Venice VIP Boat Tour on the Grand Canal with Local Guide
2 hours
Max 10 people
Commentary: Guide · en
Venice, Italy
About this activity
Tour the Grand Canal by luxury boat and take in the sights from the water.
Highlights
- Escape the crowds on dry land and visit the top sights in Venice from the water.
- Your luxury Venice boat tour will cruise the Grand Canal, passing the most important palaces, buildings, and bridges of the city, as well as the smaller back canals where you'll catch glimpses of everyday life.
- This is our most intimate Venice tour, with only eight people per boat. You’ll find it easy to hear your guide while they tell you the fascinating stories behind the sights as you pass them from the water.
Full description
Explore Venice in comfort from the water on a luxurious boat tour.
Start your VIP adventure in St. Mark's Square as your local guide introduces you to the Floating City. Surrounded by the stunning St. Mark's Basilica and grand Doge's Palace, you'll learn how Venice transformed into a maritime empire before taking to the water yourself.
One of Venice’s best traditions is boating down the Grand Canal. The city's main waterway serves as a passage for ambulances, cargo vessels and gondolas, while its shores are lined with the most beautiful palaces and bridges. You'll see them all and soak up the atmosphere of the Grand Canal on our luxury Venice boat tour. As you pass each one, your guide will tell you the stories and anecdotes that make them so incredible, from the Ca' d’Oro and Ca' Pesaro palaces to the Rialto Bridge, Rialto Fish Market, and the Accademia Gallery.
From the water, you’ll see the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark's Basilica, and other beautiful palaces like never before. But you'll also explore the prettiest inner canals—Venice’s "backstreets"—to get a sense of how Venetians really live.
Small groups, a luxury boat, and an expert guide offer a truly VIP experience.
It’s the little details that really make this Venice boat tour. While riding a gondola is a fantastic experience, the Grand Canal is too busy and its current too strong to make any real progress. Instead, on this tour you'll cruise the canals in a luxury speedboat. You'll have the option to either sit inside and listen to your guide’s commentary, or stand outside snapping the best photos. With audio headsets for every guest, you won’t have a problem hearing your guide no matter where you choose to ride. What's more, with small groups of only eight people or less—the smallest of our Venice experiences—it'll be easy to interact with your guide and ask them all the questions you can think of.
Our Venice boat tour takes you away from the crowds to experience the best that the city has to offer, from the famous Rialto Bridge to the secret spots Venetians show to visiting friends. And with a local on hand to tell you the stories woven into the fabric of the Floating City, your experience will be as authentic as they come. You’ll return to dry land relaxed, refreshed and with tons of new knowledge and appreciation for this fascinating island city.
Sites Visited
Grand Canal by private boat
St. Mark’s Square
Doge's Palace
Bridge of Sighs
Cemetery of San Michele (outside)
Rialto Bridge
Rialto fish market
Accademia Bridge
Palaces including the Cà d’Oro and Cà Pesaro
Start your VIP adventure in St. Mark's Square as your local guide introduces you to the Floating City. Surrounded by the stunning St. Mark's Basilica and grand Doge's Palace, you'll learn how Venice transformed into a maritime empire before taking to the water yourself.
One of Venice’s best traditions is boating down the Grand Canal. The city's main waterway serves as a passage for ambulances, cargo vessels and gondolas, while its shores are lined with the most beautiful palaces and bridges. You'll see them all and soak up the atmosphere of the Grand Canal on our luxury Venice boat tour. As you pass each one, your guide will tell you the stories and anecdotes that make them so incredible, from the Ca' d’Oro and Ca' Pesaro palaces to the Rialto Bridge, Rialto Fish Market, and the Accademia Gallery.
From the water, you’ll see the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark's Basilica, and other beautiful palaces like never before. But you'll also explore the prettiest inner canals—Venice’s "backstreets"—to get a sense of how Venetians really live.
Small groups, a luxury boat, and an expert guide offer a truly VIP experience.
It’s the little details that really make this Venice boat tour. While riding a gondola is a fantastic experience, the Grand Canal is too busy and its current too strong to make any real progress. Instead, on this tour you'll cruise the canals in a luxury speedboat. You'll have the option to either sit inside and listen to your guide’s commentary, or stand outside snapping the best photos. With audio headsets for every guest, you won’t have a problem hearing your guide no matter where you choose to ride. What's more, with small groups of only eight people or less—the smallest of our Venice experiences—it'll be easy to interact with your guide and ask them all the questions you can think of.
Our Venice boat tour takes you away from the crowds to experience the best that the city has to offer, from the famous Rialto Bridge to the secret spots Venetians show to visiting friends. And with a local on hand to tell you the stories woven into the fabric of the Floating City, your experience will be as authentic as they come. You’ll return to dry land relaxed, refreshed and with tons of new knowledge and appreciation for this fascinating island city.
Sites Visited
Grand Canal by private boat
St. Mark’s Square
Doge's Palace
Bridge of Sighs
Cemetery of San Michele (outside)
Rialto Bridge
Rialto fish market
Accademia Bridge
Palaces including the Cà d’Oro and Cà Pesaro
Included / Excluded
- Local English-speaking guide
- Expertly guided boat tour
- Headset
- Small group of 8 guests maximum
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting point
Start Location
Piazza San Marco 1, (Doge's Palace), Venice, IT
Piazza San Marco 1 (Doge's Palace). Please meet at the winged lion column in front of the Doge's Palace in Piazza San Marco.
Get directions →Important information
Know before you book
- This tour cannot accommodate guests with wheelchairs, mobility limitations, or strollers.
- If you want to book this tour with more than 9 people, please contact us (info@takewalks.com).
- The Bell Tower at San Giorgio Maggiore occasionally closes due to holy days without much advance notice. If time permits, we will notify you prior to your tour. For last-minute closure, you will tour the exterior of the site.
- Walks comply with all local government regulations. You may need to wear a mask or provide proof of vaccination to enter certain venues. Please refer to Italy government guidelines for the most up to date information
Know before you go
- This tour is in English.
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- This tour meets 15 minutes prior to the start time. No refunds can be provided for late arrivals or no-shows.
- If you cannot join your tour (running late, etc.) please contact us. We may be able to reschedule your tour (with an amendment fee) depending on availability.
- This tour cannot accommodate guests with wheelchairs, mobility limitations, or strollers.
- If you want to book this tour with more than 9 people, please contact us (info@takewalks.com).
- The Bell Tower at San Giorgio Maggiore occasionally closes due to holy days without much advance notice. If time permits, we will notify you prior to your tour. For last-minute closure, you will tour the exterior of the site.
- Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
- Walks comply with all local government regulations. You may need to wear a mask or provide proof of vaccination to enter certain venues. Please refer to Italy government guidelines for the most up to date information
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 72 hours before the activity starts
Cancellations received greater than 72 hours prior to tour commencement are fully refundable. Cancellations received within 72 hours of tour commencement are nonrefundable. Amendment requests are subject to availability and price changes. Late arrivals and no shows are nonrefundable. This is applicable to any tour participant that fails to arrive, or arrives after tour departure.