• Private Tour
• Family Friendly
• Carbon Neutral

The real magic of Venice is on the water, so what better way to explore than by boat? Discover famous canals & picturesque islands, plus see the city from a whole new angle! Visit the colorful houses in Burano & the glass-making hub of Murano, all while relaxing on a private boat. Perfezionare!

Destination

Venice, Italy

Category

Off The Beaten Track

Duration

5 hours

Transport mode

Boat

Available languages

English, Español, Italiano

Included

• Entrance tickets
• Private guide
• Travel insurance
• Burano Cookies tasting
• Entrance ticket to a Glass Factory
• Entrance ticket to a traditional Lace Factory
• Pick-up Included

Excluded

• Private Boat

What you can expect

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 Emanuele.

1. Meeting point

   You will be picked up anywhere in Venice. Your local host will contact you regarding the exact pickup point.

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. Hop aboard!

   Sail through Venice’s Grand Canal and interior canals in a traditional motorboat

4. Fragile art

   Discover the ancient art of glass blowing

5. Colorful streets

   Admire Burano’s beautiful, painted houses

6. Visit the house of a legend

   Walk past the home of one of Burano’s most infamous former residents

7. See an ancient craft in action

   Watch Burano’s lacemakers work a craft that has been handed down for generations

8. Tasty treat!

   Try a traditional Burano cookie at an authentic bakery

9. Back on dry land

   Time to hop off the boat, just let me know where

10. 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.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Tell me your preferred date and group size
• Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
• Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!

Contact me

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

Alan

22 August 2024

Emanuele was a great tour guide, he is passionate about Venice and the surrounding islands and was able to keep our 7 and 5 year olds engaged. The glass factory in Murano is certainly something they won’t forget easily! The tour was tailored to our interests and never felt rushed, well balanced between seeing the known sights and worthwhile off the beaten track sights you’d never otherwise see. Highly recommended.The best way to explore the other islands

Lisa🇺🇸 United States

14 August 2024

Communication with Emanuele was great, but unfortunately he had a conflict and we couldn't meet at the other times he was available. He found Camilla as a replacement. She was very knowledgeable and a local Venetian. We got to see the Grand Canal, Murano, & Burano. Excellent experience.We had a great tour with Camilla

John🇺🇸 United States

3 August 2024

Emanuele was friendly, knowledgable and energetic. He catered our tour to our time, interests and ability to tolerate the 96 degree heat. We circumvented the area and saw some of Venice, Murano and Burano during our 6 hour tour. He chose the perfect lunch spot to accommodate our mixed age group. Well done, Emanuele. We highly recommend him!Venezia 360

Rafael🇺🇸 United States

21 July 2024

We had a great time with Emanuele and it was an awesome experience. Not only did he take us to great locations but he also showed us local stores and shared local knowledge of Venice, Murano and Burano. Awesome!

Jason🇺🇸 United States

21 July 2024

Emanuele was maybe the best tour guide we had during a week long trip where we had several guides in multiple cities. He was informative, entertaining, and he personalized the tour to us. We also had an unfortunate medical incident with one traveler and he made sure everything was taken care of. I’d definitely recommend Emanuele. Excellent tour!

Kirk

7 May 2024

We had a wonderful time learning and exploring Venice outside the normal tourist areas. Excellent history lesson on Venice from its inception to today. Would highly recommend. Great Tour!

Allen🇺🇸 United States

13 February 2024

Our experience with Emanuele as our private tour guide was nothing short of exceptional. He took us on a captivating journey to Burano and Murano via private taxi boat, and it was an experience we'll never forget. Emanuele's knowledge about the history, culture, and landmarks of these beautiful islands was truly impressive. He shared fascinating insights and anecdotes that enriched our understanding and appreciation of the places we visited. His passion for the region's rich heritage was palpable, and his ability to convey information in an engaging and accessible manner made the tour both educational and enjoyable. What stood out to us most about Emanuele was his genuine and down-to-earth demeanor. Despite his wealth of knowledge and expertise, he remained approachable, friendly, and accommodating throughout the entire tour. He took the time to tailor the experience to our interests and preferences, ensuring that we got the most out of our time in Burano and Murano. We wholeheartedly recommend Emanuele to anyone seeking a private tour experience in Venice. His professionalism, expertise, and personable nature make him an exceptional guide who goes above and beyond to create memorable experiences for his clients. If you're looking for a knowledgeable and friendly guide who will show you the best of what Venice has to offer, Emanuele is the perfect choice. Thank you, Emanuele, for an unforgettable tour experience. We'll cherish the memories of our time with you in Burano and Murano forever.Amazing tour with Emanuele!

PAIGE🇺🇸 United States

27 June 2023

Emanuele communicated and delivered what was promised. Using private taxis rather than larger-scale public transport allowed us to spend time at each stop according to our wishes, and we learned things we didn’t even know we didn’t know. 😉 I have a much greater appreciation for Venice than I did even when planning this visit. Highly recommend. Even our 12-year-boy was smiling at the end!See Venice with someone who truly loves it

Jenny🇺🇸 United States

27 September 2022

Venice and its islands should be experienced with someone who knows and loves the area, and Emanuele is the guy! As a native still living in Venice, his affection is understandable and infectious. We would highly recommend him for any tour in Venice and felt particularly fortunate to have joined him for a boat tour of the Grand Canal, Murano and Burano. We had a wonderful time and covered a lot of water and ground in four unhurried hours. Pick up at our hotel dock and drop off at our after-tour lunch spot on Palanca was special. THE best experience of Murano and Burano!

Corey🇨🇦 Canada

16 September 2022

We did a second personalized tour with Emanuele this time by visiting Murano and Burano by private water taxi. Once again his knowledge was incredible and the tour was well paced and greatly enjoyed. It was a perfect way to finish our time in Venice. We highly recommend Emanuele. He is a very nice ,kind and a true Venetian who has passion and enthusiasm for the incredible history of his city.Another great tour by Emanuele

MARLA🇺🇸 United States

9 August 2022

Emanuele was a wonderful and very knowledgeable guide! He is passionate about Venice and knows every inch of it. He helped us navigate the labyrinth of streets, great restaurants, museum, boat tour and much more! The Doobs

Beata🇩🇰 Denmark

26 July 2022

Briel🇺🇸 United States

17 July 2022

We had a lovely time with Emanuele. He is very knowledgable and answered all of our questions (and I had a lot!). He was also flexible when we wanted to spend a bit more time in one location. He made a trip to the islands enjoyable and easy (and that is saying a lot on a busy hot summer day). Informative and enjoyable

Craig 🇺🇸 United States

10 July 2022

We traveled through Italy for 10 days and during that time hired several tour guides. Our trip concluded in Venice and we decided to design a custom boat tour of the islands (Murano, Burano, and Torcello). Our tour guide was Emanuele and he made the tour special and unique for us. Unlike other tour guides, Emanuele led a conversational and educational tour but was also warm and engaging. We were a family of 4 traveling with two teens and he felt like an extension of our family. Emanuele planned everything from start to finish, including our personal taxis to and from each location, marking us feel like we were seeing Venice in style. We highly recommend Emanuel for any tour in Venice, especially this one. Best Custom Tour of Venice

Danica🇺🇸 United States

28 May 2022

Emanuele was the absolute best tour guide. His passion for and knowledge of Venice was amazing. He is funny and engaging. Our group ranged in age from 16-47, and Emanuele was able to capture the attention of everyone. He personalized our tour to include a boat ride through the canals, a trip to Murano for a private tour of a glass blowing factory, and a walking tour of local spots as well as landmarks. It was a fantastic day. The best way to experience Venice!!Absolute Best Tour Guide!!

Debbie 🇺🇸 United States

25 May 2022

Booking a boat tour in Venice was on my bucket list, and our custom tour was amazing! Emanuele was a terrific guide who did an wonderful job of painting a picture of Venice through the centuries. He was positive and energetic, showing us parts of the city we would never have found on our own, and his expert navigation of the private water taxi system meant we were able to see multiple sites with lots of interesting insight! He was also very flexible in changing our meeting destination after our train was late so we would still have the full tour! I would highly recommend him as a tour guide!! Terrific Guide!

Ashley🇺🇸 United States

20 May 2022

Emmanuele was an excellent guide. Friendly, knowledgeable, and a true lover of Venice. Would highly recommend him!Tutto bene!

Lee🇺🇸 United States

6 April 2022

An excellent tour. Emanuel was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful throughout. We recommend him highly.Superb tour

Jason🇺🇸 United States

21 March 2022

Great communication, great personality and a great overall experience. Emanuele is a passionate Venetian and loves sharing knowledge. He provided useful and entertaining content for all family members from our 4 year old to her grandparents. We would happily book again.Fantastic family experience!

Lynda🇺🇸 United States

8 November 2021

We really appreciated the time spent with Emanuele, who guided us through the Grand Canal (away from the crowds in San Marco square) and through the beautiful towns of Murano and Burano. Emanuele shared his love and pride for his Venetian heritage with us--both through a historic lens as well as a young person in today's times. The private tour allowed us to see the beauties of Venice without the crowds, talk to other local individuals (boat drivers, glass artists, and Pepe the local Burano historian :). This tour is highly recommended for those on a tight schedule who want to explore Venice in a very natural, non-touristy manner. Thank you, Emanuele--we learned so much from you!Wonderful private tour with a young, local historian!

Unknown

2 September 2021

Emanuele was an excellent guide - considerate and knowledgeable with sensitivity and a real passion for Venice and it’s history. Thank you!Personalized Tour of Venice

Curtis🇨🇦 Canada

23 July 2021

Emanuele was an excellent guide - answered all our questions, was vey entertaining and informative and was very passionate about life in and around Venice. Communication prior to the trip was excellent - all in all a most worthwhile experience!Great day touring!

Panya🇨🇭 Switzerland

2 September 2020

If you want a detailed and private tour of the area and history, definitely contact Emanuele. He was very accommodating and informative for our group of three, and flexible with the tour start/end times. The BEST way to see Venice

Paul🇺🇸 United States

26 November 2019

Took a while to finally get the chance to write this review (our trip was in July 2019), but on behalf of my family (a party of 8 of various ages), we could not speak more favorable and highly recommend Emanuele and his amazing tours. We actually booked two back to back tours; first by boat, visiting the islands of Murano and Murano (a must see) then, back on land, at the main island of Venice, we toured the city, key sights and many off the beaten path gems. Our many pictures, lifetime memories and curated experience all made possible by Emanuele. A consummate professional and overall all-star guide, Emanuele made us feel like family. Our experience was amazing and one of the very best guides we had over our 18 day trip across Italy.Venice, Burano, Murano - Exceptional Tour!

Siobhan🇦🇺 Australia

4 October 2019

We booked Emanuele for the 4hr tour visiting the islands of Murano and Burano by boat. The weather was terrible the morning we were to go and Emanuele offered to go a little later in the hope the weather cleared, which it did. He was just lovely, engaged the kids and us from the very start. He was knowledgeable, funny and flexible given we had very tired kids. The glass factory Mirano was fantastic, both kids even got the chance to blow glass after watching some glass Masters at work. We then went by boat to Burano where we wandered the island learning lots of interesting things about it it’s history and traditions. We got to watch an elderly lady make lace by hand, see gorgeous painted homes, had some time to wander on our own with local recommendations for a snack and he bought us all some yummy traditional Burano biscuits. All boat transfers arranged by him were polite, punctual and kind. Emanuele ended the tour in a different part of Venice which we hadn’t visited and taught us about that area and it’s history and left us with a great recommendation for lunch. Hands down the best tour and guide we have had the whole 5 weeks of our European holiday. Thankyou Emanuele! :)Fantatstic tour, best guide!

Robin🇺🇸 United States

29 September 2019

Emanuele was such a gracious host. Very relaxing informative fun day . Great Day with Emanuele

Oleg

10 September 2019

Time spent with Emanuel was amazing. My wife and I love guided tours organized by Emanuel Ideal guide

Lorelei 🇺🇸 United States

27 August 2019

Emanuele was a fantastic tour guide for our family of 4, including our two kids, ages 14 and 11. A true "Venetian", he was born and raised in Venice and his historical knowledge of the city and in-depth understanding of artistic periods and artisans is unrivaled. It was especially hot when we were here in August (not a surprise), so we started our tour in the morning to avoid late afternoon higher temperatures; But this crossed into lunch when the kids were needing a break and something to eat, so they were a little on the restless side towards the end, and Emanuele responded by treating them to gelato! We had a fantastic tour of Murano where the kids were able to blow some glass, and a great tour of Burano - what an amazing colorful island! I would highly recommend Emanuele as a guide, and in particular this tour is an amazing way to see other islands beyond Venice proper. He met us at our hotel lobby, and had all of our private water taxi's coordinated and confirmed. Thank you Emanuele- you were amazing! Fantatic Ventetian Tour Guide

Irma🇪🇸 Spain

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!

Kristine🇺🇸 United States

13 August 2024

I recently had the pleasure of taking a walking tour of Venice with Emanuele, and it was an exceptional experience. Emanuele’s deep knowledge of the city’s history and culture added immense value to our visit. He not only shared fascinating facts but also provided insightful background that truly brought the city to life. Emanuele’s passion for Venice is evident in every story he tells, and his ability to connect historical events with the present day made the tour both educational and engaging. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or have been to Venice before, I highly recommend taking a tour with Emanuele. It’s an experience that will leave you with a greater appreciation for this beautiful city. A tour guided by Emanuele is an must!

Hiram🇺🇸 United States

15 March 2024

We had a great time with Emanuele. He customized the tour to our preferences and it did not disappoint. Learned many facts about Venice, St. Mark’s Basilica and the art of glass blowing in Murano. Excellent! Must do!!

Andrea🇦🇹 Austria

9 February 2024

Emanuele was very knowledgeable, showed us parts of the city where we could encounter real Venetians and made our visit truly memorable. He is outgoing and positive, his English is perfect, would recommend doing a tour with him anytime! Mille grazie Emanuele!Fantastic guide

Bart🇳🇱 Netherlands

20 May 2023

Great local guide that showed us, a family of seven, Venice, Murano and Burano in two trips. Improvised when it rained. Changed in a minute from city walk to Doge's palace, got tickets and didn't have to use the lines. Speaks good english and is good company. Seems to know all Venetians. Lots of local contacts. Absolutely recommended!Great local guide!

David🇺🇸 United States

19 May 2023

My wife and I just completed a tour of the Grand Canal and San Giorgio Maggiore/Bell Tower with Emanuele. He is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about Venice. He shared a great deal of information and made sure all our questions were answered. You will definitely enjoy touring with Emanuele! We would definitely tour with him again.Fantastic Tour

Lloyd🇺🇸 United States

8 May 2023

Emanuele's tour of Venice was fantastic - I'd definitely recommend it! He arranged a private boat that took us through the Grand Canal, giving us a great overview of the city. Emanuele is a real local, and his passion for Venice really shines through - he had some amazing insights to share with us. Overall, I'd say Emanuele's tour was a great way to start our trip to Venice. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, it's definitely worth checking out.A perfect first acticity in Venice

Heather🇬🇧 United Kingdom

24 March 2023

We spent a very enjoyable hour with Emanuele. Emanuele is very knowledgeable and entertaining.Canal Tour

Steven🇺🇸 United States

15 November 2022

Emanuele was kind enough to arrange a two hour tour of Venice via water taxi and was very communicative during the planning and scheduling. Unfortunately he messaged me the day before that he was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances but he was able to help find a colleague to fill in. I really appreciate how he went above and beyond to still help us tour this wonderful city. Our fill in guide was great, she was amazing with my 3 year old son and very knowledgeable of Venice. We had a wonderful time. Wonderful way to experience Venice

Waynette🇺🇸 United States

19 October 2022

Right off the plane from the US, we met Emanuele at our hotel. He was very informative and engaging. Being a Venetian, he had a wealth of knowledge about the city and its history. I would highly recommend him!Excellent Tour Guide!

Corey🇨🇦 Canada

13 September 2022

Emanuele is incredibly knowledgeable about the history of Venice. We did his walking tour on the day of our arrival in Venice and it was a great way to get our start.He was very patient and very fluent in English and Italian which was perfect. We highly recommend him.Emanuele is fantastic!

Eliana🇨🇴 Colombia

26 August 2022

We had Emmanuelle with us in two tours at Venice. Great experience. We learnt a lot about the city and from the local culture. I was with my teenager daughter and she really enjoy the stories and the information receivedExcellent experience in Venice!

pam🇺🇸 United States

19 August 2022

We enjoyed our tour of the grand canal with Emanuele. He is a gifted story teller and kept us all engaged. The hour passed by too quickly. Delightful tour

Lisa🇬🇧 United Kingdom

9 June 2022

Our time with Emanuele was actually one of the highlights of our 3 nights in Venice. We decided to do this trip with our two children as a short introduction to the canals of Venice and to get an idea of the lay of the land on our first day. Not only did it do that, but also included the most informative and interesting commentary from Emanuele along the way, things that we would never have found out if we had just got on the public water bus for example, and being able to go down the smaller side canals was beautiful. The boat we were in was stunning and we could sit above the back seat and take in the stunning scenery. At the end of the trip as we parted he told us that if we needed anything just to let him know. It turned out we did need his help on our last day when our private water taxi back to the airport was cancelled because of a rowing race on the grand Canal (it meant that no motorised boats were allowed). Our existing booking said they couldn’t take us but Emanuele found a way that we could get to the airport via a different Canal. He saved the day for us, and really did go above and beyond. Thanks Emanuele, next time we are in Venice we will be in touch and will recommend you to everyone!Perfect start

jennifer🇺🇸 United States

3 June 2022

Emmanuele was fun and informative. We had such a lovely evening strolling the streets then cruising the canals. A great way to see the city and appreciate the uniqueness of Venice.Excellent guide of venice!

Alexa🇦🇹 Austria

17 May 2022

Emanuele's kindness, helpfulness, knowledge and experience made sure that our short trip to Venice was great. He totally lived up to expectations and more. We only had a very short time in Venice and the whole experience, a half day boat tour on the Grand Canal and islands of Venice was fabulous. We had one slightly disabled guest and he and the boat driver made sure that everything went smoothly. Would definitely recommend him again for an unforgettable experience in Venice.Great Half Day with Emanuele

Nancy🇺🇸 United States

28 April 2022

We have visited Veniceany times, but have never had the significance of the beautiful buildings explained. Thank you!!! What a thoroughly enjoyable way to learn history! Wonderful boat trip

Julie🇬🇧 United Kingdom

19 April 2022

We had a fantastic experience with our local host Emanuele who went above and beyond to share his intimate knowledge and obvious love for his city with our party of five. We had asked for something that included some film information as one of us is a huge Spider-Man fan and he delivered! I particularly loved the little facts and idioms and superstitions that we could never have learned from a guidebook. The surprise trip at the end was just breathtaking. Thank you Emanuele! Wonderful experience

Jessica🇺🇸 United States

21 March 2022

We truly enjoyed our tour. Emanuele's love for his city was beautiful. Venice has such a rich history, and he brought this alive for us. This was out first tours with locals, and it did not disappoint!Rich History and City pride

Rajeev🇬🇧 United Kingdom

14 February 2022

Seeing the Grand Canal on Emanuele's boat tour was amazing. He's a great guide, funny and informative. However, the best part was the areas he took the boat, much better than a Gondola ride and the weather was incredible, everything looked so beautiful!Unforgetable boat ride

Elizabeth🇺🇸 United States

2 January 2022

Our family had just two and half days to spend in Venice and thanks to Emanuele we made a real connection with this amazing city! On our first morning, Emanuele took us to see St. Mark's Square, St. Mark's Basilica, and to the Doge's Palace. On our second morning we toured the Grand Canal by boat and visited the islands of Murano and Burano. Emanuele was very professional, extremely knowlegeable, and funny (the perfect combination for a tour guide). Having a local Venitian as a guide was amazing as we had the pleasure of learning not just about Venice's history but also what it is like to grown up and live in such a unique place (away from the tourism bubble). It was obvious how much Emanuele loves his city and it made us love it even more (if that's possible)!Venice with Emanuele

Lisa🇬🇧 United Kingdom

30 October 2021

Emanuele gave us the perfect introduction to Venice - he took us on a private one-hour tour of the city when we arrived as a family of four (two adults and two teens) and it really gave us a feel and understanding of the city as we arrived. Great communication and a really enjoyable tour - thank you! Boat tour of Venice