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L&B Italian Tours - Search results for: Venice

Duration - 11.5 hours

Type - Best of Venice with St. Mark’s Basilica Day Trip from Florence - small group tour

Begin your day by high-speed train to Venice, where on arrival you’ll meet a member of our team. Then it’s time for your first taste of the city by taking a quick trip by vaporetto to St. Mark’s Square, your guide will be waiting so you can begin exploring. Next, take advantage of our Skip the Line entry, bypassing the tourist lines to enter St. Mark’s Basilica. Accompanied by your guide, discover inside the basilica and gaze at the gold-laden mosaics that decorate the interior and ceilings. A bonus that is not often included on standard tours, is a trip up to the Basilica Terraces, from the terraces see breath-taking views over the piazza and the city.
Explore the twisting back streets, cobbled squares, and small arched bridges on foot, as your guide shares stories from Venice’s colorful past. Learn why the city was built on a lagoon, how it came to be an important center of trade and what events conspired to end its domination over much of the Mediterranean.
Seeing Secret Sights - Stroll across the church and palace-lined piazzas of Campo SS Giovanni e Paolo and Campo Santa Maria Formosa, where Byzantine, Renaissance, and modern elements fuse together their timeless portraits of the city. See the house where the world-famous explorer Marco Polo once lived and hear about his explorations and his epic journey to Asia.
When you arrive at Rialto Bridge, take some time to explore Venice at your own pace. Your guide will offer advice on the best restaurants you can try for lunch, or where you can go to sample the famous cicchetti: like tapas and best enjoyed with a glass of Prosecco.
Experience the City by Water - Once you’re done exploring on foot, we’ll take to the water for a truly memorable moment: a panoramic cruise for our transfer from Rialto back to the train station, on board a private water taxi. Through its waterways Venice really shines. During your water taxi ride, cover part of the Grand Canal, starting from Rialto, getting a unique perspective of the city. We end the tour at the main station, where we board our high-speed train to head back to Florence.

What's Included
• Skip the Line Access to St. Mark's Basilica
• Water taxi experience on Grand Canal
• Small groups of 20 people or fewer
• High-speed train return tickets
• 2-hour guided tour with an expert, English-speaking guide
• Headsets when appropriate, so you can always hear you guide

Sites Visited
• St. Mark’s Basilica (inside)
• Terraces of St. Mark’s Basilica
• Views of Grand Canal
• Rialto Bridge
• Marco Polo’s house
• Campo SS Giovanni e Paolo
• Campo SM Formosa
• Bridge of Sighs
• Columns of San Marco and San Teodoro

Things to Know:

  • Tour is offered on Monday, Thursday and Saturday
  • Tour begins at 8:00am
  • Meeting Point Location - Piazza dell'Unità Italiana – more details are provided upon booking
  • Travel to Venice on a comfortable high-speed train, saving you over 2 hours in transit each way, therefore allowing you 7 full hours in the Floating City where our local expert English-speaking guide will make sure you get the most out of your day
  • Venice will be introduced to you as it should be, from the water! Take a private water taxi ride to the Rialto Bridge where you will begin a walking tour of the most important sites in the city with groups no larger than 20 and headsets to ensure you hear every detail
  • Bring tour voucher and identification with you to tour check-in
  • Please wear tennis shoes or comfortable flat walking shoes
  • Dress Code for visiting St. Mark’s Basilica Church in Venice – both knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women
  • Casual Dress Attire
  • Travel to Venice with ease on a high-speed train

 

Additional Info

Duration: 2 hours

Type of Service: Venice Doge's Palace Tour - small group tour

The Doge's Palace is where the highest-elected magistrates ruled Venice with an iron fist. Go back in time to hear stories of crime, betrayal and the legal system that once kept Venice in check. Inside the Venetian Gothic palace, admire works of art by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese. See the Golden Staircase, the Bridge of Sighs and even some prison cells. This 2-hour includes:

- English-speaking local tour guide

- Maximum group size of 15

- Comprehensive tour general access rooms

- Skip the line Doge's Palace tickets

Experience Doge's Palace History - Meet your guide outside Doge's Palace. Before skipping the line, admire the building’s exterior and learn about St. Mark’s Square. The Doge's Palace, or Palazzo Ducale in Italiano, is a perfect example of Venetian Gothic architecture. Once home to the Doge when the city was a Republic, the palace sits next to St. Mark's Basilica (the former private place of worship for the Doge). 

Doge's Palace Interior - The interior of the Doge's Palace is grand to say the least. Inside you’ll find marble fireplaces, friezes and stucco adorning the walls. Some works of art stand out over the rest and our guide will lead you straight to them. These grand creations include frescoes by Titian and Veronese. Look at the Stairs of Gold, which connect the first floor of the palace to the third, where offices were located. However, not everything on this small group Doge's Palace tour is beautiful! Get a look at the grim prison cells where accused criminals spent their days in darkness. All these places paint a portrait of law and order in Venice, and the harsh lives of Venetian prisoners, including Giacomo Casanova.

Something to Sigh About - Doge's Palace not only held the seat of the Venetian Republic, it also connected to a prison via the famous Bridge of Sighs. Linking freedom with incarceration, prisoners walked across this bridge before spending years or even the remainder of their lives behind bars. If that wasn’t enough to sigh about, the small windows carved into the bridge offered convicts their last glance of beautiful Venice. That's plenty to sigh about. 

Things to Know:

  • Tour is offered March - November
  • Tour is offered 7 days a week based on availability
  • Tour begins at 1:10pm / Tour check-in 12:55pm
  • Meeting Point Location: Between the two big columns in St. Mark’s Square located on the south side of the square, near the canal – more details upon booking
  • Wear comfortable walking or tennis shoes

Additional Info

  • Region Veneto
  • City Venice
  • Duration 2 Hours
  • Highlights

    Skip the line access and go behind the scenes to see the best parts of this incredible Venetian Gothic palace. This is where the seat of the powerful Venetian Republic operated. Now, the palace stands as a reminder of how the law was carried out in Venice.

  • Pricing & Booking

    To book this tour, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Please note: L&B Italian Tours have an on-call operator in Italy, in the event that anything changes or you have problems in Italy, you can contact us easily. 

Published in Venice Half Day Tours

Duration: 3 hours

Type of Service: Best of Venice with St. Mark's Square & Water Taxi Boat Ride - semi-private tour

See all the top sights of Venice with this exclusive, semi-private tour, limited to only ten people or less per group. With commentary tailored by an expert, English-speaking guide to suit your group, you’ll learn more about Venice in just a few hours than many visitors do on an entire trip. And with such small group sizes, your guide will have more time to answer questions and tailor the pace of the tour to suit you.

Beat the Queues at St Mark's Basilica - First of all, we’ll head straight for the main attraction, to be sure that you have plenty of time to take it all in. St. Mark’s Basilica took 800 years to build with relics and monuments inside bought (or stolen) from all over Europe and Asia. Even St. Mark’s remains eventually ended up here (albeit through dubious means) when Crusaders stole them from Egypt. The queues here can be long but no worries, we have Skip the Line Access! Your guide will take you inside this cavernous space for an extended tour, pointing out mosaics that date all the way back to the 11th century and beautiful artworks. Then it’s up to the second floor for some stolen time inside this busy basilica. The terraces of St. Mark’s Basilica are worth a visit, not to mention the incredible views they offer over bustling Piazza San Marco below.

After our tour of St. Mark’s Basilica and Piazza San Marco, we’ll set out on a walking tour past some of Venice's best-known sights, along with some unlikely favorites. We spent a lot of hours traversing the city, trying to get the right balance of major landmarks and picturesque corners and discovered that much of the joy of visiting Venice is in the journey, walking from one spot to another through quiet residential streets and along canals. Our Venice walking tour will take you on such a journey.

You'll see Marco Polo’s house to hear about the Venetian son who went to sea one day and came back with stories of China; Campo SS Giovanni Paolo with its mix of architecture from so many ages; and the famous Bridge of Sighs. As you move from one spot to another, your guide will entertain you with stories of Venice, from informative tales about how the city has stayed afloat so long, to the whispers of scandal that make Venice such a captivating city. They’ll also point out features and buildings that you may never have noticed on your own.

Enjoy the Grand Canal on a Private Vessel - A visit to the Rialto Bridge, an incredible marble structure that cost Venice a small fortune to build but was certainly worth every penny, is a highlight of this journey, and it’s here where our walking part tour ends. Now it's time to take a seat on a private boat to enjoy the beauty of the city. The tour continues to the Grand Canal, the city’s main waterway which snakes its way past no less than 50 palaces, six churches, four bridges and two open-air markets. We’ll take to the water for a cruise that includes all these wonderful sights. Although many visitors opt to travel the Grand Canal by gondola this wide and hectic waterway is much better suited to the water taxis we use, which allow us to move quickly and easily along the canal without losing the intimacy of a smaller vessel.

Your tour will end at the famous Rialto Bridge. And there you have it, in only a few hours you have seen the very best of Venice from three entirely different perspectives: water, land and even air from the terraces of St. Mark’s Basilica.

Destination Sites:

  • St. Mark's Basilica
  • Terrace of St. Mark's
  • Bridge of Sighs
  • Grand Canal (from the water)
  • Jewish Ghetto (from the water)
  • Doge’s Palace (exterior)
  • Columns of St. Mark and the Venetian Lion
  • Campo SM Formosa
  • Campo SS Giovanni e Paolo
  • Marco Polo’s house (exterior)
  • Rialto Bridge

Things to Know:

  • Small group tour of 10 people or less
  • 1-hour Grand Canal cruise by private boat (groups limited to 10 people)
  • Skip the Line Access to St. Mark’s Basilica
  • Entrance ticket to the terrace of St. Mark’s Basilica
  • Headsets when appropriate, so you can always hear your guide
  • Wear comfortable walking or tennis shoes
  • Dress Code for St. Mark’s Basilica – men and women shoulders and knees must be covered, no sleeveless tops unless you bring a shawl with you. No shorts or mini dresses that exposed the knees.
  • Tour is offered on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
  • Tour starts at 2:30pm
  • Meeting Point Location:Doge’s Palace – more details are given upon booking

Additional Info

  • Region Veneto
  • City Venice
  • Duration 3 hours
  • Highlights

    Journey into the Floating City’s history and culture seeing its most famous and lesser known sights on foot and from a boat on this unique package that includes the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark’s Basilica.

  • Pricing & Booking

    To book this tour, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Please note: L&B Italian Tours have an on-call operator in Italy, in the event that anything changes or you have problems in Italy, you can contact us easily. 

Published in Venice Half Day Tours

Duration: 2.5 hours

Type of Service: Venice Highlights Walking Tour with Gondola Ride - small group tour

Is your time in Venice limited? Would you prefer to spend much of your visit to Venice eating cicchetti (venetian appetizers), drinking, shopping and relaxing? Most people visit Venice for just a day or two, which makes it difficult to squeeze in all the best things to do and see. Experience the best of Venice in just a few hours, leaving you ample time to enjoy yourself and wander down romantic canal side streets. This 2.5-hour tour includes:

- St. Mark's Square and St. Mark's Basilica

- Rialto Bridge

- An English-speaking professional guide

- A gondola ride

St. Mark's Square in Venice - Begin your tour of Venice in St. Mark's Square. Home to the magnificent St. Mark’s Basilica, Bell Tower and Doge’s Palace, this is the biggest piazza (public square) in Venice. This is the first stop on your Venice walking tour and it’s also the meeting point of the tour. After meeting up with your fellow Venetian visitors and guide, it's time to head to St. Mark’s Basilica. As this is one of the most visited landmarks in Venice, long lines are expected in summer months. However, this Venice walking tour includes skip the line tickets.

Once inside, it's clear why the basilica is nicknamed “the Church of Gold”. With 4,240 square meters (45,638 square feet) of gilded mosaics constructed over eight centuries, the interior of St. Mark's Basilica is unlike anything you've ever seen. In part, the basilica is so richly outfitted because of the conquest of Constantinople. In 1204, after the Middle-East city fell, treasure was shipped back and installed in St. Mark's Basilica. Included in the haul were the four bronze horses and The Pala d’Oro (high altar retable of St. Mark's).

St. Mark's is a sacred place, so both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Otherwise, you may be refused entry to a portion of your tour. We understand the summers in Venice is hot. A great alternative is to bring a shawl, scarf, or sweater with you, that way you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary. 

Rialto Bridge and Neighborhood - Just a few minutes away from St. Mark’s Square is the Rialto Bridge, as much a symbol of Venice as St. Mark's Basilica. Initially built from old boats, the unstable bridge was rebuilt in 1500. On one side of the bridge is the Rialto Market in the Rialto neighborhood, a place that’s been satisfying appetites for seven centuries. The oldest of the four bridges that span the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge features a 24-foot tall arch. Providing access to the district, the Rialto Bridge enables Venetians to carry on their business in the area.

A Gondola Ride in Venice - After your Venice walking tour ends, it’s time to partake in an essential Venice activity. Step right up to your gondola boat and say hello to your gondolier! Now, it's time to enjoy the beauty of Venice from the water on a thirty-minute gondola ride. The privilege of working as a gondolier is not taken lightly. In fact, Venice only awards a limited number of licenses per year. In addition to being expert rowers, gondoliers are storytellers and Venice historians.

 Your gondola ride ends a few minutes’ walk from St. Mark’s Square, where your tour began. From here, catch a water taxi back to your hotel or the train station. Or, if you aren't ready to call it a day, ask your guide where the best places to eat and drink in Venice are. We will happily point you in the direction of some delicious Venetian cuisine.

Things to Know:

  • Small group tour of 18 people or less
  • Tour operates 7 days a week based on availability
  • Tour is offered at 9:30am and 4:00pm
  • Meeting Point Location:Between the two big columns in St. Mark’s Square located on the side that faces the canal. A representative will be there holding a sign –more details are provided upon booking.
  • A moderate amount of walking is involved – recommend tennis shoes
  • Tour Cost: $85.00 per person/adults to include registration fees, skip the line admission, and guided tour
  • Tour Cost: $68.00 for children ages 7 – 17 years old
  • Tour Cost: $49.00 for children 6 and under

Additional Info

  • Region Veneto
  • City Venice
  • Duration 2.5 hours
  • Highlights

     The Venice Highlights Tour covers all the best things to do in Venice in a short amount of time. Visit St. Mark's Square, St. Mark's Basilica, the Rialto Bridge, the Grand Canal and many hidden gems along the way. Includes a Gondola ride!

  • Pricing & Booking

    To book this tour, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Please note: L&B Italian Tours have an on-call operator in Italy, in the event that anything changes or you have problems in Italy, you can contact us easily. 

Published in Venice Half Day Tours

Duration: 6 hours 

Type of Service: VIP Venetian Islands: Murano, Burano & Torcello by Private Water Taxi

Murano, Burano, and Torcello are only a quick boat ride away from Venice, but each has a unique feel that you can explore on this day trip! With a small group of only 15 people, an air-conditioned, private water taxi and complimentary prosecco on board, you’ll feel like a VIP as you escape the crowds of Venice and head to the charming, smaller islands of the Venetian lagoon.

Begin your day by meeting at a central point in Venice to board your luxury boat. On the way to your first stop, you’ll be introduced to the history of the Venetian Islands by your expert, local guide. Murano is famous for its glassmaking craftsmen, and there’s no better way to experience the island than by visiting one of its famous glass factories. Here, you’ll see a live demonstration by a master artisan and visit a private gallery to view some of their most beautifully intricate pieces

Your next stop is the peaceful island of Torcello. Descriptively called “the garden of Venice”, it’s a wonderful respite in the middle of your tour, filled with lush greenery and beautiful flowers. While in Torcello, you’ll have free time to wander the gardens or climb to the top of the local bell tower for views overlooking the lagoon.

Then, make your way to Burano, the most colorful island of Venice! Perfect for a photo op, this tiny island is known for vibrantly colored cottages and its highly skilled lacemakers. You’ll meet the artisans keeping the Venetian lace tradition alive and have time to discover the city streets on your own, with recommendations from your local guide.

Finally, board your boat again for a quick ride back to Venice while you enjoy a glass of prosecco and stunning views of the city by water.

Sites Visited

  • Murano Glassblowing Factory
  • Murano Glassblowing Art Galleries, with its exhibition of unique art pieces
  • Burano Lace-making shop
  • Torcello Island

Things to Know:

  • Glassmaking demonstration at a factory in Murano
  • Visit a private Art Gallery with glass masterpieces
  • Lacemaking demonstration at a shop in Burano
  • Visit Torcello Island
  • Expert, English-speaking guide
  • Round-trip transportation on board of a historic luxury boat
  • Complimentary prosecco while you travel between islands
  • Small groups of 15 people or less
  • Discount at the glassblowing & lace-making shops (10%+ depending on the item)
  • Tour is offered on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday
  • Tour begins at 9:00am
  • Meeting Point: Central Venice: Riva degli Schiavoni - more details upon booking
  • Wear comfortable walking  or tennis shoes

Additional Info

  • Region Veneto
  • City Venice
  • Duration 6 hours
  • Highlights

    Murano, Burano and Torcello are only a quick boat ride away from Venice, each has a unique feel that you can explore on this day trip! With a small group of only 15 people, an air-conditioned, private water taxi and complimentary prosecco on board.

  • Pricing & Booking

    To book this tour, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

    Please note: L&B Italian Tours have an on-call operator in Italy, in the event that anything changes or you have problems in Italy, you can contact us easily. 

Published in Venice Half Day Tours

Duration: 2.5 hours

Type of Service: Hidden Venice Food Tour with Rialto Market, Cicchetti and Gondola Ride - small group tour

Are you looking for the best food tour in Venice? Embark on a foodie-led exploration of Venetian culture that takes you off the beaten path. With a friendly, English-speaking guide by your side, visit some of our favorite bacari wine bars to sample assorted cicchetti dishes. Get a taste of local Venice food culture and learn about the city as you fill your belly with the best regional wine and food. This 2.5-hour tour includes:

- English-speaking, local foodie guide

- Maximum of 10 people per group

- Gondola ride

- Prosecco, wine and cocktails

- Sit down pasta lunch

- Cicchetti and Bacari 

There are two words that are very important to learn when visiting Venice: cicchetti and bacari. The word cicchetti comes from Venetian dialect, meaning "a small savory snack". They are served at various little ‘bacari’ (local wine bars) and come in many delicious varieties. The tradition of going to bacari goes back to at least the 1300's. As time went on and the city got bigger, the number of bacari multiplied as more and more people desired wine.

 Your local Venetian guide will explain many of the traditions involving why people visited bacari during the day (even in the morning!). When Italians drink wine, they always have something to eat with it, to make sure that they don't get too tipsy. So over time, the bacari started offering cicchetti (small savory snacks). And a new tradition was born, drinking wine with cicchetti.

Prosecco for Breakfast - In a city known throughout the world for its many islands and canals, most people think that they have Venice figured out. What they don't know is that there is so much more to discover, especially gastronomically. The first stop on this Venice food tour introduces you to a tasty side of Venice that not many experiences, starting with some bubbly wine for breakfast. Don’t worry, you’ll have a bite to eat as well.

A Refreshing Gondola Ride - A trip to Venice wouldn't be complete without a ride on a gondola. Instead of taking the regular route and crossing Venice's Grand Canal by bridge, your local guide will take you across the water on a short, 2-minute gondola taxi ride! Get your cameras ready. 

Mercato Rialto - The Rialto Market has been around for centuries. Early Venetian settlers used to come to this area to trade goods, and to this day, not much has changed. Today, Venetian vendors continue to gather here and offer locally-grown produce and fish.

The Spritz - After sampling some cicchetti and prosecco at your first stop, taste another popular drink in Venice at our second bacari stop. Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer bitter drinks, there is a Spritz for everyone. The Campari Spritz has a higher alcohol content than an Aperol Spritz; it also tastes more bitter than sweet. If you’ve ever seen pictures of people drinking a bright orange cocktail from a stemmed glass in Italy, that’s an Aperol Spritz. Both drinks are made with prosecco.

Ombra and Lunch - An ombra in Venice is a small glass of wine; ombra means “shade” in Italian. Legend has it that in the old days, wine was sold near the bell tower of San Marco's square in the shade. So, the people would say "let's go drink in the shade by the bell tower”. Today it has been shortened to just one word - ombra. At the third stop, taste some of the local favorite ombra, as you sit down for a delicious lunch that includes some of the best pasta in Venice.

Gelato in Venice - No Italian foodie experience is complete without some gelato. On this guided tour of Venice, learn how to spot authentic gelato from the kind with additives in one of Venice's best "gelateria" (gelato shops).

You may feel like staying out in Venice exploring after the tour ends or you might need to take a rest after all the eating and drinking. If you're ready to head home, your guide will happily show you where to catch the nearest "vaporetto" (water taxi) so you can cruise back to your accommodations for an afternoon nap.

Things to Know:

  • Small group tour - maximum of 10 people per group
  • Gondola ride
  • Prosecco, wine and cocktails
  • Sit down pasta lunch
  • Wear comfortable walking or tennis shoes
  • Tour is offered April - October
  • Tour is offered at 11:00am on Tuesday - Saturday (no tours on Sundays and Mondays)
  • Meeting Point Location: In Campo San Bortolomio, in front of the statue – more details provided upon booking

Additional Info

  • Region Veneto
  • City Venice
  • Duration 2.5 hours
  • Highlights

    Get a taste of local Venice food culture and learn about the city as you fill your belly with the best regional wine and food

  • Pricing & Booking

     The cost for this private 2.5-hour tour includes local expert English speaking tour guide, food & beverage tasting fees - to book this tour, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

     

    Please note: L&B Italian Tours have an on-call operator in Italy, in the event that anything changes or you have problems in Italy, you can contact us easily. 

Published in Venice Half Day Tours

Duration: 3 Hours, (includes one-hour visit to the interior of Doge's Palace)

Type of Service: Walking food tour of Venice

On this three-hour tour you’ll enjoy the authentic Venetian food and wine traditions at a local Osteria and be introduced to Venice’s famous landmarks, including the exterior of Doge’s Palace.

Your personal local guide will provide you a walking tour of the picturesque Venetian calli (streets) and ponti (bridges) of Venice, telling you the incredible history and secrets of this unique city. You’ll admire the center of the Venetian power during the Serenissima Republic of Venice: Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) and its fascinating buildings, such as the Basilica di San Marco and Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace), which was the heart of the political life and public administration of the Venetian Republic.  Follow some incredible off-the-beaten-track itineraries and discover Venice's best-kept secrets, then taste the authentic Venetian food and wine traditions in a typical “Osteria.” Mix up with the locals and enjoy a tasty Venetian aperitif with “cicchetti e un’ombra di vino” (finger food and a glass of wine), that will invigorate your spirit and make you look at Venice from the locals’ point of view!

Things to Know:

  • 3-hour private walking tour of Venice 
  • Experience the grandeur and history of Venice on this tour of a one-hour interior visit to the Doge’s Palace.
  • See notable Venice attractions like the Rialto Fish Market and the Cannaregio Quarter, as well as lesser-known sights
    Sip on a glass of wine and enjoy appetizers at a traditional Venetian osteria
  • Minimum of 2 and Maximum of 8
  • Tour is offered Tuesday through Saturday based on availability
  • Tour can be offered on Mondays with no interior visit to Doge's Palace
  • Tour is offered at 9:00 am and 2:00 pm
  • Meet your private guide at either your hotel or St. Mark's Square in the heart of the city
  • Your friendly, English-speaking guide will answer all your questions and provide personalized insights so you can get the most out of your time
  • Admission fees, skip the line tickets, private tour guide, and  tasting fees included in tour cost
  • Wear comfortable walking or tennis shoes shoes

Additional Info

  • Region Veneto
  • City Venice
  • Duration 3 Hours
  • Highlights

    Explore Doge’s Palace and discover other famous landmarks in Venice. Take a step back and learn about Venetian cuisine through small Cicchetti dishes

  • Pricing & Booking

    To book this tour, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Please note: L&B Italian Tours have an on-call operator in Italy, in the event that anything changes or you have problems in Italy, you can contact us easily. 

Published in Venice Half Day Tours

Duration: 5 hours 

Type of Service: Half Day Venetian Islands: Murano Glassblowing and Burano Lacemaking - group tour

Most first-time visitors to Venice spend the majority of their time around its famous Saint Mark's Square. Those with a bit more time in Italy also fit in a visit to Murano, a nearby island. This is the place to go if you're interested in the famed Murano glass, where you can watch a demonstration of glass making and maybe buy a Venetian glass souvenir or two.

 Burano has been occupied from the 6th century, but it only became important in the 16th century, when women on the island began making lace with needles and it became popular among the European elite. It’s a fine art form and takes an incredible amount of patience and time to create. So as you can imagine, it’s a luxury few can afford. Most of the lace that's for sale in souvenir shops are affordable, so it's not created by hand. Still, it's beautiful and the shops are worth visiting. 

 Venetian Islands Tour: Murano Glassblowing & Burano Lacemaking - No trip to Venice is complete without discovering the Venetian Lagoon's two most cherished islands. This half-day trip to Murano from Venice with Burano offers perks not usually found on other group tours, like transport by private water taxi and a dedicated guide throughout. Gain perspective on the ageless arts of glassblowing and lacemaking and the mastery of artisans, as well as delight in the unique charm of the tranquil canals and piazzas.

Take a Private Water Taxi to Murano - Once you reach the meeting point in central Venice, you'll be whisked off to Murano to see its world-famous blown glass. On the way, admire the 'City of Bridges' from the water with sweeping views and entertaining commentary from your guide as you get ready to witness the magic of Murano glass.

All glassmaking was moved to this tiny group of islands in the Middle Ages, and it was the only place where mirrors were made for centuries. Techniques were so secret that perpetrators risked execution for leaking them. Times have changed, but you'll behold exactly what has made Murano glass so sought after for nearly 750 years.

Learn More with our Expert Guides - Upon arrival, you'll dock at a specially chosen glassblowing workshop where you'll marvel as craftsmen shape molten glass into dazzling works of art. See these sparkling treasures come to life as you learn how colors and the most ambitious shapes come to be. You can also browse in the gallery, or shop with our discount. Afterward, explore Murano to enjoy its sleepy canals and San Donato church, a stunning example of Byzantine architecture, without being hurried.

 Discover the Finest Handmade Lace at Burano - The next stop on your Venice cruise is Burano. Considered by many as one of the most colorful places in the world, this small fishing community with its brightly colored houses also has some of the finest handmade lace anywhere. Watch this cultural tradition in action as women stitch by hand, like countless generations before them. After the demonstration, you will have free time to visit the lace museum, stroll Burano's vibrant waterways, or shop for souvenirs.

Things to Know:

  • Explore the islands of Murano and Burano with an English-speaking tour guide
  • Learn about Murano’s rich history and glass-making heritage Admire the brightly painted houses of Burano island
  • Travel by motorboat and see the sights from the water
  • A great introduction to Venice for first-time visitors
  • Plenty of free time to stroll around the island and enjoy the peaceful environment
  • Tour offered daily - 7 days @ week based on availability
  • Tour times are at 8:15am, 1:45pm and 2:30pm
  • Meeting Point: Central Venice: Vittorio Emanuele II Monument - more details upon booking
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes
  • Group Tour of 30 people or less

Additional Info

  • Region Veneto
  • City Venice
  • Duration 5 hours
  • Highlights

    Embark on an unforgettable tour of the enchanting islands of Murano and Burano to discover the arts of glass blowing and lace making that have made them so famous.

  • Pricing & Booking

    Small group and private tours available.

    To book this tour, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Please note: L&B Italian Tours have an on-call operator in Italy, in the event that anything changes or you have problems in Italy, you can contact us easily. 

Published in Venice Half Day Tours
Friday, 18 January 2019 15:29

Grand Canal Boat Tour- small group tour

Duration: 1 hour

Type of Service: Grand Canal Boat Tour - small group tour

Small Group Venice boat tours of the Grand Canal & minor canals of Venice provide the ideal sightseeing tours of the city of Venice for first-time visitors. One of our most popular sightseeing tours in Venice because it offers our clients the opportunity to view the city from a completely different perspective. Escape the hordes of tourist to discover a relaxing and rewarding experience as you glide down the main street of Venice. You'll feel like a VIP on our small group boat tours of the Grand Canal

On all our Venice boat tours you'll travel in a luxurious motor-launch, limited to a maximum of 8/9 participants so that we should be able to guarantee that everyone sits outside to enjoy an intimate experience of the waterways of Venice while listening to the detailed commentary of your expert Venice tour guide.

In the first part of these small group Venice boat tours cruise down the Grand Canal at a relaxed pace with numerous photo opportunities as your friendly and knowledgeable guide ntroduce you to the splendid Palaces, Churches, Bridges and other Monumental buildings that line the main waterway of Venice. Learn the history and evolution of the main street of Venice, and be entertained by anecdotes about the famous and infamous people that once lived along this celebrated waterway. 

In the second part of these marvellous sightseeing tours of Venice sit back and enjoy a delightful journey through the minor canals of Venice. In the hidden Venice, as you travel through four of the city districts of Venice you'll get a full overview of the city and enjoy picture postcard views of the most romantic parts of the city. These small group Venice boat tours start & finish at St. Marks square.

Things to know:

  • During the tour you will see the waterways of Venice, the Grand Canal, splendid Palaces, Churches, Bridges, Rialto Bridge. Luxorious motor-launch, English speaking guide.
  • Local Expert English speaking Guide
  • Luxurious Motor-Launch /Maximum 8/9 people per boat
  • During high water, the tour will take place, but it might happen we have to partly adapt the tour to the weather conditionsTour operates with min 4 participants
  • Tour is offed Tuesday, Friday and Saturday in the off season
  • Tour is offered April - November (7 days a week based on availability)
  • Tour time is 3:15pm - 4:15pm
  • Check in with guide 15 minutes before tour begins
  • Meeting point location - St. Mark's Square (more details are given upon booking)

 

Additional Info

  • Region Veneto
  • City Venice
  • Duration 2.45 Hours
  • Highlights

    Journey into the Floating City’s history and culture seeing its most famous and lesser known sights on foot and from a gondola on this unique package that includes the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark’s Basilica.

  • Pricing & Booking

    To book this tour, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Please note: L&B Italian Tours have an on-call operator in Italy, in the event that anything changes or you have problems in Italy, you can contact us easily. 

Published in Venice Half Day Tours

Duration: 2.5 hours

Type of Service: Best of Venice walking tour including St. Mark's Basilica

If you have limited vacation time (and who doesn’t?), this is the perfect way to see the best sights in Venice in just a few short hours. Your expert English-speaking guide will take you to famous landmarks including St. Mark’s Basilica, Rialto Bridge, Marco Polo’s house, Camp SS Giovanni e Paolo and Campo Santa Maria Formosa piazzas, Bridge of Sighs and more, including quiet off-the-beaten-path places many tourists may miss.

We begin your tour at one of Venice’s most photographed locations, the Rialto Bridge. Then we’ll wind through the Floating City’s serpentine streets and over the tiny bridges that dot its seascape on our way to Marco Polo’s house. Learn about this intrepid Venetian son whose sense of adventure and exploration took him beyond the horizon to the Far East, where few had ever been before. Along the way, you’ll stroll through the lively piazzas of Campo SS Giovanni e Paolo and Campo Santa Maria Formosa, and marvel at how the beautiful Byzantine architecture and Renaissance buildings meld seamlessly with today’s modern and somewhat eclectic edifices.

On the way to our final and most awe-inspiring stop, St. Mark’s Basilica, you have a chance to see the romantic Bridge of Sighs. Then saunter through St. Mark’s Square, which Napoleon named the “finest drawing room in all of Europe.” Next, enjoy Skip-the-Line Access to the city’s most bustling spot for tourists. You’ll breeze past the long lines and straight into the Basilica.

Your tour guide will not only educate but also entertain you with the rich history of St. Mark’s Basilica. Learn about the city’s diverse culture with intriguing facts only a local would know. An impressive architectural marvel, see how Eastern architecture blends beautifully with Western design to create an unbelievable onion-domed structure so individually Venetian. With less time waiting in line, you’ll enjoy more time standing in awe of ornate frescoes before ascending to the famous St. Mark’s terraces. Not often included on guided tours, this site offers a spectacular aerial view of the prized piazza – and makes the perfect photo opp.

On this private tour, your small group will receive individualized attention. Audio headsets are provided, if you like, so you can always hear your guide. Ask all the questions you like and learn as much about Venice and the world-renowned sites as you please. 

Things to know:

  • Private tour with expert English-speaking tour guide
  • Your tour will begin at one of Venice’s most photographed locations, the Rialto Bridge.
  • See Venice’s most-famous landmarks and monuments in just a few hours with the flexibility and attention only a private tour can offer
  • See St. Mark’s Basilica, Rialto Bridge, Marco Polo’s house, Bridge of Sighs & more on this de facto tour of Venice for the first-time visitor
  • Your tour guide will not only educate but also entertain you with the rich history of St. Mark’s Basilica.
  • Skip the line access to St. Mark's Basilica and entrance ticket to the terraces of St. Mark’s Basilica
  • Ask your guide all the questions you like and learn as much about Venice and the world-renowned sites as you please.
  • Audio headsets available
  • Tour offered on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
  • Tour starts at 9:00 am
  • Check in with guide by 8:45 am
  • Meeting point location - more details are given upon booking

 

Additional Info

  • Region Veneto
  • City Venice
  • Duration 2.5 Hours
  • Highlights

    See St. Mark’s Basilica and enjoy the sights and sounds of St. Mark’s Square

  • Pricing & Booking

    To book this tour, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    Please note: L&B Italian Tours have an on-call operator in Italy, in the event that anything changes or you have problems in Italy, you can contact us easily. 

Published in Venice Half Day Tours
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