Venice will forever be a popular tourist destination, with its collection of bridges and unique advantage of being a city on water. In today’s post, we’re bringing you a few unique ways to experience the city of Venice, while avoiding crowds of tourists at the same time.
1. St. Mark’s Basilica by Night
We all know by now that St. Mark’s Basilica is forever flooded with tourists. Think of it as the Eiffel Tower or Times Square of Venice. It’s always busy and filled to the brim with people taking photos, both inside and out. For most people, this isn’t the ideal scenario when sightseeing, especially when they’re trying to take commemorative photos themselves. Luckily, there’s an opportunity to visit the basilica during a less busy and more peaceful time. Opened for special slots during the evening, you can revel in the beauty of St. Mark’s Basilica with just a small number of other people. The basilica will be entirely empty which is quite the rare sight. On this tour, you’ll also visit other iconic locations in the Floating City, such as the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square. Without the usual long lines, you’ll gain instant privileged access and an exclusive taste of Venice at night. If you’re interested, click here to book the St. Mark’s Basilica by night tour.
2. Doge’s Palace Secret Itineraries
The Doge’s Palace is another of Venice’s more popular tourist attractions. On our Secret Itineraries tour, you’ll get to experience Palazzo Ducale in a new way, and venture to parts of it that are usually off limits to the public. And with a tour group of 25 or less, you’ll get to dodge the crowds too! On this tour, you’ll get to visit the secret archive room and cramped attic prison cell, all the while hearing the story of how Casanova escaped from captivity. You’ll also see the police’s torture chamber, as well as the secret access door that’s under the guise of a wardrobe. On top of that, you’ll venture to council and waiting rooms, witnessing Venetian artistic masterpieces as you pass through. The above experiences are entirely unique and aren’t likely to be found on other tours. And just for good measure: your expert guide will be with you every step of the way, with headsets so that you don’t miss a word of the coordinating audio. For more information or to book, head on over to the Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries Tour.
3. Prosecco Tasting and Villa with Dinner
For a quintessentially Italian experience, prosecco tasting, exploring villas and a delicious 3-course meal is a must, right? For this tour, you’ll venture outside Venice to the beautiful and atmospheric Valdobbiadene. Here, you’ll learn the processes and steps taken to make prosecco, as well as trying some for yourself. You’ll visit an incredible villa, constructed in the 17th century in the classic Palladian-style. Fun fact: it once hosted prominent historical figures, such as Canova and Napoleon. Here, you can envision how the wealthy Venetians truly lived several centuries ago. And finally, you’ll enjoy a delectable 3-course meal in an open-air restaurant with an accompanying glass of prosecco. This tour is an ideal day out of Venice to escape the tourists, and doubles the perks as you get to treat yourself like royalty! If you like the sounds of it, click here to book the prosecco tasting and villa with dinner tour.
If you’re going to the City of Water, be sure to check out our full range of Venice tours.
