Venice · VENICE BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Tours in Venice

49 tours  ·  from $21 a head

A city built on water makes more sense from it. These 15 run from a short ride down the Grand Canal to a full afternoon out in the lagoon, each priced and clear about how much time you spend afloat and how much ashore.

Venice: Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary - From the Grand Canal into smaller waterways
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Venice: Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary

1.Grand Canal Gondola Ride with App Commentary

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 18,908 reviews · from $39Our pick

Share a gondola for a 30-minute ride past the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, La Fenice, Santa Maria della Salute, and quieter canals near the Grand Canal. A host introduces gondola history on a short walk, while an app provides route commentary. The experience also includes a visit to the Gondola Gallery and a virtual-reality gondola ride.

“Great activity and excellent value for money. The tour guide gave us a little mini walking tour first and some information about the Gondola. The Gonaleer was friendly and the ride was great. The VR experience after was interesting too. A must do in Venice!”

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Boat Trip: Glimpse of Murano, Torcello & Burano Islands - Murano: Glassmaking in About 45 Minutes
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Boat Trip: Glimpse of Murano, Torcello & Burano Islands

2.Boat Trip: Glimpse of Murano, Torcello & Burano Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 15,699 reviews · 4.5 - 5.5 hours · from $29

Cruise the Venetian Lagoon with multilingual onboard commentary and stops on Murano, Torcello, and Burano. In Murano, watch glass being blown at a factory; on the other islands, explore independently, from Torcello’s quiet paths to Burano’s painted houses and lace shops. Plan on about 45 minutes per island, with little time for a sit-down meal.

“The trip was around 4.5 hours. You have time on each island to do a little walk. You can find restaurants, shops and places to visit.”

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Venice: Grand Canal by Gondola with Live Commentary - Through the small canals
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Venice: Grand Canal by Gondola with Live Commentary

3.Grand Canal by Gondola with Live Commentary

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 13,681 reviews · from $44

Start with a guide-led introduction to gondolas and Venice’s water heritage, then ride through narrow canals and along the Grand Canal. Expect views of La Fenice, the Salute church, and palaces, plus a Gondola Gallery visit with boatmaking displays and a 3D Venice experience. The guide rides in one gondola; others use an audio device.

“Aurora was amazing!! Thank you so much to make our trip great.!”

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Venice: Burano, Torcello & Murano Boat Tour w/Glassblowing - Murano: glassmaking up close
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Venice: Burano, Torcello & Murano Boat Tour w/Glassblowing

4.Burano, Torcello & Murano Boat Tour w/Glassblowing

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 10,245 reviews · 6 hours · from $28

Spend six hours crossing the Venetian lagoon by panoramic boat, with stops on Murano, Burano and Torcello. A multilingual host shares information aboard, and a Murano glass master demonstrates glassblowing. You explore the islands on your own, so plan your time around the strict departure schedule.

“It was worth going to see the three islands. The guide seemed a bit disinterested at times but I guess she did her job while on the boat. One critique, could do with a slightly bit more time on murano & burano.”

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Venice: Murano and Burano Boat Tour with Glass Factory Visit - Murano: a close look at glassmaking
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Venice: Murano and Burano Boat Tour with Glass Factory Visit

5.Murano and Burano Boat Tour with Glass Factory Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 9,527 reviews · from $34

Cruise from Venice to Murano and Burano with Il Doge di Venezia. You’ll see a glass-blowing demonstration in Murano, then have time to explore both islands on your own. Guides speak Italian, English, German, French, and Spanish. Departure and return points vary by booking option.

“Great and option to get boat back to station from San marco”

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Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat - How much of the five hours is yours?
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Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat

6.Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7,580 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $36

Ride a private boat from central Venice to Murano and Burano with an English-speaking local guide and a group of no more than 22. Watch glass being shaped in Murano, see handmade lace in Burano, and leave time to explore the islands. Demonstrations and the order of stops can vary; the lace presentation may not run on Mondays.

“We enjoyed our tour guide, Silvia, she has lots of tips about what to see and do in Venice. Much if the time is spent traveling on the boat, Silvia pointed out many i terseting sights.”

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Venice: Shared Gondola Ride Across the Grand Canal - From the ticket office to the gondola
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Venice: Shared Gondola Ride Across the Grand Canal

7.Shared Gondola Ride Across the Grand Canal

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 6,645 reviews · 30 min · from $46

Share a gondola with other passengers and a master gondolier for a short ride through Venice’s Grand Canal and smaller canals near San Marco and Rialto. You may pass La Fenice and see the city from water level. The route can change with canal traffic, and the gondolier does not provide a serenade or guaranteed commentary.

“I did this activity as a solo traveller and was fortunate to be on the gondola with only two other people! 30 minutes was just perfect for this journey - enough time to take in the gorgeous scenery and get a real feel for riding round on a gondola with plenty of time to take pictures. There is no interaction from the driver but I don’t think this was needed as I was just taking it all in. I would very much recommend as an affordable way to go in a gondola!”

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Venice: Murano & Burano Panoramic Boat Tour w/ Glassblowing - Murano’s glassblowing demonstration
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Venice: Murano & Burano Panoramic Boat Tour w/ Glassblowing

8.Murano & Burano Panoramic Boat Tour w/ Glassblowing

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 6,212 reviews · 4 - 4.5 hours · from $29

Take a panoramic motorboat from Venice’s St. Mark’s area to Murano and Burano. Watch a glass master work in a Murano factory, then explore Burano’s painted houses, lace shops, and bakeries at your own pace. An onboard assistant gives multilingual explanations, but there are no guided walks on the islands. Expect about four to four and a half hours, including the boat ride.

“Next time we're in Venice, we're doing it again! We absolutely loved it. The glass masters of Murano are super skilled and Burano is one of the most charming places we've ever visited. Francesca was great. We were surprised that she explained everything in 5 languages.”

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Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™ - Slipping through the smaller canals
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Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™

9.Grand Canal Gondola Experience with Live Commentary™

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 4,223 reviews · 30 to 50 minutes (approx.) · from $49

Starting near Saint Mark’s Square, this 30-minute gondola ride passes historic palaces and waterways near La Fenice, Santa Maria della Salute, and Saint Mark’s Square. Shared rides include a short introduction and a virtual reality presentation; commentary is live in English, French, or Spanish, with other languages available through an app. Each gondola holds up to five people.

“Thoroughly enjoyed our gondola ride and tour around Venice. The commentary from our guide was only before getting in the gondola, and nothing during the actual ride. Plus, the ride was done in groups so we did not get a private tour as expected. It wasn't an issue for us but not what was expected based on the description.”

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From Venice: Murano & Burano Guided Tour by Private Boat - Murano: see glasswork up close
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From Venice: Murano & Burano Guided Tour by Private Boat

10.Murano & Burano Guided Tour by Private Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,170 reviews · from $61

Take a five-hour guided boat trip from Venice to Murano and Burano. Watch a glassblowing demonstration, see lacework in progress, then explore both islands at your own pace. English-speaking guides such as Elena, Manu, and Francesca have led the route, though your guide will depend on your departure.

“Our tour guide Elena was wonderful! She shared so many interesting facts and stories of Venice, Murano and Burano as well as gave us good tips on eating and shopping!”

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Private 3 hrs Venice Tour: St Mark's, Walking tour & Boat tour - The Grand Canal by small boat
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Private 3 hrs Venice Tour: St Mark’s, Walking tour & Boat tour

11.Private 3 hrs Venice Tour: St Mark’s, Walking tour & Boat tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,372 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $480

Start near St. Mark’s Square with an English-speaking guide, enter St. Mark’s Basilica with a reserved skip-the-line ticket, then walk through Castello’s quieter lanes. After a break, join a small-group boat ride on the Grand Canal and smaller canals. Guides have included local experts such as Christina Pigozzo, Adriana, and Francesco.

“Adriana was a knowledgeable local who provided a great introduction to the city. She helped us to add on to our experience based on our interest.”

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Venice: Private Gondola Cruise for up to 5 Passengers - Grand Canal views, then a turn into narrower lanes
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Venice: Private Gondola Cruise for up to 5 Passengers

12.Private Gondola Cruise for up to 5 Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 3,106 reviews

Take a private gondola ride for up to five people, passing palaces and bridges on the Grand Canal and smaller Venice waterways. The ride lasts about 30 minutes, though canal traffic can shorten it. Check in at the Alilaguna ticket office in front of the Royal Gardens gate, and confirm your departure point before setting out.

“Excellent activity, pre-booking meant doing away with the stress of not knowing where to go or what to do. However there were cheaper gondoliers readily available!”

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Venice: Murano and Burano Half-Day Lagoon Trip - Murano: glassmaking in a compact visit
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Venice: Murano and Burano Half-Day Lagoon Trip

13.Murano and Burano Half-Day Lagoon Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 3,083 reviews · 4 - 4.5 hours · from $21Best value

Cruise the Venetian Lagoon by Gran Turismo speedboat, watch a live glassblowing demonstration in Murano, then explore Burano’s colorful lanes and lace shops. Expect about an hour on each island, with multilingual commentary in English, Italian, Spanish, or French. Past departures have included guides such as Olga, Justyna, and Nicole; your guide may differ.

“Loved this trip - just the right amount of time at each place. the glass blowing was amazing - what a skill.”

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From Venice: Murano and Burano Half-Day Island Tour by Boat - Burano’s lace and painted houses
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From Venice: Murano and Burano Half-Day Island Tour by Boat

14.Murano and Burano Half-Day Island Tour by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2,489 reviews · 3 - 9.5 hours · from $34

Travel by boat from Venice to Murano and Burano with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide. See a glassblowing demonstration and a lace-making demonstration, then spend free time on Burano. Guides have included Flavia, Claudia, Silvia, and Francesca, though your guide may differ. The tour costs $34 per person, with options lasting 3 to 9.5 hours.

“I would do the full day tour next time to give more time to explore but I loved time spent on both Murano and Burano”

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Venice: Private Gondola Ride along Grand Canal - From the Accademia Bridge to the Grand Canal
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Venice: Private Gondola Ride along Grand Canal

15.Private Gondola Ride along Grand Canal

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 2,475 reviews

Take a private gondola for up to five people along the Grand Canal and smaller waterways, passing the Accademia Bridge, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Santa Maria della Salute and La Fenice. The 30-minute ride is self-guided, though your gondolier may share local details or sing. The experience also includes a gallery on gondola-making.

“Must have experience when in Venice! Short and sweet 30 mins ride just for the experience”

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New in Venice Boat Tours

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★ 5.0discover aquaculture techniques in a typical boatFrom $678 reviews
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★ 4.54 hours Private Boat Tour to Murano, Burano with local real guideFrom $216203 reviews
★ 4.5Full-Day Padua to Venice Burchiello Brenta Riviera Boat CruiseFrom $177198 reviews
★ 4.0Venice Islands Cruise: Murano Glass, Rainbow Burano & TorcelloFrom $32248 reviews
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Venice Gondola Rides40Venice Kayak Tours6Murano Tours47Burano Tours31Torcello Tours10Murano Glass Factory Tours25Chioggia Tours5
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