Venice · HISTORICAL TOURS
25 ways to explore
The best historical tours can fill early in Venice. These 15 options show the differences clearly before the calendar tightens.
Skip the line for St. Mark’s Basilica with a phone audio guide, then time-travel via VR at the Venice History Gallery.
“Our tour guide was Francesco and he was very knowledgeable and passionate about Venice. Very informative and we learnt a lot on our tour about the history of Venice and the significance of St Mark to the city. Highly recommend”
Skip lines at St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, then glide by gondola with commentary and VR history in a small group.
“Make sure you watch the virtual tour at the touring office. It was cool and gave interesting info about the history”
Guided walk of St. Mark’s and Rialto plus VR history, with an optional gondola to see Venice from the water.
“The weather was awful but they did a great job, very kind and we learned a lot!”
Skip-the-line St Mark’s Bell Tower ticket plus the History Gallery and VR timeline, with 98-meter panoramic views over Venice.
“It was nice to be able to skip the line. The virtual tour was not what I expected, but it was good. Beautiful views, and a nice breeze at the top of the tower. Warning the tower bells go off on the hour, which was cool, but it hurt some peoples ears.”
Skip-the-line Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, and St Mark’s Basilica, with optional Campanile views and a VR History Gallery in 2-3 hours.
“Tour guide was very informative and kept our attention with humorous commentary. The tour showed us everything we could have hoped for and more. We appreciated that this agency had their own storefront where we met just around the corner from the basilica. We would highly recommend”
Venice Natural History Museum ticket ($11). Dinosaurs, a Sarchosuchus skull, fossils, and 2 million objects in a Grand Canal palazzo.
“Excellent attraction. Interactive and informative. Modern displays for ancient and old artifacts and specimens. Great views of grand canal. Lovely calm garden and internal courtyard. Very helpful and friendly staff. 100 years old this year. They have a dinosaur and lots of great fossils. I always come here for a wander and break from thecrowd's when in Venice”
Priority entry to St Mark’s Basilica with a mobile audio guide, VR journey, and Venice Gallery history circuit, plus optional live guide.
“So, I thoroughly researched to find the right tour. This was not it. You would thin the title says it all, well not true. One, u got the ticket for the Cathedral, but what they don’t tell you is: You need your own headphones AND u have to download another app to hear the audio guide - NOT GOOD! Then, there r no signs to the History Gallery, BUT we found the Museum. What we thought was the gallery - it was not and they tried to charge us. There were too many “tours” going on which caused the whole place to get crowded, NO AC or air flow, and…”
Ride the Cold War submarine Enrico Dandolo in Venice Arsenal, then explore MUNAV naval museum for two days. Small groups, audio guide.
“Fascinating place, especially the submarine. Buildings very cold though so wrap up warm!”
Skip-the-line Doge’s Palace tour with a small group, then Museo Correr and St Mark’s Square museum access, plus optional lunch.
“Visiting the Doge's Palace was incredible! This architectural masterpiece exudes grandeur and elegance at every turn. Stepping into its richly adorned halls, we were transported back in time to the opulence of the Venetian Republic. The stunning artwork, intricate details, aRead more”
Private one-hour Venice Lagoon boat tour with a historic Venetian boat, aperitif by San Marco, and quiet lagoon corners.
“Tour operator cancelled on us the day before citing technical difficulties. It was suppose rain so I suppose that is why there were sudden technical difficulties. I expect I will never get a refund.”
Learn watercolor basics in Venice's Dorsoduro with master Nicola, paint a canal scene in a small group, and take home a handcrafted bookmark.
“The weather was poor (raining) so we ended up in the studio which was understandable. It ended up being just the 2 of us and the artist was very patient with us as we are just beginners. He gave us some great tips about using the watercolours, creating the palette, setting up the painting and the how to construct the image. The image he chose seemed way to detailed for us but he was able to have us produce something recognisable in the 2 hour session. He is a great communicator and teacher. We would wholeheartedly recommend this experience.”
Skip-the-line ticket to Venice’s MUNAV naval museum. Explore Venetian boats, models, documents, and Far East craft in 1.5 hours.
Skip-the-line Doge’s Palace and a guided walk through Venetian squares and legends, with headsets and an included palace visit for value.
“Our tour guide did an awesome job explaining the history of Doge's Palace and Venice. We enjoyed every minute of it and we met a lot of great people!”
Priority entry to St. Mark’s Bell Tower plus a history-focused 3D experience, with elevator views you can’t fake and less ticket-line stress.
“You could see the original bells at the top of the tower, as well as three sixty degrees around the entire city and the water surrounding. It was my first virtual reality experience, and it was so cool!”
3-hour guided Venice walk, St. Mark’s Square and Castello, plus skip-the-line Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs and prison halls.
“Das erste mal in Venedig waren es sehr viele Eindrücke. Spannende Infos und Geschichten Besser hätte ich es in zwei Touren gemacht. Zeit war genug , doch so viele Eindrücke haben uns doch geschafft”
Keep browsing
