Venice Grand Canal Boat Tour

Venice, Italy

The best way to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of a city built on water is by boat! Gliding through Venice's Grand Canal and minor canals, you'll be introduced to the splendid palaces, churches, bridges, gardens and warehouses lining the city's liquid streets. Your luxurious motor-launch boat tour of the Grand Canal brings the magic of Venice alive.

As you ride, you'll learn about the origins and evolution of the Grand Canal, Venice's most important 'street', and take a fascinating journey through minor canals to see parts of Venice that are seldom visited by tourists. Unlike a ride in a gondola, on the Grand Canal Boat Tour you'll travel through many diverse areas of the city and enjoy a thorough introduction to the city of Venice.

This boat tour is ideal for photographers! The boats are small enough to navigate the minor canals, with enough space for you to comfortably sit outside to take photographs and listen to the detailed commentary provided by your guide. All boats are equipped with microphones and speakers so you can clearly hear the commentary.

An absolute must if you're a first-time visitor to Venice, the Grand Canal Boat Tour will provide you with memories that will last a lifetime.

USD $54.90

Traveler Reviews

Review by: zorro	April 2012
Our guide was wonderful. Very enjoyable ride through the Grand Canal.

Review by: Elizabeth R	April 2012
our tour guide actually didn't seem at all interested in doing this trip very droning voice and actually I couldn't hear him above thew engine anyway so just looked out at the lovely views instead

Review by: russell e	March 2012
excellent history tour of venice with out the expense of a Gondola

Review by: Leonard L	March 2012
All tours booked with Viator were excellent. Easy confirmation, pickup also meeting places.

Review by: Ed S	January 2012
I am not sure what I was expecting but it didn't measure up. We always like to take an overview of a city to see what we hadn't planned to see that looks wonderful, but this was a waste. Guide knew her stuff but was stiff.

Review by: happyness777	December 2011
This tour was ok but I would suggest not taking it when it's raining, so if you get there and it is on the day you are scheduled to take it, try and reschedule. The guide was very good, we just couldn't see anything because we had to stay inside.

Review by: Carol	December 2011
This tour was very good with great commentary on all of the canal details and buildings. A good thing to do on day one to get your bearings of beautiful Venice.

Review by: Lois Ann	November 2011
Very nice tour and very informative.

Review by: James B	November 2011
This was a wonderful tour! Even though we had already taken a water taxi through the area our tour guide was so informative. I highly recommend it.

Review by: Mike	October 2011
Nice and informative ride through the canals of Venice.

Review by: Sam C	October 2011
Very good guide who spoke excellent english. Only 6 people on the tour.

Review by: barry n	October 2011
We had 4 couples, and totally enjoyed our 2 hour boat tour. Would do it again, for sure. Jeannine was very helpful when we arrived, and Lucce was a great guide-great personality, and lots of interesting information

Review by: Lisa B	October 2011
A must for 1st time visitors to Venice!

Review by: jhipar	October 2011
Very nice tour of Venice via the canals. Guide was knowledgeable and very thorough in explaining the different important buildings and bridges.

Review by: RICHARD G G	October 2011
Loved it, thought the tour person was excellent. The tour in the smaller canals was wonderful and the tour person gave lots of great information. I would recommend this tour later in the afternoon for sunset pictures.

Review by: Jan B	October 2011
We were a family of 5 - 3 teens - doing this tour at the end of the day. There was a huge group of people waiting and we found that the tour operators did not have their own boats - they used the local taxi service which meant we got whatever driver the taxi had. We were not impressed as the tour itself basically followed the route of the daily ferries that ply the waters of the Grand Canal. Information given by the tour guide was interesting but not worth the extra money paid. The speaker system was loud and often times the operator's voice was distorted. Would not recommend this tour unless you are staying in Venice and don't use the daily ferry system.

Review by: patti K	October 2011
The tour guide was terrific, very good english, actually from Ct. in the U.S.A. We enjoyed seeing Venice once again from the water. It was the first time for our friends I would book through Viator again._br/_ Thanks Patti (-10-01-11).

Review by: Michael E M	October 2011
A great introduction to Venice! Our guide was very friendly and well-informed, and provided a nice welcome to a very busy city. We highly recommend this boat tour.

Review by: Mary Z	October 2011
Had breathtaking sights, but the guide was a bit rushed and shortened the trip.

Review by: james B	October 2011
What a relaxing way to end the day. Great tour guide.

Review by: Sheri	October 2011
This is a must do tour......guide was pleasant and knowledgeable......

Review by: Steve B	October 2011
This was a great boat tour. The guide was excellent telling us about most of the buildings and everything about the canal. What a wonderful experience and with only 8 people on board we had a great view. We highly recommend this trip.

Review by: dilenia	October 2011
I rate this tour a 9.

Review by: Roamer	October 2011
Excellent trip would highly recommend. We had an excellent commentary from a very knowledgeable and local venetian lady called Christina. We throughly enjoyed the whole evening experience..

Review by: jenniferdoredallas	October 2011
This was awesome! Really worth it. 5:30pm is a great time to see the sunset. Our guide was awesome, her English was great and she was very nice and full of information. Our only regret : it didn't last longer!

Review by: Andrea H	October 2011
Fantastic tour, very personable and knowledgable guide. Best views available of key sites. A highlight of our trip. Highly recommnended!

Review by: Stephen L	October 2011
Excellent tour. Our guide was very informative and gave great explanations on the various sights. Her English was very good and was easy to understand. It is a highly recommended tour to see the best sights of Venice.

Review by: Thomas H	October 2011
A must tour- not to be missed. Outstanding guide-

Review by: Edie K	September 2011
3 and 1/2 stars. More information about the history of Venice would have been interesting.

Review by: Robert S	September 2011
We enjoyed our boat tour.

Review by: John B	September 2011
Seeing Venice from the water was spectacular. However, to see everything we stood in the back where it was very difficult to hear the guide. We might have gotten as much out of it by hiring a water taxi.

Review by: Patricia M D	September 2011
There were 7 of us on board our boat, led by a young American girl who had lived in Venice for 10 years. We were the only English couple, the rest all Americans. The boat trip was interesting, informative and thoroughly enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone. The only downside was that there were no microphone receivers onboard and from the back of the boat you had to strain to listen to our guide.

Review by: Debbie U	September 2011
We enjoyed this tour. A great way to get acquainted with Venice

Review by: Lynda A	September 2011
This was an excelent tour. The group size meant everyone got a chance to stand up and get a great view of everything. The tour guide was very good and was enthusiastic. It was good to see the smaller back canals before the tour down the Grand Canal

Review by: Patricia J H	September 2011
Francesco was our guide - he is so lovely. This tour is a great opportunity to experience that wonderful atmosphere the Grand Canal creates in the heart of Venice. .

Review by: Anton K	September 2011
This is one of the most cherished moments of our journey and we have been in Venice many times before. The guide was incredible. Thank you.

Review by: Ronald S	September 2011
Truely outstanding! A must do, much better than the gondola ride. Boat driver and guide were great!

Review by: melanie s	August 2011
Good tour. Excellent tour guide!

Review by: HONG KUIN C	August 2011
If you only have one day in Venice, I'll recommend this tour. The tour guide gives detailed explanation about most of the buildings along the canal. Loved this!

Review by: Jana T	August 2011
A great overview - entertaining

Review by: Jocelico	August 2011
What more can be said about Venice ??? What a magnificent city !!! The boat ride was superb ; ) We went all aroud the main island and got to see some beautifull sites and great architecture. The guide was very nice and knowledgeable. Superb tour ; )

Review by: Kevin B	August 2011
Knowledgeable tour director

Review by: Paul E	August 2011
Nice way to see the city. Good value for money.

Review by: Mariah M	August 2011
Wonderful tour which included waterways off the Grand Canal so we were able to experience the real Venice. Tour guide was very informative and I would recommend this to everyone.

Review by: Anonymous, Canada	June 2010
The lady who guided our boat tour was very informative and very nice to talk to.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	June 2010
Great guide and enjoyable tour!

Review by: Alan B, United States of America	June 2010
the lady was very nice, knew alot of info, could answer questions and spoke fluent english.

Review by: Romanch M, United States of America	June 2010
The Venice Grand Canal Boat tour that me and my wife took was awesome to say the least. We were taken on the tour in a group of 6 people unlike some other tours I saw, which had more than 15-20 people all following one guide. The guide I forget her name was from Connecticut studying in Venice and was very resourceful and answered all our questions regarding the tour and the city. I would definitely and highly recommend the Grand Canal Boat tour through Viator to family and friends.

Review by: Anonymous, Australia	June 2010
Excellent tour guide

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	May 2010
Very nice trip--great guide.