What to do and see in Venice, Veneto: The Best Literary, Art & Music Tours

April 12, 2022 Alice Mieles

With its gondolas, canals, amazing restaurants, and unforgettable romantic ambiance, Venice is definitely a city for one's bucket list. Waterfront palazzos, palaces, and churches make drifting down the Grand Canal feel like cruising through a painting. To really experience Venice you must go to the opera or to a classical music performance, nibble fresh pasta and pastries, and linger in the exhibit halls of an art gallery. Label lovers will drool over the high-end shopping in Piazza San Marco.
Restaurants in Venice

1. The best of Venice and Murano in one day private tour on foot and by boat

S. Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy Fiorella Pagotto
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

-Full day  guided tour of Venice and Murano island on foot & by boat . -Enjoy the city with a professional local guide and art historian. - Break for the lunch or snack. -Discover the Art of Glass Making and admire a glass master -The possibility to discover the best of Venice, its art, culture, the living city and Murano glass island in one day. - A good overview of the city, today and in the past. - A customized tour adapt to your preference. On Sunday morning or religious feasts, due to the services in the basilica, the tour may follow a different order of the visit.

Inclusions: Hotel/station/parking car pickup and drop-off, transfer by water-taxi from Venice to Murano and from Murano to Venice, Local guide, Professional art historian guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option selected), Driver/guide

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Pick up from the mainland Mestre.For hotels in mestre the pick up is in Venice

Reviewed By regina20202

We had to cancel our trip to Italy and asked to Fiorella to organise for us another experience in Venice. She was our guide two years ago and was so nice to do a virtual tour from home just for us. She took a lot pictures of canaregio and the Jewish Ghetto and gave us a plenty of information. We really appreciate it! We were so glad to meet Fiorella again and talk a lot about Venice and Italy! Many thanks

2. Venice: St Marks Basilica Tour

P.za San Marco, 3, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy Star Florence
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS • Admire St. Mark’s Basilica, one of the most majestic cathedrals in the world • Embark on a 2-hour tour with a professional experienced guide for art and history lovers. Feed your eyes • Admire the Pala d'Oro, the treasury and Museum of St Marks: a splendor of religious art collected along the centuries - Enjoy Skip-the-line to St. Mark’s Basilica with a professional tour guided. You’ll discover the art and architecture of the most important and magnificent cathedral in Venice. Full of gold and art-masterpieces, it is in the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1986 with a fascinating history of La Serenissima.

Inclusions: Official certified guide and Radio system to hear the guide, Skip the Line access to the Basilica, Tickets to the treasury, Museum of St Marks and Pala d’Oro, We guarantee "Skip the Line" even during peak season

Exclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off / Transportation to/from attractions / Food and drinks, Entrance tickets to the attractions, Headphones will not be provided due to COVID-19 (We recommend to bring your own headphones)

Reviewed By Jayhawk56

This tour was both fascinating and educational - we had no idea about the history of Venice and the Doge. Seeing the prison cells, secret passage, interrogation room, torture chamber, government offices, secret meeting rooms and hearing about the conspiracies, spies, government, and the escape of Valentino, etc. was everything the tour is billed to provide and more. This is a must-see when visiting Venice.

3. Hidden Venice Tour

Campo San Bortolomio, Campo S. Bortolomio, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy Touring Different - Venice Tours
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5.0 based on 8 reviews

We are licensed Italian freelance tour guides with a background of art history and tourism studies. We’re not originally from here but we came to study in Venice and we all fell in love with this incredible city, so we decided to settle in here. We have different interests but we all share our greatest passion of all which is Venice itself and we would love to share this with you on our tours. Living here for a long time allowed us to know Venice under many different aspects, that represent the real soul of our city, clearly famous for its beauty with its stunning churches, the impressive buildings, the crazy beautiful glimpses that make it a permanent movie set, but we like to tell you something more about the local culture. We want to let you feel and behave like a Venetian, a real local, making you life easier even i you are going to stay here just few days in order to let you save as more money and time as possible.

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Reviewed By onephatplanet

I did the Northern Venice Free Tour and Alice was my tour guide. We started our tour in the Castello district and finished in Cannaregio. These neighborhoods are mostly residential and often unexplored by tourists. Alice gave lots of interesting information about important sites (schools, churches, monuments, bridges) and famous people from the area. You get to travel off the beaten path and see the city through the eyes of a local. You can tell Alice is very passionate about her city and enjoys sharing her knowledge with others. I highly recommend taking this tour if it's your first time in Venice, and even if it's not, there's always more to see and explore!

4. Venice Combo: Doge's Palace & St. Marks Basilica Tour

P.za San Marco, 3, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy Star Florence
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS • Embark on a 3-hour tour with a professional experienced and Skip the lines to enter the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica without delay • Pass through impressive halls where the Doges ruled the Most Serene Republic of Venice • Admire the golden mosaics and other treasures of St. Mark’s Basilica - Enjoy Skip-the-line to explore two of the most iconic buildings in Venice. Learn the history of the Venetian Republic and discover the masterpieces of art, as you walk the corridors and halls of both the Venetian doges and the St Mark’s Basilica. Drown yourself in the golden mosaics and other treasures as you also walk over the famous Bridge of Sighs.

Inclusions: Official certified guide, Radio system to hear the guide, Skip the Line access to the Doge's Palace and St. Marks Basilica, We guarantee "Skip the Line" even during peak season

Exclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Food and drinks, Transportation to/from attractions, We don't guarantee Skip the Line in event of delays or strike by the Museum & Cathedral management, Headphones will not be provided due to COVID-19 (We recommend to bring your own headphones)

Reviewed By Markraven64

We had to be picky about arriving at a less busy time (murder early morning, notably even for pre-booked)and found late afternoon excellent. We thought busier than Doges Palace because it's generally free (you pay for particular exhibit rooms only)meaning it attracts large cruise ship parties earlier on. Having got a good time we were able to truly enjoy the magnificent basilica, mosaics and all without jostling,and the Palace d'Oro certainly warrants taking some time over.

5. Biennale Art Venice 2021 Private Guided Tour

Giardini Biennale, 30132 Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy Fiorella Pagotto
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

The tour will guide you to discover the central Pavilion curated by the italian curator Cecilia Alemanni and some important national Pavilons. It's possible to choose the visit to the Arsenale venue when you book. Two hours Guided tour, either to the exposition of Giardini or Arsenale or a selection of the two venues of Biennale Arte 2021.

Inclusions: Professional qualified art historian guide

Exclusions: tickets entrance 25,00 euro per person

Reviewed By regina20202

We had to cancel our trip to Italy and asked to Fiorella to organise for us another experience in Venice. She was our guide two years ago and was so nice to do a virtual tour from home just for us. She took a lot pictures of canaregio and the Jewish Ghetto and gave us a plenty of information. We really appreciate it! We were so glad to meet Fiorella again and talk a lot about Venice and Italy! Many thanks

6. Authentic Murano Glass Tour

Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, Calle Seconda de la Fava, 4171, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy Shome Venice
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5.0 based on 2 reviews

What does it mean being a Master Glassblower? The best Murano Glass experience, with the opportunity to meet a real Master Glassblower! Explore one of the oldest authentic Murano Glass factories, where the only exclusive "furnace" of the island was created. You will live the glass blowing art, with the chance to see a Master Glassblower and his team working following our millenary tradition. And then.. Maestro Fabio Fornasier will surprise you with a secret exhibition part of the project "Fantasy has no limit", usually not open to the public.

Inclusions: Private transportation, Welcome Drink, Private Glassblowing show, Private Glass Factory entrance, Secret exhibition entrance

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By annrY2193NL

Luca was an entertaining and knowledgeable zoom guide on a live walking tour of the city. It was a conversation as much as a tour; such fun, and we learned a lot about the city in just an hour from someone born and raised there. Such a happy break from pandemic malaise! It was wonderful.

7. Like a Virgin: Gay life in Venice in the past and present

Campo San Giacomo da l'Orio, Campo S. Giacomo da l'Orio, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy [deTour]ist - Tour Leader & Nature and Interpretive Guide
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Hear about the stories about the cross-dressing in cat masks, exploring the places of cruising from middle ages through the later centuries up to the tolerant attitude of nowadays Venice. Take a trip over the centuries through the gay history of Venice, which is as labyrinthine as the city’s convoluted system of canals. Travel back to Middle Ages, when the practice of sodomy was deemed a sin. Learn about the history of Rolandina, a transgender who was burned at stake, as several other men of all social statuses have being condemned for their same-sex relations in the following centuries. Visit the city as a European tourists did during their discovery trip "Grand Tour" in the 17th century and how Thomas Mann and Frederick Rolfe made Venice a place of homosexual imagery during Belle Epoque. Learn about the fascist attempt to “clean up” the city, while following the location of a music video by a gay-icon as Madonna and checking out how is gay life nowadays in the floating city.

Inclusions: Tour Leader & Nature and Interpretive Guide

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By F9288DWka

Very fun walking food tour of Venice. Adair was super helpful and informative about the history and culture of the city while we tried a lot of delicious food. The tour was easy even with COVID restrictions. Highly recommend!

8.  Friendinvenice, how to experience the true Venice, private tour

Campo Santa Maria Formosa, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy Friend in Venice Tours
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5.0 based on 26 reviews

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"

Inclusions: Coffee and/or Tea

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Reviewed By Ian R

I've recently visited Venice together with my girlfriend after many years. We decided to book a guided tour with Linda and it was well worth it. She was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about giving us insights into her beautiful city. Thanks to her we managed to see not only the most important sights of Venice, but also the hidden gems which we wouldn't have been able to see and appreciate without her. Moreover, she gave us useful tips about places to go eat and visit in the coming days. Linda's tour was definitely the highlight of our holiday in Venice.

9. Venice Carnival Mask-Making Class

San Marco 596 Venetian Masks, S. Marco, 596, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy Venice Tours Srl
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4.8 based on 111 reviews

If you want to live a real experience in the heart of Venice that's the right choice! A Venetian Master Artisan will explain to you, in 1 hour course, the traditional art of making or decorating a mask, an artistic personal event which will make you live the preparation for the Venetian Carnival. Create your own unique masterpiece and following your artistic streak, a special memory of an amazing experience and keep your artistic creation of the most emblematic icon of Venice!     An unconventional and handcrafted moment to live with your family or friends! If you want e personal class, you can choose the private option (up 3 persons).

Inclusions: Course of production (you will keep the produced mask) and/or Course of decoration (you will keep the decorated mask), All necessary paints and supplies, Live commentary

Exclusions: Hotel pickup

Reviewed By 428sharic

Amazing tour. The audioguide was the perfect voice that led us around the charming highlights of the Doge's Palace, full of interesting anecdotes and curiosities!

10. Giudecca island discovery tour

Zattere, 30133 Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy [deTour]ist - Tour Leader & Nature and Interpretive Guide
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4.8 based on 5 reviews

Discover the fishbone-like shape Giudecca island, known to be Venice’s unofficial seventh sestiere, once an aristocratic retreat, later the city industrial centre and nowadays a trendy artistic district. Let’s walk through the largest and closest island to Venice, from which it is separated by the broad and deep Giudecca Canal enjoying breath-taking views on the splendid city. The peacefulness of the island also made it popular among religious communities and with patrician families who built palaces with lovely gardens and allotments there. You will see how after the fall of the Republic, these areas were converted into warehouses, barracks, prisons, factories and workers’ quarters, some of them nowadays converted for artistic ad modern purposes. You will be walking not only through the long pedestrian quay running the length of its Venice-facing side but also wandering its hidden lagoon-facing side with gardens, art galleries and residential neighbourhoods.

Inclusions: Tour leader & nature and interpretive guide

Exclusions: Gratuities, Water bus ticket to Giudecca island. Tickets will be purchased on board

Reviewed By F9288DWka

Very fun walking food tour of Venice. Adair was super helpful and informative about the history and culture of the city while we tried a lot of delicious food. The tour was easy even with COVID restrictions. Highly recommend!

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