Florence to Venice Day Trip
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Venice's historic center
- Visit St. Mark's Basilica
- See the Rialto Bridge
- Enjoy a guided walking tour
- Experience Venice's unique canals
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip transportation from Florence to Venice
- Guided walking tour of Venice's historic center
- Visit to St. Mark's Basilica and the Rialto Bridge
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Embark on a journey to the most magical and romantic city in Italy… Venice! Meet your friendly and knowledgeable tour guide at Piazzale Montelungo Bus Terminal. Piazzale Montelungo is located 5-10 minutes walking distance from Santa Maria Novella train station. Find your seat on the comfortable coach bus, and you will depart shortly! During your journey north towards Venice, your guide will share some interesting information about this historic and culturally-rich “City on Water.” The drive will take about 3.5 hours.
When you arrive, the bus driver will bring you to the Venice Port. As a city on water, it is only accessible by boat! Your expert guide will lead you to the ferry, and you will be on your way! Enjoy the sea breeze on your skin and vibrant scenery during your ten minute boat ride to the main island. After getting off the boat, you will be welcomed by Venice’s famously rustic, romantic, and colorful architecture! Follow your guide through the picturesque streets, and over the iconic bridges until you reach San Marco Square - the heart of Venice! Your guide will point out Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs on the way. Be sure to have your camera ready, and you will have time to visit these points in your free time later as well!
San Marco Square is the beating heart of Venice, and one of the most beautiful squares in the world. It is the largest piazza in Venice, with plenty of open space; in stark contrast to the winding alleyways and small canals which make up most of the city. Dominating the square, you will find Basilica San Marco - characterized by its unique Byzantine architecture and golden accents. You can also find the belltower and the royal Doge’s Palace, along with plenty of elegant cafes. Your guide will share some fascinating information about the buildings in this square. From here, you can follow your guide to the glassblowing demonstration, or simply begin your day of exploring the mystical streets of Venice, with its romantic squares and magical bridges.
Basilica San Marco is a great symbol of Venetian glory, power, and culture. It has a truly unique design in Italy, with inspiration from Byzantine, Roman, and Venetian architecture. The building is a Gothic masterpiece, boasting intricate designs and five massive domes; however, these are hidden by the unmissable golden facade. These gold flakes were perfectly placed in various directions to glimmer under the sunlight, no matter the angle in which you are standing. The inside of San Marco Basilica is truly breathtaking. You will be welcomed by a ceiling filled with golden mosaics, covering over 8,000 square meters. The greatest treasure in the Basilica is known as, “Pala d’Oro,” or golden pala. This precious piece of art is located behind the grand altar, and has been decorated completely with gold leaf and almost 2,000 rare and precious stones. Booking skip-the-line tickets ahead of time is highly recommended for entering Basilica San Marco; entry is not included in this tour.
In addition to its incredible architecture and romantic canals, Venice is world-famous for its blown glass. Follow your guide to a famous glass-blowing shop in the historical center. Glass blowing has been a tradition in Venice for over 1,500 years, and the masters of glass blowing are truly some of the most skilled craftsmen in the world. As you watch the glass blower make intricate designs effortlessly, you can imagine the same techniques being used before the Renaissance era and beyond. After the demonstration, your guide will lead you to the showroom, where you can purchase some specialty souvenirs at a discounted price (optional). Watching the glass blowing demonstration is truly mesmerizing… Discover the timeless Venetian tradition! After the demonstration, you will have free time to independently explore the city.
Another jewel of Venice is Doge’s Palace. This historic and elegant palace is another symbol of the culture and prosperity found in Venice. Located (partially) in San Marco Square, this extravagant palace welcomes visitors daily with its lace-like marble facade, a Gothic masterpiece. For centuries, this palace was the important home to the royal Doge family, the Venetian government, and the justice system. Inside the palace, the halls and rooms are decorated with unmatchable elegance, precious art, and other treasures. Tickets are not included in this tour, but if you would like to visit, we recommend pre-booking skip-the-line passes.
Of the bridges that cross Venice’s Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge is the most famous. This bridge was constructed over 500 years ago, and it has a rich history, held deep in the hearts of local Venetians. When ancient trade ships arrived, the community gathered on the bridge to trade goods for precious items such as spices, silks, and porcelain. This is how the market first emerged - the Rialto Market is still located near the bridge, although now more famous for fish than spices. This is one of the most visited spots in Venice, with great panoramic views and photo opportunities.
The Bridge of Sighs is a must-see while exploring the canals of Venice. This famous bridge stands out, as it connects two palaces, making it unwalkable for the average visitor. Historically, this bridge connected the Old Prison in Doge’s Palace, with the New Prison. It earned its names as locals could hear the prisoners “sighing” when walking across the bridge in solidarity. This is one of the most scenic spots in Venice, be sure to have your camera ready!
After plenty of time to wander through the maze of picturesque streets, local markets, and magnificent canals, meet back with your guide for the (optional at an extra price) gondola ride. In a small group, you will board a small, and perfectly carved boat. Your certified gondolier will lead you through the picture-perfect canals and point out various famous sights. Enjoy the panoramic views of Venice from the lagoon... The best way to discover Venice is by water!
Grab any last minute souvenirs, and then meet your guide! You will head back on the ferry to reach your bus, waiting for your departure. The bus ride to Florence will take about 3.5 hours. Simply sit comfortably, and dream of the next time you can visit the lovely city of Venice!
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately.
- Confirm departure time and location upon booking.
- Be prepared for a full day of exploration.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for cobblestone streets.
- Bring a camera to capture Venice's stunning architecture.
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
- Infants Required On Laps
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- English and Spanish are always guaranteed. In order to confirm the excursion in Italian, German, Portuguese or French a minimum of 4 pax is required
Traveler reviews
Venice with C&C cannot be beat! Best team!
We had a dynamic duo of C & C bus driver and guide who were fabulous! The bus ride included a rest stop. We boarded our ferry immediately when we arrived. If you wanted lunch or a gondola ride our guide arranged for it. It was seamless! Wonderful restaurant in a less crowded area. The gondola ride was perfect and a decent time in the gondola going into the larger main canal! Loved it!!!
Great Guide!
Constantine, our guide, was knowledgeable, efficient, and charming. His experience and coordination skills make our tour flawless despite the crowds in Venice.
Beautiful floating city.
We enjoyed our day trip from Florence to Venice. The meeting point was easy to find and fairly organized to find our guide. We seem to be with two different tour groups because there were two different guides. One with ciao Florence and the other guide gave wristbands to her group. They were offered group pricing for the gondola rides. The tour bus was comfortable (double decker) and we were able to leave jackets since small items on the bus if we wanted to add our own risk. Best ride to the ferry, ferry ride over was included, also a tour of the glass factory. It was in the itinerary that we would be given 5 hrs free time. Unfortunately, the tour of the glass factory and the ferry ride over was included in that time. So we really only had four hours of free time to wander the city. If you are going with the intent to do a tour to the Basilica or Doge’s Palace definitely book timed tickets in advance because the lines are super long. Lots of fun shopping and beautiful scenery. Definitely be prepared with sunscreen, it was very hot in June.
The Gondola ride is Everything
Oh my goodness I've been here before but it was so great with this tour it's so worth the money actually I thought it would be more expensive that's how much fun it was make sure you were comfortable shoes our tour guide was fantastic except he walked way too fast for the group other than that it was amazing we got to see a glass blowing show you also have your own time they give you to roam around on your own which was fantastic we got to take a boat which was also fantastic it was a beautiful beautiful day and we can't say enough this tour is so worth it my family my husband and my daughter we all had such a beautiful time and it was the day before we left so it was a perfect send-off we would do it again don't hesitate just book it if you want to see Venice do it this way I did it last time I own way and I miss so much that I saw this time I had such a great time we all did
Great tour
We had a wonderful experience with Constantino, he gave us so many great recommendations to maximize our time in Venice.