• Private Tour
• Family Friendly
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Walk in this magic city and discover the best spots far from the crowds. Feel like a local with me, get ready for weird findings, breathtaking spots and intriguing stories!

Destination

Venice, Italy

Category

Off The Beaten Track

Duration

2 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Italiano

Included

• Private guide
• Entrance to a beautiful building if possible

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 Riccardo.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Campo San Bartolomio - 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. Castello sestiere

   Walk in the most authentic district of the city

4. Acqua Alta

   The most beautiful bookstore in the world

5. Palazzo Tetta

   Mission Impossible location

6. Zanipolo

   One of the most beautiful place in Venice

7. Miracoli

   The most beautiful church in the city

8. Calle V

   One of the most curious spots in Venice

9. 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

Izabella🇬🇷 Greece

23 October 2024

Ricardo was informative, accessible, kind, and respectful of everyone. He contributed greatly to the overall experience of our visit in Venice. He was able to answer questions and give us a true insight view of the city. Everything was well prepared and planned and Ricardo's positive vibes were great. Highly reccomended!!

Tricia

29 September 2024

Riccardo was extraordinary! We asked him to show us some less touristy spots and we absolutely enjoyed the tour, so much in fact that we booked him again for the next day. His presentation of Venice was not only interesting but also entertaining. You will love Riccardo! Meeting him reminded us why we love to travel so much!Highly Recommend!

Aimee🇺🇸 United States

2 January 2025

We wholeheartedly recommend Riccardo to anyone seeking an insightful, enjoyable, and family-friendly way to explore Venice! Riccardo is an outstanding private Venetian tour guide who made our visit to Venice truly unforgettable. His tremendous knowledge of art and architecture brought the city's history to life, and he shared fascinating perspectives into lesser-known but impactful facts. He guided us through Venice's unbeaten paths, revealing hidden insights that we would never have discovered on our own. In just 2.5 hours, we covered an impressive amount of ground—even with our 6- and 8-year-old children in tow, thanks to his thoughtful pacing and engaging storytelling. Taking in the breathtaking skyline of the city of Venice, right above the Rialto bridge, was truly awesome! Beyond the tour, Riccardo provided a plethora of authentic local recommendations, from fantastic restaurants and gelato spots to trustworthy shopping spots. We have also used his sage advice on where to best get cash as we continued our travels to Florence. Getting to know Venice intimately, with Riccardo as our trusted guide, was the highlight of our time in the Floating City! Venice with Riccardo, Our Excellent Guide!

Jean

5 November 2024

Riccardo met me at my hotel. He had planned an interesting route full of historical information. He went at my pace so wasn't rushed. Lots of useful information sent to me afterwards about eating places etc Thoroughly enjoyed the walk. So interesting.Really informative and enjoyable time.

Nicholas🇬🇧 United Kingdom

23 October 2024

Riccardo was an excellent guide. He used his diverse background in architecture, history, and photography to steer us away from the crowds to some great spots for a short story or perfect picture. It must be hard to strike the right balance of giving enough information but not too much so it becomes a drag - and Riccardo does this perfectly. His English is also at a very high standard having travelled extensively. Perfect mix of style and substance

Ann🇺🇸 United States

22 October 2024

Riccardo is a very sweet guide. As has been the case with our experience with Go With Locals, he was a fount of information on our experience. He also went the extra mile in providing us with a lot of recommendations for more off the beaten track experiences and especially restaurants (very important in Venice). He enriched our Venice experience through his great recommendationsEngaging Trip to the Islands

Adam

8 September 2024

From the first time chatting with Riccardo - I knew we had found the right person to help bring Venice to life for us. Riccardo created an entirely personalized city tour for our group of four - taking into account interests, physicality, weather, and multiple other factors. Riccardo is deeply knowledgeable and is clearly extremely experienced as a tour guide. He connected with each one of us and truly went above and beyond all expectations - providing recommendations and support far beyond our introductory tour. Meeting Riccardo enhanced every aspect of our stay. If and when we return to Venice - Riccardo will be first person we contact to help us design our experience. If you are looking for a warm, professional, and knowledgeable tour guide in Venice - look no further than Riccardo.A wonderful experience

Penny

6 September 2024

We loved our walking tour with Riccardo, we persuaded the teenagers to get out of bed super early and met him at 6.30am. It’s so lovely to see Venice in the early morning light before everyone descends on it. He was fascinating and very knowledgeable, taking us to parts of Venice we wouldn’t have found by ourselves. He got my technophobe husband using his phone camera too and the results were impressive. Would highly recommend. Highlight of our trip 😍

alfonso

10 August 2024

I love the fact that our tour is very private! Just my husband and I. The price is fair since it's the privacy and attention to details is what you pay for! I learned so much about Venice from Riccardo! The history, the culture and the backstory of the city ! My most favorite part is the fact that we were ushered up this historic building ( sorry I forgot the name ) and we were first dibs to see the Grand canal from this beautiful height. Thank you for all the recommendations around the city ! We love them so much !! We went to two restaurants for lunch and dinner ! It was superb! Thank you again Riccardo! You are the best!Amazing history learning tour!

Issac Oakie

30 June 2024

Riccardo was an excellent guide. As advertised, he brought us to less known places we have never have found without him. He has fantastic stories and explanations for the city (perfect amount of information, not too much but not to little) and we learned a lot. We got to top with off with an amazing view at the end, of the city, and a great list of local restaurants, cafes, etc. where the locals go. I would definitely recommend Riccardo for a tour of Venice while you are there.Off the beaten track love

Amber P Adams

25 June 2024

I highly recommend this tour with Riccardo. after many guided tours through Italy, we found that Riccardo was exactly what we needed: a relaxed social experience, unique Venetian foods and drinks, and knowledgeable without boring us with things we didn’t care about. We appreciated his authenticity the most as we felt we were immersed in real Venetian culture not wound up in crazy tourism. Riccardo made it feel like we were hanging out with a friend. I also get the feeling he is very good at reading the needs of his guests and in our case, it was a perfect evening!Riccardo made it feel like we were hanging out with a friend

Gavin Mckinney

15 June 2024

I recently had the pleasure of taking a walking tour of Venice with Riccardo and it was an absolutely amazing experience. From start to finish, Riccardo was a fantastic guide who was knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. Throughout the tour, Riccardo shared fascinating insights about Venice's rich history and culture, pointing out all of the important landmarks and hidden gems that make this city so special. He was always happy to answer our questions and was incredibly patient with our group, ensuring that everyone had a memorable and enjoyable time. Aside from his expertise and professionalism, Riccardo's warm personality and great sense of humor made the tour truly exceptional. He kept us entertained and engaged throughout the entire tour, and we left feeling like we had made a new friend in Venice. Overall, I would highly recommend Riccardo's walking tour to anyone who wants to experience the beauty and magic of Venice in an authentic and unforgettable way. Thank you, Riccardo, for an amazing day that we will never forget!Riccardo was a fantastic guide who was knowledgeable, friendly, and professional

Ricky Crew Haralson

8 June 2024

A different and special take on Venice. If you’re on the fence about which tour of Venice to try here’s why I recommend this one: 1) it’s small and personal. We only had 6 in our group. It allowed for questions and good conversation. 2) Ricardo takes his time with his group and ensures your comfort and enjoyment. He does not pawn you off to someone else, he gives you his full personal attention. 3) Ricardo KNOWS Venice and he shares it with you in a way you enjoy without dragging you through throngs and throngs of tourist. If you want to wait in long lines or stand around in a crowded area trying to hear your guide over other tourists groups and be shuttled around like cattle from overcrowded icon to icon this tour is not for you. Ricardo was on time and even managed to arrange some special extras for us. In addition, a follow up to his tour he gave us a list of both popular and other good local restaurants, attractions, locations to visit while in Venice. Quite a bargain for your money.I know Venice

Viggo Paulsen

1 June 2024

This tour was absolutely excellent! Riccardo was very friendly and down to earth. The structure of the tour was perfect. On our trip to Venice, anywhere we've been have been very busy and filled with tourists, but on this tour it was only at a very few spots we met a lot of tourists, but at those places it was worth it. Riccardo told us a lot of history about the places we saw, and about why certain things were designed the way they were - things you would never know or notice otherwise. The tour ended at a terrace rooftop where we could see the city from above, and the places we had been. Very nice way to end the tour. He did say that he wasn't always able to take people to the terrace, because it had to be booked, and it gets booked very quickly when spots are available, but that he always tries to book for his guides everyday. The two other guests were also very nice! More than 5/5! Thanks for a great tour!The structure of the tour was perfect

Giulia Gardner

1 June 2024

This was a wonderful experience! Riccardo is extremely knowledgeable about Venice. Besides taking us to awesome places with great food, he had so much information on the city itself. He went out of his way to ask us about our experience in Venice so far, and to make recommendations about where we should go next to maximize our trip. This included things that I otherwise would not have known about. Throughout the night, we got to know Riccardo well, and it was like speaking to a friend rather than a tour guide. He also sent us an email with all of his favorite restaurants and places to visit, split up into categories, for us to use after the tour to explore Venice further. He really went above and beyond to make sure our experience in Venice was amazing. If we could give him a 50/5 we would!We got to know Riccardo well, and it was like speaking to a friend rather than a tour guide

Chloé Gale

28 May 2024

Riccardo created a magical experience for the 6 of us in attendance, weaving us through the lesser known alleys of Venice. His storytelling was captivating and not only entertaining, but incredibly informative (he even has a reference folder to *show* you images of what he’s talking about). Riccardo, as we had all booked in advance, managed to secure us tickets (at no extra cost) for the best view of Venice from a rooftop. It was breathtaking. One of the absolute highlights of the experience, however, was the INCREDIBLY detailed and absolutely priceless list of restaurants (broken down into types of food, and put on respective maps) activities and recommendations. We used this for every meal and when planning our day and we were never disappointed with his suggestions. Please book this tour, you won’t be disappointed.Appreciation

Suzanne Wahlstrom

25 May 2024

We are: 2 adults, 2 children (16 and 12): If we could either give Riccardo 10 stars and/or kidnap/hire him to walk around Venice our whole vacation, it would be worth whatever he’d like to charge us. As my son said, “Riccardo is not only a tour guide, he is a whole entire trip guide.” We learned so much…and not all of us are history buffs, but Riccardo made it interesting for ALL of us. We enjoyed every second of our tour with Riccardo, and sit at lunch now wondering if we’ll ever have a tour this good again. We highly recommend him…we felt like we visited more than the “off the beaten paths” of Venice. We saw the “real” Venice—and Riccardo was very tolerant of us stopping in to a bakery to grab treats for along the way. He treated us to a special “gift” at the end, which was a definite highlight of our trip, but you’ll need to book early with him to arrange….don’t miss Riccardo…you’ll be missing the best of Venice!Riccardo is not only a tour guide, he is a whole entire trip guide

Brittni King

14 May 2024

If I could give 10 stars on this tour I would. Riccardo is the most kind, compassionate, and knowledgeable person. Once you book your tour with him, you’ll see how incredibly smart and great with people he is. His tour is different from others because he communicates the information in a way that is easy to understand and interesting. I really admire how he made sure that everyone on the tour felt comfortable and looked after. It was so great to learn about Venice through a local. That said, if you’re still deciding whether or not to book this experience, take this as your sign to book it right now ! 10/10Lovely clients

Chizuru Ryan

10 May 2024

It was great experience to know about Venezia. It’s very interesting and if we were without Riccado, we were walking watching google map all the way and lost and tired. 😂 Riccardo show us hidden places and hidden stories. Also he’s very flexible. We had plan before so he changed meeting place and course to suitable for us. At the end of tour he gave us lot of useful informations that we can use for the rest of our stay in Venezia. We really enjoyed his tour.Hidden Venice

Fredrik Ljone Holst

4 May 2024

I was recommended this tour by friends who’d recently visited Venice, and I’d be very happy to pass on that recommendation. Ricardo truly takes you off the beaten path - in fact he deliberately stays away from the beaten path (i.e. the stuff everyone else shows you) and gives an insight into both the history of the city and its present condition. And he leaves you with a long list of recommendations for your stay in the city. A couple of hours well spent in a small group; I could’ve happily gone for twice as long.Off the beaten track master

Michael Mann

29 April 2024

My wife and I had an absolutely incredible time in Venice with Riccardo as our guide. We booked multiple tours with Riccardo spending a week there and are so glad we did. His extensive knowledge of all things Venice was certainly appreciated by us, saving time, energy and having the necessary “skip the line tickets” for the most popular sights and museums, taken care of when they were needed. Each day was packed with new and exciting “adventures”! Riccardo knows the history of Venice, his explanations behind the amazing artwork, monuments, and important sites to visit made our trip even more special! On top of that, we enjoyed amazing meals in Restaurants that Riccardo recommended. I consider Riccardo not only one of the best tour guides in Venice, but in spending those memorable days together, he has become a good friend. If you planning a trip to Venice, I highly recommend contacting and booking tours with Riccardo, You won’t be disappointed!!When clients become friends

Alexander Ramjing

22 April 2024

A really well organized and thought out tour. Riccardo shared his in-depth knowledge of Venice, its construction and development over time. We were taken around some key sights but also less well known places away from the crowds. We learnt so many interesting details about the local architecture and how Venetians lived that we would have otherwise completely missed! Riccardo answered all of our questions with ease and enthusiasm. At the end of the tour he provided us with a list of recommended places to visit, that are not in the guidebooks. Straight after the tour we went to a recommended place serving Cicchetti which was great! We would definitely go on another tour with Riccardo and would highly recommend to any visitor to Venice.Organization first!

Mark Schenecker

19 April 2024

We had a brief stop in Venice several years ago and went straight away to St. Mark’s square, the Doge Palace, and the Basilica. The top tourist sites were worth the visit but today we enjoyed the tour from Riccardo much more. He took us behind the scenes to see the real Venice where people live, work, entertain - raise a family. The tour provided a wonderful perspective of Venice and was balanced and well-paced with unique sights and terrific information – all in a part of Venice virtually devoid of the mass of tourists. Thank you Riccardo! We enjoyed the tour from Riccardo much more

Andrew Kile

11 April 2024

We luckily chose to do this tour on our first proper night in Venice. Highly recommend this experience as it gives a real insight into how the Venetians eat out! And how we should do it too! Ricardo took us to three destinations trying different types of Cichetti, and all were really tasty. He was very knowledgeable and clearly knew the area. Finding the places with the cheap and tasty wines and food was a godsend and the opportunity to meet other people on the tour was good. The tour has limited places which makes for an intimate experience and no one gets lost along the way. The places that we were taken to were small and welcoming, in fact the last one we stayed at after the tour had finished. Reasonably priced good house wine. Ricardo let us have a list of recommendations for restaurants covering all level of prices and food. We tried a couple and would definitely corroborate the list. All in a very good tour and would recommend that if you do it, do it at the start of your trip. Lots of valuable advice to be had.We luckily chose to do this tour on our first proper night in Venice.

Phoebe Sadie

26 March 2024

If you are a tourist in Venice, you will not regret this experience. Riccardo is an amazing guide and knows this like the back of his hand. You will enjoy: new places / delicious food / gain knowledge that no guide book or cookie cutter tour could ever provide. I suggest taking a tour with him as soon as you arrive so you can familiarize yourself with the area and take advantage of his awesome list of recommendations. Highlight of our trip. Do it!Riccardo is an amazing guide and knows this like the back of his hand.

Dough McGraw

15 March 2024

We had a great evening with Riccardo! He took us to some very nice places to enjoy Cecchetti and drinks. We were happy to have the local expertise, otherwise the options can be overwhelming! He also knew a lot about the city and gave us some great recommendations for the rest of our time in Venice (restaurants, neighborhoods, things to see). I suggest doing this your first night in Venice as it's a good way to help inform the rest of your trip, and Riccardo is the guy to do it with.We had a great evening with Riccardo!

Michael Richardson

13 March 2024

Riccardo is an excellent guide. He was entertaining , knowledgeable, funny and it was like talking to someone you know well. He introduced us to food we never would have known about and took us to some very cool eateries and places we never would have found ourselves. The tour gave us a realistic contemporary view of life in Venice now and an insight into the past. This tour is quite different, interesting and very relaxed as we learnt about day to day life in Venice as well as some interesting and quirky historical facts. If you are looking for something terrific, off beat relaxed and bespoke, around simple style food and culture, this is the tour for you. We loved it!This tour is quite different, interesting and very relaxed

Arzu Singh

13 March 2024

BEST TOUR OF VENICE - I took 3+ tours on different platforms while in Venice, and while they were all good, Riccardo's tour was BY FAR THE BEST. He was informative, explaining the history of Venice clearly and accurately and bringing along printed pictures / visuals to help, and showing you a less touristy but still as fascinating part of the city. He also was incredibly patient and catered the tour to our preferences. He answered our many questions, and even stopped at a cafe with us when we needed to take some time to recharge with a coffee. He ended the tour with a reservation at a stunning terrace we never would have found on our own. After the tour, he went out of his way and did research to send us a list of stores we mentioned we were interested in visiting. TLDR: IF YOU ARE IN VENICE, TAKE THIS TOURClients that make you love your job

Esther Lim

13 March 2024

Amazing experience! I would highly recommend taking this tour with Riccardo on your first day in Venice. We covered 3 major neighborhoods away from the crowds surrounding Rialto Bridge. Riccardo explained Venice's history and local culture, which really helped us understand Venice in a way no commercial tour would have. He also book access to a terrace for our group, which gave us amazing views of the grand canal. At the end of the tour, he sent us a list of restaurants and things to do which was extremely well curated. We tried one of the restaurants on his list and were blown away by the quality of their seafood. You will not regret taking this tour!Off the beaten track master

Michael Chizhevsky

10 March 2024

Ricardo was an awesome tour guide. He provided excellent information about the history of Venice (with pictures!) and how we got to modern day. In addition he showed us around many locations that we wouldn’t necessarily have come across on our own. The tour was a good pace and had plenty of information, the list of restaurants and additional sights to see at the end of the tour is also extremely helpful. Would recommend to anyone looking for a tour in Venice.Ricardo was an awesome tour guide

Gary Core

6 March 2024

What better way to see this beautiful city than with a local. Book this tour on your first day in Venice and you will use the recommendations for the rest of your trip. Riccardo wasn’t your usual host either, he was so friendly and calm, made the experience much more relaxed. It feels like your with someone you’ve known for years. Not like a paid tour. His knowledge of history in Venice was superb and gives you so much more insight into everything you see. Without him we would have wandered around looking at buildings without the same context or understanding. He adds detail which brings everything alive. Well worth it if visiting for the first time. After the trip he gives you an essential list of places to see, where to eat, good places to drink and of course places to avoid. Would definitely recommend : )Beautiful clients