9 Best Walking Tours of Venice Italy

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Venice, Italy, is a city known for its canals, gondolas, and its architecture. However, if you’re looking to see more than just the well-known sights, consider taking one of the best walking tours of Venice. 

While spending a semester abroad, I was able to explore the beautiful city of Venice and see so many of its top spots. So, I can vouch for how great these tours are!

These tours take you around some of the lesser-known neighborhoods, such as Castello and Santa Maria Della Salute, and give you an insider’s look at the city’s history and culture. Some of them even include some tasty food or other treats along the way!

Keep reading to learn more about the best walking tours of Venice!

Top Picks: Venice Walking Tours

Best Walking Tours of Venice

Private 4 hrs Venice Tour: St Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace and Secret Venice

⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars (212 reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 4 hours | ✅ Includes: Local guide, skip the line at St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace | 🇮🇹 Book now

First up is one of the best Venice walking tours for those interested in history and architecture. It’s about four hours long and allows you to also save money and time by skipping the line at Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica.

The tour includes the skip the line access and a local guide in English. Guests will be provided with headsets depending on the size of the group for the tour so that everyone can hear the guide clearly throughout it.

This tour starts right in Piazza San Marco, and then you go right into Doge’s Palace for a two-hour tour. Then, head to Scaala dei Giganti di Palazza Ducale, Porta Della Carta, Basilica di San Marco, and Campo Sanatta Maria Formosa.

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Best of Venice Tour with St Mark’s Basilica and Grand Canal Boat tour

⭐️ Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars (3324 reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 3 hours | ✅ Includes: Professional guide, Grand Canal boat tour (1 hour), Best of Venice & St Marks Basilica (2 hours), skip the line at St Mark’s Basilica | 🇮🇹 Book now

Let’s be honest; one of the best things to do in Venice is to go on a boat tour, right? So, that’s why this is one of the best walking tours in Venice! It includes a Grand Canal boat tour which is truly an unforgettable experience.

The tour lasts about three hours maximum and includes skip-the-line admission at St Mark’s Basilica. The tour includes a one-hour boat tour, a Venice walking tour with skip-the-line tickets at St Mark’s Basilica, and a guide who speaks English. Depending on the size of your group, you may receive a headset to hear at all times.

This Venice walking tour begins at Piazza San Marco and goes right into Basilica di San Marco. After, other stops or places passed by, including Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Calle del Paradiso, and Ponte di Rialto. It ends with the one-hour group boat tour on the Grand Canal with no more than eight people per boat.

Venice Walking Tour and Gondola Ride

⭐️ Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars (3142 reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 2 hours | ✅ Includes: Guide, gondola ride | 🇮🇹 Book now

This is one of the most popular Venice Italy walking tours that you won’t want to miss out on! It’s about two and half hours long at most and includes all of the best parts of Venice.

Guests will receive a professional guide and a gondola ride for thirty minutes with the tour price. Usually, a gondola ride can be one hundred euros, so it’s great to book it on this tour. Depending on the time of year you book it, you could have significant savings versus booking a gondola ride on your own.

The tour starts at St Mark’s Square and includes stops along the way at Canal Grande, Ponte di Rialto, Piazza San Marco, and finally at Gondola Bacino Orseolo, where you’ll take your gondola ride near St Mark’s Square.

Morning Walking Tour of Venice Plus Gondola Ride

⭐️ Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars (97 reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 3 hours | ✅ Includes: Tour, gondola ride | 🇮🇹 Book now

Beat the heat and the crowds with this Venice-guided walking tour! So many people visit Venice later in the day, so this is the perfect way to explore the city. Plus, it also includes a gondola ride, which is an absolute must-do in Venice.

This tour, in particular, is three hours long and includes a guided walking tour and a gondola ride. It starts around 9 a.m. and leaves from near the Correr Museum at the TURIVE kiosk. 

This walking in Venice tour starts at the Canal Grande, where you’ll begin to learn about the city’s history. Then, head to Piazza San Marco, Casa di Marco Polo, Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Teatro La Fenice, Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, and finally, at Campo Santa Maria Formosa.

Venice Sightseeing Walking Tour with a Local Guide

⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars (664 reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 2 hours | ✅ Includes: Local guide, tour | 🇮🇹 Book now

Another of the excellent tours Venice is this tour with a local guide. Again, it’s a short tour that’s only about two hours long, but that’s perfect for getting acquainted with the city. The tour includes access to a local tour guide who speaks English for the tour.

The tour has quite a few spots along the way. It begins at Piazza San Marco and then continues onto Scuola Grandi di San Rocco. Then, stop at Ponte di Rialto, Casa di Marco Polo, Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Campo Santa Margherita, and the Church of San Pantalon.

Along the way, be sure to ask your tour guide questions because they’re super knowledgeable about the area. Depending on what you ask, you may even learn about some hidden gems in the city!

Unusual Venice Walking Tour

⭐️ Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars (224 reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 2 hours | ✅ Includes: Tour, guide | 🇮🇹 Book now

Do you want a more quirky walking tour experience in Venice? Then check out this one! It lasts about two hours long and focuses on history but also visits lots of hidden and off-the-beaten-path Venice locations that you may not know about. 

The tour includes access to a guide who will inform you about what you see throughout the tour. Hotel pick-up is not included, so be sure to make it to the departure time at the meeting place near Piazza San Marco.

SSome spots along the way include Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Campo Santti Giovanni e Paolo, Casa di Marco Polo, Ponte di Riaalto, Teatro La Fenice, and of course, Piazza San Marco.

Venice Photography Walking Tour with Private Guide

⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars (57 reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 3 hours | ✅ Includes: Photographer guide | 🇮🇹 Book now

If visiting Venice Instagram spots is an absolute must for you, then you should check out this tour. It lasts about three hours long and is perfect if having great photo memories of your trip is essential to you.

The tour includes a professional photographer guide who will give you tips on how to get the best photo throughout the tour. You will have to bring your own camera or your phone for photography. The guide is just there to help you get the perfect shot!

There are two different tour options. You can do the Day in the Life of Venice Daytime Tour, which focuses on movement and photography skills, or there’s the Sunset Tour which is a lot more based on landscape and architecture. Both are great options!

Private Tour: Venice Half-Day Walking Tour

⭐️ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars (118 reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 3 hours | ✅ Includes: Guide, tour | 🇮🇹 Book now

Even though it’s a bit pricier, one of the top walking tours of Venice is this one! What makes it so different from other tour options is that it is a private tour, meaning that you’ll have more of an intimate experience throughout the tour.

It’s a three-hour tour that includes some incredible stops. There are also multiple departure times throughout the day, so you can really tailor the tour to your own personal itinerary and schedule if needed.

This tour includes a professional guide, commentary along the way, a walking tour, and even an appetizer and glass of wine at a local bar.

The tour passes by and walks through many attractions and neighborhoods that everyone should visit in Venice. Some spots include Ponte di Rialto, Mercati di Rialto, Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frarai, Campo San Polo, Chiesa della Madonna dell’Orto, Cannaregio, Teaatro La Fenice, and more.

Skip the Line: Best of Venice Walking Tour with St Mark’s Basilica

⭐️ Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars (1019 reviews) | ⏳ Tour length: 2 hours | ✅ Includes: Tour, guide, skip the line at St Mark’s Basilica | 🇮🇹 Book now

Last but not least is another skip-the-line tour at St Mark’s Basilica! It’s two hours long and is perfect for those who want to learn about hidden Venice and the city’s architecture and history.

The tour includes a walking tour, a guide who’s local and speaks English, skip-the-line tickets to St Mark’s Basilica, and headsets depending on the size of your tour group.

The tour beings right at Piazza Saan Marco and then allows you to skip the line at the basilica, where you’ll spend thirty minutes exploring and learning about the history. Be sure to pay close attention to the interesting architecture. Then, other stops include Campo Santa Maria Formosa and a pass by Calle del Paradiso.

Final Thoughts: Best Venice Walking Tours

Taking one of the top walking tours of Venice is the perfect way to see all the city has to offer. The knowledgeable guides will show you the best places to eat, drink, and shop while also providing historical information about the city.

So if you’re looking for a unique and fascinating travel experience, sign up for a walking tour of Venice!

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