Grand Canal and view of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy

Highlights of Venice Tour: The Iconic Floating City

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist

Countries Visited

Italy

Places Visited

Venice, Arqua Petrarca, Asolo, Friuli...

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Suggested Duration

10 Days

Uncover the opulence of the Venetian Republic through an exploration of the architecture, history, legend, and natural beauty of a region shaped its history as a maritime powerhouse. Your custom tailored tour will immerse you in the highlights of Veneto, a region of Italy intertwined with the rise and fall of Venice. Indulge in the flavors of the cuisine and the exquisite regional wine. Pass beneath arched bridges erected nearly five centuries ago and then bask in the panoramic views of lagoon...

Customizable Itinerary

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Trip Highlights

  • Discover the marvels of Venice during a private boat tour of the Grand Canal that highlights the history, architecture, and cultural charms of the city
  • Witness the production of a gondola inside a craftsman’s workshop to learn about the fine details of shaping a luxurious vessel
  • Indulge in the flavors of Veneto with a private cooking lesson and grappa tasting in the marvelous town of Bassano del Grappa
  • Visit the legendary balcony of Juliet Capulet in the elegant city of Verona
  • Wander along the bright and cheery houses, which line the quiet canals of the small island of Burano
  • Express your creative side with a private glassblowing demonstration as you visit the famous glass-making island of Murano
  • Sip from the celebrated La Fontana del Petrarca in the serene village of Arqua Petrarca, whose waters offer the gift of verse in honor of the poet
  • Embrace the history of Venice on a tour of the neighborhoods, which includes walking along the Jewish Ghetto and the sophisticated streets of Eastern Castelo
  • Enjoy the stunning panoramas of the Dolomites and Alps as you visit the charming villages around Veneto
  • Relax in the soothing natural spring waters of the Terme Euganee Spas that overlook the town of Arqua Petrarca

Detailed Description

From the foothills of the Dolomites to the shores of the Venetian Lagoon, the wonder of the Veneto region emanates from the natural landscape and culture unique to the influence of the Venetian Republic. Canals meander through the cityscape, and the churches and palaces are nearly indistinguishable in grandeur. Villages exhibit as many captivating historical frescoes as the palaces of the Venetian capital. Your 10-day tour will encompass the majesty of an entire region, while you relax in the lavish surroundings of Venice.

Your Veneto excursion will begin with your arrival at Marco Polo Airport. Your private transfer will escort you to the edge of the Grand Canal where you will board a vaporetto to your hotel. Your guide will meet you in the lobby after you have had a chance to settle in and lead you on an exploration of Venice through the waterways that connect the architecture, culture, and cafes of the city. Next day, you will have an elaborate walking tour of Venice that begins with St. Mark’s Square. Your guide will take you through the Basilica and Doge’s Palace to highlight the exuberant décor and historical chambers.  Continue to make a deeper connection with Venice as you move through an island tour of the Lagoon and visit a collection of celebrated communities including Burano and Murano. Look forward to observing a glassblowing workshop on Murano for an introduction to the historical artwork.

Move next to spend the following day on a guided tour through the history of the diverse neighborhoods of Venice. Your day will conclude with a visit to an artisan gondola maker’s workshop to see the process of crafting the distinctive boats. Venture next to the enchanting town of Chioggia to relax in the serene atmosphere of “Little Venice.” Wander the cobbled streets or relax on the sandy shores of the nearby beaches before you return to your hotel in the evening. Next, venture into the foothills of the Dolomite Mountains to delight in the culture of the rural villages, including the charming meandering streets of Asolo. Bask in the flavors of a coursed lunch paired with local wine.

Move on to enjoy the legendary poetic landscape and celebrated poetry of Petrarca in the town of Arqua Petrarca. Relax in the soothing waters of the thermal spa before you wander through the bustling and captivating historical city center of Udine. Cross the stone bridge to the heart of the cliff-side town of Friuli, the latter of which contains a burial ground that predates Roman settlement before the next day takes you into the embrace of Romeo and Juliet as you explore the gorgeous city of Verona.

Wander the distinct neighborhoods, visit Juliet’s balcony, and witness the drama of the Roman amphitheater before you venture next to Bassano del Grappa. Once in town, you can relish the serene setting and delight in a private cooking class paired with a tasting of local grappa. Conclude the next day as your private transfer meets you ready to escort you to the Venice airport for your flight home, or you could extend your stay in Italy with an in-depth visit to Tuscany or Lazio.

Starting Price

$4,500 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service

4.9 stars based on 5952 reviews.

Italy Tour Review: Wine Tour, Cooking Classes, Local Cuisine,...

Zicasso’s travel company was wonderful in planning our trip on short notice and in line with our requests and preferences. Their suggestions of what to do and where to stay were perfect. And when we accidentally got off on the wrong island, the travel company quickly got us new ferry tickets to get to the right place. It was all seamless.

Reviewed By Sherry G.

Italy Honeymoon Review: Rome, Sorrento, Cooking Class, Private...

This trip was the greatest week of our lives! Everything planned was better than I could have imagined. The private drivers being coordinated behind the scenes made the trip so easy and removed all the stress of trying to navigate a new country. Every driver and our tour guide was so nice and I feel like we made friends with all of them.

My favorite part of the trip was definitely the cooking classes and that every tour was private and intimate for my wife and I. The connections Zicasso’s travel agent hooked us up with made the trip the most memorable experience. Our travel agent and the travel company took special care of all the tiny details of the trip; our hotel knew it was my birthday and had a special surprise for me! I’m beyond thankful for the perfect honeymoon they provided my wife and I.

Reviewed By Branson S.

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The accommodations and private tours were worth the extra money. Our drivers were professional and helpful.

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The overall trip was great. The weather was terrific and the countries we visited had so much to see. Zicasso's tour company did a good job of balancing relaxation with fun. Each of the guides we had was so pleasant and shared so much information with us. They were very attentive to our needs.

Reviewed By Nisha V.

Italy Vacation Review: Florence, Rome, Truffle Hunt, Cooking...

Wow, where to begin. This trip was an absolute dream.

When I first spoke to Zicasso’s travel consultant, I told her my main travel concern: traveling with nine- and 15-year-old boys as a single mom in Italy. I was excited to take the trip with them, but I really needed something that was meticulously planned to take away the nerves of having to navigate alone with two kids. She listened and executed the most beautiful trip.

She planned activities that captured the attention and imagination of a fourth grader and a teenager. And the experiences were unique. Probably the highlight of the trip was a truffle hunt with the hunter and his dog in the countryside outside of Florence. My oldest wants to move to Florence and start hunting! We had a personalized cooking class, a private Vespa tour of Rome, and a delicious and informative art and food tour, among other amazing experiences. As we were sending photos back home, I got so many requests for our itinerary because it was so special and unique. Both boys were hard-pressed to choose which part they liked best.

The hotels she selected were beautiful, comfortable, and right in the heart of the cities and attractions we wanted to see. When we encountered a small hiccup (by our hotel, not our travel agent), I contacted her and she responded right away, getting us a free room upgrade and free dinner! We felt very taken care of.

Aside from the amazing activities and locations we saw, the trip was fantastic because everything was so seamless. We always had a private driver arranged, pre-booked train tickets, and even someone to make sure we made it on time for our flight home. I never had to worry about a thing. It was also telling that every tour guide we interacted with had only glowing things to say about our travel agent and her keen attention to detail and organization.

If you're planning on visiting Italy, this travel company is the travel agency you need to select. It takes any of the stress and guesswork out of the travel process, and all you have to do is show up and enjoy.

Thank you so much! You helped us make some amazing memories!

Stephanie

Reviewed By Stephanie S.

Italy 25th Anniversary Travel Review: Positano, Sorrento,...

This was possibly the best vacation we have ever taken. A fitting trip to mark our 25th anniversary, we will remember our days in Positano and Sorrento forever. Everything was perfect and the service and support were extraordinary.

Zicasso's travel specialist and the other people were always super-helpful and friendly. The hotels they chose for us in particular were exactly what we wanted. I can’t think of a single issue. Transport, transfers, etc., were perfect. The only bad part was that we had to return to normal life afterwards! We highly recommend our travel company to anyone! Grazie mille!

Reviewed By Mauro A.

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