Real Venetian Kayak - Tour of Venice Canals with a Local Guide

Recommended by 93% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Venice, Italy

High interest

Booked 2 times today.

1 hour 40 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.7

· Keith_J ·

Mar 2026

Teresa was a fantastic guide, so helpful and accommodating. She ensured everybody was safe and enjoying themselves throughout the tour, gave us some great insight into parts of Venice. It’s a great way to do something a little different on the canals of Venice.

· Faith_P ·

Nov 2025

Amazing! We kayaked through the canals and listed to history, stories, it was a once in a lifetime experience. Don’t pass up! Night time was the best.

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Overview

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.

See a side of Venice that most travelers miss along its smallest canals
Learn about the city through a guide's informative commentary
Your human-powered tour has a low environmental impact
No experience necessary; all equipment and instruction is included

What's Included

Homologated Kayak - single Kayak (1 person) or double Kayak (2 persons)
Ergonomic paddle
Life Vest
Qualified English-speaking instructor/guide

Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Calle Brazzo, 3347, 30121 Venezia VE, Italy
Go to "Fondamenta de la Sensa", after the Hotel "Ai Mori d'Oriente" on your side, you'll find a small street going inside. Take it, walk a few meters and you'll be at the starting point.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Meet your adventure guides and tour group at the kayak outfitter office in Venice. Get a brief introduction and instruction on basic safety and kayaking techniques, then jump in the boats and take off. This tour is suitable for all levels of experience, guides will be with you every step of the way to ensure your safety and comfort.

This tour gives a unique perspective on Venice: paddling through the canals, the arteries of this city on the water. Since you are exploring under your own muscle power, this eco-tour has a very low environmental impact. Throughout the tour, learn about the history, culture and traditions of Venice through your guides' commentary.

Finish back at the starting point at the end of the tour.

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation

Most travelers can participate
Children must be accompanied by an adult
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 tour/activity will have a maximum of 6 travelers

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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

Steven_B

We had an amazing time kayaking the canals. Our guide was fantastic with lots of history and cultural facts and a great sense of humor! I highly recommend this tour. It is such a unique way to see the city!!!

Reviews

4.7

based on 525 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Kayaking the canals of Venice

Keith_J, Mar 2026

Tasty and FUN!

Nancy_H, Mar 2026

This was a fantastic experience. Andre was our chef and he was great with adults and kids alike. He was patient and kind and provided detailed information and helpful tips and tricks. Would definitely recommend!

Highly recommended!

Elizabeth_C, Mar 2026

This is a really unique way to experience Venice. The location is away from a lot of the crowds and in a more local neighborhood. Our guide made us feel safe and cared for, and also had a great knowledge of the history of the city she calls home. I highly recommend this!

Amazing experience! Just Do It!

Faith_P, Nov 2025

Amazing! We kayaked through the canals and listed to history, stories, it was a once in a lifetime experience. Don’t pass up! Night time was the best.

Fun Experience

Theo_Z, Oct 2025

WE so far very like our adventure, also nervous to kayak in Venice, but the host really take care of us and gave clear instructions. Please wear something water proof is the best or towel to cover is enough, just incase.

This was an amazing way...

Megan_W, Oct 2025

This was an amazing way to see Venice! So much fun, Nev was super knowledgable and sweet. It was a nice and slow trek along the canals. Great for everyone!

Great tour with 6-year old. Nav was great guide.

PORTER_E, Oct 2025

Perfect activity for me and my 6 year old son. Fun way to explore the waterways. It was a bonus that it got us to the Jewish quarter for some additional history and sightseeing in an otherwise far place for kid. Nav was a great guide.

Having kayak experience...

Corinna_F, Sep 2025

Having kayak experience helped us. Would not recommend for those having none. It was booked for 1 hour but ended up being over two hours.

Fantastic Experience!

Julie_O, Sep 2025

Went at 5 with Darrell from Ireland! He was absolutely fantastic! Great way to explore the city - would highly recommend!

Interesting perspective of Venice!

Jill_L, Sep 2025

I am an occasional, over 75, paddler on a quiet reservoir with no motorized water traffic and no waves. I am not sure I would recommend to others like me. However, the group I was in were competent and the tour guide was patient with my slowness. My granddaughter(28) thoroughly enjoyed the experience of kayaking at night in the canals. I am glad I did it and did learn some things about the history and architecture of the city!

Fun, chill and informative

Harmonie_W, Sep 2025

I LOVED this! I have kayaked the Venice Canals! What a cool thing to say. Our guide Nev, made sure we had everything we needed. We couldn’t go over time due to a train we had to catch. She made us feel relaxed and chill and got us back on time. And I loved learning the new things too!

Fabulous experience!...

Jody_N, Aug 2025

Fabulous experience! Different way to see Venice. Team are great and make it enjoyable for all capabilities

Good times on the water

Anne_J, Aug 2025

We thoroughly enjoyed our canal kayak - interesting way to see a little piece of Venice from a different angle!

We had a great fun...

Aldo_M, Jul 2025

We had a great fun experience with Darryl. He was a great instructor and very entertaining for all of us. Every one in the family really enjoyed it. We had a blast and learned a lot.

Definitely worth it

Matthew_T, Jul 2025

We did the nighttime kayak and it was one of our favourite experiences in Europe. So beautiful and such a great way to see and learn about the city!

Our guide, Toph, was...

Zara_F, Jul 2025

Our guide, Toph, was knowledgeable, friendly and patient. It was fun and we felt safe on the waterways.

Fun way to explore Venice

Theresa_C, Jul 2025

Kayaking is a fun way to see off the beaten path Venice. It was especially beautiful to go out into the lagoon. Thank you for a fun tour!

A must-do for a family

Liesl_M, Jul 2025

It was amazing! One of the highlights of our trip to Venice. Our guide had so many interesting things to share with us. The pace was perfect- not too fast. The view breathtaking!

Darryl is now a lifelong friend.

Maria_S, Jul 2025

Darryl was AMAZING! So knowledgeable and fun. Knows all of the spots where you can enjoy, hangout, eat, drink…you name it, he knows it! Also does kayaking and karaoke as another activity which can be booked. Super helpful to anyone who struggles during the tour with kayaking. I will definitely be coming back to see him as he added so much adventure to my trip!!

Not a good use of time or money

Stacy_C, Jul 2025

Could have been interesting perspective of Venice, and we were looking forward to this; but unfortunately the other guests in the kayaks did not know how to navigate their boats, so we spent the entire tour trying not to run into the back/side of the other guests, or listening to the guide at first reprimand some of the guests for their poor navigation skills. We spent the first part of the tour trying to get the people who couldn’t kayak in front of the others in the group. Our guide said the additional guide that was supposed to help him was ill, so we had one guide for all of us. Not a fun way to spend an evening in Venice, would not recommend. If we could have just rented kayaks, been told the navigation rules, and went out on our own, it would have been a much better experience. Definitely not worth the price, especially to be frustrated the whole evening.

Thank you to Lorenzo for...

Rani_B, Jun 2025

Thank you to Lorenzo for a great experience! We were able to kayak in main ways as well as side streets to see more of Venice and learned history about the city as well. Definitely a unique experience and way to see Venice and would recommend!

Kayak tour review

Meghan_R, Jun 2025

Fun time viewing the bridges from the water. Unfortunately, couldn’t hear much the guide was saying about the history. This could be due to the fact that it was so hot and there wasn’t much shade to gather in, plus the passing boat traffic. Happy I did it, but wouldn’t do it again on a return trip.

We had a great experience...

Tricia_W, Jun 2025

We had a great experience kayaking in the Venice canals - our Irish guide was so knowledgeable and fun! We were traveling with our two boys (almost 13 and almost 10) and they loved it! Definitely recommend!

Amazing Kayak experience!

Steven_B, Jun 2025

The best experience

Justin_B, May 2025

The approach to the shop seems strange, but it leads to the best way to see Venice beyond the tourist hot spots. Being low on the water, among the taxis and private boats is a completely different perspective. Venice gets so quiet once you're away from the main places where people gather and you find yourself relaxed, totally immersed in the water and the scene around you. Prior kayaking experience is not required, but it will make your experience easier. The channels are not difficult to navigate, and your guide will tell you how to move through the other boat traffic while keeping yourself safe. It's not physically demanding and it's a great way to get a break from the noise and crowds of the Grand Canal.

A must for a unique...

Michael_E, May 2025

A must for a unique Venetian experience. Darryl is a fantastic guide. I'll definitely do this again the next time in Venice.

Kayak the Canals

Greg_S, Apr 2025

Wow, definitely a top experience from my trip to Venice. What a special and unique way to experience the city. The guide was knowledgeable and made sure we had fun.

lovely experience

Suzanne_N, Apr 2025

such a fun and unique way to see venice. our guide was amazing (and i can't remember his name but he is originally from ireland). he made sure we all knew how to kayak and navigate the canals and was so patient and lovely, especially with my daughter. truly a great guide and teacher. thank you!