The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends
Venice, Italy

The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends

Outty Ranking 57 5.0 · 6 traveler reviews2 hoursFrom $217
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Outty Ranking

57/100

Worth a Look. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

5.0/5

Based on 6 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends worth booking?

The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends is a 2-hour experience in Venice, Italy, from $217 per person. It scores 57 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 6 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
57 / 100
Rating
5/5 (6)
Duration
2 hours
From
$217 per person

Discover the supernatural side of Dorsoduro district learning about its legends and mysteries.Starting from Accademia Bridge you will be dropped in fantastic stories. Crossing The Bridge of Wonders,your guide will tell you the incredible legend of the 7 sisters who lived there.Then pass by San Trovaro Squero, where gondolas are usually built and repaired.Wrapped in the moonlight you will walk along the wonderful Zatter pavement which head to the Hospital for the Incurables which today hosts the Academy of Fine Arts. Let's find out the most mysterious and scaring building of the city, CA Dario, “the palace that kills”, hiding inside the truth about unpleasent events happened to the owners first owners who found death there!Last stop will be Santa Maria della Salute Church, whose dome is visible from all over the city located at Punta della Dogana, famous for its singular pointed shape that reminds the bow of ships and from where you can enjoy one of the most amazing views of the City.

What you get

    About this experience

    Discover the supernatural side of Dorsoduro district learning about its legends and mysteries.Starting from Accademia Bridge you will be dropped in fantastic stories. Crossing The Bridge of Wonders,your guide will tell you the incredible legend of the 7 sisters who lived there.Then pass by San Trovaro Squero, where gondolas are usually built and repaired.Wrapped in the moonlight you will walk along the wonderful Zatter pavement which head to the Hospital for the Incurables which today hosts the Academy of Fine Arts. Let's find out the most mysterious and scaring building of the city, CA Dario, “the palace that kills”, hiding inside the truth about unpleasent events happened to the owners first owners who found death there!Last stop will be Santa Maria della Salute Church, whose dome is visible from all over the city located at Punta della Dogana, famous for its singular pointed shape that reminds the bow of ships and from where you can enjoy one of the most amazing views of the City.

    What's included

    Included

    • pick up from designed meeting point
    • English Speaking Local guide

    Not included

    • gratuities (optional)
    • Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off

    What you'll see and do

    1. Dorsoduro / Accademia

      While crossing the “Ponte delle Meraviglie”, The Bridge of Wonders,very close to the Academia Galleries , your guide will tell you the incredible legend of the 7 sisters who lived here long time ago

      20 minutes here

    2. Squero di San Trovaso

      The classic wooden shipyard where gondolas were built and repaired .

      20 minutes here · Admission not included

    3. Fondamenta Zattere

      Wrapped in the moonlight you will walk along the wonderful Zattere pavement which head to Hospital for the Incurable, built to give hospitality to people suffering from what was then called the French disease: syphilis, today it hosts the Academy of Fine Arts.

      20 minutes here

    4. Palazzo Dario

      “the palace that kills”, currently closed to the public, which hold too many unpleasent events of his first owner and all the ones who came after him and found death!

      20 minutes here · Admission not included

    5. Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute

      Last stop will be Santa Maria della Salute chuch, considered one of the most beautiful churches of the City whose dome is visible from all over the city

      20 minutes here · Admission not included

    6. Punta della Dogana

      Famous for its singular pointed shape that reminds the bow of ships and from where you can enjoy one of the most amazing views of the City.

      20 minutes here

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Venice

    Meeting point is next to the white statue in the square

    Hotel pickup

    No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

    Ends at

    Returns to the starting point

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    de, en, it, fr, es
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 15 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Private Tours of Venice

    Know before you go

    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • 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

    Photos

    The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends, photo 2The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends, photo 3The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends, photo 4The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends, photo 5

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 6 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    5 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    The guide

    4 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Traveler reviews

    6 verified traveler reviews for The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    6
    4 star
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    3 star
    0
    2 star
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    1 star
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    Sort
    Sanford_S · October 2025

    La Repubblica delle Ombre

    Venice markets itself as the most romantic city in the world. And it is. But behind all those shuttered palazzo windows and narrow alleys lies a history that is not exactly serenissima. Local guide Annalisa pulled no punches as she regaled us with tales of scheming, murders, plague, infanticide, haunted houses, mugging, and 1000 years worth of dead bodies at the bottom of canals. And she, as a native, was able to bring all this skullduggery up-to-date with blood curdling tales of gentrification, over-tourism, Covid, and sleazy gondoliers trying to rip people off. Highly recommended if you are willing to take off the rose coloured sunglasses for two hours.

    via Viator

    KathleenJo_D · September 2024

    Desi is a stand out your guide!

    Desi was a wonderful tour guide. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the city and was able to give us detailed explanations of the city and answer all our questions. She was so personable and took us through many parts of the city we would have never seen if it wasn't for this tour. We expected the tour to be a little spookier but it was more historical, which still ended up being a treat!

    via Viator

    Experience111174 · July 2024

    Top Tour

    Unfortunately not in German, so not everyone understood exactly what was said, but Italian also went quite well. Very profound and deep knowledge of Daisy, down to the last detail. A lot of history, great tour if you want to learn about Venice away from the many tourists.

    via Tripadvisor (translated)

    Natausha_H · June 2024

    Book this tour immediately for your family

    Wonderful, bespoke tour of the lesser known parts of Venice. My sons wanted history and intrigue and that’s just what they got! Our wonderful tour guide (Bianca - sp?) delivered with her spooky history and even took us for the legit best gelato I’ve ever had.

    via Viator

    Rodney_S · April 2024

    Fascinating insight into life in the Dorsoduro district of Venice

    This was a great tour, very interesting insight into life in Venice. The content on myths and legends was relatively light touch, the tour focussed more towards life in Venice, but this was more the guide adapting the content to the questions and interest which we were showing. So although the tour was not very “dark side”, the guide (a native of Venice herself) was very entertaining and insightful. We really enjoyed it.

    via Viator

    Good to know

    Duration
    2 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Price range
    $217 to $330
    Hotel pickup
    No pickup, meet at start point
    Booked in 30 days
    2
    Verdict
    Worth a Look

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by Private Tours of Venice, who run 22 experiences we rank across 4 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 51.8.

    See everything Private Tours of Venice runs

    Why this scores 57

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)74
    Review evidence (18% weight)27
    Booking momentum (14% weight)17
    Value for money (12% weight)48
    Listing quality (10% weight)85
    Local standing (8% weight)64
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Venice.

    How much does The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends cost?

    +

    Prices start at $217 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Venice usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends take?

    +

    Plan for about 2 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Venice is not rushed.

    Is The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 57 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 6 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Venice, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 2-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends?

    +

    Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Venice can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Venice and add a light layer if any part of the 2-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends start and how do I get there?

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    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Venice within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Venice?

    +

    On Outty we rank every Venice experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Venice Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class with wine by Cooking Italy, Eating Venice Small Group Food & Drinks Tour, Tour of The Real Hidden Venice. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Venice?

    +

    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Venice?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    What is included in The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends?

    +

    Included: pick up from designed meeting point; and English Speaking Local guide. Not included: gratuities (optional); and Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Where is the meeting point for The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends?

    +

    Meeting point is next to the white statue in the square Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.

    What languages is The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends offered in?

    +

    It is offered in German, English, Italian, French and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends?

    +

    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

    Is The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends wheelchair or stroller accessible?

    +

    The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends if the weather is bad?

    +

    This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

    What do travelers say about The Dark Side of Venice: Mysteries and Legends?

    +

    Across 6 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include knowledge and storytelling, the guide. Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Ready to lock in your spot?

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