Venice Grand Canal Small Group Panoramic Tour: Explore Venice's Transportation Hub

Embark on a 1-hour small group tour along Venice’s Grand Canal, the most beautiful street in the world. Explore the city’s transportation hub and enjoy the scenic views from a motor-boat with a multilingual hostess.

Duration: 1 hour
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

At your chosen time, meet your guide at the dock near the Royal Gardens Gate. The itinerary starts from St.Mark’s basin, from where you can admire San Giorgio Maggiore, a 16th-century Benedictine church on the island of the same name, which is one of the three Churches designed by Andrea Palladio and visible from St.Mark: the Church of the Redentore (Redeemer) and the Church of Santa Maria della Presentazione is better known as Le Zitelle.

The Grand Canal is lined on either side by palaces, churches, hotels, and other public buildings in Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. Following the path, you can admire some properties of the important noble venetian families, for instance Palazzo Gritti and Palazzo Corner on the right side, and Palazzo Flangini on the left side. A little further on, on the opposite side, Ca’ Vendramin Calergi: the architecturally distinguished building was the home of many prominent people through history, and is remembered as the place where composer Richard Wagner died. Currently, it is home to the Venice Casino. Ever on the left, Ca’ d’Oro, one of the older palaces in the city, it is known as Ca’ d’Oro (“golden house”) due to the gilt and polychrome external decorations which once adorned its walls.

After the bow of the Canal, you will come face-to-face with one of the most famous attraction in the world: the Rialto Bridge. For centuries the Rialto has been the primary financial and commercial center of Venice. Several other palaces facing on the Grand Canal: Ca’ Farsetti and Palazzo Cavalli, headquartes of the Municipality of Venice, and, following the path, Ca’ Foscari, the palace of the Foscari family. Passing under the Accademia bridge, you can admire, on the left, Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti and Palazzo Barbaro, following on the right, Ca’ Dario well known as accursed Palace.

The tour finish where it starts: on St.Mark’s Basin, with a 360° wonderful view of the city, between the Santa Maria della Salute Church and Doge’s Palace, the most iconic building of the city.

At the end of the tour, the boat will return to the dock.

Points of Interest

  • Canal Grande

  • Piazza San Marco

  • Doge’s Palace

  • San Giorgio Maggiore

  • Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore

  • Ca’ Pesaro Galleria Internazionale d’Arte Moderna

  • Ponte degli Scalzi

  • Ca’ Rezzonico

  • Casino di Venezia

  • Ca’ d’Oro

  • Ponte di Rialto

  • Ponte dell’Accademia

  • Peggy Guggenheim Collection

  • Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

What's Included
  • Scenic motor launch ride along the Grand Canal
  • Guided tour with a professional art historian
  • Engaging live commentary during the tour
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks
Additional Information

Embark on a 1-hour small group journey along the Grand Canal – regarded as the world’s most beautiful street, onboard a motor-boat with a multi-lingual attendant. Spanning just over 3 km in length and varying between 20 to 70 metres in width, the Grand Canal splits the city in two and handles most of Venice’s transport needs, from private boats, water buses (vaporetti), water taxis, to the renowned gondolas. Selection of one of the four available trip times is required upon reservation.

  • Operated by a multi-lingual guide
  • On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
Location
C8MQ+24 Venice
Alilaguna ticket office is located at San Marco Giardinetti vaporetto stop, in front of Illy Caffè next to the Royal Gardens. Please don't look for Alilaguna office on Google maps. Strictly requested to be at the meeting point 15 minutes before the departure of the tour.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.1
(49 Ratings)
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Scott_s
Aug 22, 2024
Great Grand Canal ride - Great overall tour of the Grand Canal in a nice small group. The guide was super nice and had lots of great detail on our tour. If you haven’t been on a tour of the Grand Canal, this will be a good one to expose you to it!
Review provided by Viator
Jacqueline_g
Jul 24, 2024
Grand Canal Tour - The tour was great. The guide was very knowledgeable and the commentary was clear. Seeing all the architecture of the Grand Canal was a highlight of our visit
Review provided by Viator
Jeanette_f
Jul 13, 2024
Wonderful trip down the Grand Canal - A wonderful way to take a trip down the Grand Canal. We had a great guide who gave us so much fun information. The best way to sightsee down the canal.
Review provided by Viator
Marghesusy
Jun 23, 2024
Tour of the islands of Venice - I participated in the tour of the islands of Murano, Torcello and Burano in the company of the guide Ilenia who was really very kind and friendly. He accompanied us during the boat trip with a lot of cultural info about it. Pleasant experience and on time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gaudy_o
Sep 18, 2024
Immerse yourself in the Gran Canal Experience - Wonderful to be on the gran canal of Venezia. Beautiful palaces close up. The beauty of St Mark’s square from the canal was breath taking
Review provided by Viator
Ashley_p
Jun 26, 2024
Good - The view from the canal was fantastic! A little hard to find at the start and understand the guide with the accent, but they were very well informed about Venice and pointing things out on the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Bob_b
Sep 9, 2024
Rainy afternoon - It rained. Taxi boat very hot. Guide pointed our historical buildings. Very little imagination to make it interesting.
Review provided by Viator
Molly_s
Sep 9, 2024
Tour Company Not So Great - Tour company, NOT Viator overbooked this excursion, so we were "encouraged" to offer up our seats. Viator was quick to respond and I'm hoping we see the refund we were promised.
Review provided by Viator
Lauren_h
Aug 15, 2024
We did not get to enjoy this experience. - We arrived and the boat tour guides said it had been canceled that day. We’d like a refund. I was very disappointed that we paid for this and didn’t get to enjoy it.
Review provided by Viator
Jael_c
Jun 26, 2024
Need a Refund - I’ve been waiting to receive a refund for over two weeks. The tour time was changed after my friends and I purchased tickets and we were unable to continue with the tour. The actual tour guide told us to contact viator to get a refund. I’ve spoken to two employees and was informed that my case went to the “higher ups”. I have yet to hear from anyone on their team about any progress.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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