VENICE
The best of Venice, in one place.
The 15 most popular carnival mask workshops in Venice. What each one includes, what it costs and who runs it, so you can spend the day out on the water instead of stuck in a queue.
Paint a Venice Carnival mask with a Venetian artisan. Learn paper-mâché techniques, add color and glitter, and take it home.
Most Popular“Very kind host and a nice experience for the children.”
Hand-paint a Venetian papier-mâché Carnival mask in a tiny St. Mark’s class. Learn the traditions, then take your creation home.
“We all came away with our personalised masks. It was great to experience painting them with a mascherari. All his family are in the business. He drew some traditional patterns on the masks and we then got to choose 3 colours to paint the design. He does the embellishment. He assured us that they wouldn't…”
Make a Venetian mask at Carta Alta on Giudecca. Learn baroque decoration, hear mask history, and take home your creation in 1.5 hours.
“The workshop was very fun. It was given by a lovely old couple who were well spoken and explained everything very well. We made the masks in what appeared to be their own mask store / workplace. They allowed everyone to choose and create their own mask and constantly helped everyone where needed. We definitely…”
Paint a Venetian paper-mâché mask in a small 1-hour workshop. Acrylic tempera colors, gold touches, feathers, ribbons, sequins, and take-home fun.
“We paid extra for a bigger mask and had a wonderful time! I highly recommend this activity for all ages just to sit and be creative. Thank you it was great!”
Make a Venetian carnival mask inside the Prisons Palace near St Mark’s. Artisan-led class includes materials; take your creation home.
“It was a fun experience for my son. I do wish there was more than a handout about why masks relate to Venice but the guide was great! I’d definitely book again although it’s overpriced.”
Walk Venice Carnival trails with Casanova, mask-making lore, backstreets near La Fenice, and finish with cappuccino and frittelle.
“Thank you Lorenzo, we had a great experience on your tour, so friendly and informative enjoyed meeting other people on tour would highly recomend many thanks Fiona and Caroline”
Create a Venetian papier-mâché carnival mask in a real atelier. Learn the story behind the designs, decorate it, and take it home.
“Oh my gosh, this hands down is one of the best activities I've done ( I travel ALOT). We had so much fun with Giacomo (and Enrico when he popped in). As we were the only two it was a private session which was apt for my mum's birthday. We laughed, I sang, drew badly,…”
A 2-hour Venice Carnival pub crawl with 3 bacari stops, ombra wine, cicchetti bites, a spritz, and Venetian dialect tips near Rialto.
“Only the first of the three venues was pleasant and suitable to accommodate the group. There was very little time in any of the three venues and each of the 3 drinks were very small - nowhere near a standard measure . The snacks were extremely sparse too. We were rushed out of the first…”
Paint your own Venetian mask in Venice: pick a papier-mâché base from 50+ designs, then use acrylic colors with gold or silver.
“We had a blast! Our teacher was very pleasant and she shared her passion for the craft. Would recommend it to anyone from 5-95.”
Make a Venice Carnival mask at Casanova’s Prisons in Palazzo delle Prigioni Nuove with an English instructor, materials, and museum time.
“The gondola ride was really cool and definitely a great price when compared to the price you'd pay if you paid at a gondola station. I would skip the glass blowing portion. It's really a gimmick to rhen hit you up on a semi-hard sale to buy some of their very expensive glass products.”
Make a Venetian paper mache mask in a two-day private workshop near St. Mark’s, using gold leaf, crystals, and feathers.
“Very nice workshop to do. Very friendly people also! Good vibe...we liked it a lot, had a lot of fun too!”
A 2-hour Venice carnival treasure hunt with a mobile app, photo clues, and mask painting at the Doge’s Prisons Palace near Rialto.
“Meraviglioso il percorso! I bambini si sono divertiti moltissimo a creare la loro maschera Da consigliare se si vuole divertire a carnevale in maniera alternativa”
Make a personalized Venetian paper-mache mask in a small-group workshop at Carta Alta, with history lessons and take-home results.
“It was lots of fun. A family of 6 and all ages. We all had a great time . The masks turned out great and we all left happy.”
Play a Carnival scavenger hunt across Venice, snap photo clues, then paint a Venetian mask in Casanova’s prison palace.
“Impossible de capter correctement le reseau pour le gps . Trop de monde autour de la place st marc , donc enormes difficultés a se reperer. Les explications sur les sites sont pratiquements inodibles , trop de foule bruyante autour des lieux de decouverte. Peut etre devriez vous fournir de petits écouteurs. Dommage , car…”
A 2-hour Venetian Carnival tour with a mask-maker workshop and optional costume fitting, plus a guided walk through historic Cannaregio.
“With valerio we met the everyday venezia .we went to the costumes and took many photos , gave us places to visit eat and also ice cream addresses .”
Every corner of the city and the lagoon, and the best way to see each.
