Venice Day Trip from Florence. Spend a day exploring Venice on a full-day tour that travels by luxury coach from Florence. See highlights including the Piazza San Marco, St. Mark’s Basilica, and Palazzo Ducale, and take a gondola ride on the canals (own expense). With a combination of guided tours and free time, you’ll experience the best of the Floating City in one day.

Ride in comfort in a luxury coach
Hear insightful commentary from the guide
Ideal for first-time visitors with limited time
Includes glass-blowing demonstration and map

Visit one of the world’s most romantic and distinctive towns, consisting of 118 islands linked by more than 350 bridges: Venice. Leave Florence by GT coach or minivan early in the morning and head north. Once you’ve arrived in Venice, you’ll have free time to wander around your own morning.

Then, on a romantic Gondola journey, find a hidden corner of Venice (own cost). You will meet your guide in the afternoon, who will bring you along the canals to explore the tight streets. In Piazza San Marco you will see the exterior of the main sights including the Sighs Bridge, Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Campanile.

Table of Contents

Itinerary

Florence

Take a trip to Italy’s most lovely and romantic city… Venice! At the Piazzale Montelungo Bus Terminal, meet your cheerful and knowledgeable tour guide. The rail station Santa Maria Novella is about a 5-minute walk from Piazzale Montelungo. Take a seat on the nice coach bus, and you’ll be on your way soon! Your guide will provide some interesting information about this historic and culturally rich “City on Water” as you travel north towards Venice. The journey will take approximately 3.5 hours.

Venice

The bus driver will take you to the Venice Port when you arrive. It is only accessible by boat because it is a water city! You’ll be led to the ferry by your knowledgeable guide, and you’ll be on your way! During your ten-minute boat trip to the main island, enjoy the sea wind on your skin and the bright scenery. You’ll be greeted by Venice’s famed rustic, romantic, and colorful architecture as soon as you get off the boat!

Follow your guide through the charming alleyways of Venice and through the famous bridges until you arrive at San Marco Square, the city’s beating heart! On the route, your guide will point you the Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. Make sure to bring your camera, and you’ll have time to visit these locations later in your leisure time!

Piazza San Marco

San Marco Square is Venice’s pulsing heart and one of the world’s most beautiful squares. It is Venice’s largest piazza, with plenty of open space in contrast to the city’s meandering passageways and little canals, which make up the majority of the city. Basilica San Marco, which dominates the piazza, is known for its unusual Byzantine style and golden accents.

The belltower and the royal Doge’s Palace are also nearby, as are other exquisite eateries. Your guide will tell you some fascinating facts about the structures in this square. You can either follow your guide to the glassblowing demonstration or start your day wandering Venice’s enchanting streets, with its romantic squares and magnificent bridges.

Basilica di San Marco

The Basilica San Marco is a powerful icon of Venetian sovereignty, culture, and pride. It has a completely unique design in Italy, combining Byzantine, Roman, and Venetian architecture as inspiration. The structure is a Gothic masterpiece with elaborate decorations and five large domes; however, the unmistakable golden front hides these features. These gold flakes were strategically positioned in various angles to gleam in the sunshine no matter what angle you were standing at.

The inside of San Marco Basilica is quite stunning. A ceiling covered in golden mosaics that spans over 8,000 square meters will greet you. The “Pala d’Oro,” or golden pala, is the Basilica’s most valuable treasure. This priceless work of art can be found behind the grand altar, and it is fully covered in gold leaf and about 2,000 rare and precious stones. For access to Basilica San Marco, it is highly suggested to purchase skip-the-line tickets ahead of time; admittance is not included in this tour.

Venice

Venice is famed for its blown glass, in addition to its amazing architecture and charming canals. In the historic center, follow your guide to a well-known glass-blowing shop. Glass blowing has been a tradition in Venice for over 1,500 years, and masters of the trade are among the world’s most proficient artisans. You can envision the same techniques being utilized before the Renaissance era and beyond as you see the glass blower create elaborate designs with ease.

Following the demonstration, your guide will accompany you to the showroom, where you can purchase discounted specialized souvenirs (optional). The glass blowing demonstration is extremely captivating… Discover the Venetian tradition that has stood the test of time! Following the demonstration, you will have free time to explore the city on your own.

Doge’s Palace

Doge’s Palace is another treasure of Venice. Another hallmark of Venice’s culture and economy is this historic and magnificent palace. This lavish house, located (partially) in San Marco Square, welcomes visitors every day with its lace-like marble exterior, a Gothic masterpiece. This palace served as the residence of the regal Doge dynasty, the Venetian government, and the legal system for centuries. The halls and chambers of the castle are lavishly furnished with unrivaled splendor, priceless paintings, and other valuables. This tour does not include tickets, but if you want to go, we recommend pre-purchasing skip-the-line credentials.

Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto)

Rialto Bridge is the most famous of the Grand Canal bridges in Venice. This bridge was built about 500 years ago and has a long and illustrious history in the hearts of Venetians. The population gathered on the bridge when ancient trading ships arrived to trade things for valuable items like as spices, silks, and porcelain. The Rialto Market, which is still located near the bridge and is known for fish rather than spices, is where the market began. This is one of Venice’s most popular tourist attractions, providing spectacular panoramic views and photo opportunities.

Ponte dei Sospiri

The Bridge of Sighs is a must-see attraction for anybody visiting Venice’s canals. This historic bridge stands out because it connects two palaces and is therefore inaccessible to the typical tourist. Historically, this bridge connected the Old and New Prisons in the Doge’s Palace. Locals could hear the convicts “sighing” as they walked across the bridge in solidarity, earning the bridge its name. This is one of Venice’s most picturesque sites, so be sure to bring your camera!

Canal Grande

Meet back with your guide for the (optional at an additional cost) gondola ride after plenty of time to meander through the maze of charming alleys, small markets, and gorgeous canals. You’ll board a small, precisely carved boat in a small group. Your professional gondolier will guide you around the picture-perfect canals, pointing out famous sights along the way. From the lagoon, take in the magnificent views of Venice… The finest way to see Venice is on a boat!

Florence

Meet your guide after picking up any last-minute mementos! You’ll take the ferry back to your bus, which will be waiting for your departure. It will take approximately 3.5 hours to travel to Florence by bus. Simply relax and daydream about the next time you can visit the beautiful city of Venice!

Here, our tour Venice Day Trip from Florence ends.

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