From Florence to Venice: A Day Trip to the Floating City
Description
Experience the charm of Venice on this one-day excursion from Florence. Spending a day in Venice is a memory that cannot be forgotten. Located just a short drive from Florence, Venice is known around the world for its enchanting canals and waterways. You will travel from Florence to Venice in a luxury GT coach and will feel like you have been transported to another world.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Embark on a journey to the most magical and romantic city in Italy… Venice! Meet your friendly and knowledgeable tour guide at Piazzale Montelungo Bus Terminal. Piazzale Montelungo is located 5-10 minutes walking distance from Santa Maria Novella train station. Find your seat on the comfortable coach bus, and you will depart shortly! During your journey north towards Venice, your guide will share some interesting information about this historic and culturally-rich “City on Water.” The drive will take about 3.5 hours.
When you arrive, the bus driver will bring you to the Venice Port. As a city on water, it is only accessible by boat! Your expert guide will lead you to the ferry, and you will be on your way! Enjoy the sea breeze on your skin and vibrant scenery during your ten minute boat ride to the main island. After getting off the boat, you will be welcomed by Venice’s famously rustic, romantic, and colorful architecture! Follow your guide through the picturesque streets, and over the iconic bridges until you reach San Marco Square - the heart of Venice! Your guide will point out Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs on the way. Be sure to have your camera ready, and you will have time to visit these points in your free time later as well!
San Marco Square is the beating heart of Venice, and one of the most beautiful squares in the world. It is the largest piazza in Venice, with plenty of open space; in stark contrast to the winding alleyways and small canals which make up most of the city. Dominating the square, you will find Basilica San Marco - characterized by its unique Byzantine architecture and golden accents. You can also find the belltower and the royal Doge’s Palace, along with plenty of elegant cafes. Your guide will share some fascinating information about the buildings in this square. From here, you can follow your guide to the glassblowing demonstration, or simply begin your day of exploring the mystical streets of Venice, with its romantic squares and magical bridges.
Basilica San Marco is a great symbol of Venetian glory, power, and culture. It has a truly unique design in Italy, with inspiration from Byzantine, Roman, and Venetian architecture. The building is a Gothic masterpiece, boasting intricate designs and five massive domes; however, these are hidden by the unmissable golden facade. These gold flakes were perfectly placed in various directions to glimmer under the sunlight, no matter the angle in which you are standing. The inside of San Marco Basilica is truly breathtaking. You will be welcomed by a ceiling filled with golden mosaics, covering over 8,000 square meters. The greatest treasure in the Basilica is known as, “Pala d’Oro,” or golden pala. This precious piece of art is located behind the grand altar, and has been decorated completely with gold leaf and almost 2,000 rare and precious stones. Booking skip-the-line tickets ahead of time is highly recommended for entering Basilica San Marco; entry is not included in this tour.
In addition to its incredible architecture and romantic canals, Venice is world-famous for its blown glass. Follow your guide to a famous glass-blowing shop in the historical center. Glass blowing has been a tradition in Venice for over 1,500 years, and the masters of glass blowing are truly some of the most skilled craftsmen in the world. As you watch the glass blower make intricate designs effortlessly, you can imagine the same techniques being used before the Renaissance era and beyond. After the demonstration, your guide will lead you to the showroom, where you can purchase some specialty souvenirs at a discounted price (optional). Watching the glass blowing demonstration is truly mesmerizing… Discover the timeless Venetian tradition! After the demonstration, you will have free time to independently explore the city.
Another jewel of Venice is Doge’s Palace. This historic and elegant palace is another symbol of the culture and prosperity found in Venice. Located (partially) in San Marco Square, this extravagant palace welcomes visitors daily with its lace-like marble facade, a Gothic masterpiece. For centuries, this palace was the important home to the royal Doge family, the Venetian government, and the justice system. Inside the palace, the halls and rooms are decorated with unmatchable elegance, precious art, and other treasures. Tickets are not included in this tour, but if you would like to visit, we recommend pre-booking skip-the-line passes.
Of the bridges that cross Venice’s Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge is the most famous. This bridge was constructed over 500 years ago, and it has a rich history, held deep in the hearts of local Venetians. When ancient trade ships arrived, the community gathered on the bridge to trade goods for precious items such as spices, silks, and porcelain. This is how the market first emerged - the Rialto Market is still located near the bridge, although now more famous for fish than spices. This is one of the most visited spots in Venice, with great panoramic views and photo opportunities.
The Bridge of Sighs is a must-see while exploring the canals of Venice. This famous bridge stands out, as it connects two palaces, making it unwalkable for the average visitor. Historically, this bridge connected the Old Prison in Doge’s Palace, with the New Prison. It earned its names as locals could hear the prisoners “sighing” when walking across the bridge in solidarity. This is one of the most scenic spots in Venice, be sure to have your camera ready!
After plenty of time to wander through the maze of picturesque streets, local markets, and magnificent canals, meet back with your guide for the (optional at an extra price) gondola ride. In a small group, you will board a small, and perfectly carved boat. Your certified gondolier will lead you through the picture-perfect canals and point out various famous sights. Enjoy the panoramic views of Venice from the lagoon... The best way to discover Venice is by water!
Grab any last minute souvenirs, and then meet your guide! You will head back on the ferry to reach your bus, waiting for your departure. The bus ride to Florence will take about 3.5 hours. Simply sit comfortably, and dream of the next time you can visit the lovely city of Venice!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- English and Spanish are always guaranteed. In order to confirm the excursion in Italian, German, Portuguese or French a minimum of 4 pax is required
Reviews(98)
We had a dynamic duo of C & C bus driver and guide who were fabulous! The bus ride included a rest stop. We boarded our ferry immediately when we arrived. If you wanted lunch or a gondola ride our guide arranged for it. It was seamless! Wonderful restaurant in a less crowded area. The gondola ride was perfect and a decent time in the gondola going into the larger main canal! Loved it!!!
Constantine, our guide, was knowledgeable, efficient, and charming. His experience and coordination skills make our tour flawless despite the crowds in Venice.
We enjoyed our day trip from Florence to Venice. The meeting point was easy to find and fairly organized to find our guide. We seem to be with two different tour groups because there were two different guides. One with ciao Florence and the other guide gave wristbands to her group. They were offered group pricing for the gondola rides. The tour bus was comfortable (double decker) and we were able to leave jackets since small items on the bus if we wanted to add our own risk. Best ride to the ferry, ferry ride over was included, also a tour of the glass factory. It was in the itinerary that we would be given 5 hrs free time. Unfortunately, the tour of the glass factory and the ferry ride over was included in that time. So we really only had four hours of free time to wander the city. If you are going with the intent to do a tour to the Basilica or Doge’s Palace definitely book timed tickets in advance because the lines are super long. Lots of fun shopping and beautiful scenery. Definitely be prepared with sunscreen, it was very hot in June.
Oh my goodness I've been here before but it was so great with this tour it's so worth the money actually I thought it would be more expensive that's how much fun it was make sure you were comfortable shoes our tour guide was fantastic except he walked way too fast for the group other than that it was amazing we got to see a glass blowing show you also have your own time they give you to roam around on your own which was fantastic we got to take a boat which was also fantastic it was a beautiful beautiful day and we can't say enough this tour is so worth it my family my husband and my daughter we all had such a beautiful time and it was the day before we left so it was a perfect send-off we would do it again don't hesitate just book it if you want to see Venice do it this way I did it last time I own way and I miss so much that I saw this time I had such a great time we all did
We had a wonderful experience with Constantino, he gave us so many great recommendations to maximize our time in Venice.
Tour was amazing! Costantino and Lorenzo were great! Was a beautiful experience overall.
Dear Naomi, We are deeply grateful that you chose to share this wonderful experience with us. Thank you as well for taking the time to leave your feedback; your opinion means a great deal to us. Your words about our guide truly pleased us, and we look forward to sharing them with the team. We also greatly appreciate that you noticed the attention we dedicate to selecting our staff. Ciao Florence Team
Good tour only fix id have is nicer bus needed for being stuck in it for 6 hours with some air moving.
We wanted to get a taste of Venice without the hassle of train/ferry ourselves with a limited schedule. Constantino and Lorenzo were fantastic. We got a taste of the city with ease and expertise- rather than bumbling around ourselves constantino was able to help us navigate busy Venice letting us get the most out of our trip. Highly recommend!
Dear Jordyn, good morning, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for being part of this amazing experience and for making it unique with your presence. We truly appreciate the time you took to write your review; your opinion means a great deal to us. We are delighted by your words about our guide and can’t wait to share them with those involved. We also thank you for recognizing the care with which we select our team. Ciao Florence Team
Very good with the organization and the guide, certainly one day is not enough to know Venice but if you do not have more space in your itinerary I recommend the tour. Be punctual at all times indicated by the guide because you are not expected. I recommend you carry cash because the agency offers you for an extra cost the gondola ride.
I think the most valuable part of this tour is the transportation that is organized and provided. A couple of things I noted: 1. There seemed to be a good amount of pressure to book a gondola and restaurant through the tour. I declined both. They were charging 120 Euro for a 25-minute ride. We were easily able to find a 90 Euro, 30-minute ride. I think they use their position as a "trusted" tour to instill enough concern of being scammed to get you to pay through them, which clearly includes a significant kickback. So in the end, the tour company was the scammer. 2. The glassblowing museum was interesting, but it culminated in a thorough, high-pressure sales experience. 3. Our host Constantino was fine. He shared a couple pieces of information. He really didn't blow us away and he wasn't a very passionate guide. This seemed like just a job for him.
