FriendInVenice: Experience the True Venice with a Private Tour

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Venice, Italy

2 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

Venice : St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs

Venice, Veneto

3.4

(16)

Venice : St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs

from $91

Venice, Veneto

3.5

(10)

1-hour panoramic tour of Venice by boat

from $29

Private Gondola and photoshoot in Secret Venice

Venice, Veneto

5.0

(1)

Private Gondola and photoshoot in Secret Venice

from $221

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

See Venice through the eyes of a local on this private tour. Find moments of calm and unexpected hidden gems as you travel by the Cannaregio on foot and learn to navigate the bustling local markets. In 2 hours you will learn about the center of Venice and its rich history, and even pick up some Italian to use on the rest of your trip! Sip Venetian coffee (or wine) and enjoy the sights away from the crowds.

Choose your own adventure — this is a private tour and can be customized to suit you
See the art, architecture and history of Venice as you walk
Gain insider knowledge about the best bars and restaurants in town
Become a confident Venice adventurer and explorer

What's Included

Coffee and/or Tea

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Pickup point

Venezia

Pickup details

to be agreed

Meeting point

Rialto Unique Venice Experience
Riva del Ferro, 5149, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
In Front Of Rialto Hotel

End point

Rialto Bridge
Ponte de Rialto, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy

Itinerary

Cannaregio (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation

Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Most travelers can participate
On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

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)

Reviews

5.0

based on 104 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great experience

Zachary_W, Aug 2025

Nahdia is the best - very knowledgeable, caring, warm and helpful. We learned a lot about Venice, its history and way of life. Thank you for treating 84 y o our mom so well!

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Dear Zachary, Meeting your 84-year-old mother was truly an honor for me. I wanted to cherish every moment with her because, sadly, I no longer have my own mother. Seeing an 84-year-old woman who is so beautiful, strong, and full of life is deeply inspiring. She is a wonderful example to follow. Please give her my warmest greetings and tell her that I send her so much love. I absolutely love spending time with elderly people and with children. I truly believe I learn so much from them, every single time. Thank you again for your kind words. Baci baci Nadia

Fantastic intro to Venice!

Julie_G, Aug 2025

Nadia was a wonderful tour guide! We learned so much about Venice, it's history, culture, and people! She was so warm and welcoming and we felt so comfortable after our tour with her! We highly recommend Nadia and this tour!

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you so much for this beautiful review. I must confess that I had been looking forward to meeting you ever since you booked the tour. I know I am not a typical, formal, or distant guide. My approach is to surprise my guests, to truly understand them, and to personalize each tour as much as possible. I also try to welcome people in a way that makes them want to return, or at least think fondly about coming back and seeing me again. My goal is to help you understand how Venetians managed to build such a unique city with no local materials, having to import everything. Venice was born out of desperation, and only by staying united did its people succeed in creating something so beautiful, important, and unique. It truly is a miracle, and a miracle that belongs to all of humanity. See you soon, and please keep in touch. Baci baci Nadia

Wonderful Tour!

Jeremy_K, Jul 2025

Nadia was very knowledgeable and gave us a wonderful tour taking us off the beaten path and showing us the history and culture of Venice. Picked us up from our hotel and curated the tour to our requests. Exceeded our expectations and we highly recommend!!

Must Do Tour When In Venice

Murray_M, Jun 2025

Wonderful experience - Nadia is amazing and made us feel as though we had become locals. Could not recommend enough

The BEST way to see the 'less traveled" side of Venice

George_G, May 2025

What a wonderful and enjoyable tour with a local Venetian. Nadia loves her city and knows it very well! She goes out of her way to show you the city through the eyes of a local like herself. Nadia shows you the "hidden" streets and neighborhoods while avoiding the crowds. Venice is a wonderful, clean and beautiful city. Our tour ended with a relaxing stop at a local "trattoria" where we shared a glass of prosecco with prosciutto and cheese. A very enjoyable afternoon with a great tour guide, Nadia will be your 'friend' in Venice!!!

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Hi George, Thank you so much for your lovely review! Venice is truly unique—a city like no other—and it deserves to be experienced in a way that goes beyond the typical tourist paths. I’m so glad you appreciated seeing its quieter, more authentic side. Through your kind words and insights, I hope many other travelers will be inspired to explore Venice in a deeper, more personal way—one filled with hidden streets, real stories, and genuine connections. It was a real pleasure to be your Friend in Venice, and I hope to see you again someday! Baci baci, Nadia

Great experience.

Michael_S, Apr 2025

Nadia did a great job of providing his historical references and leading us to areas off the beaten path of tourist. Wow, her Italian accent made her difficult to understand occasionally, she was very willing to explain again anything that we told her we didn’t understand. While some of her History could be described as revisionist, I am certainly not an expert on Venetian history. However, some of her information was contrary to what I had learned from other sources. Not with standing any potential inaccuracies in her historical references, we highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Dear Michael, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and for your kind words about the tour. As you know, I’m not only Italian—but Venetian—and that’s something I carry with pride. Like many Europeans, we study English, but usually not American English specifically, so yes— sometimes we may stumble over each other’s accents! That’s part of the beauty of travel and cultural exchange, don’t you think? Different voices, different rhythms—yet we still find ways to connect, and I always do my best to make sure everyone feels heard and understood. As for the historical content, I truly appreciate your openness. I’ve spent many years studying the conservation of cultural heritage, art, and history, and continue to read and learn every day. History is never static—it evolves as we uncover new perspectives and evidence. As the saying goes, "History is written by the victors," and I believe it’s important to revisit and question narratives in order to deepen our understanding of the past. This is especially true in a city like Venice, where every stone has a story, and many voices have yet to be heard. Your reflections are valuable, and I’m glad you were able to enjoy the tour despite any differences in interpretation. Thank you again for your recommendation—it means a lot. Warm regards, Nadia

Absolutely A Must Do While In Venice!

David_M, May 2024

Vilma was awesome! So knowledgeable of the history and arts of Venice! She took us to the most important and historical landmarks and throughly explained in great detail the historical consequence.

A must book tour!

ebrechu1, Apr 2024

If you’re thinking about booking this tour this is your sign to do it!! Nadia is so knowledgeable on Venice and we learned so much about the history of this amazing city during our private tour. She was kind and understanding as well. We can’t wait to explore Venice more knowing all the information Nadia taught us during our tour, which makes us appreciate Venice and all its beauty even more than before! Thank you, Nadia!!! We now have a friend in Venice. :)

Famiglia in Venice

Becky_h, Feb 2024

This was my first time in Venice and Nadia was very accommodating to our needs and time. The idea of doing a tour right after traveling by plane for 24 hours seemed like not a great idea! Oh this was the best idea so far in this trip and I would recommend Nadia for anyone who wants to learn history , and how to get around the city ! The weather was perfect for walking in the beautiful city. She explained things so thoroughly and made suggestions for many places, as well as personalized this tour for me and my daughter ! We made a new “friend “ in Venice! I will actually take it one step up and call her “Famiglia”!

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Hi It's great to read your review You’re absolutely right! Having a tour in Venice especially in the first day,can be incredibly beneficial . Venice is a labyrinth ! A tour, particulary with a local guide ,can help you get your bearings and understand how the city is on your own much less daunting afterward !Venice has a rich and complex history A tour can provide context and bring the city’s past to life ,making your entire visit more meaningful. It brings me joy to welcome people and make them feel at home in Venice I prefer to tailor tours,as we’re not all the same ! Thanks so much See you soon Baci baci Nadia

Do this first before venturing out on your own!

John_H, Oct 2023

Our tour guide was a multi generation native Venetian who was proud of her home and shared important information and otherwise unavailable experiences.

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Dear John thank you very much for this beautiful review . Very important for me but also for all travellers who want to know the real Venice. A city of incredible beauty that likes to reveal itself only to those who want to discover it ..Many speak of a crowded city, yet few know it. In reality, much of this city is silent with fantastic corners, sometimes you just have to decide to cross one bridge instead of another and you are away from the tourists. I agree with you, Venice is unique, you have to get lost to discover it and not be afraid...Above all, don't let yourself be conditioned by clichés...Friendinvenice is only for travellers, for those who want to get to know Venice and feel Venetian Thank you Nadia

Best experience

Fabian_S, Jul 2023

I give this tour 10 stars, Nadia our guide is a passionate about the history of her city, We visited Venice many times but nobody told us so many interesting fact about the construction, the history and the culture of Venice. If you are planing to visti, ask for her it wil make the difference.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Dear Fabian With you it was not an easy challenge, as you had visited Venice several times, so I had to find places and facts you were not aware of. Not an easy task, but I succeeded with great satisfaction. You must know that when I am not on tour I spend a lot of my time with my colleagues to find special places and new interisting itineraries. This is our main goal to try to meet the needs of all our customers. I look forward to seeing you soon; I have a lot of curiosities to share with you, Many Greetings, Nadia

Exceeded expectations

charles_t, May 2022

We did a few tours on this trip and this was one of our favorites. Just you and your guide showing you Venice away from all the crowds. We even got a great recommendation for dinner and it was great

Different side of Venice

maribel_g, Nov 2021

Nadia immediately felt like a friend in Venice. She showed us sections of Venice we would never have discovered on our own. Lunch at a beautiful secret patio was very special.

Response from Host, Dec 2021

Dear Maribel , Thank you very much for taking the time to post this beautiful review. Our purpose at Friendinvenice is in fact to make you discover another Venice, a city that must be understood and discovered, in order to love it .. Have you seen how many wonders are hidden? you just need to have eyes to look at them and that's me .. Of course it is your enthusiasm that drove me your curiosity 80% thanks to you the other 20% in my ability to want to amaze you. thanks for your help and see you soon Baci Baci Nadia

A perfect day in Venice.

Jon_T, Oct 2021

This was our fourth trip to Venice, but the first we really enjoyed. If I could give this tour more than five stars , I would. Our Friendinvenice was Linda. She took us on a tour of the parts of Venice we had never seen. Back streets and alleys, while explaining how the true Venetians lived. We eventually came to the Accademia bridge, which we had never been to before. Linda ended our tour by taking us into one of the Grande Palazzos along the Grand Canal, where we were treated to Prosecco and prosciutto on a balcony over looking the Grand Canal. We then walked to St Marks and the Rialto bridge on our own.