15 Kayak Trips in Venice to Build a Day Around

1.Real Venetian Kayak – Tour of Venice Canals with a Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 518 reviews · 1 hour 40 minutes (approx.) · from $78Our pick

Start near Calle Brazzo for a 1-hour-40-minute guided paddle through Venice’s narrow canals and, on some outings, the lagoon. Choose a single or double kayak. Guides such as Nev, Darryl, Lorenzo, Toph, and Boris provide safety instruction, local stories, and steady help for beginners.

“Darryl was AMAZING! So knowledgeable and fun. Knows all of the spots where you can enjoy, hangout, eat, drink…you name it, he knows it! Also does kayaking and karaoke as another activity which can be booked. Super helpful to anyone who struggles during the tour with kayaking. I will definitely be coming back to see him as he added so much adventure to my trip!!”

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2.Guided Canal Kayak Tour at Day, Night, or Sunset

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 318 reviews · from $63

See Venice from water level on a 1 to 100-minute guided kayak tour through Cannaregio and the lagoon. Guides such as Daryl, Irene, Boris, Julia, and Agustina provide safety coaching, local stories, and help for first-time paddlers. Choose a daytime, sunset, or night departure.

“Loved the little stories and ability to doodle our own kayaking.”

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3.2 Hour Venice Canal Kayak Tour – Premium experience by day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 117 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $133Top rated

Spend two hours kayaking Venice’s inner canals and nearby lagoon with guides such as Shamir, JP, Mike, or Alberto. You’ll receive equipment, a short paddling lesson, photos, local history, and a souvenir water bottle. Expect narrow turns, boat traffic, and some splashing.

“Our guide Shamir gave us an amazing guided tour of the canals of Venice. His knowledge of the history, architecture and culture of Venice was outstanding and made our paddle an absolute pleasure. He made sure we were safe and comfortable at all times. The venue from where we departed and ended was fabulous. I highly recommend this kayak tour to anyone as you don’t need to be a good paddler and it is very safe.”

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4.Sunset Kayak Tour in the Canals

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 74 reviews · from $112

Join Nicoló and Aleksandra for a small-group sunset kayak session from Reale Società Canottieri Querini. After a rowing-club visit and paddling lesson, you’ll cover 3 to 5 kilometers through canals near Cannaregio or Castello, with photos included.

“It is great seeing the local parts of the city from a different view than just the main tourist areas.”

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5.Cultural Kayak Tour: Discovering the City’s Canals

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $83

Join Venice residents Nicolò and Aleksandra for an 80-minute kayak class through the canals of Canareggio or Castello. Visit Società Canottieri Francesco Querini, learn Venetian rowing traditions, and paddle toward the Arsenale with a group of up to eight. Previous kayaking experience is required.

“Kayaking in Venice is a wonderful experience, highly recommended. This tour took us on a 5km tour of canals thin and wide. As a couple we were able to use a tandem kayak which was our preference. The tour advises that phones aren't to be used, but the guide takes photos and videos of you instead which was great. Thanks for a great tour, we'd recommend it to everyone!”

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6.Sunset Kayak Tour in Venice: Discovering the City’s Canals

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · 1 hour 40 minutes (approx.) · from $118

Join Venetian residents Nicoló and Aleksandra for a 1-hour-40-minute sunset kayak class from Fondamente Nove. Visit Società Canottieri Francesco Querini, learn paddling skills, and cover 3 to 5 kilometers through canals and the lagoon. Double kayaks, safety gear, and guide-taken photos are included.

“JUST WOW. My boyfriend and I had a short trip to Venice, and this experience was hands-down one of the best parts of it seriously, don’t skip this! If you’re looking for something more personal and romantic (and way less touristy than a crowded gondola ride), this is the perfect choice. It was intimate, peaceful, and absolutely unforgettable. Instead of being packed onto a big boat or following the same old touristy routes, we got to paddle our own path through quiet canals, hidden corners, and breathtaking spots that most people in Venice never even get to see. It felt like we had our own secret adventure tucked away behind…”

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7.2 Hour Night Kayak Tour in Venice, premium experience with sunset

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 33 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $168

Set out from Calle Tornielli with an English-speaking guide and a maximum of six people. After a short kayak lesson, paddle at an easy pace through Venice’s canals and lagoon, learning about local wildlife, secluded buildings, and working boat areas as evening arrives.

“great tour! great guide max! we had awsome moments in the lagune with the kajacs. thank you very much!”

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8.Private Kayak Tour in the Venetian Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 32 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $48Best value

Guide Filippo leads a private kayak trip through the Venetian Lagoon, often around Burano, Mazzorbo, and Torcello. You’ll learn Venetian rowing traditions, paddle through shallow channels and marshes, and look for herons, egrets, fish, and other wildlife. Kayak rental and rowing-club entry cost an extra €30 per person.

“it is a very special experience to experience the beautiful nature of the lagoon in all peace and quiet, with an excellently organised nature guide!”

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9.Hidden Canal Gems Kayak Tour with Certified Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 27 reviews · from $99

Start at Venice Kayak’s Cannaregio base for a safety briefing, gear, and a short lesson. Then paddle for two hours through smaller canals and under lesser-known bridges with a certified English or Italian guide. Guides such as Mattias add local history, while photos and water are included.

“This was such a unique way to see Venice. Our guide was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about the area and its history. I would do this again”

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10.Burano Kayak Eco-Tour Through the Venetian Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $202

Meet guide Valerio at Fondamente Nove, take a water bus to Sant’Erasmo, then paddle through the northern lagoon toward Burano, San Francesco del Deserto, and Sant’Andrea Fort. Kayak gear, safety instruction, wildlife spotting, and local history are included for a four-and-a-half-hour outing.

“L’originalité de cette activité consiste à faire du kayak dans la lagune nord de Venise, autour des îles Sant’Erasmo et Le Vignole. L’organisateur, Valerio, très sympathique, connaît parfaitement son sujet et la pratique du kayak, qu’il explique très bien, même à un néophyte comme moi. Une demi-journée fantastique en communion avec la nature et l’histoire très riche de cette partie de la lagune.”

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11.Cultural Kayak Tour: Discovering the City’s Canals

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 1h 20m · from $82

Meet Nicoló and Aleksandra at Reale Società Canottieri Querini, a historic rowing club near Fondamente Nove. After paddling instruction, you’ll train through the canals of Cannaregio or Castello, with local history, rowing culture, and photo service included.

“Great activity, great guide! Unique experience to see the city from a different angle”

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12.Nature Kayak Tour: Exploring Europe’s Largest Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $144

Start at Fondamente Nove for safety training, rowing-club access, and a guided 10-kilometer paddle through Venice’s Northern Lagoon. You’ll pass wetlands and islands including Murano, Sant’Erasmo, and Lazzaretto Nuovo. This sporty tour suits experienced or moderately skilled paddlers, with groups capped at six.

“This was actually their cultural tour due to high winds making the lagoon tour unsafe, so I was refunded the difference in cash. The tour was excellent, very good guides and very knowledgeable! It was a very good way to see the city from a different perspective and probably a more Venetian perspective of being in the canal! I would definitely recommend to anyone who is visiting Venice to book onto one of Cao Rio's tours. Hopefully, I will be back in Venice to do the lagoon tour!”

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13.Night + Sunset Kayak Tour Kayak in the Canals

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 13 reviews · from $107

Join a qualified English or Italian-speaking guide, possibly Boris, for a 100-minute sunset kayak tour through Cannaregio. Paddle in a group of no more than six, using approved kayaks and safety gear, then return to the starting point.

“Our kayak tour of Venice was the highlight of our stay there, largely two to the wonderful Tour leader, Boris, and the lovely night in which we paddled. It was an unparalleled experience.”

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14.2hr Night Kayak Tour in Venice: premium tour with sunset

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $126

Meet Venice Kayak in Cannaregio for a two-hour sunset-to-night paddle through quiet canals and under lesser-known bridges. Your English- or Italian-speaking guide provides a safety briefing, kayak lesson, full gear, water, and free photos. Groups are limited to six.

“Great tour, a great and personable guide, very well organized, and had everything ready. There were short stops here and there with some insight into Venice. The trip was very pleasant, and seeing Venice from the water was beautiful.”

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15.Family Kayaking Tour: Discovering Venice

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 7 reviews

Nicoló and Aleksandra lead a private 100-minute family kayaking session in Venice. You’ll visit a historic rowing club, learn basic paddling, then train on the canals around Castello and the Medieval Arsenal. The activity suits children 5 and older, including first-time kayakers.

“We all loved this activity. The guides were knowledgeable and interested. It gives you a different perspective of the city when you travel like the locals did in the past in non-motorized boats. No need to be an experienced kayaker.”

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