Guided tours of Venice’s attractions are a great way to see Venice’s sightseeing highlights. Visit Venice’s important sites with English-speaking tour guides. Enter the museums without waiting on line. All Venice tours include skip the line tickets. These escorted Venice tours are the perfect way to enhance your independent Venice vacation package. To book your guided tour of Venice’s sightseeing attractions and to buy tickets submit form online or call us today 800-227-1577.
Half Day to Murano, Burano & Torcello
9:15AM or 2:15 PM – 3.5 hours
$32 per person
Sail to Murano to see how the beautiful coloured glass is made, then on to the pretty islands of Burano and Torcello. After sailing past the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, the Public Gardens, the tip of Sant’Elena and the famous Lido beach resort, the boat arrives in Murano, known throughout the world for its glass manufacturing industry. Here we stop for around 40 minutes to visit to one of the factories. The second stop is at the picturesque island of Burano, famous not only for its lace but also for the fishermen’s houses painted in bright colours. The stop will last about 30 minutes. Then after a short cruise, we reach Torcello, the earliest centre of civilization in the estuary. Only the Cathedral with its magnificent mosaics and the church of Santa Fosca remain as testimony of its former glory. The stop will be for about 30 minutes then we return to St.Mark’s Square.Includes transportation by boat, visit to a Glass Factory.
Original Venice Walk with Skip the Line Ticket to St Mark’s Basilica
11:10AM or 2 PM – 2 hours
$30 per person
Through the sights and the historical narrations learn how illustrious Venetians made this city of stone a vibrant and magical place. Skip the line ticket to St. Mark’s Basilica included! Visit St. Mark’s Square and learn the history that lies behind the walls of its most famous landmarks: the Basilica, its Byzantine heritage, the Doge’s Palace and its adjoining prisons, that retain true secrets to comprehend how a city built on swamps became one of the most enlightened cities of the western world, and learn how all of a sudden fate turned its back on her. Then leave the square to discover the ‘real Venice’, enter a labyrinth of narrow passageways and alleys where a magical city of meandering canals punctuated by delicate bridges awaits you. And through the sights and the historical narrations learn how illustrious Venetians, the likes of Casanova and Marco Polo, and more common citizens made this city of stone a vibrant and magical place. Discover how Venice is today and how it is to live in the most beautiful city in the world, though not the most practical! Includes guide service, skip the line ticket to St. Mark’s Basilica, visit of St. Mark’s Square, walk through the alleys, visit of the House of Marco Polo, visit of the Merchants warehouse and visit of the Rialto Bridge.
Hidden Venice
11:15AM – 2hours
$35 per person
Visit the imposing Frari church, hidden away in the San Polo district, home to masterpieces of Titian and Bellini as well as a magnificent funeral monument by Canova. Enjoy a guided walk through a labyrinth of streets and narrow passageways in the old artisans quarters of Venice and listen to numerous stories of the illustrious merchants and their ruthless acts of cruelty. Pass-by the old locandas, where the merchants would sojourn and encounter the famous Venetian courtesans in the old red-light district of Venice, that is home to the notorious ‘Ponte delle Tette’. During this walk, you’ll see some of the oldest houses in Venice, quaint picturesque bridges and palazzi, an old prison for tax evaders and learn about how life used to be in Venice and how life is today for the modern day Venetians.
Gondola Ride
3PM – 35 minutes
$43 per person
A romantic ‘promenade’ by gondola that will take you along the canals of Venice. A fantastic opportunity to travel along Venice’s waterways looking up at the fabulous medieval palaces that line these historic thoroughfares and down to see their shimmering reflections dancing on the surface of the water. This cruise through the city’s most secluded waterways passing under small bridges will help you appreciate the special quality of this floating city. Includes English speaking assistant from the meeting point to the gondola station; gondola ride (about 30 minutes) without musicians; map with description of palaces along the cruise.
Walking Tour with Gondola Ride
3PM – 2 hours
$55 per person
This tour includes a magical guided walk and an unforgettable gondola ride. Enjoy a romantic and relaxing afternoon. Get away from the crowds in St Marks Square and get lost in the maze of winding alleyways. A magical walk around the area of the Fenice, Sant’Angelo and Santo Stefano with a guide, up to Santa Maria del Giglio gondola station where you will enjoy a trip on the most romantic boat in the world: the gondola. An unforgettable Venetian experience! During the gondola ride you will see part of the famous Canal Grande and other less frequented canals (the gondola ride will be provided either before or after the walk, depending on weather conditions). Starting from the 1st of November 2011 you will enjoy first the Gondola ride and then the walking tour. From 01st April 2012 until 31st October (during summer season) you will enjoy first Outdoors guided visit of the area between Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge, passing by some special places: Teatro la Fenice, Scala del Bovolo, Rialto Bridge. And then our guide will take you to a gondola dock, where you can enjoy a trip on the most beautiful boat in the world, the gondola. From winter season starting from 01 November 2012 until 31 March you will enjoy first the gondola ride and then the walking tour. Includes guide service and Gondola ride.
Best of Venice including St. Mark’s Basilica and its Terraces
8:45 AM – 2 hours
$55 per person
A perfect tour to enjoy the highlights of Venice on foot with exclusive access to the upper levels of St. Mark’s Basilica from where you can enjoy the mosaics from up close! Our walking tour is a head-spinning journey past some of the best known sights of Venice along with some unassuming gems. The first stop will be in one of those highlights, the Rialto Bridge. We will proceed passing by Marco Polo’s house and hearing about the Venetian son who went to sea one day and came back with stories of China and a world in the East that few had ever seen. We will see lively Campo San Luca and Campo San Giovanni Paolo where locals carry out their daily lives in the shadow of spectacular architecture. Just as we started with a pop we will end our tour with a bang visiting Piazza San Marco. We will strand in front of the impressive Doge’s Palace where Venice famous lover and writer, Casanova was held in an attic prison before he managed to escape. Then it’s on to the main event- the stunning Basilica of San Marco. Here you will hear about how St Mark’s remains arrived here illegally and see all sort of treasures, molded in this very city or plundered during the crusades. We will visit the second level of the Basilica for views over the Piazza below where string quartets play and waiters bustle around piazza-side-cafe. Includes English speaking guide, skip the line access to St. Mark’s Basilica, entry to the terraces of St. Mark’s Basilica.
Venice Morning City Tour on Foot
9 AM – Daily
$66 per person
A walking tour which offers a short historical and artistic introduction to the city of Venice including entrance to the Doge’s Palace. We begin with a description of St. Mark’s Square, the political centre of the Venetian Republic, followed by an explanation of Basilica of St. Mark. Then you will enter and visit the Ducal Palace, the residence of the Doges and the most important seat of government in the ‘Serenissima’, the Bridge of Sighs and the Prisons. Includes Guide service, entrance to the Ducal Palace, entrance to the Prisons, walk over the Bridge of Sighs.
Murano glass-making and Burano lace-making tour
2:15 PM Mon, Thur, Friday – 4 hours
$70 per person
We start our tour with a short and comfortable boat ride to Murano. There is a lot to see on the way and your guide will keep you entertained with a description of the sights as you pass them. It’s no time at all until we are off the boat again, taking our first step on glassblower’s workshop in Murano, a small beautiful island world famous for its glass. We will see the craftsman working while he will describe to you the process. Afterwards you will have time to browse the huge collection of glass art and wander the island on your own. Then it’s back on to the boat and off to our next stop, Burano. The tiny island is famous for two reasons, for its houses, huddled tightly together along streets and canals, each one is painted a different color with laundry strung up across narrow streets. According to the legend, fishermen painted their houses in bright shades to see their homes from a distance. But Burano’s major claim is its centuries old tradition of lace-making. Your guide will take you through the streets and across the bridges of Burano to a small building where three women sit in a circle, stitching lace like their mothers and grandmothers before them. Stay and watch their painstaking work, listen a full commentary on what has become a dying art and take the time to explore the fascinating museum at the back.
Doge’s Palace with skip the line ticket
845AM – 2 hours
$80 per person
The Doge’s palace features the very best and the very worst of Venice history : from vast paintings by Tintoretto and Veronese to the wooden slot where accusations of treason where slipped to the fearsome Secret Police. Our tour of the palace visit all the best sights open to the public Marvel over ceilings frescoed by Tintoretto to show Justice presenting her self to the Doge, then there is the numerous flattering works produced on the demand by the masters of the time: Virtues of the Republic in the Council room was Veronese’s rosy outlook on the state of his nation while The Triumph of Venice in the Senate hall was where Tintoretto paid his dues on a high ceiling. For all the splendor that its corridors hold, you would never guess what is hidden in the attic upstairs in the Palazzo Ducale. Follow your guide to the attic prison where Venice famous writer and lover Casanova was kept for month before he miraculously managed a successful escape. We will visit the the spectacular Bridge of Sighs, so named for the prisoners that walked its length on their way to cells across the Canal. As they took their last look at beautiful Venice they couldn’t help but sigh. Across the Bridge of Sighs we will see the New Prisons, although the 16th century monstrosities could hardly be accused of fitting the name these days. A visit to the Doges Palace is a roller coaster experience, taking you from the artistic highs of Renaissance Venice to its grim bottom.
Best of Venice including St. Mark’s Basilica with its Terraces and Doge’s Palace
8:45 AM Tues, Wed, Friday & 2:15 PM Sunday – 3.5 hours
$95 per person
A perfect tour to enjoy the highlights of Venice on foot with exclusive access to the upper levels of St. Mark’s Basilica, from where you can enjoy the mosaics from up close, and visit to Doge’s Palace! Our walking tour is a head-spinning journey past some of the best known sights of Venice along with some unassuming gems. The first stop will be in one of those highlights, the Rialto Bridge. We will proceed passing by Marco Polo’s house and hearing about the Venetian son who went to sea one day and came back with stories of China and a world in the East that few had ever seen. We will see lively Campo San Luca and Campo San Giovanni Paolo where locals carry out their daily lives in the shadow of spectacular architecture. We will end our tour visiting San Marco square. We will strand in front of the impressive Doge’s Palace where Venice famous lover and writer, Casanova was held in an attic prison before he managed to escape. Then it’s on to the main event, the stunning Basilica of San Marco. Here you will hear about how St Mark’s remains arrived illegally and see all sort of treasures, molded in this very city or plundered during the crusades. We will visit the second level of the Basilica for views over the Piazza below where string quartets play and waiters bustle around Piazza-side-cafe. Finally we will have a full guided tour of the Doge’s Palace and we will visit the works of Tintoretto and the numerous works on demand produced by masters of the time. The highlight of Doge’s Palace tour is the spectacular Bridge of Sighs. Includes English speaking guide, skip the line access to St. Mark’s Basilica, entry to the terraces of St. Mark’s Basilica, skip the line access and tickects to the Doge’s Palace.
Please note: St. Mark’s Basilica may be closed to the public without prior notice and during religious ceremonies. Entrance into churches requires appropriate dress code. Shoulders and knees must be covered. Entry may be refused due to improper dress. This tour involves a fair amount of walking, comfortable shoes are recommended.
Best of Venice Tour including Grand Canal Ride
1:45 PM Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat – 3 hours
$128 per person
See all Venice top sights with this exclusive Semi-private tour of only 10 people max! Our tour starts on Gran Canal, the city’s main waterway which snakes its way past no less than 50 palaces, six churches, four bridges and two open-air markets. We will take to the water for a tour of all wonderful sights and we will even float by a gondola -making workshop. Back on the dry land, we will visit the Bovolo staircase whose spiral clings desperately to the walls of a building. We will stop by Marco Polo’s house and hear about the Venetian son who went to sea one day and came back with stories of China and a world in the East that few had ever seen. We will see lively Campo San Luca and Campo San Giovanni Paolo where locals carry out their daily lives in the shadow of spectacular architecture. We will proceed to the outside visit of Goldoni Theatre, Venice’s lesser known but hardly lesser loved opera house. We will admire the Rialto Bridge, a favourite among many visitors for its sleek marble lines and the beautiful way it reflects in the water. Then we will make for Venice main square, Piazza San Marco and we will stop in San Marco Basilica. Your guide will take you inside pointing out mosaics of 11th century and beautiful art works. Then we will go up to the second floor for a closer look at the sparkling golden mosaics and for the spectacular view bustling Piazza San Marco below. Includes English speaking guide, skip line access to St. Mark’s Basilica, entry to St. Mark’s terraces, guided Gran Canal water taxi ride.
Please note: This tour involves a fair amount of walking, comfortable shoes are recommended. St. Mark’s Basilica may be closed to the public without prior notice and during religious ceremonies. Entrance into churches require appropriate dress code. Shoulders and knees must be covered. Entry may be refused due to improper dress.
Grand Tour of Venice
11AM – 3 hours
$147 per person
Enjoy a morning walking tour of St. Mark’s Square and learn about the history that lies behind the walls of its most famous landmarks; the Basilica and its Byzantine heritage, the Doge’s Palace and its adjoining prisons. Then leave the square to discover the ‘real Venice’ by entering a labyrinth of narrow passageways and alleys, where a magical city of meandering canals, punctuated by delicate bridges, awaits you.
After a walk of about two hours, you will have free time at disposal for lunch and to relax.
Then at 5:30PM start your cruise down the Grand Canal and the smaller canals while your guide introduces you to the history that lies behind the many buildings that line their banks.