Venice: Sightseeing Tours

With canals that twist their way through its core, Venice isn't – and never has been – like any other major European city. That, as well as the rich heritage, glassmaking history, and world-class cuisine, is precisely why over 5 million tourists make their way to the Floating City year after year.

This beloved city has something for everyone; from walking tours to gondola rides, scavenger hunts, museum passes and hop-on-hop-off boat tours, to name a few, there are countless ways to get your Venice sightseeing fix.

Walking tours in Venice

Affordable and informative, walking tours are one of the best ways to get a comprehensive overview of Venice's many attractions. Take your pick from gastronomic tours, "hidden Venice" adventures, Venice walking tours designed for kids and families, Jewish Quarter deep dives and plenty more.

Walking tours are led by friendly, knowledgeable local guides who will point out all the must-see sights and ensure you get the most from your visit.

Murano tours

Famous for its glassmaking industry, Murano is one of Venice's most popular day trips. It's just a 1.5-kilometer ride north from the Venice city center, but, thanks to its relative peace and quiet, it feels like worlds away.

On sightseeing trips here, you can expect to visit local factories where you'll witness a glassblowing demonstration, glass shops to pick up souvenirs and the Museo del Vetro (dedicated, of course, to the art of glassmaking). Murano sightseeing tours are often combined with Burano and Tercello.

Gondola rides

No trip to Venice is complete without a gondola ride – especially when the gondolier serenades you.

This classic Venetian experience gives visitors an up-close view of some of the city's most iconic landmarks, from the Rialto Bridge to St Mark's Square, as well as the narrow canals that lie in between.

Most guided gondola rides in Venice last between 30 minutes and an hour – they can be a great way to escape the crowds during the peak summer.

Burano tours

A short boat ride from Venice, the four islets of Burano are renowned for their bright and colorful fishermen's houses. But it's also renowned for its lace industry; as such, most tours here will include a visit to the Burano Museum of Lace in the town's main square, Piazza Galuppi.

Tours to Torcello

Typically visited with Murano and Burano, Torcello is located just past Burano, about an hour's boat ride away. With a history dating back to the Roman Empire, Torcello is most famed for its Cathedral of Santa Maria Dell'Assunta, which houses spectacular Byzantine mosaics along its walls.

Free walking tours in Venice

Ideal for penny-pinching travelers, locally led, free walking tours in Venice provide an overview of the city's history, art and culture. You'll make your way around the main Venice highlights (such as St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace and the Rialto Bridge) and you'll also get to explore some of the city's hidden gems.

Mysteries of Venice tours

By day, Venice's winding alleys look like a postcard, but by night, they become the perfect setting for one of the city's creepiest attractions – its ghost tours.

Held after sundown, Mysteries of Venice tours explore the darker side of the Floating City. You'll learn about haunted landmarks (for which St. Mark’s Basilica is the poster boy), sinister murders and the remnants of the Black Death.

Cannaregio District tours

The northernmost district of Venice, Cannaregio is packed with hot spots for sightseeing. Popular spots include the Jewish Ghetto, which was founded in 1516; Ca' d'Oro (the Golden House), a Venetian Gothic palace; and the ancient Ponte Chiodo (the last of its kind in the city).

Most Cannaregio District tours focus on either the district's Jewish history or its mouthwatering food.

ACTV transport pass

Suited to independent travelers, the ACTV Transport Pass is a great way to explore Venice at your own pace. It covers unlimited access for all boats and buses on routes around the city (including local islands) as well as Lido, the lagoon islands (like Murano and Burano) and the mainland area of Mestre.

Dorsoduro District tours

While the Dorsoduro district (located on the southwestern side of town) is fairly small, it's home to a range of quintessential sightseeing attractions — the Gallerie dell'Accademia and the Guggenheim Museum, and the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, to name a few.

Sightseeing tours in Dorsoduro are usually on foot and revolve around art and architecture.

Venice museum pass

Offering great value for money, the Venice Museum Pass grants you entry to either 4 or 11 different museums, depending on which option you choose.

The basic package includes the Doge’s Palace, Correr Museum, National Archaeological Museum and the Biblioteca Marciana. Meanwhile, the Plus Pass adds other notable attractions like the Glass Museum in Murano, the Lace Museum in Burano, Mocenigo Palace, the Natural History Museum and the Ca' Pesaro Modern Art Gallery and Oriental Art Gallery to the list of choices.

Venice city attractions pass

Designed for first-time tourists, the Venice City Attractions Pass covers all major sightseeing attractions in town — from St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace (with skip-the-line benefits) to La Fenice Theater.

Depending on which option you choose, you can visit Carlo Goldoni’s House, the Murano Glass Museum, Palazzo Mocenigo Museum, the Burano Lace Museum and over a dozen different churches (such as the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Giglio or Chiesa di Santo Stefano).

Scavenger hunts in Venice

If you're looking for a more interactive method of sightseeing, a self-guided scavenger hunt in Venice is an excellent choice.

Following clues from a phone app, you'll have to navigate your way through Venice's narrow streets and waterways, uncovering hidden treasures and solving puzzles in order to complete the journey.

Venice City tours

Led by in-the-know locals, Venice city tours usually combine walking tour elements with other tourist-friendly features. These tours will take you around Venice's lesser-known districts, as well as to the city's mainstay attractions (Rialto Bridge, St Mark's and the like).

You can also choose from land-and-sea combination sightseeing tours, which check off Venice as well as its nearby neighboring islands — Murano, Burano and Torcello. Additionally, there are many themed Venice city tours, with excursions focusing on Byzantine architecture, street food, or tailored to kids.

Hop on hop off boat tours in Venice

In most major tourist cities, you can go sightseeing aboard a hop-on-hop-off bus. Venice is a little different; being an archipelago, the main way of getting around is via its famous canals. That's why the most popular sightseeing vehicles in Venice are boats.

On a Venice hop-on-hop-off bus tour, you can visit just about any of the major islands in the Venice lagoon – Venice, Murano, Burano and Torcello included – as well as circle around and admire the city's many architectural delights.

Casanova tours in Venice

Suited to the romantics at heart, Casanova tours in Venice are designed to follow in the footsteps of Giacomo Casanova, exploring themes of passion and love from the legendary 18th-century lover.

Your guide – usually dressed as Casanova himself – will take you through some of the city's most iconic landmarks, while diving into the stories behind Venetian masks, as well as the traditions of the Venice Carnival.