The first portion of our journey will allow us to get acquainted with some of the smaller canals that help weave a tale of the history of Venice. From our private, covered boat, our guide will point out the important aspects of these islands, as well as introduce us to the characteristics of the different Venetian neighborhoods, known as sestieri. We’ll spend our last part of the tour passing through the world-famous Grand Canal, a veritable jewel of opulent Venetian architecture, which serves as the main artery of Venice. Our guide will point out noteworthy sites and palazzi, and help you get oriented to this complex and unique city. 

As an introduction, this Grand Canal tour is lighter in flavor than some of our more in-depth walks and is led by guides who currently live, or have lived, in Venice for a number of years. We will spend time explaining the sites along the route, but we will also try to situate you in the city, orient you to the major areas, and answer any of your questions. In short, it is an excellent way to begin your stay here.

Dive deeper into the built environment of Venice on our Venice Architecture Tour. 

Our private tours are limited exclusively to travelers in your party. They are designed to provide a learning experience that is completely tailored to you and your traveling companions. Private tours give you more flexibility with scheduling (you decide when the walk best fits in your trip), the ability to tailor your itinerary (we'll work to match the itinerary to the interests and dynamics of your group), and more personalized time with your guide.

Is this a gondola ride?

No. This a private, covered motorboat.

This tour is quite flexible and is dependent on the elements (i.e. the tides). You will definitely see St. Mark's Square, the Grand Canal and smaller canals.

Some guides may opt to take you ashore to climb the bell tower of San Giorgio Maggiore church, weather and time permitting.

Is the tour suitable for visitors with mobility issues?
If a wheelchair user can be lifted down into the boat, this tour is accessible, but one cannot wheel onto the boat. A wheelchair user has to come out of the chair to get into the boat. There are then seats on the boat.

 Do you reserve headsets for this tour? 

Depending on your group size, we may be required by the venue to order headsets in which case you’ll see a “Headset Fee” added to your order. If you would like to guarantee headsets for your tour regardless of your group size, please email us and we’ll be happy to get them reserved for you.