The verdict
Our pick
Murano & Burano Islands Tour: Glassblowing Lacemaking Private Boat★ 4.69 (9,446) · 5h
Best value
Venice Murano & Burano Private Boat Tour with Glass & Lace★ 4.77 (1,508) · 4h 30m
Top rated
Venice Murano & Burano Private Boat Tour with Glass & Lace★ 4.91 (213) · 4h
The 12 best-value of 26 options, side by side
✓ 2026-09-29Real price per person across the 26 options: € 25–€ 467 (median € 69). With an extra fee to pay on site: 1 of 26. With 100+ reviews: 22 of 26.
Default order: real price per person — the group price divided by the seats it includes.
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Private experiences (7)
Venice: Grand Canal & Hidden Food Tour by Private BoatYou get a private boat through Venice's Grand Canal and hidden canals with a guide for two hours, then walk through the real Venice — the squares and streets locals use — stopping for pastry, coffee, or wine along the way. The boat holds a small group and is partly covered; the route adjusts with the tide but always includes the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo and Madonna dell'Orto Church.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Venice from the water and then on foot without arranging a boat separately or navigating the back streets alone — the private boat and local guide handle both, and the food stop gives you a real pause in the rhythm instead of rushing between sights.
Venice: Murano Glass & Burano Lace Semi-Private Boat TourYou’ll leave busy Venice behind by boat for Murano’s live glassblowing demo with local artisans, then stroll hidden alleys before heading to Burano’s famously colorful houses. Taste fresh bussolà cookies, watch lace makers at work, and soak up lagoon views on your return—all with a small group and an easygoing local guide.
Venice: Murano, Burano & Torcello Private Motorboat TourYou'll ride a private motorboat to three working islands in Venice's lagoon: watch glass-blowing on Murano, wander the painted streets of Burano, and stand in a 7th-century basilica on Torcello. Hotel pickup and a local guide are included, and the small group size means you're not herded through with hundreds of other visitors. The boat moves on your schedule, not the vaporetto's.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the three main lagoon islands without the crowds of the public vaporetto and without arranging your own boat and timing — the private motorboat and included pickup mean you show up at your hotel and the logistics are handled. It's built for small groups, which is what makes the guide's attention and the unhurried pace possible.
Private Gondola Ride Venice: Grand Canal at your own paceA private gondola ride on Venice's Grand Canal and inner canals, departing near Saint Mark's Square with a traditional gondolier and advance booking that skips the line. The 30-minute journey passes the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and Teatro La Fenice, with a mobile app providing over 200 points of interest for exploring afterward. Infants sit on an adult's lap; the ride does not operate in severe weather or extreme tides.Is it for me?Choose the Grand Canal ride if you want the main waterway and its landmarks without the crowd of a shared boat. Add the Rialto option if you want the route extended to include the famous bridge and the market district beyond it.
Private Venice Lagoon boat tour: Bacino S.Marco and GiudeccaA private boat tour of Venice's southern lagoon lasting about 50 minutes, departing from Fondamenta Bonlini with a live guide in English, Spanish or Italian. The tour visits the squero of S.Found where gondolas are built and repaired, crosses the Giudecca Canal, stops at a quiet residential island where Venetian fishermen still live, and reaches a marine park north of Venice. Private transportation and fuel are included; the skipper navigates while you choose between a sunset tour, a relaxation-focused route, or an extension to Murano and Burano.Is it for me?Choose this private boat if you want to steer your own route through the southern lagoon and outer islands—your skipper adjusts the pace and stops based on what interests you, rather than following a fixed itinerary.
Venice Islands: Murano, Burano & Torcello Private Boat TourYou’ll slip away from Venice crowds on a private boat tour to Murano’s glass workshops, stroll through Burano’s candy-colored lanes at your own pace, and—if you want—pause in Torcello for fresh seafood in a hidden garden. With flexible stops and a local guide who knows every bend of the lagoon, this is Venice seen quietly from the water.
Venice Grand Canal Private Tour: Murano & Burano by BoatYou’ll float along Venice’s Grand Canal by private boat with a local guide, see Murano’s glass-blowers up close, ride a shuttle to Burano for its wild colors and handmade lace, and wander quiet canals most tourists miss — all with hotel or port pickup included. It’s one of those days you’ll remember for how it felt as much as what you saw.
Up to 2 hours (9)
Venice Sunset Cruise: Bragozzo Boat & Prosecco in San Marco BasinYou board a restored wooden Bragozzo with a local skipper and up to 10 other travelers, cruise through Venice's San Marco Basin as the sun drops, and sip Prosecco while the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica turn gold. The timing and stops are flexible — you arrange them at booking based on what you want to see and when the light will be best. Plan for the boat to have no restroom and no mid-tour stops, which is why the experience stays focused and intimate.Is it for me?Right for travelers in Venice who want the sunset and the lagoon without the crowds of a packed vaporetto or the fixed timing of a standard tour. Expect an intimate group of up to 11 people and a route that's flexible enough to follow the light — that flexibility is what lets the skipper catch the exact moment the basilica turns gold.
Evening Gondola Ride Venice: Grand Canal with Gondola GalleryAn evening gondola ride on Venice's Grand Canal in a small group, with a 20-minute introduction to gondola history and a VR experience of the city's past before you board. The gondolier navigates past La Fenice Opera House, Peggy Guggenheim's palace, the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, and the bell tower at St. Mark's Basin. A live guide speaks English, Spanish or French, and dinner at a traditional Venetian restaurant is available as an upgrade.Is it for me?Book the Evening Gondola Ride if you want the Grand Canal without the daytime crowds and prefer a guided introduction to how gondolas work before you board. Choose the Special Evening option if you're staying outside Venice and want to add dinner; the standard Evening ride works for anyone who'd rather keep the evening open after the 30-minute journey.
Venice: Electric Boat Canal Tour & Hidden WaterwaysYou’ll float through Venice’s hidden canals on an electric boat, feeling the city’s quieter side with a local guide. Enjoy bottled water as you pass secret corners and hear stories about Venetian life. It’s peaceful, personal, and lets you see Venice in a way most people miss—the kind that lingers after you leave.
Venice Sunset Jazz Catamaran: Live Saxophone & AperitivoYou board a catamaran at San Marco, get a complimentary drink, and spend 90 minutes cruising the quieter sections of the Venice lagoon — past the Salute, along Giudecca, out toward Lido — while a saxophonist plays jazz standards and the sun drops into the water. No crowds, no rushing, two toilets, and a full bar for anything else you want. The boat returns to the starting point as the light fades.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Venice lagoon without the crowds and noise of the main tourist routes — the catamaran's small size and quieter itinerary are what make the sunset and the music feel unhurried instead of rushed.
Venice: Grand Canal & Secret Canals 2-Hour Motorboat CruiseYou board a motorboat with a small group and an English-speaking guide who knows the neighborhoods. The route takes you through the back canals of Cannaregio, Dorsoduro and Santa Croce, past the active gondola shipyard, into the Arsenal through its historic water gate, and then along the Grand Canal under the Rialto Bridge. Two hours total; no separate tickets or transport to arrange.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Grand Canal and the quieter neighborhoods in one trip without arranging separate boat tickets or walking the crowded streets—the motorboat gets you to places and views you can't reach on foot, and the small group size means you actually hear the guide.
Venice: Catamaran Spritz Tour & Lagoon CruiseYou board a spacious catamaran at 2pm or 4pm, receive one free drink (Spritz, prosecco, or mocktail), and cruise the inner lagoon for ninety minutes past San Marco, Giudecca, Lido, and smaller islands. The boat has a full bar, two toilets, and room to move around. You return to the starting point with no fixed itinerary pressure — just the water, the skyline, and the drink in your hand.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see Venice from the water without a guided tour or tight schedule. The ninety minutes are unstructured — you're not rushing between stops, which is exactly what makes floating through the lagoon feel different from walking the city.
Venice Grand Canal Boat Tour: Small Group, Iconic SightsYou’ll board a private boat in St. Mark’s Square with a small group and local guide, cruising Venice’s Grand Canal past landmarks like Rialto Bridge and Ca’ d’Oro. Hear stories through your headset, spot palaces from new angles, and end near Doge’s Palace—feeling oddly connected to it all.
Grand Canal Gondola Ride with Storytelling & Gallery TourA gondola ride through Venice's Grand Canal with a live guide in English, Spanish or French, followed by a visit to the Gondola Gallery where you see the only original gondola displayed in section and take a 3D journey through the city's past. The boat holds five guests maximum, and the guide narrates stories about the palaces, landmarks and history you pass—La Fenice Opera House, the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, San Giorgio Island and St. Mark's Square. The experience runs about an hour total, with roughly 30 minutes on the water and 20 minutes at the gallery.Is it for me?Glide through Venice's canals with a knowledgeable guide in an intimate group, then visit the Gondola Gallery to understand the gondola's centuries-old craftsmanship and why it's shaped to navigate these waters.
Venice: Grand Canal Gondola Ride & VR Gallery ExperienceYou board a traditional gondola on the Grand Canal without waiting in line, pass the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and La Fenice Theatre while an app explains what you're seeing, then step into a VR experience that shows you Venice as it looked centuries ago. The whole experience—ride, gallery, and virtual journey—takes a few hours and includes multilingual staff at the start.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see the Grand Canal without fighting crowds and prefer learning as they go rather than reading a guidebook. Plan to arrive ten minutes early and wear comfortable shoes—the experience includes both sitting and walking, and that combination is what lets you see the city from water level and then understand how it was built.
2 to 5 hours (5)
Venice: Murano & Burano Boat Tour with Glass DemoYou board a panoramic boat at St. Mark's Square and visit Murano to watch a glass master at work in an active furnace, then Burano for 90 minutes of free time among the painted houses and lace demonstrations, with optional Torcello on the way back. A multilingual guide explains the lagoon's history and craft traditions throughout. The boat is covered, so the tour runs in rain, and you're back in the city by late afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the three most famous Venice lagoon islands without arranging separate boat tickets and timing each stop yourself—the guide handles the history and demonstrations, leaving you free to explore Burano at your own pace during the 90 minutes there.
Murano, Burano & St. Erasmo: Glass Factory & Wine TastingYou board a private boat in central Venice and visit three lagoon islands in one morning or afternoon. Watch glassblowing in Murano, walk the canals of Burano with a local guide, then taste wine at a historic St. Erasmo vineyard. The boat handles all transport between islands, and the group stays small—20 guests maximum—so you're not herded through narrow streets. You get free time on each island to explore at your own pace.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the lagoon islands without renting a boat or figuring out the vaporetto schedule yourself—the private boat and local guide handle the logistics, leaving you free to move at your own pace on each island.
Venice Islands: Bragozzo Boat Tour Murano, Burano & TorcelloYou’ll step onto a traditional bragozzo boat for an easy ride across Venice’s lagoon with stops at Murano for live glassblowing, Burano’s colorful streets and lace-makers, and Torcello’s ancient mosaics. Expect real conversations with locals, free time to wander or snack on pastries, and that feeling you get when history suddenly feels personal.
Venice Islands: Murano Glass, Burano Colors & Torcello TourYou’ll float from Venice to Murano for live glassblowing, wander Burano’s bright canals with time for photos or lace shopping, then cross to peaceful Torcello with its ancient cathedral—all with a local guide and easy boat travel between islands. Expect laughter, color, maybe some surprises—and memories that linger longer than you’d expect.
Murano and Burano half-day tour from Punta SabbioniA half-day boat tour from Punta Sabbioni through the Venetian Lagoon to Murano and Burano, with a multilingual guide, a glass factory demonstration, and scheduled stops on each island. The boat departs on time after each stop, so the timing holds the whole afternoon together without you arranging transport between the islands.Is it for me?The boat leaves from Punta Sabbioni, so if you're staying in Jesolo or anywhere outside Venice without a car, this tour handles the island transport and timing for you — no ferries to research, no separate tickets to buy between stops, and no guessing when to head back.
Half day and longer (2)
Venice to Verona, Sirmione & Lake Garda Boat CruiseYou leave Venice early and spend the day moving between three places: Verona's medieval center and its famous Arena, Sirmione's lakeside village, and a private boat tour around the peninsula with views of Scaliger Castle and Roman ruins. The tour includes your guide, headsets, and the boat cruise; entry fees to attractions are separate, and free time in each location lets you choose what to visit. You return to Mestre by evening.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you want to see Verona and Lake Garda in a single day without arranging your own transport or timing between stops—the fixed schedule and included coach handle the logistics, and the private boat cruise is the part you can't easily do on your own.
Venice Lagoon Islands Tour: Torcello, Burano, Murano GuideA guided tour of Venice's lagoon islands—Torcello, Burano and Murano—led by a licensed local guide in English or Italian. The tour includes entry to the Torcello archaeological site and skip-line access to the glass factory and lace workshop, plus a full-day vaporetto ticket for independent exploration afterward. Children from age 1 are welcome; the tour runs 5.5 hours and covers the islands by public water bus.Is it for me?The tour moves at a steady pace across three islands by water bus, with walking on each one and climbing the Torcello watchtower—it suits travelers comfortable with boat travel and moderate walking, and it works well if you have a free afternoon and want the islands explained by someone who knows them rather than navigating alone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book with free cancellation?
Yes: 26 of the 26 options offer free cancellation, so you can book now and confirm your plans later.
How long do these experiences last?
Most options last up to 2 hours. There are also shorter and longer formats to fit your itinerary.
Which one is the travelers' favorite?
Murano & Burano Islands Tour: Glassblowing Lacemaking Private Boat is the travelers' favorite, rated 4.69 out of 5 across 9,446 reviews.
Are private options available?
Yes, 7 private experiences are available if you prefer a closed group.
More things to do in Venice
Murano & Burano Tours33 optionsCicchetti Tours in Venice17 optionsMuseums in Venice11 optionsDoge's Palace Tickets7 optionsVenice Walking Tour45 optionsSt Mark's Basilica Guided Tour20 optionsDay Trips from Venice27 optionsDolomites Tours24 optionsFood Tours in Venice44 optionsVenice Airport Transfer10 optionsVenice City Tour7 optionsVenice Wine Tour19 optionsGhost Tour in Venice6 optionsVenice Cooking Class12 optionsKayaking in Venice6 optionsGrand Canal Gondola Ride Venice11 optionsDoge's Palace Venice Skip-the-Line Tickets7 optionsCannaregio Food Tour10 optionsMurano Boat Tour13 optionsCannaregio Walking Tours5 options
