Venice day trip from Florence: Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge

Travel three and a half hours north and spend a full day wandering Venice's canals, squares and bridges

A day trip from Florence to Venice by luxury coach includes a guided orientation of St. Mark's Square, the Bridge of Sighs and Rialto Bridge, a glass-blowing demonstration in the historical center, and free time to explore the city's canals and markets independently. The coach departs from Piazzale Montelungo near Santa Maria Novella station and returns the same evening after a 3.5-hour drive back to Florence.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each6 stops

1. St. Mark's Square30m
2. St. Mark's Basilica20m
3. Doge's Palace30m
4. Rialto Bridge15m
5. Bridge of Sighs15m
6. Grand Canal30m

Day trip from Florence to Venice

• Meet guide at Piazzale Montelungo
• Travel by coach to Venice (3.5 hours)
• Boat ride to Venice main island (10 minutes)
• Walk to San Marco Square with guide
• Explore San Marco Square and surroundings
• Visit Basilica San Marco exterior and interior
• Watch glassblowing demonstration
• See Doge’s Palace exterior
• Visit Rialto Bridge and market area
• View Bridge of Sighs
• Optional gondola ride through canals
• Free time for shopping and exploring
• Return by ferry to bus
• Coach ride back to Florence (3.5 hours)

The experience

You meet your guide at Piazzale Montelungo Bus Terminal, a short walk from Santa Maria Novella train station, and board a fully-fitted luxury coach for the 3.5-hour drive north to Venice. Along the way, your guide shares the history and culture of the region. When you arrive at Venice Port, you board a 10-minute ferry to the main island, stepping directly into the city's famous rustic, colorful architecture and narrow streets.

Your guide leads you through the winding alleyways and over the iconic bridges to San Marco Square, the largest piazza in Venice. Here you see the Basilica di San Marco with its Byzantine domes and golden facade, the Doge's Palace with its lace-like marble Gothic front, and the Bridge of Sighs connecting the old and new prisons. Your guide points out these landmarks and shares their stories. You have time later to photograph them and explore on your own. From the square, you walk to a glass-blowing shop in the historical center, where you watch Venetian artisans demonstrate techniques passed down over 1,500 years. After the demonstration, you can browse the showroom and buy souvenirs at a discounted price if you choose.

The rest of the day is yours. You can wander the maze of streets and local markets, visit the Rialto Bridge (famous for its 500-year history as a trade hub and its panoramic views), or simply drift through the canals at your own pace. A gondola ride is available for an extra charge if you want to see Venice from the water with a certified gondolier. Late afternoon, you meet your guide to return by ferry to the coach, then settle in for the 3.5-hour drive back to Florence.

What’s included

• Luxury coach transport from Florence to Venice and back.
• 10-minute ferry ride to the main island.
• guided orientation of St. Mark's Square, Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs and Rialto Bridge.
• glass-blowing demonstration in the historical center.
• Venice city tax.
• map of Venice.
• free time for independent exploration of canals, markets and neighborhoods.

Options for this experience

4 options

Tour in EnglishAvailable from 3 Apr 2027

Tour in SpanishAvailable from 3 Apr 2027

French TourGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · Available from 3 Apr 2027

Portuguese TourGuide in English, Spanish or Italian · Available from 3 Apr 2027

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 14h–15h, from € 120 per person, with a live guide in English, Spanish and Italian and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesNext departure: 3 Apr 2027

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ciao Florence Tours Srl

Is this one for you?The 3.5-hour coach journey and full day in Venice suit travelers arriving in Florence with a free day and no rental car. The guided orientation gets you oriented quickly, then the rest of the day is unscheduled, so you can linger at sites that interest you or simply wander without a fixed itinerary.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is the glass-blowing demonstration like on this tour?

The demonstration takes place at a famous glass-blowing shop in Venice's historical center. You watch skilled artisans use techniques that have been practiced for over 1,500 years, creating intricate designs in real time. After the demonstration, you can visit the showroom and purchase specialty souvenirs at a discounted price, though buying is optional.

How much free time do you get to explore Venice on your own?

After the guided orientation of St. Mark's Square and the glass-blowing demonstration, you have the rest of the day to explore independently. You can visit the Rialto Bridge, wander local markets, photograph the canals and bridges, or simply get lost in the narrow streets at your own pace.

What are the Rialto Bridge and Bridge of Sighs?

The Rialto Bridge is the most famous bridge crossing the Grand Canal, built over 500 years ago when it served as a gathering place for traders exchanging spices, silks and porcelain. The Rialto Market still operates nearby. The Bridge of Sighs connects the old and new prisons of the Doge's Palace. Locals named it after the sound of prisoners sighing as they crossed it, and it remains one of Venice's most scenic and photographed spots.

Is entry to churches and museums included in this tour?

No. Entry tickets to the Basilica di San Marco, Doge's Palace and other attractions are not included. Your guide provides an orientation and points out these sites from outside. If you want to enter, you can purchase tickets independently or pre-book skip-the-line passes.