Venice: Unusual and Hidden Venice Walking Tour
Discover the hidden gems of Venice on a 2-hour guided walking tour that shows you a local’s perspective of our iconic floating city. Along the way, your guide takes you down hidden calli (narrow streets) to find the true architectural gems of Venice including Campo San Giovanni e Paolo, Marco Polo's House, La Fenice Theatre and Rialto Bridge, among other artistic sights known only by locals. By Venice Tours
- Escape the crowds to enjoy the spots loved by the locals of Venice
- See the famous sights, including the Rialto Bridge, en route to hidden gems
- Explore lesser known calli (streets) to find stunning architecture and local life
Go away from the overcrowded places into the heart of Venice, where you get to discover the most charming and picturesque corners of the city. On this Venice walking tour, there will be about 10 stops where you learn the history of the buildings, as well as what makes them special to the people of Venice.
Piazza San Marco
This is the true heart of Venice, which Napoleon called “the most elegant drawing-room in Europe”. It is a 170 meter-long trapezoid which differs from all other squares that are called "campi" (fields). St Mark’s square has been the heart of the Venetian Republic.
Campo Santa Maria Formosa
It is one of the most lively fields of Venice, it is hidden among the streets and alleys of the Castello district, not far from Piazza San Marco. During the day of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, in this place, once, it was celebrated an important recurrence, with which it commemorated the liberation of twelve pretty girls from the Istrian pirates, by some brave Venetians.
Campo San Giovanni e Paolo
It is often called the Pantheon of the Doges because here the Doges and the high rapresentatives of the Venetian Republic were buried. The Venetians call it "San Zanipolo" unifying the two names of the saints: Saint John (San Giovanni) and Saint Paul (San Paolo).
Marco Polo's House
In Corte Seconda del Milion you’ll see a plaque dedicated to Marco Polo, who apparently live in this house. The great explorer left Venice as a teenager in 1271 on a voyage that has become legendary.
Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge is the first urban centre of Venice. It comes from the latin “rivus altus”, deep canal, referring to the Grand Canal. Dating back to 1180, it was initially a series of boats with wooden planks placed on top. It was then built in wood resting on stilts.
Campo Santo Stefano
This campo is one of the largest squares in Venice and is located in the San Marco district, not far from the Accademia Bridge. At the centre of the campo is a statue of Nicolò Tommaseo, a politician, diplomat and literary figure of the 19th century.
La Fenice Theatre
Built in 1792, the Fenice, meaning phoenix in Italian, has often lived up to its name, just like the bird that rises from its ashes. In fact it first burned down in 1836 and more recently in 1996, which has become one of the most tragic moments in modern Venetian history. However, both times it was rebuilt exactly “how it was and where it was”, just like a phoenix.
Campo San Beneto
This campo is located in the San Marco district. San Benedetto, in Venetian "Beneto" is a field a little hidden, not in the traditional routes of passing tourism, but particularly traditional in the composition of spaces, with the Palazzo Fortuny on one side and the back of Palazzo Volpi di Misurata on the other, the facade of the Church of San Beneto and the most popular houses that surround the inevitable fountain.
Palazzo Fortuny
The palazzo is one of the largest palaces in Venice among those in Gothic style and one of the few without overlooking the Grand Canal
- Starting time: - 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM
- Duration: 2 hours
- Price: - Adult: € 22 p.p. - Child under 6 y.o: free
Included
- 2 hours shared walking tour of historical center of Venice
- Bilingual live commentary by a local qualified guide
- Commentary in German, Spanish, and French translated by audio guide
Other Info
- Covid-19 precautions: The use of the mask is MANDATORY. Please bring your own.
- Wear comfortable shoes: There will be stops along the way to rest, but you will be walking most of the 2-hour tour.
- Not wheelchair accessible: Unfortunately, this tour is not recommended for people who use wheelchairs.
- Languages: Italian, English and Spanish live commentary; French- and German-speaking audio tours are available by mobile app, and we can help set that up when you arrive.
- Cancellation: Bookings can be cancelled with no charge up to 24 hours before the tour. Please note: In the case of an exceptional high tide, this tour can be postponed to a later hour, or the following day. If this occurs, and the new time does not fit your schedule, we can issue a refund.
- Admission to attractions is not included: This walking tour is completely outdoors, and designed to show you a local’s walking route of Venice that includes special commentary on the sites. This tour does not take you inside any attractions
- Please be at the meeting point 5 minutes before the departure time.
Map and directions
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