Top Veneto Unique Experiences

Italy is known for its wine, and with this small-group tour, you get an insider's look at wine production from grape to bottle—with a focus on Amarone wines. Travel through the Valpolicella region, stopping at two wineries for tastings. At your second winery, sit down for a lunch of local cuisine paired with more wine, followed by another guided tasting to learn more about viticulture.

Access tiny canals that most boats can't enter on this unique kayaking tour. Follow your kayaking guide to paddle through quiet canals far from the crowds and learn about the history and culture of the Floating City. Savor views from the water and see the city from an exclusive perspective. Participants of all levels are welcome, and no kayaking experience is necessary.

Get an inside look into the centuries-old art of glassblowing with a factory tour on Murano Island, home to the world’s finest artisan glass. Tour the facilities at Colleoni Glass Factory and watch a master craftsman shape molten glass through a combination of heat, blowing and sculptural techniques. Visit the factory showroom to see beautiful finished works of art, and receive a special Murano glass souvenir to take home.

Meet your host, Massimo, for a fun and informative private cooking class. Shop for ingredients at the Mercato di Rialto (if option selected), then head back to Massimo’s for a lesson in Italian cuisine. Learn to prepare dishes from the Veneto region and make homemade pasta and focaccia bread from scratch. After the lesson, enjoy the meal you’ve prepared together.

Get an inside peek into the world-famous glassblowing factories of Murano with this small-group tour. From central Venice, ride a water taxi across the Venetian Lagoon to the colorful island of Murano. Watch a glassmaking demonstration by a master craftsman, and enjoy time to browse the factory showroom featuring finished works of art. Finally, attend your choice of hands-on workshop to create a take-home piece of jewelry or mosaic using authentic Murano glass.

Explore Venice through its cuisine on this private food and drinks tour led by a local. You’ll visit several bars, sampling Venetian delicacies like “fritto misto” fried seafood and traditional crustless sandwiches while sipping a glass or two of local wine or Aperol spritz—already conveniently included. As you stroll through San Marco, San Polo and the Rialto, you’ll discover dishes, flavors and ingredients you might otherwise have missed.

Swap the schedules and historical focus of conventional tours for a private walking tour of Venice with a local who’ll show you the city like a friend. Tell them what you fancy doing, and enjoy a personalized tour enriched by their grassroots knowledge. Explore often-overlooked neighborhoods; discover sights and eateries favored by locals; and get transport and cultural pointers to help ensure you get the most from your visit.

Learn the secret to making great pasta during a private cooking class in Verona, taught by a “cesarina,” or home cook. Follow three regional recipes and discover tricks of the trade. Each participant is equipped with utensils and ingredients at a personal workstation during the 4-hour lesson. You’ll prepare authentic Italian pastas, then taste each delicious dish, accompanied by a selection of local wine—a unique cultural immersion.

Explore the Valpolicella region with a guide who shares the secrets of the area’s traditional wines. Visit two wineries where you sample varieties such as Valpolicella, Ripasso, Amarone, and Recioto, and gain insight into the winemaking process. Your tour includes tastings of at least four wines accompanied by bread, cheese, or salami at each winery.

Avoid long lines with skip-the-line entrance tickets to Venice’s most famous icon, St. Mark’s Basilica. Follow your guide through the basilica’s Byzantine mosaics, listening to informative commentary about the history of this Italian city and the vibrant culture that has emerged from it. Your tour also includes a visit to a glass factory to watch a glass-blowing demo by a Venetian master.

A full-day tour is the perfect way to make the most of your time in the picturesque countryside that surrounds Verona. Head to Lake Garda to enjoy a relaxing boat ride along the water, and snap photos of of elegant lakeside villas, plus, the Grotte di Catullo—a fascinating ancient Roman ruin. Enjoy free time to explore in the historic center of Sirmione, then, visit a Valpolicella winery to taste Amarone, Ripasso, and other local wines. Dine on a delicious light lunch in the vineyard and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Learn the secrets of glassblowing during this activity in Venice. Visit the Glass Factory Showroom near St Mark's Square to see examples of this highly specialized glass art, beloved by collectors the world over. Learn about this technique's origins in the Roman Empire from you guide, then watch a glassblowing demonstration by a Master Artisan.

Learn how to make homemade pasta the traditional way — using generations-old recipes passed down from your host's 'nonna.' Offering more than just a taste of Veronese cuisine, this private cooking class lets you live the local culture for a few hours, by cooking, chatting, and eating with a host in their own home.

Explore three of Venice's top islands in one day on board a traditional "bragozzo" boat. Leave the crowds in central Venice behind and cruise across the lagoon with your local skipper and small group, taking in views of the Floating City along the way. Enjoy free time to explore the glass workshops on Murano, snap photos of the colorful houses on Burano, and delve into Venetian history on Torcello.

If you’ve already hit the main sights and are thirsting to uncover another side to the history-packed city, then this private Venice walking tour has got you covered. Escape the tourist trail and immerse yourself in local culture in the sestiere, or district, of Cannaregio, an off-the-beaten-track neighborhood filled with artisans. Then, visit the former Jewish Ghetto as you learn about the city’s often overlooked dark chapters.

Sip and learn about the most well-known wines of Verona on this half-day Soave and Amarone tour. Visit two wineries: one in Valpolicella for powerful reds and one in the Soave region for beautiful whites. Take in vineyard scenery, learn from sommeliers, and taste DOC and DOCG wines including Soave Superiore, Amarone, and Recioto. The tour starts at Pagus Wine Tours, Via della Valverde, 75, Verona.

Follow three authentic Venetian recipes during a small-group cooking class and learn the tricks of the trade from a 'cesarina,' or home cook, in Venice. Each participant is equipped with utensils and ingredients at a personal workstation during the 3-hour lesson. You’ll prepare 'cicchetti,' or small plates, then taste each delicious dish, accompanied by a selection of local wine.

Venetian masks have a long and storied history: during the republic’s heyday, they were used to conceal the identities of residents who engaged in decadent activities. In their masks, peasants and noblemen were equal. Make your own Venetian mask (yours to keep), adorned with sequins, ribbons, and other fineries, under the tutelage of a local artist. All materials are provided.

Don't just savor traditional dishes during your Venice trip—immerse yourself in the city's cuisine, and walk away with new culinary skills, on this small-group market tour and cooking class. Led by a local chef, explore the vibrant Rialto Market, and discover the freshest local produce. Then, return to their home to prepare a 3-course meal, featuring handmade pasta, tiramisu, and more. Savor your dishes with local wine, and receive take-home recipes.

Learn the techniques for making the perfect Italian pizza during this 3-hour hands-on pizza making class in Verona. Head to a local Veronese home to meet your Italian chef and learn the art of making Italy’s most famous dish. You'll also learn how to create Tiramisu before you sit down to enjoy your meal with a glass of wine or beer.

Enjoy a local's eye view of Venice by joining this small-group cooking class led by a Venetian-born host in their home. In a small group of no more than 10 guests, learn how to make fresh pasta, then sit down together to enjoy a 3-course meal accompanied by a glass of white wine or Prosecco.

Venice is one of Italy’s most beautiful cities, and if you want stunning photos to remember your vacation, then don’t rely on selfies. Instead, let a professional photographer capture shots of you against beautiful backdrops. The shoot can be for individuals, couples, or groups—and the photographer can give you advice on routes, or accommodate special requests for a custom route.

Immerse yourself in a private dining experience at a local's home, enjoy an exclusive show cooking and taste authentic recipes from Varese treasured in family cookbooks passed down by real Italian Mammas. Feel the warmth of Italian hospitality as you connect with local people. Enjoy a 4-course menu including starter, pasta, main course with side dish, dessert with drinks included (water, selection of red and white wines from regional cellars and coffee). This experience is held by Cesarine: Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.