Finding The Best Venice Boat Tours

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During our trip to Europe this summer, we had the chance to explore the French and Italian Rivieras and then spend time in Rome and Venice, Italy. While in Venice, we learned a lot about its water taxi system and how to explore the “Sunken City” and its lagoon of islands by boat. In this post, I want to share with you some of the best Venice boat tours and give you an idea of the different ways to sightsee in the area.

There are many different Venice boat tours, so my goal is to help you narrow down the options and find a tour that meets your group’s budget and sightseeing interests!

Choosing Venice Boat Tours In Venice Italy

Venice Boat Tours: Exploring Venice By Boat

Venice, Italy, is surrounded by a lagoon of over 100 small islands. Because of sedimentary subsidence and rising sea levels, these islands are literally sinking into the waters of the surrounding Adriatic Sea. The islands are only reachable by boat, so Venetian culture is partially marine-based, with a large economy developed around boating and water transport.

Understanding the main islands and the area’s layout is important to getting a better feel for what you’ll be seeing or wanting to see on your Venice boat tour.

The Islands Surrounding Venice

By boat, you can reach a couple of amazing islands near Venice. These island communities have a timeless feel, with an ambiance that is older, less hurried, and more rustic than Venice. Each island is a must-see destination, and each has its own special attractions and things to do. We went to Murano and Burano islands and loved them!

We even took a boat from our hotel (Hyatt Centric Murano Venice) to the Venice Airport the morning we flew home. It was almost surreal as the boat pulled into the airport and dropped us off right at the terminal. That was a first for us!

READ: My Top 10 Tips For International Travel

Murano, Italy

We actually really liked staying in Murano for our family trip to Venice. The island of Murano is about a mile north of Venice, Italy. It’s a small island with an amazing legacy and the same romantic beauty as Venice but with a slower pace and less tourism.

Murano is the historic “glassmaking capital of the world” because it’s home to hundreds of artisanal glass-blowing businesses dating back to the 14th century. Murano has many excellent restaurants and cafes along its beautiful canals and plenty of glass shops where you can buy incredible glass figurines, tableware, vases, and jewelry. It also has one of the largest glass-making museums in the world. Our family had a glass-blowing experience while on Murano, too!

TIP: For a less busy and more rustic experience, consider staying on the island of Murano rather than Venice. We spent three days at the Hyatt Centric Murano Italy Hotel and fell in love with it!

Burano, Italy

The other popular island near Venice is Burano, located about five miles northeast of Venice. Burano is a small community with numerous charming shops, restaurants, and cafes. The island is known for its lacemaking industry, an art that has been handed down to local craftspeople for many generations. The highly ornate artistry of the lace is world-renowned.

Burano is a fabulous place to visit for a few hours. It’s a picturesque place with multi-colored homes, meandering alleyways, narrow canals, and lots of fun little shops filled with all sorts of local souvenirs. We spent a few hours on Burano and it was so charming. That was the one day it rained on our entire 3-week trip, so I wasn’t able to capture the beautiful sunny photos of Burano that you see on Instagram. But it was wonderful to see it nonetheless!

Other Islands Near Venice

Many Venice boat tours combine Murano and Burano. However, other islands in the Venetian lagoon are also worth visiting. Look carefully at the tour description to determine which Venice boat tours visit these islands.

Lido is located just southeast of Venice and is a popular beach resort destination for Europeans. The island is a barrier island for the lagoon, so it has long stretches of beach facing the Mediterranean. It has many nice hotel and lodging options.

Torcello is a small island located north of Burano. It’s a sparsely populated island refuge best known for its ancient church, the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, which was built in the 7th century. Torcello was one of the first populated islands in the Venetian lagoon.

The Best Venice Boat Tours

Now that you know more about Venice and the islands near Venice, I’ll discuss different Venice boat tours. I’ll review details about the sights they cover and provide some highly rated tour options. All of these popular tours have at least a 4-out-of-5-star rating on Get Your Guide. I would be happy to take my family on any of them.

Browse all Venice boat tours on Get Your Guide!

Murano + Burano + Torcello + Glass Blowing Demo

This six-hour Venice boat tour is one of the most popular on Get Your Guide. It includes a full-day boat tour that takes your group to the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello.

On Murano, you’ll also be able to participate in a glass-blowing demonstration at one of the glass factories and shop for glassware. We did a glass-blowing demonstration when we stayed in Murano and loved it!

TIP: When buying glass in Murano, look for the logo that says “Vetro Artistico® Murano.” This certifies that it’s authentic hand-made Murano glass. Some shops sell glassware that isn’t made in Murano.

Murano Glass Blowing Demonstration Italy

Murano + Burano + Glass Blowing Demo + Lace Making Demo

This five-hour tour Murano & Burano private boat tour is very popular and highly rated. It takes you from Venice to the islands of Murano and Burano. Additionally, in Murano, you’ll be able to attend a glass-blowing demonstration at a local glass factory.

On Burano, you’ll attend a traditional lacemaking demonstration. These immersive experiences are great ways to learn about the artistic and cultural history of these communities.

Venice Sunset Catamaran Cruise With Jazz + Aperitivo

We love taking sunset cruises! On this Venice Catamaran Sunset Jazz Cruise, you’ll board a large catamaran just before sunset to explore the waters around Venice. As you relax, you’ll cruise along the Bay of San Marco, head into the Guidecca Channel, cross to the island of Lido, and back to Venice to see the beautiful city sights at dusk.

Live jazz music is provided during the cruise, and you can enjoy up to two free glasses of Prosecco, Spritz, beer, or cocktails. Free appetizers are available, including cicchetti and tapas.

Venice Grand Canal Boat Tour

During this one-hour Grand Canal motorboat ride, you’ll cruise along the legendary Grand Canal of Venice. Your small group will see palazzos, mansions, museums, government buildings, churches, and many of the city’s renowned bridges, including the Rialto Bridge and Constitution Bridge. You’ll wind through the beautiful waters as your guide provides expert commentary about the art, architecture, and history of Venice and its ancient landmarks. No food or drink is provided.

Gondola Rides In Venice

As you probably already know, Venice is popular for its gondola rides. These small boats (like large canoes) are propelled by a single oarsman who moves your boat slowly atop the serene waters. A gondola ride is a fun way for the family to experience the canals and is a perfect romantic date for couples. It truly is the quintessential Venetian experience!

After reading many Gondola ride reviews, it seems many people aren’t completely happy with pre-booked gondola rides due to long wait times, confusing check-in processes, and shorter-than-advertised ride times.

Therefore, I recommend you take advantage of one of many walk-up gondola rides across Venice. You simply walk up to any available gondolier and engage them. Rides are 25-30 minutes long. Boats usually have seating for five passengers. The price is fixed per ride, not by the number of passengers. As of this writing, prices are 80 euros before 7 p.m. and 120 euros after 7 p.m. You must pay cash, and credit cards won’t be accepted. It can be hard to find ATMs, so be sure to have enough money available. Many gondoliers do not speak English well, so most won’t do much narration.

Private Boat Tours in Venice

Another, more exclusive way to explore the area is by chartering a private boat. These private Venice boat tours are the most expensive options, but they also give you the most highly personalized experience.

On this 4-hour Private Barca a Murano, Burano e Torcello tour, your private boat will explore the Venetian lagoon and go to the three most famous islands – Murano, Burano, and Torcello. This tour route is customizable, and the guide will work to meet your interests. You’ll watch a glass-blowing demonstration in Murano and see lacemaking in Burano. You’ll get to talk with locals and see otherwise hidden places like the swamp in Torcello. The guide will provide information about the fascinating history and attractions of Venice and the other islands. You’ll also have the chance to stop and sample local treats like sweet buranelli.

As you can see, it’s a very comprehensive tour, and while it is more expensive, it may be worth it!

The Venice Public Water Taxi

One thing I want to mention is the Venice public water taxi system called the Vaporetto. These water taxis ferry passengers around the coast of Venice and between Venice and the other islands. It’s like a giant water bus where lots of people wait at stops (docks) along the coast and canals of the islands. It can be a great, inexpensive way to island hop and see various parts of the Venice area.

The taxis move along predefined routes at regular intervals during the day. I am planning to write a detailed post about the Venice water taxi system, so check back soon to learn more about purchasing tickets and the logistics of how it all works. Our family had a multi-day ticket during our trip and used these numerous times each day. You can pre-book your ticket below.

5 Tips For Taking Venice Boat Tours

Here are some useful tips for taking Venice boat tours. These will help make your excursion less stressful and more enjoyable, especially if you are traveling with kids!

#1 Read The Tour Description

Be sure to thoroughly read the tour description on Get Your Guide. Look at the destinations, sights, and amenities. Understand where the tour meeting point is and how you will get to that location. Always give yourself an extra 20 or so minutes to get there.

If you are traveling with small children, people with limited mobility, or those with special needs, make sure you have read any restrictions that may apply.

#2 Know What To Bring

Bring a small backpack, some bottled water, and a few snacks with you, especially on longer Venice boat tours. The sun in summer can be intense, so make sure to bring sunscreen. Wear comfortable shoes, as you’ll be jumping on and off a boat and walking quite a bit. Dress for the weather but also for unanticipated conditions, as the weather along the coast can change quickly. We always dress in layers when traveling. We visited in summer, but the air was often pretty chilly, and we wished we had a windbreaker during most of our boat trips!

#3 Know What NOT To Bring

Don’t bring strollers, carriages, or oversized bags. Many Venice boat tours do not allow wheelchairs, so be sure to read the description. Some tours allow pets (with muzzles), but read carefully.

#4 Have Cash For Tipping

Bring cash in Euros to tip your guide. You probably won’t have access to an ATM during your outing, so have cash on hand at the start of the tour. Tipping in Italy is up to your discretion. While it’s not standard in restaurants, we always try to tip on tours.

#5 Use the Bathroom Before Hand

Have everyone in your group use a bathroom prior to boarding your Venice boat tour. These tours are often several hours long, and many of the boats are small and won’t have facilities on board. It can also be hard to find readily accessible bathrooms on the islands unless you go to a restaurant.

Enjoy Your Fun Venice Boat Tours

We highly recommend booking Venice boat tours that let you explore these locations! Each island is a magical place with a unique history, culture, and artistic legacy. A boat tour is a perfect day trip to add to your vacation itinerary, in addition to seeing landmarks like Piazza San Marco, St. Marks Basilica, and Doge’s Palace.

Venice boat rides help you make the most of your limited vacation time in a fun, immersive, and low-stress way. I know you’ll enjoy discovering the timeless beauty of The Floating City from the deck of a boat—we certainly did!