables and cicchetti make for an easy, no-agenda evening.
Ease into the day with a slow walk through the Dorsoduro District, stopping at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection or the Gallerie dell'Accademia depending on your taste for modern or classical art, there's no need to do both. A short vaporetto ride out to Burano - Fishermen's Village makes for a colorful, low-key afternoon, and if time allows, a stop at Murano - Glassblowing Island on the way back rounds out the lagoon trip nicely. Back in the city, take a quiet detour past San Giorgio Maggiore or the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari before the light fades, then close the weekend with an early, relaxed dinner near the water, no need to squeeze in anything more before heading home.