Stand Up Paddleboarding in Venice

Venice, Italy is a city known for its romance and canals. What many people don’t know is that Venice is also a great place to go paddle boarding. The calm waters and beautiful scenery make it the perfect place to take in the sights while getting a workout.

Pro Tip: In an order to promote more sustainable travel, Venice is considering implementing a new booking system which may begin next year. Learn more about the Venice booking system here.

Stand up paddleboarding, or SUP, is a great way to explore Venice. The city’s narrow canals and quiet backwaters offer the perfect setting for a peaceful paddle. And with the stunning Venetian architecture all around you, it’s sure to be an unforgettable experience.

One of the more unusual experiences to have in Venice is to paddleboard on the canals. Exploring via SUP is a new thing in Venice and one that my 15-year-old son and I were anxious to try. It’s a great activity to do with kids in Venice who are looking for a more adventurous activity.

Our guide from SUP in Venice led us through the Cannaregio neighborhood, which is pretty quiet. The guides are all local Venetians and give instructions on how to paddleboard, what to do when a boat comes by, and some history of the area.

You don’t need to have any experience on a paddleboard and the water is very calm and flat, so you would have to put some effort in to fall off the board. They offer a specific tour for beginners as well as a standard tour.

It’s a serene experience and an interesting way to see the Floating City off the beaten path. 

This was written by my friend Mel who was lucky enough to do SUP in Venice!