Venice is composed of 118 small islands, all separated by beautiful canals and connected to one another by more than 400 bridges. Located in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, Venice is especially known for its architecture and art.
For a very long time, Venice has been the center of attraction for a lot of visitors to Italy. From its rich history to its labyrinth of canals, everything about Venice is captivating. When in Venice, forget the roads and walk down the bridges or take a gondola ride, as you explore the rich culture and history of the floating city.
Here are the 15 best Venice tours to make sure that you get to see the best of this magical city.
1. Boat Trip To Murano, Torcello & Burano
Source: Yasonya / shutterstockVisit three of the most famous Islands of the City of Canals on a boat trip that will take you cruising through parts of the Venetian Lagoon.
This 4-and-a-half-hour boat tour will allow you to explore the rich history, culture, and scenery of the three Islands, with a 45-minute stop on each one. Witness skilled glassblowers at work in Murano, the unique chocolate box painted houses in Burano and the picturesque landscapes in Torcello.
The multilingual guide accompanying you on the boat will ensure that you learn all about the three famous islands, while you have the freedom to explore the three islands at your own pace.
2. Doge’s Palace Priority Admission Ticket
Source: Dreamer4787 / shutterstockVisit the palace that was once the residence of the Doge of Venice, without the hassle of waiting in long lines for hours. Head straight into the site that was once the head of Venice and explore its quintessential architecture and art.
Spend time in the palace to discover the magnificent works of art exhibited here, and explore the iconic gold staircase and the Bridge of Sighs leading to the prison.
The palace itself is a great representation of the city’s rich history and culture, and its tour will take you back in time.
3. Grand Canal Gondola ride
Source: givaga / shutterstockThis gondola ride will take you down the 3800-meter Grand Canal, which is the most important waterway of Venice.
The 30-minute gondola ride takes you through the secluded waters and under small bridges. During the ride, you can witness the City of Canals in its essence.
Grab the map with descriptions of the places that you will ride by and listen to the audio commentary on the mobile app as you take the gondola ride down the Grand Canal.
4. Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica Tour
Source: Rudy Balasko / shutterstockDiscover two important landmarks of Venice on a walking tour that will pass through all the sights of St. Mark’s Square that you need to see.
The 2-hour walking tour won’t just show you the highlights of St. Mark’s square, but it will also grant skip-the-line entrance into St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. Witness the epitome of Italo-Byzantine architecture at St. Mark’s Basilica, and discover more about the history of Venice at the Doge’s Palace.
The guided tour will ensure you get the gist of all the important historic, cultural and architectural facts about the sites that you visit.
5. Gems Of The Venetian Lagoon
Source: Mariia Golovianko / shutterstockThis boat tour will take you from the waterfront of St. Mark and around the island of San Giorgio Maggiore and Lido, exploring the real gems of the Venetian lagoon.
This tour is a 4-hour boat ride through the waters of the Venetian lagoon, riding by the island of San Giorgio Maggiore and Lido and also taking you to see the vibrant colored houses in Burano and classic glass blowing industry of Murano.
Enjoy the scenic beauty of the islands and the surrounding water, as a live multilingual guide shares with you knowledge about all the sights you pass by.
6. Murano and Burano Islands Tour
Source: Javen / shutterstockThis tour takes you to the islands of Murano and Burano by boat, where you can stop to admire the brightly colored houses and the tranquil and refreshing atmosphere, and learn more about glass blowing from the masters at the glass factory.
Spending 4 hours on the boat ride and the two islands will prove to be an experience as enjoyable as it is educational. A multilingual guide will accompany you throughout the ride, so you get the best of the tour.
7. The Mysterious Venice Walking Tour
Source: getyourguide.comThis is a tour that will take you on a walk to the mysterious side of Venice. Explore the heart of Venice with an experienced guide who will tell you about the unusual secrets of the City of Masks.
Take a 75-minute walk through the lesser-known areas of Venice, where the true essence of the city lies. Discover secret and secluded areas of the city, with their rich history and unique markets. Visit the city’s oldest church, The Church of San Giacometto, located in Rialto Area, which was once a trading hub.
Walk down the maze of streets and squares and witness a different side of Venice with its iconic architectural wonders and rich history.
8. Grand Canal Gondola Serenade
Source: getyourguide.comA grand experience on the Grand Canal, experiencing the pleasures of a serenade with famous Italian songs as you take a gondola ride.
The 30-minute shared gondola ride is a beautiful experience with a professional singer singing authentic Italian songs and breathtaking scenery around you.
Connect to the mobile app for the audio commentary as you ride through the lesser-populated waterways in a peaceful environment.
9. Leonardo Da Vinci Museum Skip-The-Line Ticket
Source: Veniamin Kraskov / shutterstockGet a peek inside a genius mind at the Leonardo Da Vinci museum, with exclusive entry and no waiting in line.
Spend your time exploring Leonardo Da Vinci’s work and learn more about his life in a museum that is based on the four elements, earth, water, fire, and air.
It’s a family-friendly tour that will intrigue adults as well as children with its unique exhibition.
10. Venice Carnival Grand Ball Gala Dinner & Show
Source: getyourguide.comRejoice the Venice Carnival with a gala dinner, experiencing a historic tradition that features elaborate costumes and rich party aura.
Spend 4 hours at an exclusive grand ball, complete with music and dance and shows by magicians and contortionists. Enjoy drinks and a scrumptious dinner while being serenaded by pianists and entertained by various performances.
A perfect evening in a lavish ball with a meal, free parking and cloakroom service that will leave you with the best memories of the city.
11. Carnival Mask Workshop
Source: getyourguide.comEnjoy this unique class in the City of Masks, where you can learn about traditional techniques for creating masks and create your own.
It’s an hour-long workshop that will polish up your skills and teach you traditional techniques of making masks from papier-mâché.
All the supplies you need are provided for you to let your imagination run wild, with extra knowledge and tips throughout the process of making your mask.
12. Venice Walking Tour & Gondola Ride
Source: Alexa_Space / shutterstockLearn more about the city of water and bridges with a walk through the streets of Venice and a gondola ride through the canals.
This 2-hour tour allows you to explore the major hotspots of the city on foot, uncovering its history, and then a gondola ride that will give you an entirely different yet beautiful view of the city.
Allow the experienced guide to tell you all about the city as you walk through the major highlights, uncovering its beauty and culture.
13. Rialto Market Lunchtime Tour
Source: Zoran Karapancev / shutterstockIndulge yourself in the unique market of Venice in a walking and tasting tour that will give you a deeper insight into the city’s food and culture.
The 4-hour tour will take you to see not only the city’s major sights but also some of its secluded areas, which are no less, enchanting than the rest of the city. On this tour, you get to meet local artisans and producers who will tell you more about life in the city.
Enjoy the stops at 7 different eateries, all of which offer traditional and high-quality Italian food, as well as an 18th-century osteria known for its snacks that are unique to Venice.
14. Legends & Ghosts of Cannaregio Tour
Source: getyourguide.comExplore the secluded and darker corners of the city in this one of a kind tour that will give a different experience of the city.
Spend 4 hours discovering the dark streets and secluded areas of Cannaregio as the night falls, while listening to the guide telling you stories about the ghosts and legends of Venice.
The professional tour guide can be heard on headphones too, in German, English, and French for the best experience of the tour.
15. Hop-on Hop-off City Sightseeing Boat Tour
Enjoy the experience of sightseeing in the beautiful city of Venice with all of its bridges and networks of canals, on a hop-on-hop-off tour that allows you to get off at any stop you wish.
The full tour is 2 hours long, but you can choose which stop to get off on and explore the city, discovering its outstanding architecture, history, culture and all of its beauty. Visit all the major spots of the city that you wish to see and enjoy the trip at your own pace.
Choose from two different lines that will take you to almost all of the city’s major sights and enjoy the free Wi-Fi onboard.