Top Veneto Unique Experiences

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.

Take a course on mask-making from a master artisan in Venice, and learn about the history of this ancient tradition. See the traditional art of decorating a mask and see what goes into the preparation for the Venetian Carnival. Then create your own masterpiece to create a special memory from your time in Venice.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

One of the hallmarks of Italy’s cuisine is the use of seasonal, local ingredients. Learn how to create dishes like an Italian with the guidance of a “Cesarina”, or home cook. Choose a few basic ingredients together at the Padua market and then create two Italian dishes using your selections during a hands-on cooking class at your host’s home. End with sampling what you’ve prepared, along with local red and white wines.

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.

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.

Learn the secrets behind Italian cooking with a half-day class in Treviso. Discover Le Cesarine, a network of home cooks spread across Italy, with a private cooking class. Visit the home of a Cesarina in Treviso and get hands-on experience preparing three regional recipes. Taste everything you cook alongside a glass of local wine.

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.

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.

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 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.

Venice is home to pasta-making traditions passed down for generations, but too often, travelers suffer through disappointing meals. Skip the usual tourist traps and head to the home of a local Venetian cook to learn time-honored cooking secrets. After mixing, kneading, and shaping classic pasta dishes such as bigoli, tagliatelle, or ravioli, sit down to enjoy the fruits of your labor over a bottle of wine.

If you've already indulged into plenty of Italian wine and pasta, get to know local chocolate with this tasting. A master chocolatier guides you through some of the best products in the shop, telling you everything about the ingredients and production. Your experience includes around 10 tastings in total.

Verona is world-famous as the setting of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet" but many travelers never explore beyond the top attractions. On this Lokafy walking tour, connect with a Verona local who will show you around their city like a friend and introduce you to the neighborhoods, museums, shops, and restaurants that they know and love. Chat with your guide before you arrive and devise an itinerary that suits your preferences and style of travel.

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.