Venice by night: a private boat tour after dark

Programme

• Casting offWe collect you from your hotel landing or from the square. Chilled prosecco is aboard, so the hour on the water begins at once.
• The Canal Grande litThe facades are lit from below, and the Gothic arcades read differently from the way they do at noon: the depth is visible, which sunlight flattens. Lights are on in the palace windows, and it is plain that people live behind them.
• The quiet riiWe turn into side canals three metres wide. There is no lighting here beyond the lamps above doorways, and the reflections.
• Rialto without trafficUnder the bridge where by day there is a queue of boats and a crowd on the parapet.
• The bacinoOut onto open water with the Palazzo Ducale, the campanile and the Salute in view.

Route

• Casting offWe collect you from your hotel landing or from the square. Chilled prosecco is aboard, so the hour begins at once rather than after a walk to the boat.
• The Canal Grande litThe facades are lit from below and the Gothic arcades read differently from the way they do at noon: the depth becomes visible, which daylight flattens. Lights are on in the palace windows and it is plain that people live behind them.
• The quiet riiInto side canals three metres wide, where there is no lighting beyond the lamps above doorways, and the reflections. The quietest part of the route.
• Rialto without trafficUnder the bridge where by day there is a queue of boats below and a crowd on the parapet.
• The bacinoOut onto open water with the Palazzo Ducale, the campanile and the Salute in view. The end of the route and the best photograph of it.

How this differs

A gondola at night moves slowly on a short loop near where it picks you up. In the same hour a launch covers the whole Canal Grande, turns into the side canals and reaches open water. They are different experiences: the gondola is about intimacy, the launch about scale.

Not for you if

• If what you want is specifically romance for two at walking pace, take the gondola — it exists for that.
• In a strong wind the run into the bacino is dropped and the route shortens to the canals.
• One hour is a single pass. With dinner and stops, more time is needed.

When to go

What the price covers

• A licensed private guide
• A route built around your pace and interests
• A private launch with a boatman
• A bottle of prosecco

Paid separately

• Further drinks
• Dinner

The quoted price covers one to three guests. From four upwards, quoted on request.

Practical notes

Departure

Nine or ten in summer; earlier in winter

Aboard

Blankets and an enclosed cabin if the wind gets up

Your own wine

You are welcome to bring something

Frequently asked