Top Venice Cultural Tours

Delve into Venetian history on this tour that showcases two of the city's most iconic structures and sheds light on the stories behind them both. Enjoy skip-the-line access to both popular attractions. Your first stop is legendary St. Mark's Basilica. Wander around the mosaic-covered interior and Byzantine treasures while a local guide fills you in on how this collection came to be. Then continue to the Doge’s Palace to explore the former political heart of Venice.

Visit Torcello, Murano, and Burano—three islands in the Venetian Lagoon—on this tour from Venice by motorboat. With a guide, watch glass being blown at a Murano glass factory, see historical cathedrals on Torcello, and admire exquisite handmade lace on Burano. This is a great way to see more than just the central sights of Venice and enjoy a cruise on the water. Select a departure time when booking.

See the wonders of Venice's St. Mark's Basilica without the crowds during this after-hours, small-group tour. Learn about the basilica's famed mosaics from your guide and explore the crypt below the church to see where St. Mark's remains are said to lie. Upgrade to see the Doge's Palace after the basilica and wander the former home of the Venetian Republic's government.

Visit two of the most popular attractions in Venice on this guided tour of the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. Listen to your guide's commentary clearly with provided headsets and avoid hours-long queues with skip-the-line admission tickets. Entrance tickets to the Doge's Palace are also included for a hassle-free tour.

Discover the real Secret Venice with a native Venetian guide! The experience to live the uniqueness of the most authentic local districts. From Cannaregio, admiring its small canals and millenary legends, the tour will take you back in 1400s, learning the stories of the Venetian Republic, full of secrets and mysteries. During this exciting walk you will breathe a 100% local atmosphere, out of the beaten tracks, to admire the real life of Venice with its locals and crafts. The experience will arrive up to Rialto bridge where your guide will show the old trade center from completely a different perspective! Last but not least, an insightful exploration of San Polo where the oldest "mascareri" (creators of Carnival masks) are still working following the tradition of centuries ago. Histories, Legends and Secrets.. from the Venetian eyes!

Take a course on mask making from a master artisan in Venice, and learn about the history of this ancient tradition. You can choose from a production class or a decoration class, or you can even take both. In the production class, learn how to make your own papier-mâché mask, and in the decoration class, you can paint or use materials to decorate your mask. No matter which option you choose, you get to bring home your creation—just in time for Carnival.

Explore Venice's famous canals on a guided gondola ride through the city. Meander beneath bridges and along quiet, peaceful stretches in a traditional Venetian boat, taking in sights such as the Rialto Bridge and Campo Manin as you go. Join up to five others—along with your expert gondolier—in enjoying one of Venice's most leisurely and original pastimes, and don't miss this chance to experience the Grand Canal from the water.

Discover Venice’s hidden gems on a 2-hour cruise through the city’s secret canals. Watch scenes of daily Venetian life as you glide through the lesser-known neighborhoods of Cannaregio, Dorsoduro and the Jewish Ghetto. A guide will share insight into the city’s history, architecture and local legends. For a grand finale, head out into the wider waters of the Grand Canal and float beneath the iconic Rialto Bridge. Numbers are limited to nine people on this small-group tour for a more intimate experience.

Get an inside peek into the world-famous glassblowing factories of Murano on a 2-hour escorted tour. Meet your guide in central Venice, and ride a water bus across the Venetian Lagoon to the colorful island of Murano. Get a private glassmaking demonstration from a master craftsman, and enjoy time to browse the factory showroom featuring finished works of art. Finally, attend your choice of hands-on workshop to create a take-home piece of jewelry or mosaic using authentic Murano glass.

Explore the magnificent architecture, fascinating history, and rich culture of Venice on a half-day walking tour. Visit landmarks like the home of the great explorer, Marco Polo, the recently renovated T Fondaco dei Tedeschi, the spiral staircase of Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, and Venice’s vibrant center, Piazza San Marco. Learn the city’s stories and secrets from an informative guide and enjoy skip-the-line access to Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica.

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.

Experience the magnificence and mystery of the Doge’s Palace in Venice with this skip-the-line ticket. Head to the front of the queue with your guide, and then wander through the palace’s ornate public rooms as you learn the history of Venice’s powerful rulers. Admire magnificent interior artwork, including Renaissance masterpieces by painters Tintoretto and Veronese. Explore the palace’s darker side with a visit to the prison quarters and a walk across the notorious Bridge of Sighs.

See two of Venice’s most iconic attractions and save 10% when you book them together with this Super Saver. Head to the front of the long queues with skip-the-line access to the famed Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica. Learn the history behind these architectural wonders from your local guide, and explore some of Venice’s lesser-known sights on a walking tour. Complete both tours in the same day with a break in between to spend at your leisure, depending on the operational schedule.

See the Doge's Palace, which served as the center of power in the Venetian Republic, with this skip-the-line 1-hour guided tour. Marvel at the artistic treasures in the palace, including paintings by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese. Walk through ornately-decorated halls and imagine Venice in its so-called Golden Age. Walk across the Bridge of Sighs from the Doge's Palace into the infamous prison, where Casanova was once held. Enjoy personalized attention from a knowledgeable local guide.

The Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark’s Basilica are two of Venice’s most beloved destinations, but the two landmarks can have ticket lines to match. See both landmarks with a private guide on a 2-hour tour that includes skip-the-line access, so you can make the most of your time in Venice.

Enjoy the best of Venice on this guided walking tour plus skip-the-line entry to the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica. Explore the best that the canal city has to offer, winding your way through narrow alleys, and see Venice's top attractions.

Enjoy a private ride through Venice’s iconic canals aboard a traditional gondola. On this classic Venetian experience, soak up famous sights like the Rialto Bridge and the ornate Ca’ d’Oro palace while your expert gondolier navigates the beautiful handmade boat through the Grand Canal and other waterways. A friendly local guide accompanies you on the ride to share interesting facts about Venetian history and architecture along the way.

Experience the grandeur and history of Venice on this private tour of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. Admire the shimmering mosaics and golden altars of the city’s most famous cathedral, and see masterpieces by Titian and Tintoretto as you wander through the lavish chambers of the Venetian Republic’s one-time rulers. Skip the long lines at both attractions with priority access (from April to October), so you don't waste a minute of precious vacation time.

Discover Venice exactly the way you want to with this completely customized private tour. Your friendly local guide will create a 3-hour itinerary based on preferences you provide at booking. Whether you’re interested in architecture, local legends or Renaissance art, this tour is for you! Along the way, pop in at a local bar for a glass of regional wine and appetizers, and feel free to ask all the questions you like.

Step back in time to the golden age of Italian opera with this guided tour of Venice’s Teatro La Fenice. Learn the history and legends of this decadent Baroque opera house, which was once the heart of Venetian high society and hosted performances by masterful maestros like Verdi, Rossini and Bellini.

If you’re looking to see most of Venice’s well-known sights all in one day, put your trust in this fun combination day tour. This package includes a walking tour of the city away from the crowded streets into the treasure filled pockets of the Castello area, a skip-the-line privilege at Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and at St. Mark's Basilica and a gondola ride on the Grand Canal and smaller canals.

Skip the lines at Saint Mark’s Basilica and Doge Palace and opt a shared guided tour instead. Then, enjoy the quintessential Venice experience—a gondola ride through the city’s canals and waterways. Your ticket also includes access to several landmarks surrounding Saint Mark’s Square, as well as access to a mobile app that provides commentary to a walking tour of the city at your own pace.

Reserve a classic Venetian experience with a private gondola ride through Venice’s romantic canals. Enjoy a beautifully crafted boat and professional gondolier just for your party as you glide down the Grand Canal and smaller waterways, passing historic palaces and landmarks like Mozart’s home and the Rialto Bridge. Book ahead to guarantee a private ride for you group and avoid the hassle of negotiating a price on the spot.

Get an inside look into the centuries-old art of glassblowing with a factory tour on Murano Island, home to the world’s finest artisan glass. Tour the facilities at Colleoni Glass Factory and watch a master craftsman shape molten glass through a combination of heat, blowing and sculptural techniques. Visit the factory showroom to see beautiful finished works of art, and receive a special Murano glass souvenir to take home.