Activities in Venice

A gondola ride is Venice's quintessential experience — gliding through narrow canals and under ancient bridges in a handcrafted flat-bottomed boat steered by a single oar. Over 400 licensed gondoliers operate in Venice today.

The Venice Carnival (Carnevale di Venezia) is one of the world's most famous festivals, a two-week explosion of masked balls, street performances, and elaborate costumes held annually in the weeks before Lent.

Kayaking through Venice's canals offers a completely different perspective of the city — at water level, under bridges, and through narrow waterways where no motorized boats can go.