Italy · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Trips in Italy

278 tours  ·  from $14

Half of this coastline only makes sense from the water. The 15 below run from a forty-minute gondola to a full day under sail off Capri, each priced and clear about how much of it is swimming and how much is transfer.

Boat Trip: Glimpse of Murano, Torcello & Burano Islands - Finding the departure point near Venice’s center
Boat Tours in Venice, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Venice Tours

Boat Trip: Glimpse of Murano, Torcello & Burano Islands

1.Boat Trip: Glimpse of Murano, Torcello & Burano Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 15,699 reviews · 4.5 - 5.5 hours · from $29Our pick

Cruise from near Saint Mark’s Square or Santa Lucia Station to Murano, Torcello, and Burano. You’ll watch a glass-blowing demonstration, see Burano’s lace tradition, and explore each island independently, with about 45 minutes per stop and commentary in five languages.

“the trip was really nice, the Burano stop should be a bit longer, perhaps an extra 30 min, apart from it it was perfect.”

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Venice: Burano, Torcello & Murano Boat Tour w/Glassblowing - Murano: a close look at Venice’s famous glass
Boat Tours in Venice, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Venice Tours

Venice: Burano, Torcello & Murano Boat Tour w/Glassblowing

2.Burano, Torcello & Murano Boat Tour w/Glassblowing

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 10,245 reviews · 6 hours · from $28

Ride a panoramic boat from St. Mark’s to Murano, Burano, and Torcello. You’ll see a glassblowing demonstration, get free time on each island, and hear multilingual commentary from a host such as Francesca. The pace is brisk, but the $28 price covers a lot of Venice lagoon scenery.

“This trip was awesome for a visit to all of the close islands to Venice. We had great transportation with an amazing view, were given very clear instructions on meeting points and times, and had lots of time to visit each island ourselves. This was 100% worth our money.”

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From Milan: Como & Bellagio with Private Lake Como Cruise - Como: a useful first look at the lake
Boat Tours in Lake Como, Cruises & Boat Tours, Lake Como Day Trips, Lake Como Tours, Private, Tour Reviews

From Milan: Como & Bellagio with Private Lake Como Cruise

3.Como & Bellagio with Private Lake Como Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 9,788 reviews · from $112

Travel from Milan to Como and Bellagio with a bilingual English or Spanish guide, walking through Como, visiting Villa Olmo’s garden, and cruising Lake Como by private boat. Guides such as Lina, Franco, Marina, and Viviana have earned praise for clear commentary and helpful local tips.

“The trip was great. Our guide, Marina, was amazing, very funny. Beautiful views and a well organized experience. I strongly recommend this trip!”

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Venice: Murano and Burano Boat Tour with Glass Factory Visit - Meeting the boat near San Marco or the train station
Boat Tours in Venice, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Venice Tours

Venice: Murano and Burano Boat Tour with Glass Factory Visit

4.Murano and Burano Boat Tour with Glass Factory Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 9,527 reviews · from $34

Sail from San Marco or Venice’s train station to Murano and Burano with a multilingual guide and assistant. Watch a short glass-blowing demonstration, then explore both islands independently. Expect a comfortable boat, open-air terrace views, fixed return times, and no food included.

“Fantastic day trip. Just the right amount of time with kids, and our guide helped with timing to ensure we were back in time. The glass blowing demonstration was fantastic, about 10 minutes, but not much free time in Murano although not needed. Free time around Burano was great, beautiful little village.”

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Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat - Burano: handmade lace and houses painted for the sea
Boat Tours in Venice, Cruises & Boat Tours, Guided, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours, Venice Tours

Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat

5.Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7,580 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $36

Cruise from central Venice to Murano and Burano with a guide such as Silvia, Frankie, or Elena. Watch glassblowing, see hand-stitched lace when available, explore colorful Burano, and return by private boat. Groups are limited to 22, with about two and a half hours on each island.

“Our adventure on Murano and Burano was a wonderful experience. Rachel our guide was excellent. She was very knowledgeable with also personable as well. I would highly recommend this tour and Rachel as a guide!”

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Venice: Murano & Burano Panoramic Boat Tour w/ Glassblowing - Finding the yellow desk near Hotel Danieli
Boat Tours in Venice, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Venice Tours

Venice: Murano & Burano Panoramic Boat Tour w/ Glassblowing

6.Murano & Burano Panoramic Boat Tour w/ Glassblowing

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 6,212 reviews · 4 - 4.5 hours · from $29

Leave from St. Mark’s area for a 4 to 4.5-hour boat trip to Murano and Burano. Watch a Murano glass master at work, browse the factory gallery, then stroll Burano’s painted houses, lace shops, canals, and cafés. Commentary is offered in English, Italian, French, Spanish, and German.

“lovely boat ride to murano. Glass making experience in the factory was lovely. burano was also sweet. all in all a great half day spent on the tour.”

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From Sardinia: La Maddalena Archipelago Full-Day Boat Tour - Boarding at Palau or La Maddalena
Boat Tours in Sardinia, Cruises & Boat Tours, Full-Day, Maddalena Archipelago Cruises, Sardinia Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Sardinia: La Maddalena Archipelago Full-Day Boat Tour

7.La Maddalena Archipelago Full-Day Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 4,980 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $59

Join Claudia and the multilingual crew for a 6 to 7 hour boat trip from Palau or La Maddalena. Swim at Budelli, relax on Santa Maria and Spargi, view Spiaggia Rosa from the water, and enjoy a free hour in La Maddalena.

“It’s one of our favourite boat trips we’ve ever done! Extremely well organised, we loved the fact that we kept our own seats for the whole trip! The guide was great & very friendly The itinerary was very good stopping at all of the best places around La Maddalena. We loved all of the beaches & the beautiful sea We had some Calamari which was delicious & French fries served at your table A very enjoyable trip & we’d highly recommend”

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Capri: Island Boat Trip with Grottos - Marina Grande to the Faraglioni
Boat Tours in Capri, Capri & Ischia Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews

Capri: Island Boat Trip with Grottos

8.Island Boat Trip with Grottos

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4,923 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $28

From Marina Grande, you’ll cruise Capri’s coast with an English or Italian speaking crew, passing the Faraglioni, Casa Malaparte, White and Green Grottos, and Punta Carena Lighthouse. Choose a Blue Grotto visit or a swimming stop, but allow extra time if the cave queue is long.

“Thankfully there is now a map option to locate the starting point. It really helped. It is all a bit chaotic at the pier but ask questions and you get in the right boat! It is a lovely hour seeing the island and its sights.”

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Milan: Navigli Canal Boat Cruise - Naviglio Grande and the case di Ringhiera
Boat Tours in Milan, Cruises & Boat Tours, Milan Tours, Tour Reviews

Milan: Navigli Canal Boat Cruise

9.Navigli Canal Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.3 · 4,502 reviews · 50 min · from $25

Board a small electric boat at Alzaia Naviglio Grande for a 50-minute cruise through Milan’s Navigli district. An English or Italian host helps with boarding, while QR-code audio commentary is available in five languages. Expect canal views, working-class houses, historic bridges, Darsena nightlife, and a return trip along the same route.

“good trip, You can find The place easily and use the metro to get there. 50 minutes trip.”

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From Venice: Murano & Burano Guided Tour by Private Boat - Meeting the boat near Riva degli Schiavoni
Boat Tours in Venice, Cruises & Boat Tours, Guided, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours, Venice Tours

From Venice: Murano & Burano Guided Tour by Private Boat

10.Murano & Burano Guided Tour by Private Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,170 reviews · from $61

Spend five hours visiting Murano and Burano by private or small-group boat. Guides such as Elena, Manu, Anna, and Elly explain Venetian life, glassmaking, and lace. You will see working artisans, explore colorful island streets, and have free time for photos, food, and shopping.

“Chiara was a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide. The tour itself was very enjoyable and I would thoroughly recommend.”

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Stresa: 3 Borromean Islands Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour - Finding the boats at Stresa Piazza Marconi
Boat Tours in Lake Como, Cruises & Boat Tours, Lake Como Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Stresa: 3 Borromean Islands Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour

11.Stresa: 3 Borromean Islands Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 4,122 reviews · 1 day · from $14Best value

From Stresa, use a one-day boat pass to visit Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori, and Isola Bella at your own pace. Boats are comfortable and frequent, with multilingual crew and onboard audio commentary. Allow extra money for island landing fees, palace and garden tickets, lunch, and shopping.

“Unfortunately there was no guide, tickets got us the transfer to the islands only. Boats were fast, comfortable and there was enough room for everybody. They ran on time and we were very happy with this tour.”

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Naples: Boat Tour to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello - An early Naples pickup and a short transfer to Torre del Greco
Boat Tours in Naples, Cruises & Boat Tours, Naples & Pompeii Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Naples: Boat Tour to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello

12.Boat Tour to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4,000 reviews · from $95

Spend 10 hours cruising from Naples to Amalfi and Positano, with an optional minibus visit to Ravello. Guides such as Alba, Simone, Nello, and Cristina provide commentary in English, Spanish, or Italian. Expect grand coastal views, short town visits, and a long day in the sun.

“This is now the second time I’ve made this trip, and it was absolutely fantastic. The crew is exceptionally organized, professional, and friendly. Communication was seamless from the moment we booked until the end of our journey. I highly recommend this trip!”

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From Naples: Gulf of Naples & Capri Sightseeing Boat Tour - Starting with the Gulf of Naples and Mount Vesuvius
Boat Tours in Naples, Cruises & Boat Tours, Naples & Pompeii Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Naples: Gulf of Naples & Capri Sightseeing Boat Tour

13.Gulf of Naples & Capri Sightseeing Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3,384 reviews · 9 hours - 1 day · from $93

You travel from Naples or nearby towns to Capri by ferry, circle the island by boat, and get 3 to 4 hours to explore on land. Guides such as Anastasia and Gaetano help with timing and island plans. Choose the swim option for a stop near the Faraglioni.

“Loved our trip to Capri. Anastasia our guide was lovely. She could not have helped us more. She gave us great information about everything from things to see on the sea trip to Capri to things to do in Capri itself. We availed of the inclusive bus travel with chair lift tickets which was a great experience. I would happily recommend HP Travel for your trip from Naples to Capri.”

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Polignano a Mare: Speedboat Cruise to Caves with Aperitif - Cala Paguro and the first coastal views
Boat Tours in Puglia, Cruises & Boat Tours, Puglia Tours, Tour Reviews

Polignano a Mare: Speedboat Cruise to Caves with Aperitif

14.Speedboat Cruise to Caves with Aperitif

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,382 reviews · 2 hours · from $35Top rated

Set out from Cala Ponte Marina on a two-hour, seven-meter speedboat cruise along Polignano a Mare’s cave-lined coast. Your English or Italian skipper, including guides such as Giuseppe, Claudio, and Mattia, points out the caves, plays music, serves wine and snacks, and stops for a swim.

“This was a great way to see the caves of Polignano a Mare. Our guide was funny and entertaining. I would definitely recommend this activity especially as an activity in the off season.”

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Private 3 hrs Venice Tour: St Mark's, Walking tour & Boat tour - Inside St. Mark’s Basilica, the skip-the-line ticket earns its keep
Boat Tours in Venice, Cruises & Boat Tours, Private, St Mark's Basilica Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Venice Tours, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Venice

Private 3 hrs Venice Tour: St Mark’s, Walking tour & Boat tour

15.Private 3 hrs Venice Tour: St Mark’s, Walking tour & Boat tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 3,372 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $480

Begin at the Royal Gardens near St. Mark’s Square with an English-speaking guide, then enter St. Mark’s Basilica, walk through Castello’s quiet lanes, and take a one-hour Grand Canal boat tour. Guides may include local experts such as Cristina Pigozzo, Francesco, or Adriana. Note the break between tours.

“Both guides had a wealth of knowledge and were very pleasant and accommodating. I suggest seeing Venice via foot and boat as you get two very different perspectives.”

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New in Cruises & Boat Tours

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