Hidden Gems of Venice and Istria
Creativity and craftsmanship thrives in Venice, where skilled artisans produce hand-made masks, glass and lace, whilst Istria’s elemental landscape and fascinating history inspires traditional techniques in craft, cooking and wine-making.
7 days
suggested length
$11,995
price from
Venice is known for its annual contemporary art exhibition, but its roots in the arts date back long before the Biennale arrived, whilst Croatia’s Istria peninsula pulls its weight with fabulous winemaking, an artists’ colony and masterful frescoes. Starting in Venice and ending in Istria, this itinerary allows A&K’s guests to custom-build their trip with coastal bike tours, creative workshops and exclusive access to stunning gardens and villas. You’ll feast on homegrown wine, learn about coffee culture and try local delicacies along the way.
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Highlights
Navigate Venice’s abundance of Renaissance art and architecture with a local expert
Lap up local life with a glass of wine and cicchetti in the best of Venice’s dinky bàcari (wine bars)
Witness glass-blowing, lace-making, perfume-crafting and gondola-building in Venice’s highly skilled creative workshops
Kick-start the transfer to Istria with a coffee-tasting in Trieste en route
Visit the beautiful city of Rovinj and the remarkable Roman ruins at Pula
Sample local produce with a wine-tasting and truffle-hunting experience in Istria
Your Itinerary
Our experts have designed this gold-standard itinerary to inspire you, featuring our pick of the best hotels and experiences in every thrilling destination.
Venice, Italy
Wind your way through the waters of La Serenissima
There’s art and architecture in abundance in Venice, particularly in San Polo: A&K’s tour navigates the iconic Rialto Bridge and seeks out the Gothic Frari church, where you’ll find Titian’s early altarpiece and Giovanni Bellini’s oil-on-panel Pesaro Triptych.Take a boat ride across the lagoon to the brightly-colored island of Burano, where the fine art of needle-lace making has endured for centuries. Then cruise on to Murano, where you can watch masterful glassblowers using techniques that date back 700 years.
Your Hotels
Ca' di Dio
Your Experiences
Raise a glass in the wine bars of Venice
Meet the gondola makers of Dorsoduro
Make your own perfume at Palazzo Mocenigo
Secret garden walking tour
Visit Venice’s Palladian villas
Mask-making workshop
Lagoon islands of Venice
Gondolier tour of Venice
St Mark’s Basilica, mask making and gondola ride
Uncover Venice’s darker side
Go behind the scenes with Murano artisans
Exclusive after-hours exploration of St Mark’s Basilica
Istria, Croatia
Croatia’s Italian-coded peninsula on the Adriatic
En route to Istria from Venice, stop by in the Italian port city of Trieste for a coffee-tasting tour through its historical cafés, led by one of A&K’s expert English-speaking guides. It’s easy to see why this region is known as the Adriatic Tuscany, especially when visiting a wine estate in Momjan where you’ll be taken truffle hunting before tucking into the local delicacy for lunch. Return to your hotel via the medieval hilltop town of Motovun, which has one of the best views around.
Your Hotel
Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery
Your Experiences
Idyllic islands of Rovinj, Croatia
Cycle Istria’s south coast
Wine tasting, a day-trip to Porec and a private dinner
Fine-tune your fresco skills
More Recommended Hotels
Choose your dream hotel in every destination from our curated list.
Ca' di Dio
Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel
Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery
Add-On Experiences
Switch up your adventure by adding more experiences that thrill you.
Raise a glass in the wine bars of Venice
Idyllic islands of Rovinj, Croatia
Meet the gondola makers of Dorsoduro
Make your own perfume at Palazzo Mocenigo
Secret garden walking tour
Visit Venice’s Palladian villas
Mask-making workshop
Cycle Istria’s south coast
Wine tasting, a day-trip to Porec and a private dinner
Fine-tune your fresco skills
Lagoon islands of Venice
Gondolier tour of Venice
St Mark’s Basilica, mask making and gondola ride
Uncover Venice’s darker side
Go behind the scenes with Murano artisans
Exclusive after-hours exploration of St Mark’s Basilica
Go Further
Combine your itinerary with more amazing destinations.
Verona, Italy
