Local sightseeing in Srinagar fits comfortably into one full day if it is sequenced well -- most rushed Srinagar days happen because of poor ordering, not too many stops.
Morning: Dal Lake Start with a shikara ride by 8am, while the water is calmer and the light is better for photos.
Mid-morning: Mughal Gardens Nishat Bagh and Shalimar Bagh before the midday heat, spending roughly 45 minutes to an hour at each.
Afternoon: Lunch and old city A wazwan-style lunch, followed by an old city walk through shrines, bridges, and craft lanes in the late afternoon when the markets are at their busiest and most photogenic.
Evening: Back to the lake A second, quieter shikara ride or houseboat evening to close the day.
This order -- lake, gardens, old city, lake again -- is the single biggest factor in making a Srinagar sightseeing day feel complete rather than rushed.