• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Curious to know more about Venice’s history? Join a local history expert on an insightful tour that will show you a side of the city that can’t be found in any book. This experience will open your eyes to the past and origins of Venice from a local perspective as you learn about San Marco Highlights.

Destination

Venice, Italy

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Boat

Available languages

English, Italiano, Hrvatski, Српски, العربية, Deutsch, Español, Français, Русский

Included

• Private Guide
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Gondola Ride - Guests must pay upfront
• Entrance Tickets

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 19 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at In front of Caffè Florian - Venice to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. San Marco Highlights

   Your history tour in Venice will focus on San Marco Highlights. Learn the impacts, insights and hear stories related to this historic event from your knowledgeable host. Discover the city as you retrace history and go in-depth on the effects this part of history has on Venice

4. Historical Highlights

   Check out main landmarks related to the theme of your history tour and connect their relevance through fantastic stories and facts from your expert local host

5. Hidden Treasures

   During your tour, you’ll also uncover hidden gems that will show you a different perspective of history as you know it, something you can’t easily find in a history book!

6. Storytelling Journey

   As you discover the historical side of Venice, you’ll be able to go back in time thanks to the amazing stories and storytelling skills of your local host. Feel free to ask any questions and feel as if you are relieving history in the present time

7. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Marc

(About local Roberto)

30 December 2024

My wife and I, along with our two teenage children, recently did the San Marco tour with Roberto. Right away it was clear that Roberto was born and raised in Venice, with a passion for every corner of the city, and all the history and stories that contribute to making Venice what it is today! Roberto mixed history, intrigue and story telling seamlessly. He kept us captivated for 4 hours, and showed no signs of slowing down even when our time was over. Roberto’s tour was a great primer, reading us to dive even deeper into Venice’s rich history. Thanks Roberto!Passion for Venice!

Joyce

(About local Matteo)

15 November 2024

We could not have had a better experience with Matteo. He's a very passionate historian and a champion for his native city of Venice. Loved our time with him!! Off the charts excellent! Baci Matteo! Rock Star Matteo!

Caroline🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Matteo)

4 November 2024

Matteo was a wonderful tour guide, who went above and beyond. He had a wealth of historical knowledge, which he shared as we went round the highlights of Venice. It made our experience of St Marcs Basilica and Doge's Palace more enriching. We learnt so much in just 3 hours! And saved us so much time by skipping the queues : ) This tour was a surprise for my husband's 40th and he was super pleased, in fact, it was a highlight. It helped us to navigate more easily afterwards. Matteo was super helpful throughout - before the tour he contacted me about what i'd like to do and even helped me with accommodation! On the tour he was super flexible and considerate throughout. He really does have a passion for the city, it oozes out of him. Thank you Matteo, for a wonderful tour and for the treats at the end, you really did make my husband feel special.Wonderful way to explore Venice

Jon🇺🇸 United States

(About local Federico)

5 July 2024

For those of you considering a visit to Venice, I beg you consider booking some time with Federico. We met Federico on a very hot day in Venice with two adults and three teenaged children in tow. He met us the exact location and the exact time, was prompt, enthusiastic, and engaging for the adults and for the kids. Federico’s English is perfect and he has a passion for all things related to Venice (he is a full time resident unlike so many others working in Venice). Federico shared his local knowledge with us about the history of Venice, the Piazza San Marco, the basilica and the Doge’s palace. Most importantly, Federico shared the little details about Venice that you never find on your own…ask him about the pork and cabbage story! He was willing to change up the itinerary to allow us to take in a few additional sites and explore the Campanile di San Marco. Federico also shared his favorite places to eat and spend time around Venice. I’m a bit of a history buff and Federico provided deep insights to my nerdy questions. He had outstanding local and historical knowledge which I absolutely appreciated. If we had had more time in Venice, we would’ve certainly spent more time with Federico exploring different areas of the city. Whenever you visit Venice next, please spend some time with Federico. I know my family and I will absolutely look forward to our next visit and spending a day or two with Federico. Thank you, Federico! Federico is the Best

Roberto🇺🇸 United States

(About local Matteo)

2 June 2024

In spite of a clerical error by the ticket agents at the Basilica of San Marco, Matteo gave us guidance on how to see this beautiful church and it's amazing art. To make up for this error, not his fault, Matteo arranged for us to see another rarely seen Venitian treasure. In addition to that, he spent an extra 2 hours with us sharing his expansive knowledge of Venitian history. We so enjoyed his company that we invited him to join us for lunch! It has been nearly two weeks since we returned from Italy and we still speak of Matteo and how happy we are to have met him. Kind and resourceful Matteo!

Brett🇺🇸 United States

(About local Matteo)

17 May 2024

My wife and I toured Venice for a few days. The highlight of our Venice experience was the afternoon we spent with Matteo! Having been raised in Venice and having a Master's in Art History his insights were incredible. It was amazing to have a tour from someone who has lived in Venice most of their lives, is passionate about Venice history, art and culture and is an excellent teacher. He was thoughtful, focused on areas that interested us the most and had a great sense of humor. Mattao is extemely kind and went the extra mile, spending more time with us marking his favorite resturaunts on our map and other must see places he recommended. Matteo is the best private tour guide we've had.Amazing Private Tour - Loved Matteo

Amelia🇺🇸 United States

(About local Mattia)

20 April 2024

Mattia was a great guide for our family of five, with kids ages 10-15. His style is energetic and entertaining. Our kids (and we adults) really liked Mattia's jokes and humor. Mattia has a wealth of historical knowledge, and makes the art and history come alive for kids and teenagers, which is not always easy. He timed our tour as we wished, to encompass an intro of Piazza San Marco, the Basilica (with spontaneous second floor add on) and the Doge's palace. Don't worry if there's not a lot of communication before your tour - booking Mattia is worth it!Energetic, engaging and entertaining

Verena🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Roberto)

7 April 2024

Roberto hat mit uns eine ganz individuelle Tour gemacht. Als Familie hatten wir von 19 bis 85 Jahren alle Altersklassen dabei. Jeder kam auf seine Kosten und wir haben viel erfahren! Von den Zisternen über die Bedeutung der 4 Pferde auf dem Markusdom bis hin zur Info, warum ein Venezianer niemals zwischen den beiden Säulen am Markusplatz durchgehen würde. Es war wirkliche eine besondere Führung! Klare Empfehlung! Ein tolles Erlebnis!

Christy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Mattia)

5 April 2024

Mattia was a great guide—informative and enthusiastic. Deep knowledge of history of Venice. Advantage to having a private guide is we could taylor the tour to what we wanted to do. Great tour of History of Venice

Anna🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Marco)

1 April 2024

I am very grateful to Marco for the excellent tour on Easter Sunday. Marco is a true professional with deep knowledge of Venice's history. He is a genuine patriot of Venice and not only presented historical facts but also conveyed the attitudes of Venetians towards various events, allowing us to deeply immerse ourselves in the spirit and mindset of the Venetians. I highly recommend Marco as the best guide for Venice, St. Mark's Square, and other attractions in English or Russian. Thank you, Marco, for the unforgettable experience!Amazing experience

Sylvia🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Nicoletta)

31 March 2024

sukhrajtakhar

(About local Romy)

28 January 2024

Romy is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. She gave us a lot of insight into Venice and answered all of our questions really well. Really enjoyed it and thank you Romy!Excellent

Joly🇸🇬 Singapore

(About local Roberto)

1 January 2024

We booked the "History of Venice: San Marco Highlights Tour" with Roberto and had a fantastic time. Right after we made the reservation, Roberto reached out to us to learn more about our preferences and what we wanted to explore. Based on our location, he tailored a tour that aligned perfectly with our interests. He also provided us with numerous restaurant recommendations. On the day of the excursion, he picked us up on time directly in front of our hotel, allowing us to start the tour promptly. Roberto, being a true Venetian, possesses exceptional knowledge about Venice, its locations, and history. We were thoroughly impressed by the depth of his knowledge and the fascinating details he pointed out during the tour. It was an incredible experience, and we learned a great deal. We highly recommend booking a tour with Roberto for those passionate about delving into Venice's amazing history. You won't regret It.Great tour with Roberto

Jonathan🇺🇸 United States

(About local Matteo)

27 November 2023

Mateo is amazing. We have been traveling Italy for a few weeks and this was by far our best tour! Mateo is charming, charismatic and well versed in both the art history of the Basilica and Dodge’s Palace and the historical significance of Venezia throughout the ages. He gave us insight into creation of mosaics pointing out the differences in art styles throughout the ages. While at the same time, weaving stories based on historical legends that have been generationally passed down and on documented written history. He added personal touches by sharing how his family was impacted by events of the past. Do Not pass up the chance to book this tour with Mateo. If I could give this 15 thumbs up I would!Amazing Tour w/ Knowledgeable Local Guide

Jamie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Romy)

23 October 2023

Romy recently provided my husband and I a multi-hour walking tour through the highlights of Venice. As a native and an art historian, she was able to provide so much incredible insight and was super knowledgeable about all aspects of Venice. I can’t say enough good things about Romy!!!Super knowledgeable!

Linda D.🇺🇸 United States

(About local Marco)

13 October 2023

Marco is a true local Veneziano - born, raised, and still living in Venice proper. He is bright, affable, engaging, and conversant in all things pertaining especially to the historical center. If you are in search of an “off-the-beaten-track” experience then don’t hesitate is spending the afternoon with Marco as he shares the beauty of his hometown with you. A true Veneziano

Darryl🇺🇸 United States

(About local Romy)

23 August 2023

If you only have a few hours in Venice, it’s best to spend them with a professional tour guide. It’s the only way to get a sense of the city’s history and impact on the world. Romy was the perfect guide: knowledgeable of the details and sensitive to the needs and slower pace of senior tourists.One afternoon in Venice

Jenn🇨🇦 Canada

(About local Lucrezia)

31 July 2023

We had an amazing walk with Lu. She showed us the highlights of Venice as well as the hidden gems, including some lovely surprises. She was a pleasure to spend time with and is an excellent photographer as well! Thank you for a great intro to Venice Lu! What a great learning experience!

Lisa Skyheart🇺🇸 United States

(About local Nicoletta)

3 June 2023

Nicoletta met us in Piazza San Marco and together we visited the San Marco Basilica and the Doge Palace. We learned things we have never known, and thoroughly enjoyed this tour with Nicoletta, who really knows her information about Venezia history! We are still talking about this tour and what we learned from Nicoletta. We highly recommend Nicoletta as a guide. Still talking about what we learned!

David🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Roko)

20 April 2023

Roco was early for our appointment and knew everything we wanted to know about Venice. His level of knowledge about the history and culture was boundless and delivered in a easy to understand manner. Our time together passed so quickly and we enjoyed his company. Very sad to see him leave us at the end of the day. Roco was amazing

Craig🇺🇸 United States

(About local Nicoletta)

15 April 2023

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of historic Venice. Nicole was friendly, on time, very knowledgeable, and made the tour fun and informative. We saw Saint Mark's Basilica, a prison, and the Doge's palace. We would take other tours with her. As an added plus she even recommended an excellent restaurant for lunch afterwards. Great tour of historic Venice

Gillian🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alessandro)

13 March 2023

I booked a three hour walking tour with Alessandro for out first afternoon in Venice and I’m soooo glad I did. Alessandro met us in St. Mark’s Square and provided my husband and me —along with our young adult children— with an introduction to the history of Venice, an understanding of the basilica and Doge’s palace, the clock tower and bell tower, before we set off walking and learning all about Venice as we stopped into shops, admired historically important facades… We finished up by sampling chichetti and having glasses of Prosecco. Alessandro possesses a wealth of knowledge which he shared with enthusiasm. He welcomed questions. His communication skills were excellent. He texted a couple days ahead to confirm our meeting spot. We’ve been traveling through Europe with our kids since they were toddlers and they said Alessandro was the best tour guide we’ve had. Highly recommend.Perfect First Day in Venice

Gary🇺🇸 United States

(About local Mattia)

26 October 2022

Put simply Mattia is simply the best. Make him your first choice for a tour of Venice. Perfect

maya🇮🇱 Israel

(About local Alessandro)

11 August 2022

Alessandro clearly knows what he is talking about. you hear it from his voice when he excitingly explains every little detail and and you know it when you explored large parts of Venice in just a couple of hours and wished for more hours such as these. Alessandro is also a history teacher which is definitely a big plus for a guide. He also grew in the city and is very passionate about it. This passion for the city, it's history, it's art and richness in general definitely added A LOT to our experience. My son wants to study history in the future and he actually got inspired by Alessandro's love for the subject. Alessandro has a great sense of humor and he also makes his audience engaged in the tour (we were a small group). I cannot stress enough how fun and refreshing our tour with Alessandro. The next week we were on an organized tour in the Jewish Ghetto and the tour guide wasn't as exciting and engaging as Alessandro which really made us wish that he would be the one who would give us this tour. One nice touch of his is that you can finish your tour with a drink in the end ;) We would recommend Alessandro for everyone who wants to experience Venice in the best way possible with it's history and culture. Ask him all the questions you want, he will gladly answer them for you :) By the way, Alessandro would gladly tell you about his favorite restaurants and places to visit later on your own. A Terrific Experience!!

Isy🇰🇾 Cayman Islands

(About local Alessandro)

23 July 2022

We loved our tour with Alessandro, he was knowledgeable, not just about the history of the city of Venice but about its greater context in the world, and was therefore able to answer all our questions and customize our tour to show us some real insider spots. Highly recommend Alessandro.Knowledgable and imaginative

Julie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Roko)

22 June 2022

We enjoyed our time with Roko. His love of the city is evident and we learned so many wonderful things. We truly felt like we had an insider's perspective. Well worth the time and money!Authentic Experience in Venice

Andrew🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Lucrezia)

10 June 2022

We booked 3 tours with Lu, spending 3 consecutive days seeing the wonderful sights and sounds of Venice. Lu was incredible! Her knowledge was unbelievable, and she selected which facts and information to give us, to ensure it was interesting and informative, but was able to answer all follow up questions with ease. Touring Venice with Lu was like being showed around by an (incredibly knowledgeable) local family member. She adapted the tour to suite us, and continued to adapt during the trip. Nothing was too much effort. I'd highly recommend Lu to any friends, as she'll ensure you receive the genuine local Venice experience, whilst also seeing the usual tourist attractions, from a more unique, personable perspective. If Lu was available as our guide on every holiday, we'd happily take her everywhere!Couldn't be happier! Lu was wonderful

Kai Zhuang🇺🇸 United States

(About local Nicoletta)

8 June 2022

Book a tour with Nicoletta if you want to learn about the history and culture of Venice. Her knowledge and passion truly brought the experience to life. We enjoyed discussing the arts and architecture with her. Magnificent tour

Andreas🇦🇹 Austria

(About local Nicoletta)

28 May 2022

Die Tour mit Nicoletta war absolut sensationell. Sie hat uns in lockerer Atmosphäre sehr interessante Geschichten und lustige Anekdoten über Venedig erzählt. Keine Warteschlangen, alles ungezwungen worauf man Lust hat und darüberhinaus ist Nicoletta eine sehr hübsche, sympathische und witzige Person. Einfach alles perfekt !! Absolut sensationell

Jurrian🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Romy)

12 January 2022

We had a great tour with Romy. Romy not only told us very entertainingly about her city but showed us also some of the little secrets of Venice that we would never see as outsiders. I would definitely recommend Romy. Romy

Stacy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Alessandro)

28 December 2021

We had a fantastic time with Alessandro. He was able to convey the history of Venice through the art and architecture of St. Marco basilica and the Doge’s palace. His knowledge of the city and the structures is so deep as is his love of this incredible city. Mille grazie, Alessandro! We hope to return soon for another chapter.Wonderful day learning about Venice

Beatriz🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Nicoletta)

16 October 2021

We were delighted by the San Marco tour by Nicoletta, who showed an incredible knowledge of the architecture and art, as well as the history of the Doge’s Palace and the San Marco Basilica. She even stayed longer to be able to finish the whole tour!

Jim🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lucrezia)

19 September 2021

We had a wonderful tour with Lucrezia in Venice. She has the perfect combination of knowledge, experience and most of all patience. She easily adjusted the tour to suit our needs, her explanations were clear and easy to understand. We were amazed by her detailed knowledge of Gondolas. She found answers to all of our questions. Finally, she followed up the tour with additional information the next day. Highly recommend Wonderful tour of Venice

Dayton🇺🇸 United States

(About local Romy)

25 August 2021

Venice is an amazing place to visit and see. To fully understand all the things you see in Venice and its history you need a tour. Not a tour to see all the sights but a tour to comprehend what you are visualizing. Romy was the perfect guide to do just that. Her comprehensive knowledge of the city she grew up in, mixed with her University and tourism training provided us a perfect tour. We loved her fantastic personality and honesty plus showing us her hidden spots and places she played in as a child, or her church she attended, made this a very memorable and fun tour. I could go on and on but I don't want to spoil all the surprises. What I will say is this I own a travel agency in the USA and when I travel I am always looking to find great guides or tour providers. I only recommend those that I would take again myself or highly recommend my clients to take. Romy gets my highest recommendation it was PERFECT. Venice Perfection at its Finest

Neville🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates

(About local Romy)

8 August 2021

Romy is a true local! She was able to bring Venice to life by interweaving stories of the amazing history with insights into everyday life for Venetians, over the centuries and today. Very knowledgeable, very engaging, great English. An enjoyable and informative three hours. Thanks Romy!Venice like an insider

Frans 🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Romy)

9 August 2020

Romy was enthousiastic, knows here way, both on the streets as in Venice's history. She made Venice come alive for us!And Venice came alive

Veronica🇺🇸 United States

(About local Mattia)

22 February 2020

After spending just half a day navigating Venice I knew our decision to have Mattia guide us the next day was going to be a very wise decision. Being a local Venitian, Mattia has a passion for his city. He knows it’s history and culture like an expert. He was a wonderful professore to our children. The only way to see Venice!

Catherine 🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Romy)

19 October 2019

Rome was a lovely host but if I could say a little too informative. She spoke very quickly and would say the names of sculptors artists etc so quickly. I think not being Italian you are unaware as there were so many, you really are interested in what year as you will not remember all the artists names. I think the tour with Rome would be good for 2 people. There was 4 of us and speech was quiet and too quick with her accent.Milan Treasures

Monica

(About local Matteo)

4 September 2019

Excellent tour..... Matteo was a very knowledgeable guide and very helpful. My mother is 75 and steep stairs are difficult for her......Matteo was very understanding, supportive and accommodating and he made it possible for her to reach all the parts of the Ducal Palace and the Basilica and she LOVED it. The gondola ride was the cherry on the top! Thank you for making our trip so special.Excellent tour

Sarah🇬🇧 United Kingdom

(About local Lucia)

28 August 2019

A wonderful way to spend a few hours in Venice with the lovely Lucia - who made the 3.5hours fly by and made my 11 year old daughter feel super special. The way Lucia kept us both engaged and entertained was wonderful and the highlight was most definitely the gondola ride. Naomi adored it all - plus the special treat at the end for getting all those points! Thank you so, so, so much for a truly wonderful morning.Wonderful family tour!

Tamara🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Matteo)

14 August 2019

During our vacation we had spontaneously booked two days in Venice and I ended up on the site of withlocals via Google. I sent Matteo a message and received a response almost immediately. Matteo has tailor-made the tour for us and fully adapted to our wishes and the possibilities, but it was especially nice that he came up with very good ideas for the tour. We have two children (8 years and 3 years) and had a buggy with us, so we did the tour on foot but also did a lot by means of a water taxi. It was amazing! The knowledge that Matteo has about the city and its history is incredible. He taught us a lot in the almost 4 hours that he showed us around and showed us special things. In addition, Matteo is also incredibly kind and patient. Highly recommended to see Venice in a special way! YOU ROCK MATTEO !!Tamara

Ryan🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lucrezia)

11 July 2019

We took the Venice Essentials tour with Lucrezia. She was a great guide and was incredibly well versed in art history. I would have preferred a little less time in the palace and a little more time walking around Venice, but that's not Lucrezia's fault, just a commentary on the tour. If you want to see all the historical sights and artwork in Venice in just a few hours this is definitely the way to go.Nice Tour with Lucrezia

Celia🇺🇸 United States

(About local Romy)

23 June 2019

Romy was an EXCELLENT guide: enthusiastic, informative, engaging, and responsive to our questions. We learned so much about the culture and history of Venice walking around San Marco & the palace with her and had fun, too! Romy’s in-depth knowledge truly brought Venice alive for us. We ended our tour with a gondola ride, which she helped us set up. The gondola ride was a perfect way to say goodbye to an amazing city that we now appreciate all the more thanks to Romy! WONDERFUL tour in Venice!

Linda

(About local Lucia)

10 May 2019

We had a wonderful time with Lucia. She was so knowledgeable on all the history of Venice! We were all amazed at the beauty & the history. The sites we saw were so interesting & breathtaking. Thank you to Lucia for her tour & info about yummy pizza!Venice with Lucia

Angela

(About local Lucia)

20 April 2019

The highlight of our stay in Venice was our time with Lucia. Her love of Venice and its history made us fall in love with it even more. Absolutely fantastic!Amazing!

Jaynee🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lucia)

18 April 2019

My cousins and I did a tour of Venice and a gondola ride with Lucia. Lucia is very knowledgeable about the sights and history of Venice. She was patient and took the time to answer all questions. Lucia helped make our stay in Venice very special. Thank you.Walk of Venice

Andy

(About local Romy)

14 March 2019

Romy was great. Highly recommended. Very professional and knowledgeable and a pleasure to be around. After a previous week of touring Italy with one tired Dad and four exhausted children she maintained a professional composure the entire time. Highly recommended. Would use her again. Venice Essentials: San Marco Square & Gondola Ride

Kelly🇺🇸 United States

(About local Romy)

10 March 2019

My family and I toured San Marco’s square with Romy and I would highly recommend it. While my children were tired and restless, Romy was kind, patient, and understanding. We learned so much from our tour and walked away with a much greater understanding of the history of Venice and San Marco square - more than I could have gained from a tourist guide book. Thank you Romy!San Marco square

Anna

(About local Roberto)

8 March 2025

Roberto weiß einfach alles über die Stadt und hat die Tour unsere Bedürfnissen angepasst. Wirklich tolle Erfahrung! Sehr sympatischer und erfahrener Guide

Irma🇪🇸 Spain

(About local Emanuele)

4 March 2025

Ha sido fantástico conocer Venecia con Emanuele! Nos ha enseñado todos los rincones y explicado toda la historia y mil curiosidades. Súper recomendable sin dudarlo! Gracias Emanuele :) Fantastico!