Venice Off The Beaten Path – Private Walking Tour

If I could give Nadia 10 stars I would! There were 4 of us traveling, and we had already been to Venice twice; seen all the major attractions. Nadia delivered on our wish to see the real Venice! Quirky places, where to shop, architectural details, different views and not a lot of time spent in churches. She is a native, very knowledgeable and entertaining. We all loved her.

Nadia was an amazing tour guide around Venice for us! She has vast knowledge about the origins and overall history of the city, as well today’s city that she is a resident of. Her English is terrific. Instead of just the usual “churches, historic buildings and musuems” tour, Nadia showed us to the nooks and crannies of the city and endless interesting but less known facts of this marvelous city. I would highly recommend her and will tell all our friends to use her as well. Thanks so much!

My husband and I had a fantastic tour of Venice with Linda! She met us at our hotel and speaks great English. She was incredibly knowledgeable, authentic and genuinely friendly. From the very beginning, it was clear how passionate she is about Venice and how much she loves sharing its history, architecture and hidden treasures. Linda took us down beautiful little back streets and showed us hidden gems that we'd never have discovered without her. She gave us a fascinating introduction to the history and architecture of Venice, while making the whole experience feel personal, relaxed and fun. It felt like we were discovering Venice with a friend who knows the city inside out! Linda also gave us some great restaurant recommendations. She genuinely cared about our experience and even checked in with us after the tour to see how we were getting on. Our first stay in Venice was made truly special thanks to Linda. We couldn't have asked for a better introduction to this beautiful city. Thank you so much Linda for an amazing time! We hope to see you again when we return to Venice. 😊

Lovely. Perfect. Nadia opens her heart to the visitors of her home, Venice. She listened carefully to what my husband and I wanted in the walking tour which was to see and experience aspects of Venice that would help us plan future trips with our family. She tailored our time together and showed us places we’d not ever seen on our own. We fell in love with Venice and gained a truly lovely Friend in Venice.

Nadia’s walking tour is not one for tourists but, as she said, for the travellers who wish to experience, even though fleetingly, what it is like to be a Venetian in Venice. To experience the sights, sounds and enticing aromas which makes up the ancient patina of this magnificent maritime city. Nadia gave a historic overview of Venice which was entertaining and informative. We learned so much in such a short time. Nadia knows and loves her “miracle city’ well. And I feel fortunate she shared its secrets with us while wandered through its beauty along Calle after Calle unimpeded by the tourists. Grazie mille Nadia.

Nadia was awesome. We had a great time. She took us "off the beaten path" and away from the crowds. She was very knowledgeable, and it was nice to get a local's perspective. She modifies the tour for the client and is not limited to the same tour as everyone else. We will definitely book her again for the next trip.

Nadia was an excellent tour guide. Being a local, she was able to navigate us around the crowds thus affording up the opportunity to see more of the sights without the hustle and bustle. The water taxi tour around hidden canals of Venice, the Murano gallery experience and the walkthrough Burano were fabulous! She booked a table for lunch at Burano and the meal experience was exceptional! I highly recommend Nadia as a tour guide when n the area.

Nadia was excellent. A personal emergency arose and she dealt with it right away and solved the problem.

Nadia was a fun guide who showed us ways to avoid the huge crowds and enjoy Venice. We had a great time strolling through Venice with her.

We loved our tour with Nadia. It was one of the best tours we experienced on our trip. We got to see so many things that most tourist miss. And Nadia took some of the most amazing pictures during the private boat portion of the tour. We learned so much about Venice. Anyone who takes this tour will walk away with an unique appreciation of the city.

Nadia was a terrific guide. She is knowledgeable and passionate about her city and her heritage. "Don't be a tourist. Be a traveler" and take a tour with her. You'll have a different appreciation for the city, it's history, and the remarkable way it was built all those centuries ago. She also has great recommendations for dining and shopping that are not touristy.

Nadia was a pleasure to be with. My wife and I specifically wanted to start with the Jewish Ghetto, and her knowledge about it, from its origin to today, was thorough and illuminating. She took us into shops we would never have thought to enter and the people inside gave us added insight into the history of the Ghetto. From there, we stopped to have a break for a cold drink and pastry - which she paid for (it was pretty hot), and she gave us a history lesson about Venice, from its founding to the present, that was terrific. We then worked our way off the beaten tourist paths, through side streets, that gave us a view of how the people of Venice lived that we would never have walked through. We ended with "her treating us" to a ride on the Grand Canal back to St Mark's plaza.

Nahdia is the best - very knowledgeable, caring, warm and helpful. We learned a lot about Venice, its history and way of life. Thank you for treating 84 y o our mom so well!

Nadia was a wonderful tour guide! We learned so much about Venice, it's history, culture, and people! She was so warm and welcoming and we felt so comfortable after our tour with her! We highly recommend Nadia and this tour!

Nadia was very knowledgeable and gave us a wonderful tour taking us off the beaten path and showing us the history and culture of Venice. Picked us up from our hotel and curated the tour to our requests. Exceeded our expectations and we highly recommend!!

Wonderful experience - Nadia is amazing and made us feel as though we had become locals. Could not recommend enough

What a wonderful and enjoyable tour with a local Venetian. Nadia loves her city and knows it very well! She goes out of her way to show you the city through the eyes of a local like herself. Nadia shows you the "hidden" streets and neighborhoods while avoiding the crowds. Venice is a wonderful, clean and beautiful city. Our tour ended with a relaxing stop at a local "trattoria" where we shared a glass of prosecco with prosciutto and cheese. A very enjoyable afternoon with a great tour guide, Nadia will be your 'friend' in Venice!!!

Nadia puts her whole heart into Venice and this tour. You can tell how much she loves the city, how much she knows about its history, and how much she wants you to love it as well. Which we do. Venice really is wonderful, clean, beautiful in every corner, exciting little nooks and corners, and Nadia shows you all of it while avoiding the crowds and showing you how to do the same and making great recommendations. (We need to figure out where that lovely spot was where we got that great cheese so we can have another go at it)

Nadia did a great job of providing his historical references and leading us to areas off the beaten path of tourist. Wow, her Italian accent made her difficult to understand occasionally, she was very willing to explain again anything that we told her we didn’t understand. While some of her History could be described as revisionist, I am certainly not an expert on Venetian history. However, some of her information was contrary to what I had learned from other sources. Not with standing any potential inaccuracies in her historical references, we highly recommend this tour.

Nadia is a knowledgeable local who shows you Venice up close and personal, off the beaten path. We had Nadia show us the city on our first day, and this gave us the knowledge to explore the city with confidence for the rest of our trip! She had great advice and suggestions. Thank you Nadia

We were visiting Venice during Carnevale so there were too many people around. But Nadia arrived at our hotel and showed us how to avoid the crowds and still see exactly what we wanted to see. We learnt so much from Nadia about how Venice came into existence, why Venetian society and culture developed so differently from other cities in Italy and why Venice is still standing. Grazie tante!

We had a 2 hour walking tour followed by a 1 hour boat tour of Venice. Our tour guide was Nadia Danesin, who did an excellent job. She took us to parts & places where tourists aren’t aware of and pointed out nice local restaurants and places of interests . After the walking tour we took an hour tour in a private boat along the canals of Venice and then around the city itself. Excellent tour. Highly recommend this great way to experience Venice.

The only way to appreciate Venice! Nadia showed us how to be a local in this beautiful city and experience the city’s build up from ancient times. We went on a winding walking tour, savored the city’s best treats and finished with a dreamy boat ride. Couldn’t be happier we did this tour, every city should have Nadia narrating!

Nadia did a fantastic job fitting a ton of information and charm into a two-hour tour. Anyone interested in the history or architecture of her city would benefit from this tour.

Nadia gave us a truly unforgettable experience. We got a locals-perspective of Venice and got to eat at all of the best local spots! She provided us with a detailed history of Venice, taught us about Venetian culture and made us feel like family. I couldn’t recommend her enough!! If you want to truly see Venice, book with Nadia ❤️

Our family loved Nadia, she is a true Venetian who was born here. She was very knowledgeable about the country and the history of Venice. Definitely, would highly recommend this tour.

Very knowledgeable and to the point. Great stops w delicious small bites and easy drinks (optional). I would do this again the exact same way tomorrow if I could. Two thumbs way up. MAMMA MIA!

Nadia was amazing, she gave us history on Venice and really made us feel like family! The food was all amazing and she was very accommodating to my allergies! Would recommend over and over again! ❤️ we love Nadia! ❤️

This tour is a MUST do in Venice! Hits all the great spots and so much more! Linda was an amazing guide and so welcoming! We loved every minute and all the great knowledge she shared of the history of Venice! Thank you Linda for the best 2 hours!

Nadia is an amazing tour guide. She made everyone feel like family, and gave us an incredible tour of the city. It was obvious that she is a 'native Venetian'. We loved every minute of it.

By having a private tour I learned so much history and saw so many sights that I never would have on my own. Nadia us a delightful person and gave me ideas of several things to do in Venice. - Brenda

Linda was amazing! We had a private one hour tour via a small water taxi followed by a two hour walking tour. She was passionate about Venice and told us so many interesting things about the city that we never would have known. She went above and beyond and also gave us information about what else we could do in the short amount of time we had. I’m so glad we took her advice! Thank you Linda, for helping to make our trip to Venice so memorable!

I wish I could give more than five stars - we did private tours and excursions throughout Rome, Florence, and Venice with many excellent guides, but this was the highlight of our trip. It’s all because of Nadia’s incredible knowledge, warm personality, and ability to show you spots she knows will match your interests. I’d recommend her to anyone who wants to feel like they are actually taking part in the Venetian food, culture, and history. This was the last day of our trip. Nadia picked us up from our hotel and immediately made a strong bond with our ten year old daughter, who had already been through nine days of crowded museums, hot days, and Roman busts. But instantly Nadia was warm, jovial, and just fantastic. My in-laws have the same name as a nearby town where her friend lives - Nadia called her friend and my wife spoke with her about the town and its history, just a lovely and spontaneous thing to do! We stopped for DELICIOUS tramezzini (triangle sandwiches), spritzes, and pastries from a nearby cafe. There were no tables but somehow she created one, ordered everything and took care of the bill without us even realizing it. Just seamless. Everything was tailored to our location and reasonably close highlights. She took us through some history and the way Venetians eat and live. Unlike other tours where some guides are more like accessories, Nadia is almost an advocate. She takes charge and handles everything. She found out what we like to eat and made us dinner reservations for later in the evening on the spot at a place that was fully booked already. We casually mentioned how our daughter loves fashion and sewing can spin on a dime and took us to a fabulous and historic Jesuit church with marble that looked like fabric and with fantastic artwork. I am very much capable of being a know-it-all, but she just knows things you can’t know without being steeped in the city’s history. Towards the end we stopped later for prosecco, cicchetti, and a history lesson that was perfect. Most of all, she spoke directly with our daughter - giving her a beautiful and warm life lesson / advice that was heartwarming to hear. It really felt like we made a friend, more genuine and authentic than anything we had experienced throughout our entire trip. When we were finishing she took us to the restaurant she had booked for later in the evening, to introduce us to the owners and staff and so we’d know where it was. Had a quick several limoncello shots and concluded there. Unbelievably fun, delicious, and warm. HIGHLY recommend and can’t wait to come back to book more experiences with Nadia!

Vilma was awesome! So knowledgeable of the history and arts of Venice! She took us to the most important and historical landmarks and throughly explained in great detail the historical consequence.

We love Nadia and her tours! This was our second time coming to Venice and our second private tour with Nadia. We originally came in 2017 and loved her so much we booked her again. She is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to Venetian history. Her passion for her city is apparent with every story she tells. During the 2 hour walking tour she shows you secret canals and pieces of history you would never find without a local guide. We ended the tour with an hour boat ride through Venice, allowing you to see the beauty of the city by water. Our driver, Daniel, took us through the most amazing canals, finding so many hidden gems. I can’t recommend this company and their tours enough. It was the highlight of our entire Italy trip. Thank you Nadia!

If you’re thinking about booking this tour this is your sign to do it!! Nadia is so knowledgeable on Venice and we learned so much about the history of this amazing city during our private tour. She was kind and understanding as well. We can’t wait to explore Venice more knowing all the information Nadia taught us during our tour, which makes us appreciate Venice and all its beauty even more than before! Thank you, Nadia!!! We now have a friend in Venice. :)

Nadia illuminated the magic of Venice, and what it means to be Venetian. She took us to hidden gems we never would have found on our own. She arranged a tour to Murano to experience one of the finest glass blowing studios, and to Burano for lunch at a Michelin Star restaurant. She introduced us to one of Burano’s finest lace makers, taxied us in exquisite Vaporetto’s, and helped us understand what made Venice one of the wealthiest republics for nearly 1100 years. She’s a wealth of knowledge and is worth every penny. We are eternally grateful to her.

This was my first time in Venice and Nadia was very accommodating to our needs and time. The idea of doing a tour right after traveling by plane for 24 hours seemed like not a great idea! Oh this was the best idea so far in this trip and I would recommend Nadia for anyone who wants to learn history , and how to get around the city ! The weather was perfect for walking in the beautiful city. She explained things so thoroughly and made suggestions for many places, as well as personalized this tour for me and my daughter ! We made a new “friend “ in Venice! I will actually take it one step up and call her “Famiglia”!

We first met Nadia a number of years ago when my wife and i had a brief stay in Venice. This time around, we decide to take the kids and have a proper stay in Venice. Nadia as always, was exceptional. Her knowledge of Venice is excellent, her referrals to local, authentic restaurants ensured that we dined in style and my kids simply loved their Italian 'aunty'. It is quite evident that she has an amazing network of colleagues in the hospitality and tourist industry who support her (example, water taxi captains, restaurant owners, shop owners). Her connections ensure the best service at a great price and most importantly, without the need to stand in endless queues. Nadia, thank you for a stunning family vacation and most importantly for taking such great care of my daughters for the last week of their stay.

This was the second time I have used “A Friend in Venice” for a personal tour and with good reason. This trip covered Burano, Murano and Venice. This was an excellent trip and Nadia’s knowledge is second to none. A thoroughly enjoyable tour covering so much. Nadia’s advice for places to visit and her explanation of Venetian culture and history provided a rich layer of experience that made the trip truly memorable. Thanks again Nadia!

Our tour guide was a multi generation native Venetian who was proud of her home and shared important information and otherwise unavailable experiences.

I organized a tour with Linda for a group of 2 seniors and 2 adults in Venice. She was super helpful from the very start up to the end. Everything was so seamless from the payment process all the way to the departure of the clients. The seniors were pretty handful and extra patience was required - Linda and Nadia delivered so well! Linda and Nadia made sure the seniors were assisted well upon arrival from the airport and right until departure. Nadia was the one who assisted for the airport transfers. On the tour proper, Linda - who was the guide - gave very informative and interesting stories and suggestions. I informed Linda that the group was Islam and she adjusted so well in giving a background about the Islam influence in Venice for a more relatable experience. Linda the best guide in Venice! Will definitely work again with her in the future.

Linda was a wonderful guide. She had so much information to share as we walked along Venice. It was great to see inside the Palazzetto Pisani, and see some of the history. She also gave us great food suggestions which we took advantage of and really enjoyed. I would definitely recommend this tour.

We contacted Nadia through our family friends here in the USA. Nadia came highly recommended. We were not disappointed. Nadia not only showed us amazing parts of Venice but the historical facts she gave us were incredible. The boat tour was amazing. I highly recommend the walking tour coupled with the boat tour. It is incredible. Most of the common site anyone with Google maps can find. The tour Naida gives is off the beaten path with so many interesting sites and places to eat. You will never forget it. She is a gracious, kind and informative host of Venezia!

The Tour was absolutely amazing. Linda (our guide) was so professional and kind. She was extremely knowledgable and clearly cared about what our personal needs were. I brought my wife, 10 year old, and 13 year old. Linda could move quickly when we needed and slow down for special "off the beaten path" activities. We were able to experience all of Venice with no lines, hassles, or issues. Linda took us to all the spots we wanted to see and some secret gems that surprised us with. I have already sent her another client. This is a must do whether you in Venice for a day or a week. Linda cared so much that even though we only spent a day with her she was happy to help the whole time we were there with getting reservations at the best restaurants with the best views and ambiances in town. She is clearly a well connected local who cares deeply about her clients. Hard to find these days. FIVE STARS PLUS!

I give this tour 10 stars, Nadia our guide is a passionate about the history of her city, We visited Venice many times but nobody told us so many interesting fact about the construction, the history and the culture of Venice. If you are planing to visti, ask for her it wil make the difference.

From the moment we met Nadia, she made us feel comfortable and was a joy to be around.  Before the tour even began, Nadia took the time to show us maps of Venice and went over the important history of the city, to help us gain an overview of where we would be walking.  She asked us questions about what we had already seen and what we hoped to see, working with us to customize our experience and meet our needs.  She was full of valuable information and gave us stellar recommendations about places to visit and where to eat.  We did a walking tour for 2 hours and a boat tour for 1 hour.  I highly recommend seeing the city this way, from land and water.  She took us to parts of the city that, generally, tourists don’t see.  We were able to take pictures and videos that captured the beauty of Venice. Nadia is simply the best!!!

Nadia met us at the airport, helped us get to our lodging, brought us to a great lunch place and THEN we did an amazing tour- walking around Venice "off the beaten path". Great stories and information- a lovely day...and we made a new friend.

We had a great afternoon with Nadia exploring Venice and learning all about its history. Lots of weaving in and out of streets off the beaten track. There is something special about hearing about a place from someone with lived experience and has plenty of stories and personal knowledge. Would highly recommend a tour.