The 15 Best Workshops & Classes in Venice

1.Carnival Mask Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,925 reviews · 1 hour · from $91Our pick

Choose a paper-mâché mask, then paint and decorate it with help from a Venetian artisan. Instructors such as Giorgio, Nicolo, and Petra guide the work and share stories about Carnival and mask-making. Paints and supplies are included, and you take your mask home. The class lasts about an hour, though some sessions may run longer.

“A really worthwhile activity that both our children 11 and 14 enjoyed immensely, held in a historical prison setting with a kind and helpful host. Ran for just over 1.5 hours and got a tour of the prison exhibitions. Would definitely recommend”

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2.Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class with Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,010 reviews · 3 hours · from $78

In a restaurant in Venice’s Dorsoduro area, an English-speaking instructor guides you through fresh fettuccine, ravioli, and tiramisu, from prep to table. The three-hour class includes ingredients and wine, with limoncello and coffee served at the meal. Instructors vary; past classes have been led by Barbara, Serena, Thomas, and Eddie.

“It was an an amazing experience and Serena was a perfect teacher! We learned about the history and culture of the food we were making and I’d highly recommend it!”

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3.Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class with Wine in Venice

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 945 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $76Top rated

In a restaurant in Venice’s Dorsoduro neighborhood, learn to make fettuccine, ricotta and spinach ravioli, and tiramisu in an English-language class capped at 12 people. Instructors have included Serena, Barbara, Thomas, Valeria and Diego. The roughly three-hour session ends with your meal, wine, limoncello and coffee.

“It was very fun and not intimidating to learn. Barbara and Selena were helpful and engaging. Great group experience. Delicious!”

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4.Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class With Free Flowing Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 575 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $71

In central Verona, join an English-speaking instructor for about three hours of hands-on pasta and tiramisu making in a local restaurant. You’ll work on fresh dough, fettuccine, ravioli, and dessert, then share the meal with Prosecco, wine, or soft drinks. Instructors have included Elodie, Carlo, Ava, Victoria, and Jasmine.

“Friendly people. Well organized. We had lots of fun making the pasta and tiramisu then got to sample it all with a glass of wine”

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5.Create Your Glass Artwork: Private Lesson With Local Artisan

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 556 reviews · 1h 15m · from $93

In a private 75-minute lesson at Massimiliano Caldarone’s Venetian workshop, you’ll hear about Murano glass, watch the artisan work, then try the lampworking technique yourself with his step-by-step guidance. You’ll make a glass piece to take home, often a pendant, and receive 10% off his artwork in the shop.

“Excellent. Masimmiliano is a patient and kind teacher. He is skilled and personable. We learned much and would absolutely do this again.”

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6.Venetian Carnival Mask Making Class in Venice, Italy

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 525 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $83

In a small class near Piazza San Marco, a Venetian artisan introduces papier-mâché mask decoration and the role of masks in Carnival. You paint and decorate a mask with the supplied materials, then take it home. The session lasts about 75 minutes, with a maximum of four participants.

“The mask making was fun. The person that teaches it is also an authentic multigenerational amazing mask designer himself. Definitely recommend”

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7.Murano Glass Factory Experience: A Workshop in Venice

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 437 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $84

Meet a local guide in central Venice, cross the lagoon by water taxi, and watch a Murano glass master demonstrate blowing and sculpture techniques at Colleoni Glass Factory. Then make a small mosaic or bead jewelry with a local craftsperson. The workshop is hands-on, but you do not blow glass yourself. Groups are limited to 15.

“Very talented glass artists during demonstration. The workshop was a lot of fun with Julie and so nice to take home self-made mosaic/jewellery. The show rooms afterwards were exceptional.”

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8.Murano Glass-Blowing Demo and Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 413 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $82

Meet your English-speaking guide near Rialto Bridge, then travel by boat to Murano for a glassblowing demonstration and a hands-on bead jewelry or mosaic workshop. Watch a glass master shape a vase or sculpture, make a small keepsake from prepared glass pieces, and browse the factory gallery before free time on the island. The workshop is not a glassblowing class.

“Murano tour was amazing, the glass is breathtaking. I highly recommend this tour”

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9.Venetian Masks Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 411 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $71

At Carta Alta’s small studio on Giudecca, artisans guide you through decorating a paper-mache mask to take home. You’ll hear about Venetian designs such as the Bauta and Moretta, try the studio’s baroque technique, and can ask about its film work. Augusto and his team lead sessions in English, Spanish, or Italian.

“Our family had so much fun making our Venetian masks. The artists who guide you are patient and wonderful. This might have been our favorite activity in Venice! It is a great value and so much fun.”

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10.Gelato Making Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 348 reviews · from $74

Meet your English-speaking chef by Verona’s Ristori Theater, then walk to a vintage-style cooking school to make handmade gelato and fresh fruit sorbet. You’ll prep fruit, learn the basics, try toppings such as balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and taste the finished desserts. Aprons, ingredients, a professional chef, and a recipe book are included.

“I had an incredible experience at this gelato shop! I arrived alone and was paired up with another person. We worked together to create a small batch of gelato that was combined with everyone else’s batches while the people across from us worked on their own recipes. The chefs were incredibly knowledgeable and answered any questions we had, from basic to in-depth. The sorbet flavours change with the seasons, but the rest are the fundamentals. The chefs said these could be used as a base for most other gelatos. We made strawberry pineapple sorbet, Panna, Greek yogurt, chocolate, and coffee. They also provided a variety of toppings to try, including…”

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11.Paint your own Venetian Mask Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 332 reviews · 1 hour · from $67Best value

Choose from more than 50 handmade paper-mâché masks, then decorate yours with acrylic tempera paints, metallic gold or silver, and finishing touches such as feathers, ribbons, and sequins. An artist guides the one-hour session in Italian, French, or English. The group is capped at eight, and you take your mask home.

“My family had a great time and the masks Jake great keepsakes. The address for the shop wasn’t exactly accurate and it was hard to find. Other than that, it’s a great activity.”

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12.Create your Glass Artwork: Private Lesson with Local Artisan in Venice

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 324 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $95

At Massimiliano Caldarone’s Venice workshop, you’ll learn glassmaking basics in a private, hands-on session, choose colors and shape a piece to take home. Caldarone also demonstrates his craft, and you’ll receive 10 percent off his glassworks. The session is listed as about 75 minutes, though the description calls it 90 minutes.

“We LOVED this experience!!! Our two teenagers learned how to make glass and they were thrilled!! Mossimo is SO talented, and he was such a great teacher of the art!! He was very patient, explained thoroughly what to do, and was great with our kids. They also loved that they could take home what they made as a beautiful necklace! Book this…you’ll be so glad you did!!”

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13.Market Tour and Cooking Class with a Local Venetian Chef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 313 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $127

Meet a Venetian chef near the cooking school, shop the Rialto Market on morning tours, then make pasta or gnocchi, a seasonal dish and tiramisu. Filippo and Vanessa lead classes for groups of up to eight. Food, Prosecco, a welcome Spritz or soft drinks, and cooking tools are included.

“This was such an incredible experience. Chief Chef Filippo met us in the market, where we shopped for items for our Italian meal, then we went back to his kitchen to make our pasta dish with Tiramisu for dessert. Not only was the chef a wonderful host, he was a great teacher and a lot of fun! Don't miss this wonderful opportunity.”

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14.Hands-on Fresh Pasta and Tiramisù Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 295 reviews · from $107

Meet your English-speaking chef in central Verona for 3.5 hours of hands-on cooking. Make fresh pasta, risotto with local rice, and tiramisù, then sit down to eat with Valpolicella wine. Classes are limited to 10 people, and instructors such as Christina, Laura, Krista, and Silvia have guided sessions.

“A wonderful high quality experience full of learning, fun and pure pleasure!”

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15.Italian Cooking Class with Pasta, Risotto and Tiramisù

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 268 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $114

Meet your English-speaking chef at Via Teatro Ristori 7 for a small-group, hands-on class in central Verona. In about three and a half hours, make fresh pasta, risotto and tiramisù, then eat your work with wine. Instructors have included Silvia, Laura, Christina and Simone, though your chef may vary.

“Top notch cookery lesson with a fabulous teacher. Laura spoke excellent English and was really thorough in all her instructions and explanations. She managed to oversee 11 of us really well, correcting any mistakes we made as we went along. A lovely lady called Alba tidied up in the background the whole while. The food was delicious and my daughter and I have every intention of trying to recreate it at home. I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in Italian food and cooking. Excellent fun.”

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