Canal boat holidays in Venice and Friuli
About Venice and Friuli
Surrender to the pleasures of Veneto
The waters of Veneto, Italy, are like two different sisters. Venice bustles with glitz and the action doesn’t stop. But there’s a quieter sister waiting to welcome you on river cruises in Italy, and she’s just as beautiful. Laid-back isles and seaside canals invite quiet times. Rivers thread inland to intriguing cities and towns, rounding out your vacation as you explore and relax!
Venice and Friuli map
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The perfect boating region for...
History & Heritage
Venice is a treasure trove of history and heritage. Include time for it in your history holidays, and then cruise to Murano for its glassware, Burano for its lace and beautifully colourful houses, and Jesolo for its Villa Saccagnana. Tour Villa Pisani on the lovely Brenta Riviera.
Golf
There are first-rate golf clubs abound in Veneto to inspire golf weekends on your canal boat cruises in Venice. Tee off at the Golf Club Villa Condulmer near Casale. It’s a super 18-hole course set on a palatial estate. The course at Grado is one of Italy’s best.
Swimming
Relax in the warm sunshine on the golden beaches of Adriatic resorts. Take a dip in the sea to cool off or enjoy a refreshing swim in a pool. The waters of the Friuli region are particularly inviting for lagoon swimming. Grado should top your list.
Gastronomy
Italy is known worldwide for its fantastic cuisine! In addition to pizza, pasta and gelato, sample delicious antipasti creations, amazing bruschetta and fresh fish and seafood. Combine with fine Italian wines for a dining heaven. Alternatively, stroll the colourful markets and buy local produce for a delicious meal on board.
Useful information
Download our Region Guide
We've produced a handy PDF guide for this region to give you an overview of all the stops and things to do along the waterway.
A boating holiday in Venice opens you up to more than 120 islands, ensconced within the beautiful Venetian Lagoon. Sand bars and barrier beaches protect the shallow waters from the open Adriatic, creating the largest wetlands in the entire Mediterranean and one of Europe’s richest habitats for birds and other marine life. Venice is more than just a premiere city; it is a much larger area collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. As you head north east from Venice on your canal boat, you enter the Friuli region of Northeast Italy. On the way, you pass the Sile, Piave, Livenza and Stella rivers. Each is distinct in character, playing host to wetlands, woodlands and sandy beaches. The little cousins of the Venetian Lagoon create an idyllic setting, one that makes you want to linger and enjoy!
In around 400 A.D. barbarians from Northern Europe swept into Italy, raiding and pillaging as they came. Some inhabitants fled to the islands off the mainland of present-day Venice. The open water afforded some protection. The settlement thrived on fishing and trading, and by the mid-1400s it was at the height of its power. It was known as the Queen of the Adriatic. The array of 150 canals and 400 bridges in the city make it one of the most unusual places in the world.
When cruising in the Venetian Lagoon near Venice, traffic can be quite heavy. Thus, some previous boating experience is recommended. The waters of the Friuli region are much less crowded and better suited for beginners.
Take a look at our waterway and lock closures page to find out if there are any scheduled cruising restrictions that will affect your holiday plans.
All the lift bridges and locks on the Venetian Lagoon and the surrounding waterways are automatic. You will find wooden posts (briccole) marking the channels for cruising.
Opening hours: Automatic opening on demand,
Public holidays: Locks are open all the time (inc. Bank Holidays).
Brenta river locks closed on Mondays.
When you’re near Venice, you can only moor in designated public mooring places. Space is quite limited, especially in the busy summer season. Take a water taxi (vaporetto) to your tourist destination in the Venetian Lagoon instead of hassling over a place to park the boat.
When travelling from Casale, exclusive private moorings are available for Le Boat customers. These moorings are located on Mazzorbo (Burano), Vignole (for Venice) and in Chioggia - areas which are well connected with the public transport (the famous water bus called Vaporetto) to help you visit central venice and all the surrounding islands. They do not have access to water or shore power and availability is limited - they are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. This fee will be automatically added, as a cost, to your Italy booking and is included in the prices quoted on our website when applicable.
In the Friuli region from our base in Precenicco, you’ll find a wider selection of moorings.
To find out how to get to each of our bases in this boating region, as well as what facilities and amenities are available at each base or nearby, click on the relevant base below:
- Hire of the boat and its onboard equipment
- A fully equipped kitchen
- Towels and linen for all passengers
- A boat handling demonstration prior to departure
- Technical support
- On-board maps and visitor information
- Passage through locks
- A compulsory moorings fee has been included in the price quoted. See compulsory costs for more details
- Optional holiday extras
- Boat damage waiver
- Running costs (diesel, gas, engine wear and tear) - charged by the engine hour.
- Travel to and from the base(s)
- Waterside services if you use them (i.e. moorings where a charge is applicable, pump-out if needed, water, etc)
- Cancellation plan & any travel/personal insurance
- Food and drink
Interactive map of Venice and Friuli
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= Point of interest
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Route suggestions
To help you get an idea of how far you can travel in the time you have, here's a selection of routes to and from our bases in this region. You dont have to stop at all the places listed or follow the route exactly. So long as you return your boat to your end base by the date you've booked - you're free to enjoy your cruise however you like. For a comfortable pace, allowing you time to regularly stop and explore, we'd recommend an average of 2 - 4 hours cruising each day.
Please note: Any route suggestions and itineraries on the Le Boat website are examples only and any of the suggested potential routes, attractions, restaurants, towns, villages or sections of the waterway included in them may not always be open or accessible at time of cruising.
= Click the arrow icon on each route suggestion, to flip the 'card' and reveal more details.