Venice Small Group Tours
Private Guided Tours of Venice
Venice, Italy is a very unique city – a beautiful maze of scenic bridges and winding alleyways.
The capital of the region of Veneto, Venice is called the “City of Bridges” because it has over 400 bridges connecting 118 small islands. Once an independent nation and one of the most powerful ports in the ancient world for the spice trade and silk trades, Venice was home for some of the most important military events in the Middle Ages, such as the Battle of Lepanto and the Crusades.
Venice is one of our favorite places in Italy, and for good reason. It offers something for everyone. Unlike any other city in the world, Venice is a city on the sea.
The savvy traveler knows there are two sides to Venice. One is the touristy Venice, where throngs of visitors flood the streets, cafes, and restaurants until they are overflowing. Then there is the real Venice – the one that offers a look into a city from a unique and local perspective. This is where you will find the sleepy alleyways with small restaurants set in a dark, romantic corner, calling you to a great meal overlooking the reflections in the waters of the canals of Venice. We know the real Venice and our private tours will showcase many hidden gems.
When planning your trip to Italy, you must include Venice – part of The Big 3: Venice, Florence and Rome. Make sure you stay within the popular areas of the city. Rialto, St. Marks Square, or the Accademia area are all great choices for your hotel.
When arriving to Venice, be sure to budget for a private transfer by boat. There are no cars in Venice, so you must take a boat to or from the airport or the car parking area to your hotel. Navigating more than 400 bridges (with luggage) to find your hotel can be daunting, and is reason to plan ahead.
A gondola ride is also a “must do” when visiting Venice, but buyer beware! If you don’t plan your gondola ride in advance you will be bartering with the gondolier for the cost, route, and amount of time. Booking your gondola ride ahead of your arrival guarantees you a route, a set amount of time and a fixed cost. Include a gondola ride in your travel package and save even more!
Private Venice walking tour with a Local Guide
Venetian Cicchetti and Wine Tasting Experience
9-Day Rome, Florence, Venice: The Big 3 Small Group Tour
THE UNFORGETTABLE GONDOLA BOAT EXPERIENCE
8-Day Customized Rome, Florence & Venice
15-Day Magnificent Tour of Italy
13 Day Primo Italiano Luxury Small Group Tour of Italy
Create Your Own Tour of Italy & Europe
What to See In Venice
Venice has many interesting things you must see. The city is a maze of beautiful squares, ornate bridges, historic buildings and romantic canals. Make sure you spend time exploring the city away from the big squares and go to enjoy some of the out of the way neighborhoods, our private tours of Venice offer just that – a view of local life in Venice that few tourists get to see.
Basilica di San Marco
The church formally known as Basilica di San Marco, is affectionately referred to as the “Golden Church,” and it is one of the top tourist destinations in Italy. Done in the Byzantine style, this church was constructed in the 11th century for the patron saint of Venice, St. Mark. The inside of the Basilica is enormous and every inch is covered in lovely mosaics.
The altar is quite the historic monument in itself; the Pala d’Oro is covered in over 250 panels, with almost two thousand rare gems. They call the altar the “Golden Altarpiece,” because of the amount of jewels and gold used in its construction.
The Doges Palace
In the same area as the Basilica, is the Doges Palace and Bridge of Sighs. Palazzo Ducale was the home of the Doges, which were dukes that when elected, ruled for their entire lifetimes. The Doges Palace is filled with rooms full of the finest art of Venice. To get the most out of your visit to Palazzo Ducale we recommend a Doges Palace tour, with a private guide tour so you can hear the history from a local.
The Bridge of Sighs connects the prison to the Doges Palace. The bridge got its name from the fact that prisoners sighed in pain going into prison, and sighed in relief when released.
Venice’s Galleria dell’ Accademia
For tourists that enjoy art museums, Venice’s Galleria dell’ Accademia is a must-visit Italian tourist destination. This museum is quite amazing, and is filled with Venetian treasures by Bellini, Titian and Longhi. The museum also has many exhibitions that change several times each year and visits to this and other museums can be built into your own Venice small group tours.
The Peggy Guggenheim Museum
Another famous Venice, Italy museum is The Peggy Guggenheim Museum. It is considered one of the best modern art collections in the world. Housed in a palace of the 18th century, American, Peggy Guggenheim focuses the collections of Picasso and abstract expressionist Pollock.
The Islands
Besides the amazing amount of things to see and do inside Venice, outside there are the islands of Burano and Murano. Burano is known for glass blowing, and Murano is known for lace making. Because of the distance and boat required to reach these locations, we recommend a Venice islands tour, because it includes transportation, guide in English and is a lovely boat ride.
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Tours of Venice
Venice is one of the most unique cities in the world, but it can be a maze of confusing alleyways, corridors and canals. When you visit Venice, a guide can help you navigate your way so you don’t get lost or lose time wandering the city with a guide book. Our certified guides in Venice will introduce you to Venice in a comfortable and enjoyable way that will give you the confidence to explore on your own. Our Venice guided tours offer skip the line entrance to many of Venice’s most popular sites. We customize your experience in Venice to match your likes and budgets. Don’t see something you are looking for in Venice? Just submit your request and one of our experienced staff will reply with a customized sightseeing tour of Venice just for you.
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