The 10 Best Tours To Take During the 2025 Venice Carnival and Why
Danielle Strayer
The Venice Carnival is one of the most famous celebrations in the world and it’s very easy to get swept up in its festivities. But you can’t make the trek to the Floating City without seeing its highlights. So, to make sure you don’t return home wondering, ‘Did I actually see Venice?’, we’ve rounded up the best tours to take during the 2025 Venice Carnival that’ll make your experience the best ever.
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Are Guided Tours During the Venice Carnival Worth It?
Short answer: Yes, it’s one of the best times to take advantage of a local, knowledgeable guide who knows the fascinating history of the Venice Carnival.
The Venice Carnival is as boujee and over-the-top as it is rooted in tradition and good, classic fun. You’ve got elaborate mask balls, water parades on the Grand Canal, high-tech light and water shows, cheeky street performances, and beautiful women competing to be the Maria of the Year.
Sure, that’s more than enough to keep you entertained for a few days—but here’s the thing: it’s all too easy to get lost in the crowd and miss out on experiencing what makes Venice great in the first place. A guided tour gives you the best of both worlds. You’ll skip the lines at Venice’s top landmarks, explore its hidden corners, and get insider insights into the Venice Carnival.
Top 10 Tours To Take During The 2025 Venice Carnival
If you’re attending the 2025 Venice Carnival, then make sure you’ve planned what you really want to do and see. Why? Because with millions of visitors pouring into the city, things are about to get crazy. Look for tours that are small-group, hassle-free, and led by a local—like these:
If you’re going to attend the most extravagant festival in Venice, your mask better be just as fabulous. Skip the mass-produced masks from souvenir shops and instead design your own during this hour-long workshop. With the guidance of a local artisan, you’ll paint and decorate a mask, then personalize it with feathers, ribbons, and sequins.
As you craft your masterpiece, your guide will spill the tea on the fascinating history behind Venetian masks—how they gave Venetians the freedom to flirt, gamble, and gossip without consequences.
Highlights:
1 hour
Local artisan guide
Cultural insights on Venetian masks
Decorate with acrylic paints, feathers, ribbons, and sequins
If you’ve already started mapping your Venice itinerary, you’ll know timing entry tickets to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace—and squeezing in a gondola ride and checking out other attractions—is not an easy task. And that’s exactly what this six-hour tour does.
You’ll start at St. Mark’s Basilica, where your guide will walk you through its dazzling gold mosaics before leading you to the Rialto Bridge. After a quick stop at the bustling Rialto Market, a 30-minute ride along the Grand Canal gives your feet a well-deserved rest. Following lunch, you’ll skip the long lines again and step inside the Doge’s Palace to admire grand halls, historic artworks, and the Bridge of Sighs.
If you want to see the best of Venice in a day, this is hands down the way to go.
3. Treasure Hunt in Venice with a Surprise Workshop
Venice is a city of secrets, and this Carnival treasure hunt lets you uncover them one clue at a time. Using a mobile app, you’ll navigate a maze of hidden streets and historic sites, from the famous Rialto Bridge to the spice-scented Erbaria market.
As you follow the trail, you’ll learn about Venice’s mysterious Carnival traditions, merchant history, and the legends behind its famous masks. The adventure ends inside Palazzo delle Prigioni, where you’ll hand-paint your own Venetian mask in the same halls where Casanova was once imprisoned.
Highlights:
1.15 hours
Self-guided treasure hunt with a Carnival app
Explore Venice’s historic streets and bridges
Visit Palazzo delle Prigioni, Rialto Bridge, Palazzo delle Prigioni, and more
Decorate your own Venetian mask with expert guidance
4. Theatrical Walking Show of Carnival & Venice’s Hidden Streets
You’ve come for excitement and drama, so why not join a walking tour that’s also a little bit extra? With a costumed actor as your guide, you’ll wind through the lively Merceria, stand before the magnificent Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, and uncover the legends of Campo Santa Maria Formosa.
Throughout, you’ll hear tales of Casanova, the mysterious Codega lantern-bearers, and the secrets behind the Venice Carnival. For first-time Carnival-goers looking to uncover the history, mystery, and magic behind the celebration, this tour is the perfect introduction.
1.15 hours
Professional and costumed actor-guide
Stories behind Venetian Carnival traditions
Walking tour of Merceria and Campo Santa Maria Formosa
5. St. Mark’s Basilica Guided Tour in Venice With Access to Terraces
St. Mark’s Basilica has been at the center of the Venice Carnival since its start in 1162. From the elaborate Flight of the Angel that kicks off the festivities to the processions that wind through the square, this is where the action’s at. But with thousands of people competing for a front-row view, wouldn’t it be nice to rise above the chaos?
That’s where this tour comes in. With skip-the-line tickets, you’ll breeze past the long queues and step into Venice’s magnificent “Church of Gold.” Your guide will lead you through its glittering interior filled with golden mosaics and daring arches.
Then, it’s time for the best view in town. Head up to the Basilica’s Terrace, where you can watch the Carnival unfold from the city’s best vantage point.
Highlights:
1 hour
Skip-the-line entrance tickets to St. Mark’s Basilica
The narrow canals of San Moisè are among the most picturesque in Venice, flowing alongside the ornate San Moisè Church, the fabulous Bauer Palazzo hotel, and into the Grand Canal. On this 25-minute ride, you’ll get to see it all while enjoying the comfort of a private gondola. And for a bit of extra fun, toss on your masks and declare it your own unofficial Carnival water parade.
The gondola holds up to five people and there’s a set price per ride, so invite your friends!
Highlights:
25 minutes
Private gondola and gondolier for up to 5 people
Cruise the Grand Canal and the canals of San Moisè
7. St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Half-Day Tour with Gondola Ride
If you’re intrigued by the full-day Venice tour above but don’t have six hours to spare, this 3.5-hour tour could be perfect. Similar to the full-day tour, you’ll be treated to skip-the-line entry to both St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, and a 30-minute gondola ride. With a guide leading the way, you’ll learn about St. Mark’s mysterious arrival in Venice, hidden messages in gold mosaics, and the controversies surrounding the Doges of Venice.
The tour starts and ends in Piazza San Marco, which makes it super easy to add to any itinerary.
Highlights:
25 minutes
Private gondola and gondolier for up to 5 people
Cruise the Grand Canal and the canals of San Moisè
Sure, you can fight the crowds and cruise to Murano and Burano on a ferry. Or, you can join up with a local guide and get much more out of your time. On this four-hour tour, you’ll take a private water taxi to Murano and watch Venice’s legendary glassblowers shape molten glass.
You’ll also sail to Burano, famous for its brightly painted houses and centuries-old lace-making tradition. Here, you’ll step into a local workshop and see how delicate Venetian lace is stitched by hand. Along the way, your guide will share the islands’ fascinating history and point out the best places to eat and shop.
Highlights:
4 hours
Private water taxi
Tour and glassblowing demonstration in Murano
Tour and lace-making demonstration in Burano
Friendly, knowledgeable guide for the duration of the tour
9. Classical Music Concert at Venice’s Church of San Vidal
The highlight for many Venice Carnival attendees is the opportunity to don a mask and live the life of an aristocrat for a night. But not everyone wants to spend €400 on a ball, and not everyone wants to dance.
For a night of elegance without the formalities, slip inside the Church of San Vidal, where the Interpreti Veneziani ensemble will take you on a 90-minute journey through Baroque music’s finest masterpieces. Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel fill the candlelit space, the acoustics making every note magical. It’s refined, it’s atmospheric, and it’s one of the easiest ways to add a touch of Venetian grandeur to your Carnival experience without breaking the bank.
On this two-hour tour, you’ll step into Murano’s rich glassmaking tradition and learn why this tiny island has been at the heart of Venetian glass production for over 700 years. Inside the world’s oldest glass factory, an artisan will introduce you to the meticulous art of lampworking—a technique used to shape molten glass into intricate beads and delicate designs. Under their expert guidance, you’ll craft your own piece using centuries-old methods.
Another highlight of the tour is exploring Murano alongside an expert guide. You’ll stroll along Rio dei Vetrai (canal of glassmakers), visit San Pietro Church, and head into quieter parts of the city.
The tour wraps up near the Murano Faro water bus stop, just steps from some of the island’s best glass boutiques and authentic trattorias. Take your time browsing the handcrafted pieces or settle in for a meal before heading back to Venice.
Deciding which events to attend and how to make the most of your time during the Venice Carnival can take some effort as it’s a massive festival. Make your planning easier with our thorough guide, which details what to see and do, where to eat, and more.
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