7 Venice Kayaking Tours for Every Kind of Paddler

1.Real Venetian Kayak – Tour of Venice Canals with a Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 518 reviews · 1 hour 40 minutes (approx.) · from $78Our pick

Real Venetian Kayak takes you through Venice’s narrow canals and, on some routes, into the lagoon. You receive safety instruction, a single or double kayak, paddle, life vest, and an English-speaking guide such as Darryl, Lorenzo, Nev, Toph, or Boris. No kayaking background is required, though basic skills help.

“Perfect activity for me and my 6 year old son. Fun way to explore the waterways. It was a bonus that it got us to the Jewish quarter for some additional history and sightseeing in an otherwise far place for kid. Nav was a great guide.”

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2.Venice: Guided Canal Kayak Tour at Day, Night, or Sunset

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 465 reviews · 1 hour - 100 minutes · from $82

Join a qualified English- or Italian-speaking guide for a 60 to 100-minute kayak tour through Venice’s Cannaregio canals and nearby lagoon. You’ll receive a safety briefing, kayak, paddle, and life vest, then paddle in a group of no more than six. Guides such as Darrell, Lorenzo, Thomas, and Shamir are known for patient instruction and entertaining stories.

“My first time with kayak and it was an amazing experience, a must-to-do thing in Venice, I think, after a gondola tour.”

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3.2 Hour Venice Canal Kayak Tour – Premium experience by day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 117 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $133Top rated

Spend about two hours kayaking Venice with a guide such as Shamir, Samir, Toph, or Alberto. You’ll learn basic kayak technique, paddle through narrow canals, pass gondolas and motorboats, and reach the lagoon for a different view of the city. Equipment, photos, and a souvenir water bottle are included. Some paddling experience helps.

“go on this if you want to be one of the few people that can say they kayaked the Venice canals and learn some history from a knowledgeable guide.”

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4.Venice: Sunset Kayak Tour in the Canals

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 74 reviews · from $112

Join Venice-based guides Nicoló and Aleksandra for a 100-minute to two-hour sunset kayak session through the canals of Canareggio or Castello. You will visit a historic rowing club, learn basic paddling skills, and cover 3 to 5 kilometers in a group of no more than eight. This is an intermediate workout, not a gentle sightseeing cruise.

“This was probably the best thing we did on a two week trip of Europe. Not only was Aleksandra a wonderful and friendly guide leading us on a once-in-a-lifetime tour through the canals of Venice, this organization is also doing important work to preserve Venetian history and build communities here in Venice. This is NOT just a tour company that wants your money, it is a small organization that clearly cares for Venice and for rowing. Everyone should do this experience.”

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5.Cultural Kayak Tour: Discovering the City’s Canals

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 1h 20m · from $82

Meet Nicoló and Aleksandra at the historic Reale Società Canottieri Querini rowing club. After a club visit and paddling lesson, you kayak through Cannaregio or Castello, passing quiet canals, bridges, palaces, and working waterways. The 80-minute class suits intermediate paddlers and includes equipment, photos, and multilingual instruction.

“One of the best things I’ve done in Venice. Nicola was an excellent guide. We had such a peaceful, relaxing and informative tour around the quiet canals of Cannoreggio, away from any crowds. Would highly recommend”

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6.2hr Night Kayak Tour in Venice: premium tour with sunset

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $126

Meet Venice Kayak in Cannaregio for a two-hour small-group paddle through quiet canals and under lesser-known bridges. Your English- or Italian-speaking guide provides safety training, kayaks, life vests, dry bags, gloves, wetsuits, water, and photos. Sunset departures offer the prettiest light, but check the schedule when booking.

“Great tour, a great and personable guide, very well organized, and had everything ready. There were short stops here and there with some insight into Venice. The trip was very pleasant, and seeing Venice from the water was beautiful.”

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7.Family Kayaking Tour: Discovering Venice

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 7 reviews

Join Venetian rowers Nicoló and Aleksandra for a 100-minute private family kayaking session. Learn basic paddling, visit the Reale Società Canottieri Querini, and train on canals around the Medieval Arsenal and Castello. The $339.86 group price covers up to four people, with kayaks, safety gear, instruction, and photos included.

“We all loved this activity. The guides were knowledgeable and interested. It gives you a different perspective of the city when you travel like the locals did in the past in non-motorized boats. No need to be an experienced kayaker.”

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