---
title: "Off the Beaten Track in Venice: Private City Tour"
lang: en
type: tour
city: Venice
country: Italy
price: 121
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.89
reviews: 127
duration_minutes: 150
languages: [en, it]
free_cancellation: "true"
guidekin_pick: Second visit, Dorsoduro
rank_in_category: 7 of 22 (Walking Tours)
schedule_checked: 2026-10-03
data_updated: 2026-10-12
canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/tours/off-the-beaten-track-in-venice-private-city-tour/
---

# Off the Beaten Track in Venice: Private City Tour

**Guidekin's take:** A private walk through Dorsoduro rather than St Mark's, from Campo Santa Margherita through the streets Venetians use, with a local guide for your party only and carbon offset included. Hotel pickup, food and drinks are not included, and the route suits a second visit more than a first. 4.89 from 127 reviews at €121 per person.

In our comparison: #7 of 22 in Walking Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below).

## Overview

Ready to experience a side of Venice like a local, with a local? This is a tour, unlike any other! If you want to take a step away from the touristy path, there's no better way than by diving into the city's alternative side. Welcome to Dorsoduro!

If you're done with the main highlights, why not step away and take a less-traveled path that will show you an unexpected side of Venice? Follow a local guide on a private tour full of surprises and check out Campo Santa Margherita and Isola San Giorgo, and more that let the true form of the city shine! 

Withlocals Off the Beaten Track Tour™ is one of Withlocals' signature tours available in major cities worldwide. We work with passionate local guides who earn a fair fee. We support local economies by only offering local produce and prevent over-tourism with only small non-intrusive groups. Our tours are carbon-neutral and away from the standard tourist routes.

## Before you book

- Meeting point: In front of Libreria Ca' Foscarina 3…
- Min. 2 to book: not for solo travellers
- 17 start times: between 09:00 and 17:00
- Food not included: bring or buy your own
- Strollers OK: infants accepted

**Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point

## Key facts

- Price: from €121 per person
- Duration: 2h 30m
- Rating: 4.89/5 from 127 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Operator: Withlocals
- Minimum booking: 2 travellers at this price
- Group: Private tour, your party only
- Guide languages: English, Italian
- Start times: 17 start times between 09:00 and 17:00
- Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket
- Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03

## Reviews

4.89 from 127 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
98% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 125 of 127.

- 5 stars: 119 (94%)
- 4 stars: 6 (5%)
- 3 stars: 0 (0%)
- 2 stars: 0 (0%)
- 1 star: 2 (2%)

### What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the quiet routes and knowledgeable local guides; some report cancellations with little or no notice

**Praised:**
- Quiet walks through Dorsoduro and residential areas away from the main crowds
- Local guides who connect history and architecture with everyday Venetian life
- Routes, meeting points and pace adapted to travellers' interests and needs
- Restaurant recommendations and practical tips for exploring independently
- Friendly, conversational guides who engage both adults and children

**Complaints:**
- Late or missing cancellation notices disrupted travel plans

Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2020-10-19 to 2026-05-17); last checked 2026-10-04.

## What's included

- CO2 Neutral: all tours carbon emissions are offset
- Private Tour
- Local Guide
- Transportation

## Not included

- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks

## Itinerary

1. **To begin with, get to see the most amazing view of not only the whole Saint M...** (1h) - To begin with, get to see the most amazing view of not only the whole Saint Mark’s water basin but of the Doge’s Palace and part of Saint Mark’s Square itself.
2. **Campo Santa Margherita** (1h) - Surrounded of houses from the XIV and XV century, is a very well-known meeting point of the Dorsoduro District area
3. **Fondamenta Del Gaffaro** (pass by, no stop) - Depending on your host and their chosen route for the tour, this stop might also be included in your route.
4. **Depending on your host and their chosen route for the tour, this stop might a...** (pass by, no stop) - Depending on your host and their chosen route for the tour, this stop might also be included in your route.
5. **San Polo** (pass by, no stop) - Depending on your host and their chosen route for the tour, this stop might also be included in your route.
6. **Mercati di Rialto** (pass by, no stop) - Depending on your host and their chosen route for the tour, this stop might also be included in your route.
7. **Chiesa di Santa Maria della Fava** (pass by, no stop) - Depending on your host and their chosen route for the tour, this stop might also be included in your route.
8. **Depending on your host and their chosen route for the tour, this stop might a...** (pass by, no stop) - Depending on your host and their chosen route for the tour, this stop might also be included in your route.
9. **Piazza San Marco** (pass by, no stop) - Depending on your host and their chosen route for the tour, this stop might also be included in your route.
10. **Basilica di San Marco** (pass by, no stop) - Depending on your host and their chosen route for the tour, this stop might also be included in your route.
11. **Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo** (pass by, no stop) - Depending on your host and their chosen route for the tour, this stop might also be included in your route.
12. **Fondamenta de Ca' Bala** (pass by, no stop) - Depending on your host and their chosen route for the tour, this stop might also be included in your route.

## Schedule

- Runs: daily
- Departures: 17 start times between 09:00 and 17:00
- Schedule last checked: 2026-10-03
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

## Meeting point

In front of Libreria Ca' Foscarina 3 (bookshop)
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJ13GqHs-xfkcRlxe2xDxsZlU

Ends: back at the meeting point

## Good to know

- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it

## Cost for your party

| People | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | €242 | €121 |
| 4 | €288 | €72 |
| 6 | €330 | €55 |

Cheapest option for that party size from the operator's current price tiers; the calendar shows the exact figure for your date. Shared tours in Walking Tours start at €14 per person.

## Compared with other Walking Tours

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #7 of 22** | €121 | 2h 30m | 4.89 (127) | private |
| [Gondola Ride with Private Walking Tour in Venice](/italy/venice/tours/gondola-ride-with-private-walking-tour-in-venice/?format=md) | €79 | 3h | 4.95 (325) | private |
| [Tour of The Real Hidden Venice](/italy/venice/tours/tour-of-the-real-hidden-venice/?format=md) | €39 | 2h | 4.86 (2299) | private |
| [Venice: Commissario Brunetti Walking Tour for Donna Leon Fans](/italy/venice/tours/venice-commissario-brunetti-walking-tour-for-donna-leon-fans/?format=md) | €83 | 2h | 4.93 (178) | shared |

Ranked #7 of 22 in Walking Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €14 to €450, median €90; typical length 2h 30m. 9 of 22 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market.

Full list: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/walking-tours-venice/?format=md

## More in Venice

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Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/?format=md