Secret Venice Tours: a personal view of Venice with a guide born in the city

Secret Venice Tours presents its outings in the first person: Lucrezia, a licensed tourist guide born and raised in the Cannaregio district, leads visitors through a city she has known since childhood. Her website says she has worked as a guide since 2018 and publishes her tourist-guide licence number, 325/2018. The offer differs from a large-group catalogue because each experience is arranged as a private visit, shaped through conversation and adapted to the interests of the people who book.

A local guide’s perspective, not a single fixed route

The offer includes an introductory visit to well-known sights, “highlights and hidden gems” walks, tours centred on Dorsoduro, and experiences about Venetian traditions and everyday life. Lucrezia describes a style that moves beyond the busiest streets and interprets the city through its neighbourhoods, customs and architectural details that can be missed on a quick visit. This is a guide-led experience: conversation and observation shape the route alongside the familiar landmarks.

Visitors who already know St Mark’s or Rialto can choose Dorsoduro, described on the site as an arts district, or a walk through less crowded corners. In a city where nearby streets can have very different visitor volumes, leaving the monumental axis can change the pace of a walk. The website allows guests to customise the tour and encourages them to get in touch before booking; duration and exact stops should be agreed with the guide.

Food, islands and wine country

The catalogue extends beyond historical walks. Its cicchetti outing introduces the culture of Venetian bars and small local bites, accompanied by local wine according to the selected format. It suits visitors interested in food customs and conversation, though dietary restrictions should be shared in advance and included tastings confirmed before booking.

Secret Venice Tours also advertises a boat trip across the lagoon and visits to Murano, Burano and Torcello. Each island needs its own time: Murano has a glassmaking tradition, Burano is known for its colourful houses, and Torcello for its atmosphere and historic heritage. Boat availability, travel time and the length of each stop depend on the specific experience. Another listed outing goes to the Prosecco hills for wine tasting. Since that trip leaves Venice, it involves overland travel and should be weighed against a private city walk according to the time available.

What participants’ comments suggest

Comments collected by the guide highlight local knowledge, a willingness to answer questions and a personal manner. Some testimonials value the freedom to adjust the pace, pause for photographs or talk about history and contemporary life. Those qualities matter in a private service, but the result also depends on visitors communicating their interests and limitations before meeting.

Secret Venice Tours’ main distinction is that the experience centres on an identifiable guide, her qualifications and her personal reading of the city’s districts. The published licence and her work since 2018 give visitors a way to check who will lead their outing. In return, a private format requires direct coordination of date, duration and transport; it may not suit someone seeking a fixed daily departure or a large-group price. Her biography, catalogue and contact details are available on the official website, with further information about Lucrezia and her licence and the available tours.