Venice Discovery Private Tour

You'll save valuable time by skipping the line to see the awe-inspiring architecture and art of St Mark's Basilica, take a walking tour through the Rialto neighborhood and the side streets of Venice, and cruise along the Grand Canal on a private motor boat. Benvenuto a Venezia!

Venice Private Walking and Boat Tour Description

Your 3-hour private tour includes:

• Private walking tour of St. Mark's Square and Venice side streets

• Skip-the-line tour of St. Mark’s Basilica with special access

• Explore the Rialto Bridge and neighborhood

• Private boat tour of the Grand Canal and side canals

• Your own expert English-speaking guide

Skip the line VIP access is included for St. Mark's Basilica with our local guide from April-October. If you are traveling to Venice between November-March, skip-the-line is not included as the Basilica does not offer this privilege to any operators during these slower months. As it is winter, the crowds are generally fewer and lines are a lot smaller and faster.

St. Mark's Square

You’ll begin your private tour of Venice in St. Mark's Square, or Piazza San Marco, which is perhaps one of the most famous public squares in the world. Your Venice tour guide will introduce you to their city and show you some of the most important sites in the square, and you'll also hear stories of the historic events that once took place here. Home to the magnificent St. Mark’s Basilica, the Bell Tower, and Doge’s Palace, this is the largest and most important piazza in Venice.

Private tour of St. Mark's Basilica

The imposing St. Mark's Basilica is one of Venice’s most jaw-dropping landmarks, so it’s no wonder that the line to get inside can be long. That’s why you’ll enjoy skip-the-line tickets at no extra cost during the busy summer months.

Once inside, it's clear why the basilica is nicknamed “the Church of Gold.” With over 45,000 square feet of gilded mosaics constructed over eight centuries, the interior of St. Mark's Basilica is unlike anything you've ever seen. The basilica is so richly outfitted partly due to the conquest of Constantinople. After the city fell in 1204, treasure was shipped back and installed in St. Mark's Basilica. Included in the haul were the four bronze horses and the Pala d’Oro (high altar retable of St. Mark's).

After a brief explanation, your guide will bring you to a restricted area above the main church. Here, you'll see the Horses of St. Mark. These four life-size horses are truly exquisite artifacts with quite the story to tell. Originally, they sat on the front façade of the church, but now reside indoors to aid in their preservation. From here, your guide will escort you to the rooftop terrace to take in one of the most incredible views that Venice has to offer.

Rialto Bridge and Neighborhood

Just a few minutes away from St. Mark’s Square is the Rialto Bridge, as much a symbol of Venice as St. Mark's Basilica. Initially built from old boats, the unstable bridge was rebuilt in 1500. On one side of the bridge is the Rialto Market in the Rialto neighborhood, a place that’s been satisfying appetites for seven centuries. Your guide will lead your through this charming part of Venice and paint a picture of life in this unique Italian city along the way.

Local Campos and Palazzos

Away from the famous squares and landmarks, Venice is a maze of narrow streets, shady campos (small squares) and beautiful old palazzos (palaces). Your private guide will show you some hidden gems on your tour to give you a taste of local Venice that most tourists don't experience, including the ornate Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo. You may even find some lovely spots to return to for an evening glass of vino, and your guide will have plenty of tips to share too.

A Private Cruise on the Grand Canal

The winding loops of Venetian canals not only entice travelers to explore Venice by boat, but also make it extremely practical to do so. It surprises many first-time Venice visitors, but Venice's canal network is essentially a direct replacement for roads, and is used every day by many locals. On this tour, cruise through the side canals on a private boat reserved especially for you. This is a great chance to see the wonders and local sights of Venice in style.

You'll see the breathtaking palaces that line the Grand Canal and catch a glimpse of one of the last standing gondola workshops in Venice. Here, you may even be able to see one of these beautiful boats being crafted by hand.

After your luxury boat ride, your tour ends in central Venice. From here you can catch a water taxi back to your hotel, but if you aren't ready to call it a day then ask your guide where the best places to eat and drink in Venice are and they’ll happily point you in the direction of some delicious Venetian cuisine!

Step off the boat to learn more about the rich city of Venice, and allow your guide’s stories of the Venetian people to aid your discovery.