Arrive in San Marco early, before the square becomes busiest and the August heat builds. Begin at Piazza San Marco, where the broad, mostly level paving gives your grandma room to pause and enjoy the view without rushing; bring a lightweight cushion if she uses a wheelchair, as the stone can be tiring. Spend about 45 minutes taking in the Campanile di San Marco, the arcades, and the lagoon end of the square. Then continue to Basilica di San Marco for roughly an hour. Confirm the accessible entrance with staff before joining the queue—access arrangements and lift availability can change—and choose the shorter accessible route rather than attempting every stair. Reserve a timed entry in advance if possible; admission is generally around €3–€10 depending on the areas included.
Take a proper seated break at Caffè Florian, directly on Piazza San Marco, for coffee and a pastry; budget approximately €15–30 per person once the historic-setting service charge is included. The café is open from morning into the evening, but outdoor tables can be expensive and exposed to the sun, so ask for an indoor or shaded table. Afterward, walk a few minutes to Doge’s Palace. Allow about 90 minutes and tell the entrance staff immediately that you need the accessible itinerary and lift assistance; the full palace route includes the Bridge of Sighs and many stairs, while the adapted route avoids the most difficult sections. A pre-booked timed ticket is worthwhile in August, with standard admission commonly around €30; wear cool clothing and carry water, since the interior can still feel warm.
Keep the evening deliberately unhurried and dine at Ristorante La Feluca in San Marco, close to the day’s sights. Reserve ahead and specifically request a step-free table—Venetian restaurants often have a small threshold even when the dining room is otherwise accessible. Expect about €40–70 per person for seafood, pasta, and drinks. From Doge’s Palace, allow roughly 10–15 minutes at an easy pace, checking the exact alley route beforehand because a single bridge step can make a seemingly short walk awkward; if your grandma is using a wheelchair, ask the restaurant about the easiest vaporetto or porter-assisted approach. After dinner, return before the square fills with late-evening crowds, and use a vaporetto rather than adding unnecessary walking.
Start at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Dorsoduro, ideally around opening time—usually 10:00–18:00, closed Tuesdays; check the official site before setting out, as summer hours and timed entry can change. The museum is compact, making it one of Venice’s more manageable art stops, with lifts and accessible visitor facilities, though a few doorways and outdoor surfaces may still require assistance. Allow about 90 minutes and ask staff for the easiest route through the galleries. From there, continue slowly along the waterfront toward Punta della Dogana; it is roughly a 10–15-minute walk, but use a wheelchair or taxi boat if the heat or paving becomes tiring. The building has broad views toward the Grand Canal and a calmer atmosphere; allow about an hour, with admission generally around €15–20 and reduced rates often available.
Make your way to Osteria Al Squero, a casual bacaro opposite the historic gondola workshop. From Punta della Dogana, allow around 20 minutes at an unhurried pace, or take a short vaporetto hop if available and convenient. Choose cicchetti—small Venetian snacks—rather than a formal meal, and settle outside or just inside with a view across the canal. Expect approximately €15–30 per person for several bites and drinks. Seating is informal and the area can be busy, so it is worth arriving before the main lunch rush and confirming that a table with easy access is available.
After lunch, take the vaporetto Grand Canal ride from Zattere or Accademia toward Rialto—check the electronic displays because routes and stops can vary. A ride of about 30–45 minutes gives your grandma a real Venice experience while keeping her seated; ask the crew for the easiest boarding point and priority seating, and allow extra time at the stop because floating platforms can be busy. Get off near Rialto and spend up to 45 minutes around Mercato di Rialto, where the fish and produce stalls are generally most active in the morning and begin winding down by early afternoon; the surrounding paving is uneven, so keep this as a brief browse rather than a long walk. Finish at Ristorante Florida, close to the bridge, requesting a table near the entrance. Dinner is usually around €30–55 per person; booking ahead is sensible in August, and an early sitting around 18:30–19:00 will be quieter and easier for mobility.