The best Venice river cruises

Seeing Venice from the water is the point of a visit, and the tours on this page cover both gondolas and boats. Gondola rides run through the narrow side canals and out onto the Grand Canal, usually for about 30 minutes, and many shared rides add commentary or a visit to a small gondola gallery. Boat tours cross the lagoon to the glass furnaces of Murano, the coloured houses of Burano and the ancient cathedral of Torcello.

Before you book

Check whether a gondola ride is shared or private: shared rides seat several people per boat and cost less, while a private gondola carries up to five or six and can be timed for sunset. Island tours usually give 40 to 90 minutes on each island and often include a glass-blowing demonstration. You can also reach the islands yourself on waterbus line 12 from Fondamente Nove.