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Postcards of Venice
Venice Shore Excursion - Postcards of Venice
 

This private Venice shore trip combines a Grand Canal cruise, a gondola ride, and an orientation walking tour of St. Mark's Square, built for cruise passengers with limited time or limited mobility. Pickup is available from the Venice cruise terminal or your hotel, with a licensed English speaking guide throughout. 3 hours.

3 hours (private)
private excursion
licensed guide
english speaking expert
all group sizes
sedan to full size coach
››
port or hotel
pick up either location
  • Pick up from your Hotel or the Port of Venice
  • Private English Speaking Licensed Guide
  • One Way Grand Canal Cruise in Private Water Taxi
  • Private Gondola Ride
  • Orientation Tour of St. Mark's Square
Read Full Tour Description





Tour Number: IVENI-01


Group Size (Prices in USD)*: 		2 People - $620 Per Person
3 People - $420 Per Person
4 People - $316 Per Person
5 People - $252 Per Person
6 People - $266 Per Person
7 People - $232 Per Person
8 People - $204 Per Person



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Name of Ship or Hotel*:

TOUR DESCRIPTION
 

Venice Grand Canal & Gondola Shore Excursion

This three hour Venice shore trip is best for those who have limited time or who can only do limited walking. You enjoy a Grand Canal cruise, a gondola ride and an orientation walking tour in St. Marks Square so you can create your own postcards of Venice.

Your licensed guide meets you at the Venice cruise terminal and then leads you to your private water taxi waiting nearby. Once on board you will cruise the full length of Venice's most famous street, the Grand Canal. Venice is best enjoyed from the water, so sit back and savor this truly unique city as you glide past beautiful palaces, peek into tiny canals and watch famous bridges pass overhead.

The Grand Canal is the most important canal in Venice and it divides the city into two parts. The canal is flanked along its entire length by magnificent buildings from the 12th to 17th centuries. Along this fascinating canal, your guide will tell you legends related to some of the most famous and beautiful sites of the city such as the Rialto Bridge and the many luxurious houses, built by the richest families, to show their power like a showcase.

Your Grand Canal cruise ends at the famous St. Mark's square where you board a gondola. Your gondolier will single-handedly power your craft as you glide through small canals and under a myriad of foot bridges. The gondola is an icon of Venice and has changed little since the Renaissance. You'll feel like you are living in a painting by Titian as your gondolier skillfully negotiates the twists and turns of the intersecting canals.

After your gondola ride your guide will provide you with an orientation walking tour of St. Mark's Square where the Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the famous bell tower are located. This is a great opportunity to get many photos of Venice's icons.

What's Included

Included

  • Pick up from your Hotel or the Port of Venice
  • Private English Speaking Licensed Guide
  • One Way Grand Canal Cruise in Private Water Taxi
  • Private Gondola Ride
  • Orientation Tour of St. Mark's Square

Not Included

  • Meals and beverages
  • Gratuities (optional, at your discretion)
  • Personal shopping

Tour Timing

All times are approximate and will vary based on your group's pace and interests.

  • 1
    15 Minutes
    Meet guide and walk to private water taxi
  • 2
    1 Hour
    Private Grand Canal cruise
  • 3
    40 Minutes
    Gondola Ride
  • 4
    1 Hour
    St. Mark's Square Orientation

Good to Know

Mobility
If you have mobility concerns or require special assistance, please contact us when booking and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Walking
This tour includes a walking portion over cobblestone streets. Comfortable, supportive shoes are strongly recommended.
Dress Code
Some sites on this tour require that shoulders and knees be covered. We recommend wearing or bringing a light layer to avoid being turned away at the entrance.
Customizable
This tour can be adjusted to fit your group’s pace and interests. If you’d like to spend more time at a particular site or add a stop, contact us when you inquire.
Larger Groups
For groups that need a minibus or full coach, contact us for a custom quote. We accommodate groups of any size.

Most Popular Tours from Venice Tours Tours & Excursions

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the Venice cruise ship dock?
Venice cruise ships dock at the Marittima Terminal or the Stazione Marittima. Your private boat transfer into Venice begins from the port and takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes along the lagoon to St. Mark's Square.
Is this tour suitable for those with limited mobility?
Yes - the Postcards of Venice tour is our best option for limited mobility guests. The Grand Canal cruise and gondola ride minimize walking, and St. Mark's Square is relatively flat. Please notify us of any mobility needs at booking.
Is the gondola ride included?
Yes - a gondola ride through Venice's side canals is included in this tour.
How does the deposit and balance payment work for Venice tours?
A $50 deposit per tour locks in your Venice reservation. The remaining balance is due 30 days before your tour date. If your plans change, that deposit isn't refundable, but it stays on your account as credit toward any tour for up to 3 years. Larger groups, custom itineraries, or tours involving flights or overnight stays may carry a bigger deposit and their own terms, which we'll spell out at booking.
What if I need to cancel my Venice excursion last minute?
Venice tours cancelled at least 15 days ahead are refunded less a $50 administration fee. Inside 14 days of the tour date, cancellations become non-refundable. One exception: if your ship simply doesn't call at Venice because of weather, mechanical issues, or political unrest, you'll get a full refund less the $50 fee. All cancellation requests need to be submitted in writing by email.
What's the pickup process for a Venice tour?
Cruise Ship: Disembark at Venice and proceed to the terminal's main public exit. With a terminal building, walk through arrivals to the public pickup area outside -- ask cruise staff if needed. Without one, your driver is waiting on the dock. If your contact isn't immediately visible, remain near the exit and call the local dispatch number provided in your confirmation. Hotel: Look for your driver or guide right outside the main entrance or in the lobby -- they'll be holding a sign with your group name. Airport: Once you've collected your luggage and cleared customs, head into the arrivals hall -- your driver or guide will be there holding a sign with your group name.
Are museum and site tickets included in the Venice tour price?
Admission costs are covered on Venice tours whenever the tour page says so. Keep in mind some venues require timed, skip-the-line tickets that become non-refundable the moment they're purchased. We'll flag any non-refundable entrance fees for you at booking.
How flexible is a private Venice tour?
Private Venice tours are meant to bend to your priorities, not the other way around. Mention any must-see sight to your driver or guide at pickup, and they'll do their best to work it in. Traffic and time constraints can occasionally limit how much we can change, but your guide will always try to keep things personal.

Also Available:

›Venice Highlights & Gondola ride - if you would like to visit St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Prisons
›Highlights of Venice - if you would like to visit St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Prisons
›Best of Venice with Gondola ride - if you would like to visit St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Prisons

Our Back-to-Ship Guarantee

Every excursion returning 1.5 hours before departure is covered. If we are late, we cover your costs to reach the next port. More info ›

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Shore Trip Timing is approximate based on your interests & traffic
  • Meet guide and walk to private water taxi - 15 Minutes
  • Private Grand Canal cruise - 1 Hour
  • Gondola Ride - 40 Minutes
  • St. Mark's Square Orientation - 1 Hour

Average Rating: Average Rating: 5 of 5 5 of 5 Total Reviews: 37 Write a review »

  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Venice Sunday, July 26, 2026
Reviewer: Louise R from Rocky River OH  
Our trip was fabulous. Our flights were on time, the weather was great and the sites so amazing! Our tours and guides were excellent. I dont have their names handy but all were extremely knowledgeable and we loved their passion for their countries. Should we venture back to Europe we will definitely contact you again. I will surely recommend your company to anyone traveling in Europe.

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  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Venice Sunday, June 14, 2026
Reviewer: Mei Ying L from Tampa, FL  
We were 2 and a half hours late in arriving at the airport where we were to be picked up for a 4 hour excursion which was scheduled to end by 2pm but the tour operator allowed for an extension of the tour till 3pm without extra charge. We had good guides clean and fairly new vehicles. Itineraries were interesting and flexible.

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  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Venice Friday, June 12, 2026
Reviewer: Reggie M from Roaring Spring, PA  
Excellent service provided with clean and efficient vehicles. The driver was very professional, and got us to our destination in a timely manner. The water taxi driver found us, even though we were a block from the meeting place. You could tell that the company cared for their customers, and provided an excellent service and experience.

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  2 of 2 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Venice Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Reviewer: Bob S from Vestavia, AL  
Ken Diaz the Group Reservation Manager of Private Shore Trips organized an amazing set of tourstransportation events for our group of 42 friends and family in MULTIPLE countries! Yes Italy, Greece & Turkey!! Or tour guides provided excellent connections with the entire group and gave a dissertation on the history of each location we visited. We had teachers in our group and they were impressed with the tour guides that says a lot!

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  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Venice Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Reviewer: Susan P from Irvine, CA  
We just got back yesterday and I am very glad to bring the good news that all the tours have been a wonderful success!!! The buses were very comfortable and the tour guides have been great and considerate of our senior citizens. We all applauded the end of every tour and We have all been recommending Private Shore Trips web site to all the people we met on the ship. You know that recommendation and word of praises are good advertisements for your business. Well surely get in touch with you when the need arises. Again, a million thanks for what you did for us that made our vacation a truly enjoyable one. Also, we got lucky with good weather.

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