Venice Essentials:

Highlights Guided Walking Tour with Gondola Ride

Discover Venice’s iconic sights and hidden corners in one easy walk.

Quick Details

  • Duration: 2 Hours, 2.5 Hours
  • Tour Type: Venice Small Group Guided Tour
  • Availability: Monday to Sunday.
  • Tours leave at: 10:00
  • Meeting point: We meet at Campo San Bortolo, near the monument of Carlo Goldoni. Your guide will have a signboard that says “Walks In Europe.”

Here is the Google Maps link

Venice Essentials: Highlights Walking Tour with Gondola Ride & Bridges

Discover the essence of Venice on a well-structured city walk through historic squares, charming streets, and iconic bridges. Follow an easy route with an expert local guide and enjoy a smooth first introduction that blends famous landmarks with hidden corners and the city’s true atmosphere.

From Rialto to Hidden Passages

Walk toward the iconic Rialto Bridge, once the commercial center of the Venetian Republic and still one of the city’s liveliest districts. As you explore the surrounding streets and canals, learn how trade, exploration, and global connections shaped Venice into one of the most powerful cities in Europe.

Continue through atmospheric neighborhoods linked to legendary Venetian figures, including the traditional site associated with Marco Polo. Along the way, pass lively campos and peaceful backstreets where everyday Venetian life unfolds. Reach Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, one of the largest squares in Venice, where the grand Basilica of San Zanipolo reflects the city’s artistic and religious heritage.

Pass by the famous Libreria Acqua Alta, known for its creative book displays designed to protect books from flooding. Cross hidden bridges and admire scenic canals before reaching an exterior view of the evocative Bridge of Sighs, a symbol of Venice’s historic justice system.

St. Mark’s Square: The Heart of Venice

Your walk concludes in magnificent Piazza San Marco, the grand ceremonial center of the city and one of the most iconic squares in Europe. Here, admire the exterior of St Mark’s Basilica, the Gothic façade of Doge’s Palace, the soaring St Mark’s Campanile, and the elegant Procuratie arcades that frame the square. Your guide will introduce the political, religious, and cultural significance of this extraordinary square, helping you connect the stories you’ve heard throughout the walk.

Optional Gondola Ride: See Venice from the Water

Enhance your experience by choosing the optional gondola ride. After a short introduction to Venice’s gondola tradition, step aboard and glide through quieter canals and parts of the Grand Canal.

From the water, admire hidden façades, elegant palaces, and reflections dancing across the canals — a calm and memorable way to experience Venice from its most iconic perspective.

Looking for a deeper Venice experience?

Combine this walk with our Venice Highlights Tour for guided visits to St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace with pre-reserved tickets.

Itinerary
  • Meeting point: Campo San Bortolo at Goldoni’s monument
  • Rialto Bridge
  • Marco Polo’s house
  • Campo SS Giovanni e Paolo
  • Libreria Acqua Alta (Pass by)
  • Campo Santa Maria Formosa
  • San Marco’s Square
  • Gondola Ride (Optional)
Highlights
  • See iconic landmarks including St Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, and the Bridge of Sighs.
  • Experience Venice on a traditional gondola ride along its scenic waterways and canals.
  • Enjoy a smooth first introduction to Venice along a clear and well-planned route.
  • Benefit from expert local guidance and stress-free navigation across Venice’s center.
  • Explore famous Venetian squares and hidden corners while learning authentic culture.
Included
  • 2-Hour Easy & Well-Paced Walking Tour
  • 30 minutes shared gondola ride (Optional)
  • Historic Squares & Iconic Bridges
  • Professional and licensed expert guide
  • Intimate Small-Group Setting
  • Headsets to hear the guide better
Excluded
  • Transportation to the meeting point
  • Entrance Fees to Monuments (Exterior Visits Only)
Restrictions
  • The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility.
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes as there will be a moderate amount of walking involved.
  • If you choose the optional gondola ride, your guide will lead you to the pier at the end of the tour.
  • The gondola ride is shared with other participants from your tour, just like it’s always been in Venetian traditionEach gondola accommodates up to 5 guests. If your group is larger, you’ll be placed on separate gondolas.
Essential Information
  • Clients must arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start of the tour.
  • Please be advised that it is not possible to join the tour after it has commenced.
  • Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
Meeting Point

We meet at Campo San Bortolo, near the monument of Carlo Goldoni. Your guide will have a signboard that says “Walks In Europe.”

Address: Campo S. Bortolomio, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy

Here is the Google Maps link

  • Adult without Gondola
    (Ages 0 - 99)
    73€
  • Adult with Gondola
    (Ages 0 - 99)
    93€
  • Private Tour
    (Base price for 2 people)
    349€

Related Tours

PRIVATE TOURS.

CURATED

MOMENTS.

We create private experiences tailored entirely to you — whether you’re planning a family adventure, a corporate retreat, or marking a special occasion. Each itinerary is shaped around your interests and pace, with exclusive access, personal insight, and seamless delivery at every step.

Book a Private tour