Skim across the waters of the Grand Canal on a private boat, taking in views of the canal-shaped city as you make your way to Murano. Once you arrive, visit a stunning, centuries-old basilica, watch a master glassblower at work

Meet your guide at your hotel lobby and hop aboard a comfortable, private motorboat. Cruise past waterfront palaces and beneath arched bridges as you weave through labyrinthine canals on your way out into the lagoon. Arrive at Murano and hop off the boat for a guided walk through the quiet streets of the historic centre. Visit Santa Maria e San Donato, a 7th-century Byzantine church known for its colourful stone mosaic floor and marble sarcophagus containing the relics of dragon slayer San Donato.

Make your way to a celebrated glass factory to watch artisans at work crafting fragile, blown-glass objects and colourful sculptures. . If the shoe fits, take your pick of prizes—a multi-colored vase, a decorative millefiori plate, or a goto, a typical Venetian wineglass. If the slipper doesn't fit, not to worry. You can benefit from a special discount on the beautiful wares that fill the showroom, shopping as long as you'd like before making your way back to Venice on your own.