Taking a tour of Venice is one of the easiest way to see this beautiful floating city with your crew, no map app or directions needed! Whether you’re sailing through canals, nibbling cicchetti in a secret bar, or strolling through Piazza San Marco, there’s something fun for everyone. The island of Venice is full of little surprises, and first-time visitors have a lot to see. Booking a few of these fun Venice tours is the perfect way to make the most of a vacation with your favorite people.
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Best Venice Tours for Groups
Free Walking Tours
Venice Highlights Walking Tour
Booking a free walking tour on your group’s first day in Venice is a great idea. Many iconic landmarks and hidden corners are tucked down narrow alleys and over ornate bridges. Plus, Venice has no cars, so it’s very walkable! This Venice Highlights Free Tour is ideal.
It’s a 2-hour daily tour that starts at 10:00 AM from Campo Sant’Agnese. Radio transmitters will allow you to hear your guide clearly above the crowds.
Here are just some of the places you’ll visit:
- St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge Palace
- Grand Canal
- Punta della Dogana
- St. Mark’s Basin
- Zattere Promenade
- Palazzo Ca’ Dario
- Peggy Guggenheim Museum
You won’t head inside these famous sites, but you will learn a ton about the history of Venice on this tour. Book ahead as most tour guides (even free, tip-based ones!) need to limit group numbers. Groups larger than six can arrange a private Venice walking tour at a convenient time.
Hidden Venice and Jewish Ghetto Tour
Venice is such a popular vacation spot. Chances are that some of your group members have already visited. If so, there are secret Venice tours that will take you off the beaten path. This free Secret and Mysterious Venice: Jewish Ghetto and Cannaregio Walking Tour will show your group many hidden gems.
Uncover a gritty, real side of Venice on this free walking tour. Find out what daily life was like for Venice’s Jewish population over many centuries.
Here are some of the historic sites you’ll visit:
- The world’s oldest Jewish ghetto
- Church of Madonna dell’Orto
- Campo dei Mori
Most crucially, your knowledgeable guide will share some fantastic stories about Venetian culture you won’t have heard before! This 2-hour, tip-based tour departs at 2:30 PM from Campo San Geremia. Book ahead as the tour doesn’t run every day and does sell out a few days in advance.
How much you tip depends on the tour’s length and quality. Most Venice tour guides expect around €10-20 per person. Large groups may need to pay a deposit. You can deduct this amount from your tip.
City and Highlights of Venice Tours
Private Lagoon Boat Cruise
Booking a private gondola tour is ideal for couples. Even groups of five will squeeze into one of Venice’s iconic vessels! But larger groups (max. 10 people) will enjoy a private boat ride in a bigger boat. This private Luxury Lagoon Sunset Cruise is one of the best Venice tours for groups of friends.
Cruise for one hour in a vintage boat along Venice’s Grand Canal and some hidden, smaller canals. See iconic bridges like the Rialto Bridge and the Bridge of Sighs. Indulge in a glass of prosecco as you watch the sunset. It’ll blow any private gondola ride out of the water!
Full-Day Venice Highlights Tour
Do you only have one day in Venice? Maybe it’s your group’s first time in the city, and you’re determined to have the best experience? Context Travel offers the perfect Private Tour of Venice in a Day for groups of all ages.
Check out must-visit landmarks like the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica (tickets included!), and the Rialto Market. It also includes a Grand Canal afternoon boat cruise. Tap into your guide’s expertise for lunch recommendations. Customize this 7-hour walking tour however you like for the interests and needs of your group!
Ecology of Venice VIP Boat Tour
Have you heard that Venice is sinking? I’d take a guess and say you have! Venice’s future is a hot news topic. This Premium Lagoon Excursion is a great way for your group to learn about Venice’s ecology and see it with your own eyes.
Leave the canals and sail around the entire city to truly appreciate Venice’s natural beauty. Over three hours, you’ll visit lesser-known spots like Saint Erasmus Island, seagrass meadows, Forte Sant’Andrea, artificial and natural salt marshes, and MOSE flood barriers.
Some people geek out over art and food, others geek out over science! If your group falls into the latter category, you can’t miss this unique experience. An expert ecologist will be your private guide, so take advantage of this one-on-one time.
Venice Tours of Major Attractions
Private St. Mark’s Basilica at Night Tour
Your group will no doubt walk through St. Mark’s Square (or Piazza San Marco) several times on your Venice trip. You’ll see the Basilica, one of Venice’s most popular attractions, multiple times. But you can only explore St. Mark’s Basilica at Night on this exclusive, special tour by LivTours without the daytime crowds or lines.
Over 90 minutes, your guide will share the stories behind the ancient golden mosaics as they glisten in the moonlight. Visit the Pala d’oro (altar) and the crypts, which are usually closed to the public. It’s an incredible, bucket-list experience your group won’t soon forget.
Private Doge’s Palace Tour
Next door to the Basilica is the Doge’s Palace (or Palazzo Ducale). This is the former residence of the highest authority in the Venetian Republic. If your next question is, “What’s the Venetian Republic?” then your group needs to book a private Doge’s Palace Tour with skip-the-line access!
See the Bridge of Sighs, explore the Grand Council Hall, and learn about Venice’s political system on this three-hour tour. If you’re traveling with kids, this Doge’s Palace Tour for Kids is a fantastic, family-friendly version. It also includes skip-the-line tickets.
Private Peggy Guggenheim Collection Tour
Peggy Guggenheim was the niece of the famous businessman Solomon R. Guggenheim. She was also a socialite and an avid art collector, like her family. She moved to Venice in 1949 and established her own modern art collection. It’s a beautiful, airy gallery on the Grand Canal, and this private Peggy Guggenheim Collection Tour is the best way to see it.
See works by Picasso, Jackson Pollock, and other 20th-century masters. Learn about Peggy’s life and even see her final resting place. Plus, you’ll love the 18th-century palace where the collection is housed and the surrounding secret gardens.
Private Accademia Gallery Tour
Venice offers art-loving groups many opportunities to admire Venetian art in galleries and museums. A private Accademia Gallery Tour is a great way to appreciate this world-class collection.
A local art historian will take your group on a 3-hour deep dive into works by Venetian masters like Bellini, Giorgione, and Titian. Learn about the art scene during the Renaissance and gain an appreciation of artistic technique.
Venice Food Tours
Secret Food Tour
No one in your group will argue about booking Venice tours to eat delicious and authentic Venetian food. Secret Food Tours operates over 200 food tours in around 80 cities, so they know what they’re doing. You’ll all have a great time on the Venice Secret Food Tour, whether you book the private or small group (max. 10 people) option.
Meet your expert, local guide in front of Teatro Italia for a 3-hour, 10-stop experience. You’ll taste cicchetti, drink a Select Spritz (Venice’s aperitif), sample local cookies, and more. Bite into tramezzini (local finger sandwiches) at the Rialto Farmers Market.
Of course, this is a secret food tour, so there’s a secret sweet dish to look forward to! This is the best tour to pick if you’re only in Venice for one day and want to sample the best of Venetian cuisine in a short time.
Cicchetti and Wine Tasting Tour
Cicchetti is to Venice what tapas are to Spain. These are small, shareable dishes served in bars throughout the Veneto region. They’re usually small sandwiches or bruschetta with various toppings served alongside a glass of wine.
Book the best of both food and wine tours with this fun Cicchetti and Wine Tour in Hidden Bars. Opt for a small-group or private tour depending on how many people are in your group.
It’s a 2.5-hour experience where you’ll taste seven dishes, one dessert, five glasses of wine, and a Venetian spritz. You’ll also ride on a short Traghetto gondola crossing. So many legendary Venice experiences in one tour!
Venetian Sweet Treats Tour
Kids might not appreciate a food tour, and they almost certainly won’t enjoy a wine tour! Choose a family-friendly, sweeter experience like this Cafe and Pastry Food Walking Tour. Again, you can opt for a small-group or private tour option to suit your budget and group size.
Taste no less than eight desserts in hidden bakeries and pastry shops around the city in two hours. Try favorites like gelato, tiramisu, and a kosher pastry in the Jewish Ghetto. Your guide will even pick up your group and take you on a gondola ferry ride along the Grand Canal. This will be an unforgettable experience for your kids or anyone with a sweet tooth!
Unique Venice Tours and Classes
Murano Glass-Blowing Tour
Venice is the birthplace of many crafts and traditions that are uniquely Venetian. Glass-blowing is one of those traditions. In 1291, the city ordered glass-blowing local artisans to relocate to Murano Island nearby, outside the city limits. This move was to protect the city from fires and the secrets of Venetian glassmaking!
Your group can uncover those secrets on this Private Glassblowing Demonstration. The tour company will organise a private water taxi to the 2.5-hour workshop. Ask the artist and your expert guide as many questions as you want, it’s a private tour! Your group will have the opportunity to buy high-end, unique glass objects and have them shipped home.
Rowing in Venice Experience
Of course, riding in a gondola is one of the most popular Venice activities. But did you know you could learn to row a Venetian boat yourself?! LivTours runs an incredible private Venetian Rowing Class Experience.
Take turns to row a traditional Venetian wooden boat called a batella. Your instructor will take you to a quieter part of the lagoon so you can learn the craft safely away from prying eyes. This unique experience will help your group better appreciate an important part of the city’s history. Kids are welcome too!
Carnival Mask-Making Workshop
Carnival is one of the great traditions of Venice, held every February or March. It’s an old, vibrant celebration, and locals throw parades and dress in lavish costumes and masks. Groups of all ages will love this Create Your Own Carnival Mask Workshop.
This 75-minute class is held several times a day, so you can easily fit it into your schedule. Learn about ancient painting techniques and decorate your own mask. Everything from instruction to the materials is included in this intimate group experience.
The workshop offers a unique perspective on mask-making and offers a deeper insight into Venetian history. Plus, it’s a fun activity, and you can take your mask home as a souvenir!
Venice Day Trips
Private Dolomites Hiking Tour
Don’t plan a group vacation to Venice without leaving free time for a day trip! Active friend groups and families will have a wonderful time escaping from the city to the mountains. Check out this incredible private Hiking in the Dolomites Day Tour.
This 10-hour tour starts with a private chauffeur picking up your group at your hotel. You’ll drive north to the UNESCO-certified Dolomite Mountains, part of the Italian Alps. Take a cable car 2000m above sea level and witness the panoramic vistas atop Mount Faloria. Your local guide will help you choose the best hiking trail for your group.
Enjoy a lunch break before strolling around the quaint mountain town of Cortina d’Ampezzo. There’s no better way for groups of all ages to get out in nature!
Prosecco Hills Wine Tasting Tour
Groups of drinking age (18 years old), however, will have an amazing time exploring different Italian hills. Venice resides in the Veneto region, which is well-known for its prosecco sparkling wine production. This small group (eight people max.) Prosecco Hills and Wine Tasting Tour from Venice is ideal for a girls’ or couples’ trip.
It’s a 6-hour tour—no early starts, late finishes, or long drives! You’ll visit two family-owned wineries in the Conegliano and Valdobbiadene areas in the hills north of Treviso. This fantastic tour also includes a light lunch at one of the wineries and transport from Piazzale Roma in Venice.
Murano and Burano Half-Day Tour
Are you short on time, but your group still wants to escape the city for a few hours? Murano and Burano are two nearby islands in the Venetian lagoon. This Murano Glass and Burano Lace Half-Day Tour takes you to both places in just five hours.
Hop on a private boat transporting just your tour (small groups of max. 20 people). Watch craftspeople at work creating Murano glass, witness textile artists creating Burano lace, and visit the Burano Lace Museum. As a side note, your favorite part of the half-day tour will probably just be strolling along the colorful harbors!
Private Padua Half-Day Tour
An alternative half-day tour option, which is more off-the-beaten-path, is Padua. This city is just a 40-minute drive from Venice, also in the Veneto Region. It’s an ancient city full of medieval churches and stories. Check out this private Half-Day Padua Tour. This organization offers a range of tours run by local experts in Venice who know this beautiful city (and the region!) better than anyone.
Some of the famous landmarks in Padua that your group will visit include:
- Piazza delle Erbe
- Palazzo della Ragione
- Basilica of Padua
- Prato della Valle (Italy’s largest square!)
But the tour’s 4.5-hour itinerary is not set in stone. One of the best things about booking a private tour is that you can customize the trip to your group’s interests.
Book Fun Venice Tours Everyone Will Love
Venice tours for groups are the best way to take in the city without the stress of planning. The magic of Venice is easy to find, whether you’re cruising the canals or tasting local delicacies. Tours and classes are a relaxed, fun way to experience the highlights. But I can guarantee you’ll be planning a return trip to see the rest on the flight home!