7 Best Cruises and Boat Tours in Venice

Along Venice's Grand Canal, you will find monuments, churches and palaces from different periods that together form a spectacular harmonious whole. As you can imagine, there is a lot to see and do in Venice, but starting your adventure with a cruise along its waters is the best way to get in tune with the city. Below are the many options for cruises on the Grand Canal so you can see beyond the Venetian Vaporetto and gondola rides. Venice offers us spectacular alternatives!

Embark on an adventure to learn interesting details about the city of Venice and its most notable tourist attractions. After touring several of Venice's most prominent alleys, squares, and historical monuments with an expert local guide, you will end your excursion with a peaceful boat ride along the Venetian waters of the Grand Canal.

The route of this guided boat trip along the Grand Canal may vary depending on the company you choose, the weather and the duration of the excursion. However, some of the monuments and historical sites you can expect to see are:

• Piazza San Marco, a must-see on any trip to Venice, is the most popular square in Venice.
• Casa di Marco Polo, famous Italian ambassador and merchant.
• Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, one of the most important works of Venetian Baroque architecture.
• Teatro La Fenice, Venice's main theatre and one of the most famous opera houses in the world.

Grand Canal tour options

• Guided boat tour of Venice's Grand Canal - from €45
• Private boat tour of Venice's Grand Canal - from €163

What do these boat trips include?

When you book this type of service, you will enjoy a trip along the Grand Canal in a traditional Venetian gondola or a shared boat. You will also have the opportunity to visit historic Venetian buildings accompanied by a guide who will provide you with interesting facts about the city. These types of excursions are usually available in several languages.

Useful information

• Price: This type of experience is available from £45 per person.
• Duration of the excursion: The walking tour with the gondola ride on the Grand Canal takes approximately 3 hours to complete.
• Recommended if... You are staying in Venice for a short time, one or two days, and want to see the main attractions. Also, if it is your first time visiting this beautiful city and you want to quickly soak up everything it has to offer.

Some boat cruises on the Grand Canal combine a half-day tour of the most important canals on the island of Venice with the islands in the north of the lagoon.

Although the itinerary may vary depending on the company you book with, these types of experiences usually include stops at St. Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. Then you'll take a tour to Murano and Burano to explore both islands in a few hours. This type of experience is an excellent way to see the most impressive sights of Venice and its surroundings in a single trip.

What do these excursions include?

All excursions of this type include transport within Venice, transport to the islands of Murano and Burano, and an expert guide who accompanies you throughout the trip. On the islands, there are stops to learn about the art of glassmaking on Murano and the art of lace-making on Burano.

Useful information

• Price: For this type of experience, the price usually exceeds €150 per person; although it is certainly not a super cheap alternative, you can consider it if it also includes admission to the monuments.
• Duration of the excursion: You will need to set aside a full day of your itinerary if you want to take this excursion; the morning is usually reserved for seeing the most impressive sights on the island of Venice, while the afternoon is reserved for visiting the northern islands.
• Recommended if... you are planning a trip of several days to Venice, including a visit to the islands of Murano and Burano on one of those days is usually a very enjoyable experience that allows you to discover a quieter side of Venice that is less crowded with tourists.

Cruising the Grand Canal of Venice at night or at sunset is a magical experience on every level. With this type of excursion, you can enjoy a beautiful sunset over the waters of the canal or the spectacle of lights that, during the night, illuminate the main palaces and historic buildings along the canal.

Due to the timing of the excursion, most only offer a view of the facades of the buildings from a distance. If you are interested in learning about the architecture, a cruise along the Grand Canal during the day may be more rewarding. Or both, if you have time.

Types of excursions

• Group tour You will share the gondola or boat with other tourists; some group tour options may include stops for snacks at street stalls.
• Private tour You will have the gondola or water taxi for the exclusive use of you and your companions. The maximum capacity is usually up to 6 people.

What do these excursions include?

Some excursions include stops for dinner at Venetian restaurants. Some include musicians who harmonise the evening with beautiful songs, while others include longer tours that take in the Grand Canal and some secondary canals.

Useful information

• Price: The price varies depending on several factors. You can find options ranging from €37 for group excursions to €375 for private excursions.
• Duration of the excursion: A minimum of 30 minutes for the shortest tours or up to two hours for the longest tours that include other experiences.
• Recommended if... You want to enjoy a rather original romantic and family evening. Even if you take the Grand Canal tour during the day, the night offers a new perspective of the city that I recommend doing at least once during a trip to Venice.

Designed to enjoy the typical Venetian experience of a short gondola ride on the Grand Canal, it allows you to admire the most important architectural and historical landmarks up close. The Grand Canal is a place in Venice where the city's most important buildings are located. During the gondola ride, the guide will point out historical sites, share interesting facts and take you close to the facades of certain buildings so you can admire them up close. Some of the buildings usually included are:

• Ponte di Rialto, of the four bridges that connect the two banks of the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge is the most beautiful and oldest in Venice.
• Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, the second most important basilica in the city.

Gondola ride options

• Shared gondola ride in Venice: The group option is ideal if you want to share the experience of a gondola ride through Venice with other tourists like yourself. It is also the most economical option. The maximum capacity is 6 people. - From €39
• Private gondola ride in Venice The ideal alternative if you are looking for an intimate ride with your friends, family or partner. Although it is a little more expensive due to the privacy, it generally has the same duration and itinerary. - From 39

What do these excursions include?

In addition to the classic gondola ride with stops included, they also include the services of a trained expert guide who will explain all kinds of historical details about the city. The guides in Venice speak several languages, so you can find tours in Italian, French, English and Spanish.

Useful information

• Price: From €30 for group tours; individual tours are more expensive.
• Duration of the excursion: Minimum 30 minutes travelling along the canal, taking in the sights at the stops.
• Recommended if... you want to enjoy the typical Venetian experience of a boat or gondola ride.

Unlike the previous excursion, this type of tour includes not only a walk through the beautiful streets of Venice but also a tour inside several historic buildings such as basilicas and palaces. It's a fantastic way to save time, money and effort on your trip to Venice.

Please note that the options for tours and visits may vary depending on the company you hire and the duration of the excursion. However, most historical tours of Venice include stops at the monuments of greatest interest to tourists visiting the city. These are:

• Doge's Palace The most luxurious and impressive Venetian palace, it is a must-see on any trip to Venice.
• Basilica di San Marco The most famous religious building among the many in Venice, it is located right next to the Doge's Palace, making it a fantastic combination for a same-day tour.
• Piazza San Marco Located outside the Basilica, this is the most famous square in Venice.
• Ponte di Rialto The most famous and beloved by Venetians of the many bridges that connect the Venetian canals.

What do these excursions include?

This type of excursion includes the services of an expert guide who will explain all kinds of interesting details about the palaces and historic buildings included in the tour. Additionally, skip-the-line tickets to places such as the Doge's Palace or St. Mark's Basilica are included.

Useful information

• Price: Available from €115 for shorter tours. Longer tours will have a higher price.
• Duration of the tour: This may vary depending on the itinerary of each particular tour. However, the minimum duration is usually 3 hours and the maximum is 5 hours.
• Recommended if... You will be spending two days in Venice or three days in Venice. This tour will take up a large part of your day, but it will allow you to see the most important sights of the capital and the main historical buildings.

An attentive gondolier dressed in the typical striped outfit of classic Venetian landscapes will take you on a ride along the Grand Canal while you enjoy the scenery, architecture and a fabulous serenade. The tour includes stops at some points of high tourist interest, such as:

• Peggy Guggenheim Museum: Home to the largest collection of Impressionist art in Venice.
• Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute: One of the most important works of 17th-century Venetian architecture.
• Ponte dell'Accademia: The only wooden bridge in Venice, built after the Austrian occupation.

What do these excursions include?

In addition to the gondola ride experience, on this type of excursion you will enjoy a group of musicians led by a professional singer who will sing beautiful Italian ballads as you glide through the waters. The guides usually speak several languages, so you can find an excursion in Spanish or any other language you understand easily.

Useful information

• Price: The group option costs approximately €40 per person, while private options will always cost a little more.
• Duration of the excursion: As the tour generally only covers the Grand Canal, it can be done in 35 minutes maximum.
• Recommended if... you want to share a unique and special moment with your friends, family or partner. It is the kind of experience that is much more enjoyable when shared with special people.

Accompanied by an expert gondolier and a professional photographer, you can enjoy a romantic trip along the Grand Canal while having exceptional photographs taken.

What do these excursions include?

Some alternatives include stops for photographs at other locations in addition to the gondola on the Grand Canal. These locations are usually visually appealing sites within Venice, such as St. Mark's Square and the beautiful Bridge of Sighs. In most cases, the photographer will provide the customer with a digital photo album with the previously agreed number of photographs. Some companies also include round-trip transportation to your hotel.

Useful information

• Price: This is a premium quality service that costs around €600.
• Duration of the excursion: The tour, including the necessary stops to take photographs, has an estimated duration of 2 hours.
• Recommended if... you want to celebrate and treasure a very special moment; it is a fantastic idea if you are on your honeymoon in Venice, celebrating your anniversary or birthday; also if you want to make an original marriage proposal and document the experience.