Venice : Private Hidden Food & Grand Canal Boat Experience
Venice, Italy
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Experience the beauty of Venice on foot and by boat on this highlights tour of the city built on water. Glide through the placid waters past palaces, churches, gardens, and bridges as you make your way along the iconic Grand Canal and minor canals. Then discover the hidden squares and alleys of the Floating City with your guide on foot, capping off your time with a food tasting.
- Cruise the Grand Canal and minor canals with a local guide
- Learn the history of the city and its most famous monuments
- Wander hidden corners of Venice without trying to follow a map
- End with a sweet or savory snack, depending upon the time of your tour
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
Go beyond the standard Grand Canal tour and explore some rarely-visited waterways.
What's Included
- Professional guide for 2 hrs
- Private boat tour of Grand Canal and hidden Canals
- Pastry and coffee or Cicchetti & wine ( depending on time of the day)
- Walk through hidden Venice
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Giardini RealiP.za San Marco, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Entrance to the Royal Gardens, on the waterfront of St Mark's Square - You'll meet Avventure Bellissime tour coordinator outside the gardens, in front of the wrought iron Gate holding a sign with the name of the tour and Avventure Bellissime logo written on it.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Explore the liquid streets of Venice on this Grand Canal boat tour. Journey through the diverse areas of the city aboard a luxury boat that departs from St. Mark’s Square. Learn about the most important waterway in Venice as you make your way past St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace and other landmarks.
Your guide points out palaces and city squares, like Campo Santa Maria Formosa, where gothic architecture and old-world charm reign supreme. Hear about the local trade schools that teach mercantile traditions that allow the city to flourish.
After exploring the Grand Canal, head off to some of Venice’s minor waterways, where you see parts of the city rarely visited by tourists. It’s the best way to experience the beauty and charm of this old world city, complete with comfortable transport and a knowledgeable guide.
Your guide points out palaces and city squares, like Campo Santa Maria Formosa, where gothic architecture and old-world charm reign supreme. Hear about the local trade schools that teach mercantile traditions that allow the city to flourish.
After exploring the Grand Canal, head off to some of Venice’s minor waterways, where you see parts of the city rarely visited by tourists. It’s the best way to experience the beauty and charm of this old world city, complete with comfortable transport and a knowledgeable guide.
Canal Grande (Pass By)
Basilica Dei Santi Giovanni E Paolo (Pass By)
Chiesa della Madonna dell'Orto (Pass By)
Cannaregio (Pass By)
Rio de S. Trovaso (Pass By)
Venice (Pass By)
1
Campo Santa Maria Formosa
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Tour is not suitable for people in wheelchairs or with walking difficulties as passengers are required to step down onto the boat when boarding. The variation of the level of tides can make the vessel unstable.
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Boats are partly covered and partly uncovered – In the open area there is room for 8/9 people "normal size"
- During high water, the tour will take place, but it might happen we have to partly adapt the tour to the weather conditions
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.1
based on 688 reviews
Katherine_M, Jul 2024
We had a great tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and welcoming, despite the fact that we arrived a few minutes late (and the company was very responsive when we reached out to let them know we were delayed getting to the meeting spot). We liked that the boat’s route took us up the Grand Canal but also through smaller waterways - a great way to get a feel for Venice while learning about its history, architecture, and current culture. Definitely recommend.
Joanna_P, Jul 2024
It’s an absolute scam, don’t believe you can cancel within 24 hours!!! terrible customer service !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Dear client,
You have made the booking for the 6th July and we have never received any comunication that you intended to book for the 5th July.
It would not be a problem for us to rearrange for the day before if we had been notified. We’ve been in business for almost 25 years and it is our top priority to deliver quality experiences to our clients and always try and accomodate last minute changes if possible and of course if we are notified, which did not happen in your case.
On the day of the tour both the guide and the boat were ready to do the tour but nobody showed up at the meeting point.
We tried to get in touch with you both by phone and by messages and the response was that the tour was to be done the day before (5 July) and that you had already gone.
We received no communication of the change of date from you nor from Viator, which is the platform from which this booking came to us.
As additional confirmation that nothing was communicated to us is that the reservation for 6 July was still confirmed on Viator's website.
A few days before 6th July you confirmed the wooden boat option for this tour by paying an upgrade.
As mentioned at the beginning we are very sorry about this situation but with the information in our possession: the confirmation of the booking on the Viator website and the lack of communication from you; for us the tour remained confirmed on 6 July at 15:30.
I understand mistakes can happen but as far as we are concerned we had the tour booked for the date that you have selected via viator site.
After the booking no amendment has been sent to us and therefore we did not do anything wrong to be addressed as a scam agency.
Kind regards,
AVVENTURE BELLISSIME
John_A, May 2024
We had a nice boat ride around Venice. The boats speaker system was cutting out half the time so we could only hear half of what the tour guide said. The tour guide's accent was so thick we could only understand about half of what she was saying, so could only get about a quarter of the presentation.
Katie_B, Oct 2023
We fell immediately in love with Venice, and this tour was so much fun! Highly recommend it! Tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend!
Kathleen_Z, Oct 2023
Well narrated tour of the city. Saw many things we would have not seen otherwise, much less known what we were looking at.
Very fun!
Kimberly_S, Sep 2023
Our tour guide was very good...can't remember her name. We learned and saw so much in only an hour. Great way to get an overview of the city!
Richard_Z, Sep 2023
Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and professional. She took the time to explain all the sights and welcomed all questions. I felt she went above and beyond with the entire tour.
Susan_J, Sep 2023
This is the best way to see Venice from the Grand Canal and other canals, and SO informative! It’s a private taxi, so you can stand comfortably and see everything, or stay seated if you like. Loved it!!
Colleen_Q, Aug 2023
Tour guide Arianna was lovely. The boat was largely enclosed, so it was snug trying to get everyone into open air in the unusually high heat. I would have also loved even more detailed talking history and information on architectural styles, etc.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thank you for your feedback. I understand your point, as we had some very hot days- in normal conditions, all guests can stay outside in the open air and enjoy the views from outiside. Maybe Arianna, that is a very good guide and knows very well both art and history of the city, thought to make the tour a bit lighter on information due to the fact that many clients taking the grand canal tour have already been on walking tours of Venice and listened already to the art and history of the city, and being this tour a very scenic one , provided different type of information about Venice.
Kind Regards
Monica
Cole_A, Aug 2023
This was the worst experience that my family has had in Italy. The boat left without us, so it’s hard to rate the actual cruise portion. However, customer service was as bad as it gets. They told us to wait for them at a specific spot and then they didn’t show up. They then called to let us know that because we were one minute late the boat was leaving without us. When we asked for refund due to this issue, they responded that they were under no circumstances going to refund and, instead, the customer service rep started yelling at us on the phone. It was probably the worst vacation experience my family and I have ever experienced and I actually paid for it!!! Never again will I book with this company.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Dear Client,
Our small group departs at a set time, that is 5pm for the grand canal boat tour. This is a small group tour lasting 1 hr and not a private tour. We always wait a few minutes but on small group is client responsibility arrive, as advised on the tour literature a few minutes prior to departure. It is out of respect to all other clients waiting more than a few minutes prior to depart for the excursion clients have paid and made an effort to be on time. I'm tha manager and assisted to the call you had with our reservation office. The person you spoke with did not yell at you. Actually had the guide going back to meeting point to check if you were there, after the guide had already waited for a few minutes. As you were not there, we informed the guide to leave and when you asked for a refund she just said that there was no ground for a refund as on small group tours it is responsibility of the client to show up on time.
Yours sincerely,
Monica
Abigail_S, Jun 2023
Guide was very knowledgeable! Loved the history of the buildings she pointed out. Boat was comfortable but could use more openings for tourists to stand up and see sights better.
KARINA_R, Jun 2023
It was a great way to see pretty much all of Venice on water. We passed the Rialto and académico bridges. The tour guide was knowledgeable about the history of Venice.
Allison_F, Jun 2023
Absolutely wonderful. Easy meeting place and very knowledgeable guide. We got a lot out of this one hour tour. Perfect for our group!
LUCY_D, Jun 2023
This was a wonderful way to begin our trip to Venice. It gave us the lay of the land so we started feeling comfortable with our surroundings right away.
Greg_U, Apr 2023
We were told to meet at a meeting point for 17:00, however no one was there. We ended up missing it. Poor
Response from Host, May 2023
Dear Client,
If we cancel a tour we inform clients timely and make sure clients receive our comunication. Generally on our small group tours, our guides wait 5 minutes for late comers and then if we do not receive any call from client advising they are arriving, we tell the guide she can start the tour.
With so little information I can not provide more feedback than just giving a layout of what is our procedure.
Kindest Regards
Monica
Justin_D, Mar 2023
Excellent tour! Beautiful luxurious boat and wonderful guide. No other way to see Venice. Would highly recommend.
Andrew_B, Sep 2022
Fun tour of the grand canal. Our tour guide Sandro was engaged the whole trip and pointed out all the historical buildings we were passing on the way. A great way to see a brief introduction to Venice.
Samuel_W, Sep 2022
The tour guide is was very professional. There were 7 other passengers on the boat. The boat was wooden and beautiful on the inside. For the price it was perfect and not too crowded.
Doug_K, Aug 2022
Viewing Venice from the water was fantastic! Our tour guide was knowledgeable and fun, and the entire experience was great.
Sujata_R, Aug 2022
Great way to see the canal and learn about the important buildings. Also it is a very relaxing ride.
Eileen_O, Jun 2022
Very disappointed no guide showed up at the garden gate. I want my money back. Terrible so disappointed
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Dear Client,
Yesterday I spoke with you and sent all proofs of us trying to get in touch with you by all means at disposal to suggest a change of time for your boat tour. You had booked via an agent, as I found out during our phone conversation, back in 2021. The only way we could communicate with you was by the Viator message site. All our messages got not answer. Then after the call I sent to your email all emails posted on your booking and I right away sent to Viator approval for full refund. Of course I’m sorry you could not take the boat tour but as far as we are concerned we tried very hard to reach you suggesting to take it in the morning.
Kind regards, Monica
Graham_F, Apr 2022
The views we saw along with the commentary provided by our guide was fabulous. It was my first experience in Venice, and I understood and appreciated a lot more about Venice now. Loved this experience 😀
Howard_B, Apr 2022
The tour guide never showed up. both my wife and I and the other two couples were stood up by our guide. The couple from Bosnia contacted their tour guide agent and found out that our 10:00 tour was cancelled. The tour was being rescheduled for
1:00. We were unable to make that time because we had already scheduled our day beginning with your 10:00 tour.
Response from Host, Apr 2022
Dear client,
I sent one week before the tour, information via our resellers that due to decisions taken by the administration to stop tours down the grand over Easter holidays, we were forced to operate the tour at 1pm - I’m sorry you did not receive the message but as far as we are concerned we did all that was in our power to inform our clients. Majority of clients in fact turned up at the right and revised time . I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but we’ve tried very hard to get the message to you.
Kind regards, monica
cuthbertamanda, Apr 2022
We are on my mom’s dream trip, touring Italy. One of her top things to do was a gondola tour, but after talking with many other travelers, we were cautioned to avoid avoid avoid the gondola rides as they are 20 minutes, if you are expecting musical accompaniment you must hire that separate, and there is not conversing with the gondoliers unless you get a chatty one. That bummed her out so I found this tour and Boy! We struck gold. We cruised several canal outlets, got a satisfying history lesson, and enjoyed the lovely teak boat’s comforts and beauty. We were extra lucky to have such beautiful weather!
Response from Host, Apr 2022
Dear Client,
Thank you for taking the time and send your feedback about our small group Grand Canal tour. Touring Venice by boat is very special as you see areas of Venice that can not been see on foot or just by taking the waterbus as in this tour we cruise many back canals as well.
Yours sincerely, Monica
Stacy_L, Aug 2021
Our guide was very knowledgeable about the history of the architecture, and it was lovely being on on the water
Response from Host, Aug 2021
Dear Stacy,
Thank you so much for your feedback about our knowledgeable guide. Indeed it's best to see Venice from the water to truly admire all the treasure this floating city has to offer. Thank you for joining our tour!
Kind regards,
Aleksandra
Sales Manager
Arlene d, Nov 2019
We not only had a comfortable boat to tour in, we had a very nice guide to introduce us to the Grand Canal. It was interesting and educational and fun, in spite of the light rain that fell during the last part of the tour. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. I can recommend it.
Michelle_P, Nov 2019
Loved this so much. well worthwhile doing! Go into the little canals that are impossible to reach by walking or on vaporetto.
Christie T, Nov 2019
This tour was very expensive and fairly limited. We enjoyed being on the canal but it was very short for the price. For a family of four, it was close to $500.
Response from Host, Nov 2019
Dear Client ,
I'm not sure you are referring to our tour , as the cost for 4 people would be around 200 $ ( 48 euro per person ) and not 500 $ . The tour is limited to 8/9 people and lasts 1 hour as adverstised on the tour description .
Kind regards
Monica
FrequentFlier236164, Oct 2019
We really enjoyed this tour of the Grand Canal and several of the smaller canals. Our guide was really knowledgeable and entertaining and his English was excellent. I'm sorry I didn't get his name so won't be able to properly thank and recommend him. The weather was perfect and although we have been to Venice several times and have taken many boat trips to various islands, we've never toured the canals by boat as we were slightly worried that they wouldn't be worth the time or the cost, but this one definitely was worth every euro! Can wholeheartedly recommend.
Gary_M, Oct 2019
Very interesting tour. In addition to hitting the highlights of the Grand Canal, we also toured some of the smaller canals. We were in a small group of six in one of the "speedboats" - plenty of room in the boat and the guide was very good.
From $393.12
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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