Venice · TOURS
Good tours & experiences fill up fast in Venice; the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Priority into Doge’s Palace plus St Mark’s Basilica terrace views. See Bridge of Sighs and New Prisons with a local guide in 3 hours.
“Our family loved the tour and our guide. She was full of enthusiasm and interesting stories of the sites. She was also very considerate of my aging parent’s abilities throughout the tour. Highly recommended!”
6-hour Venice lagoon boat tour to Murano, Burano, and Torcello with a Murano glassblowing demo, panoramic views, and a 10% shop discount.
“+ The guides were friendly, the islands were nice. - The time left on the islands was very short, the seats on boat are uncomfortable for such a long time on the boat. So soft spots only wooden benches”
Murano and Burano boat tour with a glass factory demo, plus free time on colorful canals. Return to Venice in about 5 to 7 hours.
“we loved the trip across and the tour the best part was watching the glass blowing such amazing talent we were mesmerised. Burano was a beautiful island with all of the coloured houses enjoyed it very much”
Half-day motorboat loop to Murano, Torcello, and Burano for glassblowing, Byzantine sights, and lace color, about $25.53.
“The tickets were €25 each, which is reasonable for transport between the islands. However, this is more of a transfer service than a fully guided tour. The guide gives a brief history of each place while you’re still on the boat and tells you what time to return, but they do not walk you around the islands or provide detailed commentary once you get off. The glass factory demonstration in Murano was very interesting and well done. You are given the opportunity to purchase items afterwards with a small discount, but there is no pressure to buy. That part was enjoyable. There is quite a bit of waiting between rides…”
Private boat tour from Venice to Murano and Burano with small-group guides, glassblowing and lace demos, plus time to explore.
“It was a great experience. The guide Alice made our experience perfect. Reading other reviews about the cost and what was expected. In our opinion the private boat with a max of 20 including a guide was an amazing price point. You have the same boat from start to finish so if you want to leave items onboard that is an option. The island demos are more of an exposure not a lesson. Again, the price reflects this. For little more than the public transport a guide is included. Alice’s art history degree, her love for her home town of Venice and narration made the tour a treat. The five…”
A half-day Venice boat trip to Murano and Burano with a Murano glassblowing demo, colorful canals, and free time on Burano.
“lovely boat ride to murano. Glass making experience in the factory was lovely. burano was also sweet. all in all a great half day spent on the tour.”
A full-day Venice lagoon boat trip with Murano glass factory demo, free time in Burano’s colorful streets, and Torcello mosaics.
“Affordable and Brilliant crew (Pink Venice). We will book again.”
Private boat day from Venice to Murano and Burano for glassblowing, lace making, island strolling, and take-home craft treasures.
“Manu was the best guide we could have asked for, 5 Star guide providing us with so much information of the Venetian way of lifr”
Skip the lines for Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica, tour the prison and Bridge of Sighs, and soak up golden mosaics in about 3 hours.
“Excellent tour that's really well paced and detailed. Our tour guide took special care to make sure we saw everything of significance from the right points of view, despite it being very crowded. Had a wonderful time. St. Mark's is so beautiful.”
A guided Venice walk from St Mark’s to Rialto, then a classic 30-minute gondola ride along the Grand Canal and canals in the Fenice area.
“The walking tour was fabulous and guide so knowledgeable, though I would see a few more hidden spots. As for gondola ride is was disappointing to say, it was disgusting-and turn our last day into an unforgettable day in Venice for all the wrong reasons. We were huddled like cattle and expected to sit on this tiny chairs opposite each other.(we are 6 ft tall ) the people at the ride and new the tour was no help to fix it. Left us very very disappointed. Would NOT recommend at all.. Do the walking tour ..”
Offbeat Rialto Bridge and San Marco walk with Casanova and Scala Contarini del Bovolo, plus an optional 30-minute gondola ride.
“Valentina was a great guide. The early start avoided the crowds. Adding the Gondola trip made it so easy. We weren't rushed. A great tour company!”
3-hour Venice tour with skip-the-line tickets for St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace, plus museum access with pre-reserved entry.
“Tour guide was brilliant. Knowledgable and approachable. Would definitely recommend”
Small-group Venice tour with skip-the-line St Mark's Basilica, hidden Castello backstreets, and a Grand Canal boat ride.
“Our Tour Guide was excellent. She moved at a steady pace - we weren't rushed nor bored. It was good to have a few hours between the walking tour and the boat ride. Would highly recommend.”
Eat and drink your way through Venice on a small-group Rialto walk with cicchetti, wine, fish tastings, cured meats, pastry, and gelato.
“We did a walking food tour in Venice last night and it was one of the highlights of our trip. Our guide, Marianna, was incredibly informative, funny, and easy to listen to. She shared so much about Venetian food, culture, and history in a way that made everything feel approachable and fun. What really made the tour stand out were her insider tips — especially on how to avoid tourist traps and how locals actually eat and enjoy Venetian cuisine. The food stops were great, but the knowledge she shared made it even better. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Venice, especially if it’s your first time…”
2.5-hour Venice street food walk with Rialto Market tastings, cicchetti in bacari, and sights like Frari, ending at Campo Santa Margherita.
“Tony was very informative and we had a great experience tasting local cuisine. Would highly recommend.”
From the Basilica to the far lagoon — every experience, ranked.
