Top Veneto Shore Excursions

Discover the awe-inspiring St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice without the headache of long lines. Head to the front of the queue with your expert guide and step inside to admire the cathedral’s glittering gold mosaics and embellished domes. Explore other architectural highlights of St. Mark’s Square and learn about Venice’s history as a seafaring superpower and Italian cultural capital. You also escape to quieter backstreets of Hidden Venice to visit lesser-known attractions and gain insight into daily Venetian life.

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!

Get a taste for the hill towns near Venice with this small-group tour of Veneto. Wander the charming medieval streets and gardens of Asolo and Bassano del Grappa, and visit the well-preserved Villa Barbaro, designed by the famous Renaissance architect Palladio. Savor Veneto cuisine at a local restaurant (lunch not included in the tour price), and toast your trip with a bubbly glass of prosecco at a vineyard tasting. Numbers are limited to 8 people to ensure an intimate, personalized experience.

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.

Enjoy a stress-free arrival in Venice with this shared transfer service. Board a comfortable motorboat at the Venezia Marittima cruise terminal and disembark at a drop-off point near your central Venice hotel. Sit back, relax and take in the extraordinary sights that welcome you on the ride across the Venetian Lagoon.

Make your romantic memories of the canal city last forever with a private gondola ride and photo shoot in Venice.

Take a private tour of the Venetian Lagoon and visit the enchanting islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. Tour a glassblower’s workshop in Murano, and discover the traditional art of lacemaking in Burano. See medieval churches while learning about the ancient history of Torcello, Venice’s earliest settlement and a tranquil escape from the typical tourist path. Enjoy the dedicated attention of your private guide on this 4-hour tour.

Discover the wines of Italy’s Veneto region on a private half-day trip to a historic winery housed in a 17th-century villa. Travel in a comfortable Mercedes minivan from Venice to a beautiful setting of rolling vineyards and charming gardens. Learn about the long winemaking history of Veneto, which dates back to the Roman Empire, and tour the grounds and barrel rooms of a family-run winery. Taste several different Veneto varietals served with house-made appetizers. 

The best parts of Venice are always the secret and inespected ones. In my opinion in fact, "traveling" means "discovering". Travelers should therefore feel a constant urge to learn new things and see ... "more". In Venice, they would try to discover the whole city and live it at fullest. They would have to look at customs and traditions, support the arts and crafts, taste the local food ... in short, they would have fun. And in doing so, but also the emotions felt (and the eyes of those who led them). I would like to show you off-the-beaten-path, discovering the mysterious, the hidden corners of Venice which is not JUST St. Mark's Square: it's ALSO St. Mark's Square . I look forward to meeting you! Nadia, your "Friend in Venice"

This is the best tour to fall in love with Venice! Venice is the most romantic and unique city on the water in the world. I want to show you the real soul of it, helping you discover its essence and not just the touristic places. What we will visit together during this tour: Campo San Polo, the biggest campo in Venice and the history of Carnival and “bull fights” in Venice. One of the narrowest calli (street) of Venice. Carampane, the former red light district of Venice. The colourful and historical Rialto market. The place where Venice was founded according to the legend. I will explain the secrets of Venice through these emblematic and historical places, how it was founded, curiosities, and many other things. If you want to know everything about this fantastic city, book the tour!

Venture outside the tourist areas of Venice and explore the islands of the Venetian Lagoon on a guided boat tour. With this tour, you’ll set out from a pier conveniently located near St. Mark’s square to visit the islands of Murano and Burano. You’ll tour a glass factory and watch a glass blowing artist in action in Murano, and enjoy free time strolling the colorful canals and browsing the artisan shops of Burano.

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.

We'll start our tour from the historical Rialto area, defined by historians "the Wall Street of Europe in the Middle Ages". We'll discover the secrets of the Rialto Market and I'll unveil the venetian point of view about the Rialto bridge and its spectacular view on the Grand Canal. We'll discover why masks and Carnival are so important in Venice and then away from the crowds, we will take a walk to discover the unique layout of the city: bridges, fancy private palaces, narrow alleyways, large and small campi(our squares), elaborate stone well heads. Finally we'll reach the most beautiful square of the world, Piazza San Marco, to see all the famous architectures (the Doges' Palace, Sansovino Library, the Bridge of Sighs, the Bell Tower, Procuratie) online outside. If you are a curious traveller and it's your first time in Venice for sure you'd like to have answers to all these questions: Why was Venice built on water? When was Venice built? Why does St. Mark's Church look so Oriental? Is Venice sinking? I will lead you through the millennium of life of the Serenissima Republic. So, let's discover the past full of charm of this unique city and its intriguing present.

A secret walking tour to explore together the best preserved and authentic face of the city: narrow streets and canals, beautiful squares with wells and churches… it allows you to get to know the area of the city less frequented by the bustle of tourists and more authentic in contrast of the classic tourist rout numerous examples of places that are little known to visitors but that certainly merits a visit.

As well as Venice, there are many other beautiful islands surrounding it, including Murano and Burano. Explore these two islands in a day by going on a private boat tour. No need to navigate to a meeting place in Venice, as a private speedboat picks you up from your hotel. See the island known for being the home of the glass masters—Murano, and the colorful fisherman village of Burano.

This Venice tour by a local guide is a unique experience, tailored on your interest. It is a private tour: only you and your local licensed guide and great lover of Venice. During the off the beaten paths Venice tour you will wander through a very authentic local neighborhood, you will enjoy the magic greeneries of a Venetian palazzo and you will listen to beautiful local stories and legends that only Venetians knows

The UNESCO-listed Dolomites, located just north of Venice, offer some of the most spellbinding alpine scenery in Italy. With this full-day driving tour, set off from Venice to admire their soaring peaks, crystalline lakes, and postcard-perfect towns - most of which are inaccessible by public transportation. Enjoy free time in Cortina d’Ampezzo, stroll along the banks of Lake Misurina, and snap photos from the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

Breeze past the crowds with your own private guide and enjoy a walking tour of Venice with just your friends or family. You’ll have all of your questions answered while you stroll to St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco), Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto), Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), and more. Or customize your half-day tour with shopping and sightseeing.

Get a true Venetian experience on this 3-hour private tour. Follow your guide around the city and see the famous Piazza San Marco, Doges Palace, and the Basilica as you listen to the history of the Italian city. Then take a private boat along the Grand Canal and see the city from a different perspective and how people navigated the city for hundreds of years.

Immerse yourself in the real Venice with a secret itinerary tour! A unique walk, far from the beaten paths and from the most touristic areas to discover the essence and secrets of my Venice! I have selected for you the best calli and alternative routes that lead to hidden treasures. We will discover the Venice of the Venetians, we will cross historical bridges to enjoy unique views and we will even reach a hidden garden! A few quick quizzes or riddles and even challenges await you, be ready to immerse yourself in the Venetian spirit! We will meet in Campo San Barnaba at the well in front of the church, a place of legends and cinematographic enterprises. We will discover "life on the water" and a unique floating market. We will immerse ourselves in the dorsoduro district, the most artistic of the floating city, with its palaces, churches full of charm and architectural elements of rare beauty! We will end our experience in San Marco's district discovering something you can't imagine.

A private gondola tour on the Grand Canal is a quintessential experience for your small group in Venice. Only your group of up to six people will board a gondola to glide through the major waterway, as well as some smaller passages, with a gondolier. Enjoy a flute of prosecco or Champagne as you pass by Italian architecture and under romantic bridges. Departure times take place throughout the day to best suit your vacation schedule.

Step into the shoes of an Italian fashion model with a private, 2-hour photo shoot in Venice. Walk with a professional photographer to some of the city’s most photogenic viewpoints, including St Mark’s Square, the Rialto Bridge and the Basilica della Salute, plus romantic canals and hidden alleyways. Capture your personality with accessories and have fun with Carnival masks to create a polished collection of professional portraits that memorialize your time in one of the world’s most romantic cities. 

The short time generally allowed to cruise passengers to go ashore as their ship is in the harbor, would seem incompatible with the philosophy of the “traveler”. One would think that short time inevitably means haste, forcing shore excursionists to dash through the city as hasty “tourists”… well, that is not true! You can visit Venice like a local even with little time available: you only need a “Friend” by your side!Please let a real Venetian welcome you and accompany you to your chosen destination, in the easiest and quickest way. Let me introduce you to this city, providing you with the best information to appreciate it at fullest, as well as tips on how to move, where to eat, where to shop etc. A shore excursion in Venice is not complete without Saint Mark’s Square, I know, but let us get there through the less touristic routes, those that your travel companions will certainly miss by jumping immediately on the shuttle or blindly following the yellow signs around. Be Venetian !

We'll meet at San Marco Square or Rialto Bridge, as you prefer, and start a two hour tour of Venice where I will guide you through the discovery of numerous wonderful views, far from the traditional tourist routes. We leave the crowd and dive into the romanticism of Venice, with their bridges and canals. Ready to have a romantic walk in Venice?