Venice is one of those see-before-you-die cities. This famously romantic city, with its singing gondoliers, has no equal, drawing 50,000 tourists each day.
With large crowds and so many sights to see, it might be a little overwhelming on your own. However, there are lots of tours on offer. Whether you want to enjoy the calli (little streets) and campis (squares) or see the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Basilica, there are plenty of tour providers that will make sure you see everything on your list. Below is a selection of the best that this floating city has to offer.
First up is Tours-venice-italy.com, which offers a great selection of tours including its popular Grand Canal guided boat tour. No trip to Venice is complete without a ride in a gondola; it’s the perfect way to appreciate the beauty and charm of this magnificent city. In this 35-minute tour you will glide around the canals and enjoy the friendly banter of the gondoliers.
If you want to learn more about the history of Venice, take part in a guided walking tour with Venicescapes. It’s not a sightseeing tour in the traditional sense, more a history lesson. Each tour has been composed following years of study of the political, economic, social and religious forces that shaped Venice. A must for the intellectually curious traveller.
For any type of visitor to Venice, a tour with Theveniceexperience.com is sure to show you something different. Its most popular excursion is the Backstreets tour, which takes visitors through the less visited, un-touristy parts of the city. This is the perfect tour for visitors who want to avoid the cliches and fall in love with the real Venice.
There is no denying that Venice is home to some amazing buildings. They become even more beautiful when viewed by the light of the moon. Venicetours.it offers a Venice by Night tour which is perfect for moonlight trips. Experience the historical centre of St. Mark’s Square on foot and walk through the dimly-lit streets to the Rialto Bridge. Finish up with a twilight boat ride along the Grand Canal.
Food is a integral part of Italian culture and Venice is no exception to this. The city is home to a variety of bustling markets that range from indoor farmers’ markets to smaller groups of stalls in the squares. Contexttravel.com offers its Padua Market Tour, an excellent way to “taste” Venice and gain an insight into how the locals eat.
Alternatively, why not try a cooking lesson with a local chef and learn how to cook Venetians’ most popular dishes? Theinternationalkitchen.com has regular cooking classes in Chef Patrizia’s apartment. Start the day with a trip to Rialto Market to pick up ingredients, then head back to the apartment to create a simple, tasty Venetian meal. There are also evening classes where you can enjoy the meal – and the views – from Patrizia’s terrace.
Cycling is a great way to discover the mountains and Renaissance cities of Northern Italy. With Utracks.com you can enjoy an enchanting journey through the historic Veneto region with their Backroads to Venice tour. In an action packed week you can cycle the quiet paths and country roads to the canal city of Venice either on a guided or self guided tour. You don’t have to be super fit to enjoy it, whilst having plenty time to enjoy the shores of Lake Garda and the sights of splendid cities such as Trento, Verona and Mestre.
If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, and a trip to Venice is only part of your Italian visit, why not take part in a longer tour? You can cycle from other cities and enjoy the scenery along the way. Freewheeling.ca has a Venice to Florence cycle tour. During this eight-day tour, you can enjoy a (fairly flat) bike ride during the day and feast on mouthwatering meals at luxurious villas at night.
If you are looking for a place to stay in Venice, take a look at Darn Good Digs, the best independently owned accommodation for budget-minded travellers.
(Images: soylentgreen23; HarshLight; pensiero; Josh Liba; lapatia; HarshLight; amerune; kev_hickey_uk)
