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Cultural Kayak Tour: Discovering the City’s Canals

Recommended by 98% of travelers
Venice, Italy
  • 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Sail through The Floating City without splurging on a gondola. This small group kayaking tour through the canals of Cannaregio or Castello showcases Venice from the water, and puts you in charge of the paddling. Head to a local rowing club to brush up on your skills, before setting off for a tour of the city. Navigate the local boating traffic and take on a few waves as you go.
  • Play gondolier for the afternoon and see Venice from your own kayak
  • Learn about the city from as you paddle through its canals and under its bridges
  • Join up to six other travelers for a small-group experience
  • Prior kayaking experience is a must on this tour

What's Included

  • Kayaks
  • Paddles
  • Life jackets
  • Photo service
  • Guide

    Meeting and Pickup

    Meeting point

    • Fondamente Nove, 6576, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy

      We will meet at the entrance to Reale Società Canottieri Querini. If you need help finding the place, you can call us. Please, arrive 15 minutes early.

    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    What To Expect

    1

    Societa Canottiere Francesco Querini

    2

    Arsenale di Venezia

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €10 access fee.
    • Physical exertion is required on our classes, they are sporty. You should have experts/medium paddling skills. You should be in suitable physical condition (each paddler must be:  less  than 120 kilos for men, less that 100 kilos for women; and be able to enter kayak cabin size 80 cm long and 40 cm wide) and mental condition to participate in sports activities, including dangerous ones, and to be free from any impediment disorders. People with serious disabilities and pregnant women after the third month will not be accepted. People with serious disabilities and pregnant women after the third month will not be accepted.
    • Two double kayaks are provided for each class. When there are only adults in a group, the guide decides on the spot who uses the double kayak based on their physical abilities.
    • The class can be cancelled by the instructor in the following cases: 1. Bad weather conditions: strong winds, rain, fog, lightning and tornadoes, events, demonstrations, strikes or other conditions that make the class unsafe or impossible. A trainee will be contacted to arrange a rescheduling for the cancelled class. 2. If a trainee arrives drunk or drugged. 3. If a trainee does not meet the requirements mentioned above.
    • During the classes, we often encounter waves of one foot (30 - 40cm) as well as other boat traffic.
    • The class can be rescheduled by the instructor if there are any changes in working hours or internal works in the club in connection with important sporting events or any other circumstances related to the club's internal processes.
    • Paddling is a sport activity. It requires strength, concentration, attention, and a positive state of mind and body, so make sure you're prepared. Before the class, rest, do some exercises to warm up your muscles, don't overeat or drink alcohol. Get ready to do sports physically and morally!
    • Don't use your phone or camera while you are paddling. It's prohibited to use phones or cameras during the class, you will have to leave it in a locker. The instructor will take pictures for you and send them to you after the class. It's okay if you film on a Go Pro or camera attached to a hat or life jacket, since you can paddle freely.
    • * Children between the ages of 8 and 17 are welcome to participate in the class, but only in one double kayak with their parents or instructors (i.e., they cannot sail alone).
    • If there is only one booking (a single participant) for a specific tour, time, and date, the guide may reschedule it to allow the single participant to join a shared group.
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    Traveler Photos

    Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

    Featured review

    Rebecca_O
    Such a fun way to see Venice! We had a fantastic time paddling the canals with our amazing guide! It was a small group and we travelled over 5 km in a few hours. The photos he took and shared with us were a very welcome bonus!

    Reviews

    4.9
    based on 56 reviews
    Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

    Kayaking in Venice is a...

    Mark_P, Jan 2026
    Kayaking in Venice is a wonderful experience, highly recommended. This tour took us on a 5km tour of canals thin and wide. As a couple we were able to use a tandem kayak which was our preference. The tour advises that phones aren't to be used, but the guide takes photos and videos of you instead which was great. Thanks for a great tour, we'd recommend it to everyone!

    100% Recommend! The most fun we had!

    Rebecca_O, Oct 2025
    Such a fun way to see Venice! We had a fantastic time paddling the canals with our amazing guide! It was a small group and we travelled over 5 km in a few hours. The photos he took and shared with us were a very welcome bonus!

    Unique way to see Venice!

    Julia_S, Feb 2025
    The tour was an incredible way to see the city from a completely different view. We are experienced kyakers, but I think the route can be adjusted for any level of experience. Alexandra was an amazing guide who really told about history of Venice and her passion for her city. I completely understand why Venitoans would be proud of their history- highly recommended tour for anyone who has been in a kayak before!

    Fabulous experience in Venice

    Paula_S, Sep 2024
    This was a brilliant activity and Alexandria, our guide, was so lovely, friendly and made sure we had the perfect experience. We visited areas of Venice that we would never have seen if we were walking and it was so lovely to see parts of Venice from our kayak. I would highly recommend this tour.

    Uniquely enjoyable afternoon in Venice!

    Marc_T, Jul 2024
    I was looking for a novel way to spend a spare afternoon in Venice, and the Cultural Kayak Class hosted by Aleksandra was perfect! It was a truly unique way to enjoy Venice and learn a bit about the city’s history and architecture. Aleksandra’s enthusiasm for boating and Venice is awesome, and she was a wonderful guide. Having visited Venice several times, this was certainly one of my most favorite experiences. Thanks so much for an incredible afternoon!

    Don’t leave your camera behind

    angela_w, Oct 2023
    The actual tour was great and the staff was friendly. All of us on the tour were told that we had to leave our waterproof bags and phones behind, it was very strongly insisted. Total BS, we missed the chance for fantastic photos from a really unique perspective. The guide took his and did take a few posed pictures of us but I was very disappointed at missing the chance to take my own. Also none of us had sunscreen or snacks, just a single water bottle each. The paddling was at a pretty fast pace through tight crowded canals and some extremely choppy and congested open water. Definitely worth doing, but take a small waterproof bag with your own camera/phone.

    Response from Host, Oct 2023

    Thank you for paddling with us, Angela! As for the cameras, it is written in the rules of activity before you book, and then I also inform you about it before the tour starts by message. So, if you book this activity, you accept our rules. We kindly ask not to mislead other guests with the wrong recommendations to keep a camera that occupies hands. Paddling requires concentration and use of hands, so it's not allowed to take pictures with a camera or phone that occupies your hands. There's a safety reason for it. The safety of you and other participants of the tour and citizens in the boats in the canals comes first. It's okay if it's a GoPro or another camera that can be attached to a life jacket or hat, so that you can have free hands for paddling only. But not a phone or camera that occupies hands. You get informed about this on the page of the activity before booking and by private message before the tour. This activity is not for taking pictures, it is for doing spots on water.

    The perfect blend of informative and adventurous!

    David_B, Jun 2023
    Nicolo and Aleksandra are a quality team! Professional yet fun, clear communication with character, safe and yet adventurous - this characterises both their service and the tour. From the initial orientation, safe storage of gear with easy place to change before and after getting wet, through to navigating the lagoon and learning the history of Venice - couldn't be better! Many thanks. Hoping your business continues to grow and go from strength to strength. Keep adventuring!

    Venetian Rowing

    Janet_S, May 2023
    We received clear instructions from Cao Rio before meeting at the rowing club. Once we arrived he assessed our ability to get in and out of the kayak and our confidence/capability for kayaking. It was established that I was not confident enough to go on the lagoon. He hatched a plan so that we would not miss out on the sight seeing. It was decided we would do some rowing Venetian style. My husband rowed on the lagoon with Cao into the Arsenale. Then I had a little go. It is not as easy as they make it look. We saw the longest gondola which Cao would be rowing in at the regatta. He then took us around the oldest part of Venice where the canals are really narrow. It was a lovely afternoon seeing Venice in a different perspective. Thank you for a lovely time. We also went to the Church he recommended. It was spectacular. We will definitely recommend this to anyone.

    Response from Host, Jun 2023

    Thank you so much and come back in Venice!

    Paddeln mit Gegeverkehr.

    Ruedi_H, Nov 2024
    Nette und aufgestellte Tour Gides. Wir mussten die Tour verschieben, das war vor Ort kein Problem, danke.

    Eine wunderbare Paddeltour

    Bettina_S, Apr 2023
    Mein großer Sohn und ich haben die kulturelle Tour durch Venedig gebucht. Es war ein besonderes Erlebnis, durch die Kanäle zu paddeln und die Atmosphäre zu genießen. Unser Guide Nicolò hat uns sehr viel interessantes zur Geschichte zu Venedig und den Gebäuden erzählt. Wir waren begeistert. Vielen, vielen Dank

    Response from Host, Apr 2023

    Thanks for going kayaking with us!

    From $93.64

    per person

    up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

    Book ahead!
    On average, this is booked 8 days in advance.

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