Venice · WORKSHOPS
Good workshops fill up fast in Venice; the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Paint a Venice Carnival mask in a 1-hour artisan workshop. Learn paper-mâché techniques and take home your design.
“Gorge was wonderful! We really enjoyed learning the history of carnival and about his family’s mask making business.”
Venice pasta and tiramisu class in Dorsoduro, 3 hours of hands-on fresh fettuccine, ravioli, wine, limoncello, and dessert.
“Serena was a perfect teacher she went at a pace everyone could keep up with, answered all questions. plus food was amazing”
Venice cooking class for fresh pasta and tiramisu in a small group, with wine, limoncello, and coffee included.
“Entertaining and fun way to spend a morning in Venice. Learned the intricate techniques of cooking Italian food in a fun atmosphere and met new people. Food was excellent. Setting was beautiful and the hosts were fun and helpful, would highly recommend.”
Private 75-minute Murano-style glass lesson with master Massimiliano Caldarone in Venice. Make a souvenir piece, plus 10% off.
“It was a wonderful experience! We got to make our own glass items and watch him do a professional demonstration, it was very interesting and informative. 10/10 would recommend to anyone.”
A small-group Venetian mask workshop near Piazza San Marco where a master teaches papier-mâché techniques, you paint your own mask, then take it home.
“Ten out of ten! Went as a family of four with college aged kids and this was our favorite thing. Learned from a mask making master… generationally passed down in the same family since the 15th century.”
Small-group Murano glass workshop from Venice with a master blower demo, hands-on mosaic or jewelry, factory tour, and round-trip water taxi.
“We really enjoyed the glass blowing presentation. Afterwards, we had the choice to make a bracelet, key chain etc out of glass beads or a mosaic. That was a neat little activity but I really thought, from the description, that we would be actually able to try the glass blowing. I am not sure if that was my misreading or something wasn't clear. Murano itself is run down and mostly vacant. We couldn't find any open shops or cafes in the time we had to explore.”
Short Murano trip from Venice with a glass-blowing demo, then make your own bead or mosaic keepsake, plus lagoon views.
“So interesting to learn the history of the Phoenician people that started glad blowing!”
Make a Venetian baroque-style mask at Carta Alta on Giudecca, learn mask history, and take home your custom masterpiece in 90 minutes.
“Fantastic! Professional studio – they have made masks for several well-known film productions. The workshops were very well prepared. The owner of the studio, Augusto, is a very nice and friendly man (he helped us get to the venue from the airport and welcomed us with good coffee). He led the workshops with an assistant – an artist and painter. The studio is in a beautiful location, close to numerous atmospheric restaurants. Easy access to the center of Venice by water bus. I highly recommend it. Katarzyna”
Paint your own Venetian mask in a Venice workshop, choose from 50+ paper mache designs, use acrylics and metallics, take it home.
“Amazing activity with really kind lady, highly recommend x”
Make your own Murano-style glass artwork in Venice with artist Massimiliano Caldarone, then take it home and get a shop discount.
“Massimiliano was such a pleasure to visit with! He explained every step of the process, and made sure that the piece that we walked away with was something that would be structurally secure, but also something beautiful that we created. I loved that this was a small private lesson, and not a large group. The pendant that we made we were able to walk away with at the end of the lesson in case anyone is worried about slow cooling periods. After we did our project Massimiliano let us pick which kind of project we wanted to see him make. It was so fascinating to watch how effortless he makes…”
Shop Rialto with a Venetian chef, then cook fresh pasta and tiramisù in a small kitchen. Wine included, great value for 4 hours.
“Cooking with a venetian chef was a MUST on our European travels and is one of our favorite activities that we completed during our trip. What started as a tour through Venice's oldest and still running fish markets, ended up being an afternoon basking in the sun eating pasta and prawns. Our chef, personable, kind and clearly passionate, was the perfect host. We got to make our own dessert, appetizer and to-die-for pasta, while learning tips and tricks and getting to enjoy aperol spritz. We honestly could not have picked a better activity to do during our time on the island. Our only comment is that the company clearly does…”
Hands-on Venice cooking class in a local home. Make fresh pasta and tiramisù with a Cesarina, then eat with wine and aperitivo.
“So much fun! My husband and I were so impressed by the hospitality, instruction & pasta! Highly recommend.”
Venice pasta and tiramisu cooking class in a local home. Roll fresh pasta, assemble tiramisu, then dine with wine and prosecco.
“The class was amazing and I would recommend this to anyone visiting Venice. Carlotta was wonderful! She was a great teacher and her lovely personality made the class even more enjoyable. The food was delicious - this was a 10/10 experience!”
A small-group beginner glassblowing class in Murano where you practice with and without hot glass, then make your own piece to pick up next day.
“Absolutely a must do if in Venice! Most glass tours in Murano are just watching the masters do their extraordinary thing making beautiful glass art but this class actually teaches you what to do and you get to make your own piece! The folks taking the tour watch you making your glass piece!! Our teacher was great and we loved the class! Truly an amazing experience!!! 5 stars for sure!”
Create your own Venetian Carnival mask in Casanova’s Prison Palace, guided by a local artisan. Materials included, take-home souvenir.
“Awesome, the guide is a woman that is very charismatic and helps you every step, it is really cool to get to know how these things are made”
From the Basilica to the far lagoon — every experience, ranked.
