Grand Canal Tours and Activities

Experience Venice in the most Venetian way possible: via a shared gondola ride while being serenaded. Choose between an afternoon or evening ride and then hop on the six-person gondola by a gondolier who is clad in traditional garb. Then begin the ride, as part of a group of eight different gondolas, with a singer aboard one of the boats. In addition to the song being sun to you, enjoy the sites of Venice's main landmarks, including the grand Canal and Palazzo Barberino.

See the best of Venice in a day on a tour that combines a guided walk with a cruise along the bustling Grand Canal. Hear the history of St. Mark’s Square and Rialto Bridge from a guide, and visit St. Mark’s Basilica with a skip-the-line ticket to beat the long admission lines. Discover the tucked-away treasures of Venice’s backstreets and charming canals, and then finish on a high note: a water taxi cruise on the Grand Canal.

First time in Venice? Maximize your time in the city with a full-day itinerary that ticks off all the most memorable attractions. Stroll across the Rialto Bridge and browse the lively Rialto fish market, then hop aboard a traditional gondola for a romantic cruise along the Grand Canal. Next, access St. Mark’s Basilica and gaze down over the city from the cathedral’s rooftop terrace. Finally, enjoy skip-the-line entrance to the grandiose Doge’s Palace. This small-group tour is limited to 15 people ensuring a personalized experience.

Discover Venice’s hidden gems on a 2-hour cruise through the city’s secret canals. Watch scenes of daily Venetian life as you glide through the lesser-known neighborhoods of Cannaregio, Dorsoduro and the Jewish Ghetto. A guide will share insight into the city’s history, architecture and local legends. For a grand finale, head out into the wider waters of the Grand Canal and float beneath the iconic Rialto Bridge. Numbers are limited to nine people on this small-group tour for a more intimate experience.

Explore Venice's famous canals on a guided gondola ride through the city. Meander beneath bridges and along quiet, peaceful stretches in a traditional Venetian boat, taking in sights such as the Rialto Bridge and Campo Manin as you go. Join up to five others—along with your expert gondolier—in enjoying one of Venice's most leisurely and original pastimes, and don't miss this chance to experience the Grand Canal from the water.

If you’re looking to see most of Venice’s well-known sights all in one day, put your trust in this fun combination day tour. This package includes a gondola ride on the Grand Canal, a walking tour of the city, and a boat tour along the city’s most secluded canals. Plus, it gives you a skip-the-line privilege at Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and at St. Mark's Basilica.

Explore the best of Venice at a 10% discount with this Super Saver combo of three popular tours. Skip the line at the Doge’s Palace, where you can wander through ornate public rooms and across the notorious Bridge of Sighs. You’ll also head to the front of the long queue at St Mark’s Basilica to tour the dazzling interior of this Byzantine masterpiece including Pala d'Oro and enjoy a guided walking tour of Venice’s hidden gems. Finally, cruise down the Grand Canal aboard a motorboat and soak in the majestic passing scenery.

Experience the beauty of Venice by boat on this Grand Canal tour of the city built on water. Glide through the placid waters past palaces, churches, gardens, and bridges as you make your way along the iconic waterway. Then journey into some of the minor canals on this luxury motorboat. Bring the magic of these liquid streets to life on a tour that’s ideal for lovers, photographers, and travelers!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS • Stroll down the narrow alleys of Venice and encounter enchanting squares • Take a classic gondola ride along the Grand Canal and smaller canals • Embark on a 2.5-hour tour with a professional experienced guide - See Venice from the land and water on a 2-hour combined stroll through the fabled quarters of “La Serenissima”, and a gondola ride along the quiet canals. See the unusual façade of La Fenice, and hear curious stories about the Venetian Republic.

Want to see the Dolomites, tour Venice and save money at the same time? Book this Venice Super Saver, which combines two best-selling tours at a discounted rate, and spread your sightseeing over two days. Start with a Dolomites day trip to visit the ski village of Cortina d’Ampezzo and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo mountain range, and then take a tour of the Venice on the second day (check operational schedule for details). Bypass the entrance lines outside St Mark’s Basilica, explore the city by foot and, finally, finish with a water taxi cruise on the Grand Canal.

Embark on a quintessential Venetian experience with a private, serenaded gondola ride through the famed canals of Venice. Glide past ancient palazzi and magnificent cathedrals on a traditional handcrafted gondola, while musicians serenade you with mood-setting Italian ballads. Gondolas have room for up to four passengers, so it’s the perfect opportunity for romance or an unforgettable family experience.

Cruise along Venice's most famous waterway with a private, 1-hour boat tour of the Grand Canal, followed by a trip across the Venetian Lagoon to the renowned glass-blowing island of Murano. Zip alongside magnificent palazzos and soak up the quiet charm of smaller canals as your driver relates the legends and history of 'the floating city.' In Murano, watch master glassblowers at a factory workshop and admire intricate finished pieces at the showroom.

Enjoy a real taste of Venice on a tantalizing lunchtime tour of the Rialto Market and discover the city’s impressive culinary credentials. Follow your guide on a tour of Venice’s foodie hotspots, browse the fresh produce at the city’s famous markets, and tuck into traditional cicchetti (Venetian tapas) at a local inn. Finally, sample fine regional wines and prosecco at the city’s legendary Bacari bars, then leave armed with plenty of recommendations for where to shop and dine in the city.

Due to the international health crisis Overtourism has disappeared in Venice. I want to seize this opportunity to offer all travellers who are unable to see Venice in person a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As a journalist, I shot this short video reportage in a unique time for Venice. Through the video I will show you Venice's most celebrated places.For the very first time you can enjoy these place on your own with no one else besides you. I will let you hear the fascinating and yet uneasy stillness enwrapping Venice and its canals night and day at this particular time. Those of you who have already been to Venice will be filled with awe while virtually seeing these places in a totally different light. Those who have never been to Venice will definitely feel the need to see it in person in a short time. How does it work? Check the calendar, book it and you'll receive a link to enjoy the experience when you prefer (doesn’t matter date and time that you choose on the calendar).

Explore the romantic canals of Venice the way that locals have for centuries on a 30-minute shared gondola ride. Climb aboard one of the ornate carved vessels and settle into your seat as a professional gondolier navigates past ancient palazzos, under footbridges and through scenes of daily life in the captivating city-on-the-sea. It’s a quintessential Venetian experience not to be missed!

Taste your way through the canal city on a street food tour of Venice. Walk through gorgeous squares, see impressive churches, and visit the bustling Rialto Market. See Campo Santa Margherita, the Grand Canal, Basilica dei Frari, San Polo, and much more. Savor Venetian specialties like cicchetti, buranelli, tramezzini, and tiramisu.

Feel the romance of a classic Venetian experience with a serenaded gondola ride through Venice’s famed canals, capped off by dinner or lunch at a renowned local eatery. Settle into a traditional gondola boat for a ride through the Grand Canal and some of the city’s smaller waterways, while onboard musicians provide a passionate soundtrack of Italian ballads. Savor an authentic Venetian meal at the top-rated Hostaria Ai Coristi Restaurant to conclude your enchanted evening or afternoon tour.

Reserve a classic Venetian experience with a private gondola ride through Venice’s romantic canals. Enjoy a beautifully crafted boat and professional gondolier just for your party as you glide down the Grand Canal and smaller waterways, passing historic palaces and landmarks like Mozart’s home and the Rialto Bridge. Book ahead to guarantee a private ride for you group and avoid the hassle of negotiating a price on the spot.

Combine a morning walk through Venice with a gondola ride for the perfect Venetian day. Get to know the canal city better with a guided tour led by an experienced local. Then watch the sights drift by from the water as you cruise through Venice in a gondola. This combined tour is an excellent way to experience Venice.

Enjoy a private ride through Venice’s iconic canals aboard a traditional gondola. On this classic Venetian experience, soak up famous sights like the Rialto Bridge and the ornate Ca’ d’Oro palace while your expert gondolier navigates the beautiful handmade boat through the Grand Canal and other waterways. A friendly local guide accompanies you on the ride to share interesting facts about Venetian history and architecture along the way.

The ideal introduction for first-time visitors, this classic walking tour combines the blockbuster sights of history-packed Venice with a relaxing gondola ride. Listen to legends and stories from the city’s Renaissance heyday as you travel down cobblestoned streets and over picturesque footbridges. Tours cover Saint Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, and the legendary Calle Varisco.

Soak up the best of Venice by land and by water in one convenient half-day package. Tour inside the splendid Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica with a guide, discover the ancient art of glassblowing with a live demonstration, and glide through the city’s famous canals on a romantic gondola ride. Later, continue exploring at your own pace with an included ticket to the Procuratie museums of St. Mark’s Square and a self-guided tour using a special smartphone app to navigate through the city’s maze-like heart.

Head outside Venice and into the countryside of the Veneto region on this tour that introduces you to prosecco—Italian sparkling wine. Learn about the production process of prosecco at a local winery and enjoy guided tastings. You also indulge in a light lunch made of local products before heading back to Venice.

Explore Venice without the hassle of researching or planning on a food tour with multiple food and alcoholic beverage tastings, from fresh mozzarella to prosecco. Booking a private tour ensures the full attention of your guide, who provides little-known facts about Venice’s history and robust food scene as well as recommendations for the duration of your visit. A range of departure times is available for your convenience.