Venice Kayak

Venice Kayak runs guided kayak tours through the canals of Venice and out into the lagoon, offering a quiet, low-level way to see the city that few visitors experience. The company is owned by Classic Boats Venice and is now based in Cannaregio, on the northern side of the city, which gives easy access both to the inner canals and to the open lagoon towards the islands.

The main options are a Venice canal tour, which threads through smaller canals where you share the water with delivery boats, gondolas and local craft, and a full-day tour to Burano, which crosses the northern lagoon to the island of coloured houses. The company also supports paddlers taking part in the Vogalonga, the annual non-motorised regatta, and organises team-building trips, group excursions, a kayak club and private or bespoke tours. All tours are run in English, with other languages available on request.

Kayaks, paddles, life vests and dry bags are all supplied, so you only need to bring suitable clothing, sun protection and water. Some previous kayaking experience is helpful, especially for the full-day lagoon trip, which involves a long paddle in open water, and you should be reasonably fit. Paddling in Venice means following the rules of the waterways and the guide's instructions closely, as the canals carry working boat traffic, and the guides know the routes and the right times to use them. Book ahead, especially in summer, and check the website for current tour lengths and prices.

Venice Kayak suits active travellers, couples and groups of friends who want to see the city from the water at their own pace and are comfortable in a kayak. It offers a different perspective from a gondola or vaporetto, as you sit at water level and can reach corners that larger boats do not. Families with older, confident children may also enjoy the canal tour; ask the company about age limits before booking.

The base is in Cannaregio, on the northern side of the city. Contact the company by phone or email for exact meeting instructions when you book, and allow time to find the base, as Cannaregio's fondamente can be confusing for first-time visitors.