ON THE RIVER · CANAL CRUISES IN ITALY

Top 9 Canal Cruises in Italy

9 river trips  ·  from $25 a head

This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 9 canal cruises in Italy worth the fare, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to check before you book.

Milan: Navigli Canal Boat Cruise - From Naviglio Grande to the old working-class homes
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Milan: Navigli Canal Boat Cruise

1.Milan: Navigli Canal Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.3 · 4,502 reviews · 50 min · from $25Our pick

Cruise Milan’s Naviglio Grande aboard a small electric boat for 50 minutes. You’ll pass San Cristoforo, Vicolo dei Lavandai, Canottieri Olona, Darsena, and Leonardo da Vinci’s Conchetta. A host helps with boarding, while a QR code opens audio commentary in five languages. Choose a sunset departure for the prettiest light.

“Smooth ride along the Navigli canal especially with the friendly accommodations. It made our last day in Milan memorable watching as the sun sets and lights lit up. Highly recommended!”

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Milan: Navigli District Canal Boat Tour with Aperitivo - The drink and aperitivo: what you receive for $41
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Milan: Navigli District Canal Boat Tour with Aperitivo

2.Milan: Navigli District Canal Boat Tour with Aperitivo

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 3,253 reviews · 50 min · from $41

Spend 50 minutes cruising Milan’s Naviglio Grande from Alzaia Naviglio Grande 4. You’ll receive one Aperol spritz or glass of wine plus finger food, with views of old railing houses, San Cristoforo, Darsena, and the launderers’ alley. A QR audio guide is available in six languages, though live commentary is not guaranteed.

“was a lovely trip and the food and drink was great.”

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Venice: Grand Canal Boat Tour - Meeting near St. Mark’s Square
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Venice: Grand Canal Boat Tour

3.Grand Canal Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 959 reviews · 1 hour · from $53

You’ll cruise Venice’s Grand Canal by motorboat with an English-speaking guide, passing the Rialto Bridge, Hotel Gritti, Ca’ Pisani Moretta, Ca’ Vendramin Caliergi, Ca’ Grande, Ca’ Balbi, and La Madonna della Salute. Guides such as Massimo and Leo have been praised for lively, well-informed commentary. Boats may be small, so seating and window views can vary.

“It was extremely enjoyable. The tour guide was absolutely lovely and explained every part of the city/tour that we were passing by on the boat and was very friendly. Would definitely recommend!”

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Venice: The Hidden Canals on an Electric Boat - What you see from the open electric boat
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Venice: The Hidden Canals on an Electric Boat

4.The Hidden Canals on an Electric Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 307 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $120

Cruise Venice for about 90 minutes on a quiet, open electric boat with up to six people. Guides such as Ricardo, Nick, Niki, and Emiliano share city stories while taking you through major waterways and lesser-seen canals. The tour begins and ends at Fondamenta Ognisanti and costs $120.98 per person.

“Great tour. Ricardo was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He took us everywhere in Venice. Lots of hidden canals. Very entertaining and enjoyable.”

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Private Venice Canal Cruise: 2-Hour Grand Canal and Secret Canals - Cannaregio and the quieter canals
2-Hour Experiences, Canal Cruises, Canal Cruises in Italy, Italy River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Venice River Cruises

Private Venice Canal Cruise: 2-Hour Grand Canal and Secret Canals

5.Private Venice Canal Cruise: 2-Hour Grand Canal and Secret Canals

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 139 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $521

Start near St. Mark’s Square and cruise Venice’s Grand Canal, Cannaregio, Dorsoduro, Santa Croce, and the historic Arsenal. You’ll walk through the Jewish Ghetto for 15 to 20 minutes, pass Squero San Trovaso gondola workshop, and hear English commentary from guides such as Cristina, Georgia, or Sergio. Boats are covered water taxis, not traditional wooden launches.

“Great tour. Small group. The tour uses a private water taxi to tour small canals and waterways such as the dock yard, the Jewish ghetto and several cathedrals and towers. The tour travels down the grand canal visiting many stately houses, museums, public buildings and the Rialto bridge. Get your cameras ready for there's lots to see. Our guide was very knowledgeable and we stopped to take a half hour walking tour of the old and newer Jewish ghetto. Plan to get there early for it is easy to get lost in Venice and the boat will leave without you if you are more than 5 or 10 minutes late.”

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Venice: Grand Canal Private Boat Trip - The Grand Canal Route, From Palaces to Bridges
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Venice: Grand Canal Private Boat Trip

6.Grand Canal Private Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 131 reviews · from $212

Spend one hour on a small private boat along Venice’s Grand Canal, Giudecca Canal, and quieter waterways. A local guide, sometimes including Gianni, explains the city’s palaces, Moorish details, bridges, and maritime past in Italian, English, French, German, or Spanish. Expect up to eight passengers, limited outdoor space, and a step down into the boat.

“This boat ride was really interesting. We took it on our first day in Venice. I originally planned it for our last Ana I’m so glad I changed it. It gave us a nice sense of the city and good ideas for how to spend the rest of our time.”

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Chioggia: Venetian Lagoon and Canals Boat Tour - A small boat with a local captain
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Chioggia: Venetian Lagoon and Canals Boat Tour

7.Chioggia: Venetian Lagoon and Canals Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 130 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $67

Join local captain Damiano of Bosetti Tours for a 90-minute cruise through Chioggia’s Canal Vena, historic bridges, fishing areas, and the Venetian Lagoon. The traditional seven-meter Topa boat carries up to five people, allowing you to slip under low bridges and hear local stories in English, French, Spanish, or Italian.

“Damiano was a great guide and navigator. Gave us lots of interesting information about Chioggia and the water system. It was a pleasure to be on his boat. Very nice that it is a small group also!”

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Grand Canal Boat Tour & Murano - What the private boat adds
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Grand Canal Boat Tour & Murano

8.Grand Canal Boat Tour & Murano

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4 reviews · from $530 per boat (seats 6)

Take a private water taxi along Venice’s Grand Canal with an English-speaking guide, then visit a historic Murano glass factory and gallery. You’ll hear stories of Venetian artists, noble families, courtesans, and lagoon life before returning toward San Marco by factory shuttle. The tour lasts two hours and suits groups of up to six.

“Lovely guide, and her knowledge of the history of the buildings along the Grand Canal was great. But really I should have insisted no glass blowing tour of Murano; it is largely a commercial venture to sell you expensive glass objects, and it led to us being dropped in an inconvenient place on return as our boat didn’t wait for us.”

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1-Hour Motor Boat Ride on Grand Canal - Meeting under the lion column in St. Mark’s Square
1-Hour Experiences, Canal Cruises, Canal Cruises in Italy, Italy River Cruises, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Venice River Cruises

1-Hour Motor Boat Ride on Grand Canal

9.1-Hour Motor Boat Ride on Grand Canal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 1 hour · from $265Top rated

Meet your guide beneath the left lion column in St. Mark’s Square for a private one-hour motorboat ride through Venice. You’ll explore minor canals, then cruise the full Grand Canal while hearing stories about palaces, famous residents, and Venetian culture. Guides speak English, Spanish, French, or German. Gabriela has led the tour.

“So busy and not too easy to find our guide at first, but once we did it was an experience that we will never forget. We learnt so much about Venice in such a short time. The guide was very friendly and passionate about the area.”

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