My family will be going to Venice and want to go on a Lagoon Tour. I looked at Walks Inside Venice to price a private tour and it was $1600 for a 6 hour tour for the 4 of us. I love what this tour will cover, but I don’t want to spend that much. I have no problem in spending more for a private tour, but this is the most expensive tour I have attempted to plan during our tour of Italy. Has anyone had a good private tour experience of the Lagoon in Venice that did not break the budget? Thank you in advance!
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6587 posts
You can create a tour for yourself with the RS guide and the vaporettos. One option would be to take a vaporetto down the grand canal. You also use the vaporettos to visit Murano, Burano, and Torcello. All you'd need is a day pass for the vaporettos.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11799 posts
Jules M is right: self-touring is the way. The narration and route in the RS guide is excellent and I think even available as an audio download. We have self-toured the Laguna Leland’s 3 times on our own using the RS guides.
Posted by
San Diego, California
5649 posts
The local Tourist Information Center should have resources on group walking tours in Venice. Just email them or check their website. Also, join some Facebook Venice groups.
Six hours is way too long- two hours is my max for a walking tour.
However , I agree with others, you can easily cover the area on your own. Safe travels!
Posted by
Bendigo, Australia
1297 posts
Two suggestions.
We went kayaking in Venice, the best tour ever.
Venicekayak.com finds them.
Also see what Rene might offer. Read a few of his articles and you will get an idea.
Posted by
Portland, OR
1127 posts
I highly recommend https://veneziamare.com/en/home/
He also has a Facebook page with gorgeous photos. He will be a fraction of what you were quoted elsewhere. I also recommend Elena for walking tours or more boat tours. https://elenazampiron.com She is a Rick Steve’s tour guide and is simply amazing.
Posted by
18 posts
Check out "experiences" on airbnb. I've booked some different walking and tasting tours on there. I also went on a great boat tour through the canals that I booked on there. They were all pretty reasonable price wise. And it's locals doing them which is also what I like (not that the tour companies don't have locals working for them).
Posted by
Minnesota
573 posts
I did a very good walking tour with Avventure Bellisseme, a company recommended in the Rick Steves guidebook. They offer a wide variety of small group and private tours - for way less than $1600!
Here’s the website: https://www.tours-italy.com/venice-tours
Posted by
Bendigo, Australia
1297 posts
You have asked for a Venice lagoon tour, and I am wondering what you are looking for.
You can take a vaporetto the length of the Grand Canal and onwards to the Lido.
You can take a vaporetto to Murano/ Mazzorbo/Burano/Torcello.
To get a handle on Venice, you really need to “get” the relationship between Venice and the Lagoon. It’s no mistake that the fortifications in the lagoon are on Mazzorbetto, Malomocco, Vignole and Lazoretto.
The book “Secret Venice” by Jonglez is great. Full of intimate little details that can engage you much more than the big ticket/Basilica/Doge’s Palace attractions. Really worth a look, and if it grabs you, you need the hard copy, the download version is not good.
Posted by
Bendigo, Australia
1297 posts
I recommended Rene a few posts above. I neglected to mention that he owns his own boat.