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The Islands of Venice
Milk Street on the Road: The Islands of Venice
September 28 - September 05, 2025
April 07 - April 14, 2026
Where
The Islands of Venice
Group Size
10-12 Travelers
Duration
8 Days, 7 Nights
When
September 28 - October 5, 2025 April 7 - 14, 2026
Price
From 6,500 USD per person
Beyond the bustle of touristy central Venice is a series of small islands dotting the Venetian lagoon. This is where Venice’s wine is made, vegetables are grown, fish is caught and bread is baked. These islands – Vignole, Sant’Erasmo, Lido, Pellestrina, Mazzorbo and more – make up the Venice that most people never experience, but you can. On this exclusive-to-Milk Street and seasonally changing 8-day trip, you’ll visit seven different islands, meet the artisans who safeguard Venice’s local culinary traditions, and cook with local vegetables, fish, seafood, fruits and wines. Based on Lido, Friend of Milk Street Marika Contaldo Seguso will be your leader and cooking instructor and her longtime collaborator Lucia Marcolin will be your daily guide. Marika has spent her career building a community on these islands and has crafted this very special culinary journey for us through the history, culture and modern-day splendors of Venice.
This trip – refreshingly run without a single bus or car ride – changes seasonally, and our April departures are a celebration of spring produce, and in particular of the famous baby purple artichokes of Sant’Erasmo island. We’ll get them fresh from the fields to turn into risottos, carpaccios, cicchetti and more. In the fall, our focus switches to eggplant, zucchini, greens and, if we are lucky, mushrooms. We transform them into heartier fall risottos, frito misto, pasta sauces and more. Regardless of the season, this trip is a revelation, showing us a side of Venice rarely seen by visitors.
Cook
Visit
Watch
Island Hop
Eat
Your itinerary
Day 1
Arrive & Meet the Group
Welcome to the island of Lido, our home base for the week. Beloved for its unique mixture of glamorous beaches, quiet neighborhoods, nature preserves and family-friendly lifestyle, Lido is a beautiful long spit of land that’s five minutes from Venice – but a world apart. We’ll be the only guests at Villa Ines, a boutique bed & breakfast set in an enchanting historical garden perfumed by Mediterranean herbs and old roses. Villa Ines also houses the cooking school Acquolina, founded by Marika Contaldo Seguso, our cooking instructor for the week. On this first day, you’ll get settled into your room and enjoy welcome drinks and a candlelit dinner al fresco in the garden.
Day 2
Tour Venice via Cicchetti & Make a Venetian Feast
Venice here we come! While we’ll explore the smaller islands of the Venetian lagoon the rest of the week, today we go to Venice proper. After a leisurely breakfast at the Villa, we’ll hop a private boat to San Marco and get our bearings on the history and gastronomy of Venice. On a guided walking tour we will navigate the quieter areas of the city on our way to the foot of the Rialto bridge, where we visit Venice’s supreme outdoor food market for a crash course on local ingredients. Then we will snack our way across town visiting several small restaurants famous for cicchetti, the renowned finger foods of Venice. Stomach full, you can stay for an optional guided historic tour of Venice or return directly for rest on Lido. We’ll meet up in the evening for our first hands-on cooking class with Marika, which will feature fresh local seafood and the seasonal produce spotted at the markets.
Day 3
Visit the Lagoon’s Farms & Cook with their Produce
After an easy morning to explore Lido on your own, we’ll venture across the lagoon to the islands of San Michele and Sant’Erasmo, the vegetable gardens of Venice. Their terrain here is moistened by the salty waters of the lagoon and Adriatic and produce intensely flavored vegetables as a result, and in season now are baby purple artichokes. This is a cook’s paradise. On Isola di San Michele, we will meet the leaders of a local association committed to preserving and promoting agriculture in the lagoon. They’ll welcome us into their vineyard and orchard for a tour and picnic accompanied by wines they produce on the island. Then, we’ll visit Sant’Erasmo and a small beautiful farm that boasts a dazzling variety of seasonal vegetables. We’ll pick the artichokes, young onions, tender greens, herbs and more that will become the centerpiece of the evening’s cooking class with Marika and our dinner at the Villa.
Day 4
See Velvet made on 18th-Century Looms & Take a Private Boat for a Feast
Today we shift our focus from food to the arts. Venice is renowned for glass and velvet craftsmanship and both industries are affected, much like agriculture and food, by an ever-changing world. We’ll get a deep-dive education into both. We start today in San Marco for an exclusive visit to Bevilacqua, the last velvet workshop in Venice. You will meet a small cadre of craftswomen who use 18th century looms to produce velvet. Then we’ll tour Giardino Mistico, a garden and vineyard within a Carmelite monastery and go for lunch of artisanal cheeses, grilled local vegetables and DOC wines. After that you’ll have the afternoon to explore San Marco on your own or return to Lido. We will all meet up in the early evening for a private sunset boat ride to the working fishing town of Pellestrina, a quiet village of colorful homes and a slower way of life. Awaiting us when we disembark will be an immense and lively feast of the freshest local fish prepared in traditional dishes.
Day 5
Taste an Almost-Extinct Wine and a Very Popular Cookie
On this day we’ll visit a pair of islands with rich traditions of production. First, we motor to Burano, most popular for its charming brightly colored houses and beautiful canals. We are there, however, to visit Carmelina Palmisano at her historical bakery and learn about the art of bussolà, the classic Venetian biscuit. We’ll also stop into a renowned lace shop to see how this historic, economically important craft is still made by hand. Sated by sweets and frills, it’s on to Mazzorbo island via a stroll and footbridge. There we’ll immerse ourselves in the history of Venetian winemaking at Venissa Winery. We’ll learn about the fascinating revival of the dorona grape. Thought to be extinct, it is now the shining star of the Venissa vineyards. After a private wine tasting we’ll walk back to Burano for a late festive lunch at Da Romano, one of Marika’s favorite trattorias in the lagoon.
Day 6
Explore Lido & Make Pasta alla Veneziana
Enjoy a free morning to explore Lido by bike or head into town to visit museums or shops. In the afternoon we’ll reconvene at Villa Ines for a pasta intensive. In this half-day class, Marika will teach us how to make classic Venetian pasta dishes like spaghetti with shrimp, tomatoes and white wine, squid ink pasta and potato gnocchi. Some require fresh pasta, which we will make, and others dry pasta – Marika will teach us why. Each dish features a sauce we will make from the seafood and spring vegetables of the lagoon. After cooking, we’ll have a late, large and leisurely lunch together. The evening is yours to enjoy as you wish.
Day 7
Experience Venice’s Most Famous Art & Celebrate the Week
On our final full day together, we’ll be treated to a private tour of one of Venice’s most stunning attractions, the Seguso glass factory. Traveling by private boat with Marika’s husband and Seguso director Gianluca, we’ll get a rare insider-view of his family’s 23rd-generation business that dates back to 1397. After a light lunch on Murano we’ll head back to Lido to rest, pack and get ready for our goodbye dinner at Villa Ines, prepared by Marika.
Day 8
Say Goodbyes and Depart
We wish you safe travels and continued adventures.
Meet the Crew
We are firm believers in the power of local knowledge. Our guides and the culinary masters and other artisans who are part of our trips all deeply reflect that. Meet some of our local heroes:
Marika Contaldo Seguso
Lucia Marcolin
Carmelina Palmisano
Carlo Zangrando
Gianluca Seguso
Where you'll stay
Villa Ines
This week’s focus on deeply local experiences and places is also well reflected in our choice of accommodation. We always select boutique and independent places, ones inspired by international standards while staying loyal to the area’s local heritage – that’s the balance we seek for more than a good night’s rest.
Discover the hidden gem of Venice at Villa Ines, a tranquil sanctuary away from the bustling crowds. Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, this boutique hotel offers stylish accommodations and personalized service. Adorned with original artworks and stylish furnishings, each room is a masterpiece of design and comfort. Unwind in the tranquil garden courtyard or explore the nearby art galleries. With its intimate ambiance and authentic Venetian charm, Villa Ines provides a unique and memorable retreat in the heart of the city.
Hear what travelers are saying
No one knows Venice and its producers like Marika. Exploring Venice and cooking with her are experiences not to be missed. She is one of my favorite colleagues!
Rosie Gill, Milk Street
Spending time in Marika's gorgeous and immaculate kitchen situated within an elegant and historic villa is a treat. Watching and learning from her in real time was one of the most amazing experiences that I have had.
Linda S.
Know before you go
PRICING AND ACCOMMODATION
The total cost of this trip is $6,750 in 2026 ($6,500 for the last spots of 2025). For travelers wishing to have single accommodations during the trip, an additional $1,500 supplement will be due at the time of the final payment. A $500 non-refundable deposit per traveler is required to secure space on the trip. The balance is due 90 days prior to the start of the trip.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Travelers should be reasonably fit and feel comfortable walking one to three miles each day and remaining on their feet for long periods of time. Travelers should feel comfortable on boats, as it will be our only mode of transportation throughout the trip.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
For flights in and out of Venice International airport, we suggest you arrive by 3 p.m. on Day 1 and depart any time on Day 8. We are happy to book you extra nights at the group’s hotel; just email us to arrange that after booking your spot on the trip. We’ll also provide suggestions for things to do and see in the area on your own if you choose to extend your visit.
INCLUSIONS
• All accommodation throughout the trip in stylish, boutique hotels. – Private airport pick up in your private boat • Professional guides throughout the entire experience. • All meals and drinks included in the above activities. • Admission to all proposed activities, locations, and events. • Private coach for visits inside and outside the center city • A hungry group of Culinary Backstreets and Milk Street travelers, excited to explore all that Mexico has to offer!
EXCLUSIONS
• Private individual departure airport transfers • Airfare and transportation to/from the start and end destination • Meals beyond those specified in the itinerary above • Alcoholic beverages other than those served at the table • Accommodations outside those noted, including pre- or post-trip hotel nights • Activities, tours & entry fees not included above • Personal purchases and incidentals at hotels
DIETARY RESTRICTIONS
We encourage an adventurous palate! We try our best to accommodate dietary restrictions, though ingredients cannot always be substituted or omitted from particular dishes. This trip may be challenging if you adhere to a gluten-free diet. If you have other food allergies or intolerances, please contact us to find out if this is the right trip for you.
NOTES ON ITINERARY
Itineraries and daily schedules are subject to change. We expect to do everything listed in the itinerary, though the order may be rearranged based on weather or other local conditions.
SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY
We have reinforced our commitment to sustainability and safety with new guidelines to assure maximum safety of our guests on our trips while maintaining the quality of the experience. All of our experiences are designed to have minimal impact on the community and environment. For more details on our precautions, read here.
CANCELLATION POLICY
You may cancel 90 days before the start of the trip and receive a full refund minus a $500 per-person service fee. If you cancel on or after 60 days before the start of the trip there is a 50% cancellation fee. On or after 45 days there is a 75% cancellation and fee and on or after 30 days there is a 100% cancellation fee. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance as we are not able to make exceptions to this policy in cases of family/medical emergency or cases of the trip being canceled (see our Terms and Conditions for full details).
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