Top Venice Art & Culture Classes

Take a break from the usual sightseeing and snapping photos in Venice with this special experience that allows you to be an artist for the day. Learn how to capture the sky, lagoon, and historic palaces through the time-honored medium of watercolor. A local Venetian artist takes you to find the ideal corner of the city to paint, where you can create your own artwork.

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 hands-on experience with one-to-one guidance during a private glassmaking lesson. Discover the secrets of Murano glassmaking techniques from one of the most renowned craftsmen of Venice. The 90-minute workshop includes all materials—including your own marvelous glass artwork to take home—plus a 10 percent discount on glassworks from the artist.

Partake in one of Italy’s most time-honored art forms during this two-and-a-half-hour small-group glass-blowing workshop on the island of Murano. Suitable for beginners, workshops include a live demonstration and hands-on instruction in shaping molten glass. Make an original art object to take back home as a souvenir, ready for pickup the next day. Your glass piece can also be shipped worldwide at an additional cost.

Head to one of the few remaining artisan mask studios still active in Venice for this mask-making workshop, a wonderful way to unleash your creativity—and craft a unique and expressive souvenir. Learn the history of Venetian masks and the artisans who make them, then paint and decorate your own mask using traditional techniques such as painting and gilding. Your tutor is on hand throughout to help realize your vision.

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.

Murano glass is one of Venice's most famous crafts, but most tourists never go beyond a glassblowing demonstration. With this hands-on class, take a deeper dive into the city's glass-making traditions by creating colorful beads under the guidance of a seasoned artisan. Discover the historic Venetian art of lampworking using techniques passed down through the centuries, and take away your handcrafted beads as a unique souvenir of your time in the Floating City.

Discover the art of Venetian glassmaking with this glass-blowing demonstration in Murano. Don’t worry about figuring out how to get there, as a wooden boat transfer is included. Once in the workshop, watch a Venetian family demonstrate how glass is made—with a private guide to provide insightful commentary to expand your knowledge.

Explore a unique part of Venice’s history and culture—and enjoy a hands-on art experience that few other visitors get to have—thanks to this small-group mask-making workshop. Make your own way to the centrally located artisan studio, and get ready to create your very own Venetian mask using papier-maché and other provided materials. As you craft, learn insider facts and stories about the city’s mask-making traditions that you wouldn’t otherwise encounter.

Make the most of your time in Venice by exploring the traditional craft of glassmaking. A peaceful alternative to overcrowded group tours—this private experience offers a more personal visit, where you watch master artisan Alessandro Boscolo—part of a family with a long glassmaking heritage—shape and blow glass. You can also try the techniques yourself and create your own piece to take home.

Step into a hidden Venetian atelier and enjoy an evening of creativity, wine, and social connection. Sip fine Italian wine while bringing your own canvas to life, sharing laughs and inspiration with fellow guests. Surrounded by candlelit décor, vintage mirrors, and hand-crafted tables, you’ll create a unique painting to take home—a memorable experience in the heart of Venice.

Arianna is one of the few remaining Venetian artisans who still prints like in the 15th century. If you plan to visit Venice you cannot miss the opportunity to travel through time and return to the age of the "Serenissima". You can meet Arianna at her art studio, an antique-style printing house in Fondamenta dei Ormesini in the Cannaregio district and attend an entire press session with her: you will be surprised by the atmosphere, the colors, the scents, the gestures , from the work behind a single print. The entire work behind an art print will be shown: starting from the initial drawing, the various processing steps will be explained to obtain a chalcographic engraving, until the actual print is under your eyes.

You don’t have to brave Venice in February to enjoy the magic of Carnival. Capture yourself against six different settings and backgrounds with a range of dresses, masks, hats, and feathers at a studio in the heart of Venice. Create fun videos and photos to share online or print out—it’s the perfect activity for when history and art gets a little much.

Discover the island of Murano, near Venice, with a small-group glass workshop and walking tour. See traditional artistry in action at Murano’s famous glass factories and visit the workshop of a local artist for a hands-on class. Complete the experience with a walk around Murano to see its churches, landmarks, and striking architecture.

Immerse yourself in the lush sounds of baroque music at this authentic chamber performance in Venice. The 17th-century Church of San Vidal provides an intimate historic setting and fantastic acoustics for concertos and symphonies by European masters such as Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, and Handel. The talented members of the Interpreti Veneziani ensemble bring these musical masterworks to life for a night out you won’t soon forget.

Do you want to experience Venice in an authentic way, away from all the same tourist experiences? What if for once, instead of running from place to place, you stopped to do something with your own hands? Gilding is a slow and gentle technique, which naturally invites you to be in the moment. Applying the gold leaf requires only attention to the gesture : and it is precisely in that gesture that one finds oneself, reconnecting with oneself in a completely spontaneous way. You don't need any experience; you just need the desire to stop. In a contemporary artisan atelier in the heart of Venice, a stone's throw from the Rialto, you will learn the basics of gold leaf gilding : an ancient art handed down by a real artisan who practices it every day. Not a demonstration, not a ready-made kit but an experience where you really work with your hands and find yourself, and then go home with a unique creation that tells something about you. Maximum 4 participants per session, to ensure everyone the necessary attention

Taste your way through the canal city on a street food tour of Venice. Meander through the Floating City without having to navigate or overcome the language barrier in a small group that guarantees personalized attention. Pass top sights such as Rialto Market and the Grand Canal, while you savor Venetian specialties including cicchetti (small plates), buranelli (butter cookies), and much more.

Begin your experience with a private boat transfer from select hotels in San Marco or San Polo. Enjoy a scenic cruise along Venice’s iconic canals as you head toward a historic mask studio—a smooth, stress-free start to your creative adventure. At the studio, step into the world of Venetian mask making. Observe skilled artisans demonstrate time-honored techniques, from shaping delicate papier-mâché to applying vibrant, intricate details. Then, roll up your sleeves and craft your own mask, following a clear, step-by-step process that connects you with centuries of local tradition. This workshop offers a hands-on encounter with Venice’s rich artistic heritage. From the memorable boat ride to the creative session at the studio, every moment is designed to engage your senses and leave you with a unique, personal memento of your time in Venice.

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.

Taste your way through the Rialto market and historic neighborhoods on a small-group walking tour of Venice that combines street food with sightseeing. You’ll duck through narrow alleys and follow quiet canals to a series of tastings that include delicious ‘cicchetti,’ Venetian small plates served tapas-style, and check out top Venice attractions along the way.

Rather than simply Shopping for glassware in Venice, this private tour offers behind-the-scenes private access to a glass factory. Meet a master glassmaker, watch live demonstrations, and try the craft yourself by creating your own piece. As it’s a private experience, you can benefit from the instructor’s undivided attention, which makes it a more hands-on and personal way to discover this traditional Venetian craft.

Experience the magic of Venice with a private gondola ride along the Grand Canal. Glide past iconic landmarks and romantic side canals as your gondolier navigates through the heart of the “Floating City.” Afterward, explore Venice’s hidden gems with a digital map on your mobile, featuring more than 200 points of interest, while wandering its charming alleys.

Capture your trip to Venice during this private one, two, three, or four-hour photoshoot with a professional photographer. Let the city be your backdrop as you pose in front of iconic Venice locations—ideal for solo travelers, couples, or special events. Get between 20 and 50 final images (depending on the duration selected) in an online viewing gallery within two weeks.