The 13 Best Hidden Venice Walks

1.Rialto Bridge & Offbeat Unusual Venice Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 3,538 reviews · from $28Our pick

Walk Venice’s quieter lanes with guides such as Valentina, Francesco, and Rosalina, seeing Casanova’s house, Scala Contarini del Bovolo, La Fenice, and lesser-known canal views. Add the optional gondola ride for 30 minutes on the Grand Canal and smaller waterways.

“the tour was great. the equipment sometimes didn't work for the guide but she fixed in seconds. well done Valentina. very informative fun tour. loved learning about casanova and seeing where he was born.”

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2.Tour of The Real Hidden Venice

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,006 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $47Top rated

Walk from Santa Croce through quiet Cannaregio, the Jewish Quarter, Madonna dell’Orto, Ponte Chiodo, and Rialto. Your English-speaking guide, sometimes including Nico, Sebastiano, or Giovanni, shares local stories, daily-life details, food tips, and Venice’s lesser-seen corners in a group of up to 15.

“Georgia was a great tour guide it was a very interesting tour that all the family enjoyed. At the end of the tour she showed us how to get the ferry to Murano which was very helpful.”

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3.Off the Beaten Path Private Gondola Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 703 reviews · 30 minutes - 2 hours · from $94

Take a private gondola through Venice with an English or Italian speaking gondolier. Choose 30 minutes to two hours, from quiet San Paolo canals to Rialto, St. Mark’s Square, the Bridge of Sighs, and Santa Maria della Salute. Your gondolier can explain the city or let you enjoy the ride quietly.

“Our Gondolier Stefano made all the difference. He is a local and is very passionate about preserving the culture of Venice. Besides sharing with us the history of Venice and the attractions, he had shared with us his personal thoughts and views, which we appreciated greatly. He truly made our Venice trip much more memorable, insightful and inspiring. We hope he continues imparting Venice culture and bringing joy to others! Thank you Stefano!”

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4.Secret Venice & Gondola Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 458 reviews · 2 hours · from $71

Walk Venice’s quieter lanes with guides such as Andre, Monica, Elena, and Francesca, seeing San Fantin Church, La Fenice Theatre, and Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo before a shared gondola ride. The tour lasts two hours and costs $71 per person.

“The guide was so knowledgeable. Learning about the history of Venice and the architecture was so interesting. I really enjoyed the tour.”

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5.Venice 3,5 hrs tour: Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s and Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 264 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $163

Spend 3.5 hours with an English-speaking guide exploring Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark’s Basilica, La Fenice, and Venice’s quieter lanes. Guides such as Giorgia, Cristina, Arianna, and Lorenzo have led this route. Expect plenty of walking, timed entry, and a small group of up to 16 people.

“Doge’s Palace was beautiful and the history was amazing! The walk through back streets of Venice was interesting. San Marco Cathedral was spectacular and very interesting. Our tour guide pointed out so many things we would have missed had we not been on a guided tour.”

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6.Private Secret Venice Tour; Rialto Market, San Polo & Food and Wine tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 220 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $257

Walk from Campo San Bartolomeo through Rialto Market, San Polo, Carampane, and the Grand Canal with a local guide. Learn about merchants, artisans, tax evaders, and old Venetian trades, then enjoy wine and cicchetti at a traditional osteria. The tour lasts about two hours and operates in English.

“Amazing way to see Venice. This was a very small tour of 7 people and the tour guide was so nice and very informative. We took the unbeaten hidden paths and saw some great ways to avoid the mega crowds of venice which was nice because the crowds can be hectic during high season. The weather affected the end of the tour but we finished at a nice wine bar to hide from the rain. I wish we would have stayed a little bit longer at the Rialto Market but you can request it once you get there. Our tour was fantastic and highly recommended.”

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7.City Highlights and Hidden Gems Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 158 reviews · 2 hours · from $31

Meet your English, French, Italian, Spanish, or German-speaking guide near St. Mark’s Square for a two-hour walk through San Marco. See Scala Contarini del Bovolo, Campo Manin, La Fenice, San Moisè Church, and canal-side streets, then keep exploring with a self-guided audio app.

“It was a great introduction to Venice which can be a difficult city to navigate. It went at a good pace but at times hard to follow. Our guide was informative but had a strong accent and we didn’t understand everything he said”

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8.Unusual Venice Walking Tour through Rialto & Gondola Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 135 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $60

Join a small walking group with guides such as Valentina, Elena, or Natalia for Venice’s quieter lanes, Rialto, St. Mark’s Square, and lesser-known stories. A 30-minute shared gondola ride follows, though a waiting gap between activities is common. English service may become bilingual.

“Honestly, I didn’t get chance to enjoy this tour and quite disappointed with your service. We were severe sick unexpectedly the night before the tour morning. It was less 24 hours to notify. But how do we control our medical condition? Otherwise nothing is called “Emergency”. I had several conversations with support team, got no refund even partial refund. So disappointed.”

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9.Highlights & Hidden Gems With Locals: Best of Venice Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 135 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $328

Spend three private hours with a Venetian guide such as Marco, Adair, Genny, or Cristina, mixing major sights with quiet streets, local stories, practical tips, and one drink or tasting. The route is tailored to your interests, though Doge’s Palace admission costs extra.

“Adair was an excellent guide with deep knowledge of Venice and the Venetian way of life past and present. She wove in a nice mix of historical perspective with modern day culture, cuisine and lifestyle. This tour should be on your “ must do” list early in your visit to Venice as you will navigate the island like a local afterward and have confidence in what you choose to spend your time doing for the rest of your stay.”

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10.Tapas & Wines through secret Venice

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 130 reviews · from $80

At 4 p.m., a local guide such as Gianmarco or Giancarlo leads you through quieter Venice for cichetti, three local wines, and stops at traditional bacari. The walk begins near Rialto and ends by the Frari Church, with a maximum of 12 people.

“Delicious food and wines. I enjoyed getting away from overcrowded areas. Our guide, Gianmarco, was very informative and offered unique history about the city I had never known or thought to look up. Great atmosphere in all the places we visited.”

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11.Venice by Night: Highlights & Hidden Gems Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 128 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $93

Walk Venice after dark with local guide Valerio Coppo on a 90-minute small-group tour. See the Jesuit church, Cannaregio lanes, San Zanipolo, Acqua Alta, and St. Mark’s Square, with local stories, legends, photo stops, and a route that changes by departure time.

“We did this tour the first night of arrival in Venice. I had not slept on the flight so it was a stretch to do this but it was worth it. The way it is described you might not do it on the first night in town, but it ended up being a great orientation. He showed us how to interpret street signs and walked us through areas that I did not see later on. He was entertaining and informative, I thought it was a great introduction.”

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12.Off the Beaten Track in Venice: Private City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 126 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $146

Spend about 2.5 hours with a private English-speaking guide exploring quieter Venice. Routes may include San Giorgio Maggiore, Campo Santa Margherita, Dorsoduro lanes, and even a boat ride with hosts such as Roberto, Elena, Marzia, or Federico.

“This is long overdue! We had a wonderful private tour for our family of four. Out guide was super knowledge and told us wonderful historical and architectural stories that we would never have seen or known otherwise. Brava!!”

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13.Cinematic Photoshoot in Venice: Capture Venice Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 109 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.)

Join photographer Filippo for a private 1 to 2-hour Venice photoshoot in English. Visit famous sights and quieter corners, including Rialto, Acqua Alta Bookshop, and Scala Contarini del Bovolo, with 150+ edited images sent by email.

“What a lovely time we had with Filippo. He is so gracious and artistic. We enjoyed our experience and are very happy with his work. Well worth it.”

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