Venice Activities

Venice is a floating city in northeastern Italy, built on a system of 118 islands and world renowned for its canals and its important architectural heritage. It is a destination with a wide range of cultural and leisure activities, aimed at all types of tourists.

During your stay in the city you can take a gondola ride, join a Venetian mask workshop or learn the art of glassblowing. You'll also have the opportunity to visit St Mark's Basilica, visit the local market, and even take part in a food class, among other recommended activities to see and do in Venice, which I'll tell you about in a moment.

Delve into the local culture during your 1 day or longer stay in Venice by making your own Venetian mask. Together with a professional artisan you will learn a range of design, painting and decoration techniques that will allow you to create unique pieces.

There are several options for mask making classes in the city, some of which include the following:

Mask making class in Venice

This activity is ideal whether you are visiting Venice in winter, summer or any other time of the year. You can put your ingenuity to the test, creating a mask that will have your personal stamp on it.

In this mask making class in Venice you will have the opportunity to decide on the design, colours and decorations you will apply to your work. All this together with a professional artist.

• Price: the price of this activity starts from 58€ per person.
• Duration: about 1 hour.

average price

Class of creation or decoration of Venetian carnival masks

You can choose between creating a mask from scratch or decorating a previously made mask. In the first case, the artisan will teach you step by step how to build the structure. If you choose the decoration option, you will give free rein to your imagination by adding colour to the mask.

In addition, in this Carnival mask making workshop the maschereri (local artisan) will tell you a little about the history of the Venice Carnival, one of the most famous in the world.

• Price: the class costs 64€ per person (approx.).
• Duration: the duration corresponds to 1 hour.

Mask decoration class

This mask making workshop is the perfect complement to your 1-3 day itinerary in Venice or longer. The instructor will show you some Venetian masks to inspire you and teach you the decoration techniques that you can apply to your design.

You will have at your disposal a sand-coloured mask and a set of materials (paints, feathers, threads, fabrics, crystals, etc). This way, you will be able to make the decoration according to your taste.

• Price: the approximate cost of this type of mask-making workshop is €61 per person.
• Duration: the average duration of the workshop is 1 hour.

Private mask-making class

This is a timeless activity, whether you visit Venice in February during its famous Carnival or at any other time of the year. You can take this private mask making workshop in two sessions.

On the first day you will learn step by step the process of making this popular accessory. The next day you will return to the studio, but this time to learn the techniques for decorating traditional and contemporary masks. You will be able to add colour with paints, fabrics, feathers, crystals and other materials.

• Price: the price of this workshop corresponds to about 255€ per person.
• Duration: the workshop lasts an average of 4 hours divided into two days (2 hours each day).

Make the most of your time in the floating city to discover all that it has to offer: beautiful landscapes led by a series of crystal-clear canals, impressive architecture, exquisite gastronomy, and much more. Take a walk through its streets and immerse yourself in its history and culture.

This activity can be done on your own or with a local guide, who will tell you the history of each destination. Whichever the case, you'll be able to see the city's most emblematic and lesser-known destinations up close.

Some of the places you'll see on this tour, depending on the route you take, could be the following:

• The Rialto Bridge, considered among the best bridges in Venice and from which you will get an amazing panoramic view of the Grand Canal with the gondolas.
• Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, which will immediately catch your attention due to its spiral staircase protruding from a column.
• Teatro La Fenice, which served as the stage for the premiere of Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata, among other masterpieces. Today it is a venue for the best opera concerts in Venice.
• The Campo Santa Margherita square, dotted with bars, terraces and many of the best restaurants for cheap eats in Venice

Discovering the ancient art of glassblowing is an activity you can do on your visit to Venice. You will live a unique artisan experience by creating a piece of glass with an original design, all with the help of an expert craftsman.

You will be welcomed by a local craftsman in his workshop and you will immediately start the activity. The expert will explain the main techniques of glassblowing and the step-by-step process of making an artefact. You will also do some practice without hot glass before you start blowing the glass.

If you wish, you can make a sketch on paper with your own ideas for the making of your piece: a vase, a cup, etc. Whatever your proposal is, the craftsman in charge will help you. Finally, you will blow your own original piece that you can take home to decorate your spaces.

Also, if you are planning an excursion to Murano and Burano from Venice, you should know that there are many glass-blowing factories on these islands. So you could take the opportunity to join some of the glass activities and workshops on Murano and Burano.

Useful information

• Price: the cost of this experience is about 69€ per person.
• Duration: the activity lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

During your 1 to 4 day trip in Venice or longer, you can enjoy all kinds of gastronomy, even classic American. Come to the Hard Rock Café and have a different time as you watch the gondolas sail down the Grand Canal. You'll eat well and listen to some rock and roll classics.

With tickets to the Hard Rock Café you'll have the chance to choose from a 2 or 3 course menu. You can try classic burgers, chicken tenders, salads, barbecue chicken sandwiches, ribs and more. There is also a children's menu, aimed at children up to 10 years of age.

Useful information

• Price: the price of admission to the Hard Rock Café starts at €32 per person.
• Opening hours: 11.30am to 11pm (Sunday to Thursday) and 11.30am to midnight (Friday and Saturday).

Any time of year is the best time to travel to Venice and take part in a cooking class. You'll feel like a local as you discover the flavours, aromas and textures of Venetian cuisine.

The activity usually starts with a visit to a local market. This could be the Rialto Market, considered the oldest market in the city and a must on the best food tours in Venice

At the market you'll find a picturesque atmosphere: stalls selling fish, vegetables, fruit and more. You can explore the place with a culinary expert and buy all the fresh ingredients you need. Afterwards, you will head to a private kitchen to start the class.

Some of the local preparations you will learn to make and taste before the end of this local market visit and private cooking class experience in Venice include the following:

• Risotto de gò: rice with fish from the Venetian lagoon.
• The Fritole: popular fritters that are usually eaten during the carnival season.
• La Sarde in saor: sardines with sweet and sour sauce.

Useful information

• Price: this activity usually costs 199€ per person.
• Duration: This experience can last up to a maximum of 5 hours.

A visit to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection during your stay in Venice is a must if you are interested in modern art. You will be amazed by the paintings and sculpture on display in the rooms.

When you arrive at the museum, located in Palazzo Venier dei Leoni (a historic 18th century building), you will find the personal collection of the American Peggy Guggenheim. You will see works by iconic artists such as Calder, Dali, Magritte, Picasso, Pollock, among others.

With tickets to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, you'll not only see the impressive evolution of art from Cubism to the abstract. You will also have access to the Nasher Sculpture Garden, which houses an important collection of 20th century statues. And, if you visit this Venice museum at Christmas time, you will enjoy its magical illumination.

Useful information

• Price: the entrance fee starts at 22€ per person.
• Opening hours: open every day from April to October in Venice from 10:00 to 18:00. And, if you are in Venice in November until March, you will find the museum open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.

To go to Venice and not take a gondola ride along its canals would be like not having visited the city at all. Climb aboard one of these traditional boats and tour the city from the water. You'll get a different perspective of this magical place.

Once in the gondola, you can relax and enjoy the tranquil surroundings of Venice' s Grand Canal. While the gondolier rows, you will have the opportunity to see iconic landmarks such as the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, the Rialto Bridge, La Fenice Theatre, among many others.

This 30-minute gondola ride is quite convenient if your itinerary times are very short. You will see the city's essential monuments from a unique perspective and learn a bit about the history of the canals and Venice in general, thanks to the gondolier's commentary.

Useful information

• Price: the tour costs €39 per person (approx.).
• Duration: the gondola ride usually lasts about 30 minutes.

Attending a concert by the orchestra I Musici Veneziani is a way to enjoy the baroque lyrical tradition. You will be immersed in history, even feeling like you have travelled to 18th century Venice, while listening to Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

Throughout the show you will enjoy four concertos for violin and strings by the city's illustrious son, Antonio Vivaldi. The interpretation of these masterpieces is performed by Venetian musicians with a long career, who, dressed in typical costumes, will give you a unique musical experience.

Buying tickets for the concert of I Musici Veneziani is, without a doubt, an unmissable activity, whether you plan to stay 1 or 7 days in Venice.

Useful information

• Price: the ticket price for this show is around 35€ per person.
• Duration: the show usually lasts 90 minutes.

A cultural activity to incorporate into your itinerary is to visit one of the best museums in Venice, the Leonardo da Vinci Museum. Here you will discover the life and work of the artist through an amazing exhibition. Ideal if you are in Venice with children.

Throughout this experience you will be able to see some of the artist' s great work. For example:

• The painting room: with some replicas of famous works of the artist such as the Last Supper or the Mona Lisa.
• The room with original designs and sketches, including the Ideal City.
• The anatomy area: with studies of the human body applied to the art of sculpture and painting.
• A collection of more than 60 machines. This includes flying, war and civil engineering machines.

With tickets to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum you will also have access to multimedia material with outstanding information on the life of this great creative genius. You will also have an audio guide to help you make the most of the experience.

Useful information

• Price: the entrance fee to the Leonardo da Vinci Museum starts at €10 per person.
• Opening hours: the museum is open from 10:00 to 18:00 (October to March) and from 10:00 to 19:00 (April to September).

St. Mark's Basilica is a true symbol of the Venetian city and a testament to its rich history. For this reason, its visit is a must-see cultural tourism activity during your Venice in 2 days or more. You will be able to explore this mythical monument built in 1063.

Upon arrival you will be impressed by its majestic façade which, like the rest of the structure, combines Byzantine and Gothic style. Inside you will see a gilded mosaic of some 13,000 square metres, in which sacred scenes and biblical stories are narrated. Also of note are the marble floor and all the ornamental details.

You can take the tour at your own pace while you listen to an audio guide with commentary on the history of the place. With the purchase of tickets for St. Mark's Basilica in Venice you have access to this type of service. After your visit, you may want to recharge your batteries at one of the places to eat near St. Mark's Basilica.

Useful information

• Price: Admission can cost around 21€ per person.
• Opening hours: The site is open from 8.30am to 5pm (April to October) and from 9.30am to 4pm (November to March).