see venice from above and below
photo by BlackTomato

See Venice From Above And Below

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The Facts
Flight time2hrs 10mins
Ideal length7 nights
LocationItaly
Pricefrom £1,499 per person
When to gomay to september

Look forward to...

being guided around the spectacular city with an expert historian

staying in a super stylish boutique hotel

seeing the waterways from above on a helicopter tour of the city

paddling between vaparettos and getting up close to the city's incredible architecture from the water

Venice: the romance, the glamour… the paddling? There’s no doubt that this magical, water-based city is full of majestic cathedrals, beautiful squares, culture, carnivals and top notch cuisine, but what about the all-important canals? Well, now is your chance to experience the city in a brand new way . If you're not fond of a gondola, or would rather be in your own boat going at your own pace, kayaking is the activity for you. On our Venice experience, not only will you see the historical city from the ground and the air (heli tour, anyone?), but you’ll spend a fascinating three days kayaking through the canals, waterways and marshes exploring the unexplored nooks and crannies which most visitors miss.

Your Venitian palace

ca pisani room

Staying at the super-stylish Ca Pisani hotel in the heart of the city’s artistic centre, you will be just a stone’s throw from the Accademia art gallery and bridge, and a short stroll from incredible sights, restaurants and ice-cream parlours of the city. A short vaporetto ride away lies the Venice lido, and your all-important kayak base. The perfect starting point for your Venice adventure, the Ca Pisani doubles up as an art gallery and a design hotspot – a sleek haven in the busy city to set the scene for your cutting-edge break.

Paddle the waterways

kayak past historic monuments

On the first morning, after a glamorous evening settling in, make your way to San Nicolò on the Lido di Venezia and hop in your kayak for day 1 of your grand waterways tour. Master the knack of paddling effectively before hitting the main waterways to glide past gondolas, vaporettos and water taxis. You have three days on the water but they don’t have to be taken consecutively, so if you fancy a bit of dry land, or to give your paddling arms a rest, we are more than happy to plan your trip around that. When you hit the water we’ll supply everything your need, from your expert guide to kayaks, paddles, life vest, paddling jackets and even a drybag for a change of clothes and valuables. Paddling round the city you’ll get a unique perspective on Venice’s epic islands, buildings, homes, churches, and monasteries. And each islands in the lagoon tells a story, whether it’s religious (think Franciscan and Benedictine monks), medical (San Servolo’s ex-lunatic asylum), artistic (you’ll see a lot of glass-blowing) or simply structurally and artistically beautiful, and your guide will fill you in on everything. Lunch times will be filled with land-based visits such as Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari and Santi Giovanni e Paolo. Each trip will be tailored to your skill and needs, so take a gentle paddle around the central lido, stop for long lunches, or, if you’re feeling energetic, push across to our favourite hidden gem, the brightly coloured fishing village on Burano island.

venice from above

Birds’ eye view

Away from the water and up into the air: we definitely recommend a helicopter tour of the city. For a bird’s eye view of the UNESCO world heritage site, you’ll soar over the 18 small islands in the marshy lagoon which make up the city, and see the sandbars, bridges and traditional buildings from a totally new perspective. Simply amazing.

The grand finale

sunset from the water

The best bit? You’ll still have time to see the incredible sights on land which give Venice its name as the Queen of the Adriatic. We can arrange comprehensive city tours with expert historians, but if you’re after something really special, we can also get you behind the scenes and into places no-one else can reach. Ask us about private houses and collections not open to the public, as well as after-hours trips to the Basilica di San Marco and the Ducal Palace. The real cream of the crop.

Italy

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The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:

BlackTomato

This travel guide also includes text from Wikitravel articles, all available at WikitravelView full credits

This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at WikipediaView full credits

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