The best wedding guest activities in Italy match the region: a boat on Lake Como, a gondola in Venice, a wine tasting in Chianti, a boat to San Fruttuoso in Liguria. Plan them for the day before or after the wedding, keep each one to half a day, and leave free time before the ceremony. Below are 15 ideas with suggested timing and, where an official price exists, the cost per person or per boat.
15 Wedding Guest Activities at a Glance
Prices come from official sites (linked in each section) or from the ranges published on Kiss Me Italy. Where no verified price exists, the cost is on request. All prices in euros.
| Activity | Region | Suggested time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private boat tour of the lake | Lake Como | 2–3 hours | €400–€1,200 per hour per boat |
| Villa Carlotta gardens and museum | Lake Como | 2 hours | €17.50 per adult |
| Public ferry to Bellagio and Varenna | Lake Como | Half day | Fares on Navigazione Laghi |
| Walk in Sirmione old town | Lake Garda | 2–3 hours | Free to walk |
| Private boat on Lake Garda | Lake Garda | 2 hours | €400–€1,200 per hour per boat |
| Gondola ride | Venice | 30 minutes | €90 per gondola by day, €110 at night |
| Murano Glass Museum | Venice | 1–2 hours | €15 per adult |
| Water taxi tour of the lagoon | Venice | 1–2 hours | €300–€600 per trip |
| Chianti wine tasting | Tuscany | Half day | On request |
| Cooking class or truffle hunt | Tuscany | Half day | On request |
| Val d’Orcia countryside drive | Tuscany | Half day | Transport: €1,200–€2,500 per coach per day |
| Boat along the Amalfi Coast | Amalfi Coast | Half day | On request |
| Path of the Gods walk | Amalfi Coast | Half day | On request (guide) |
| Boat and walk to San Fruttuoso Abbey | Liguria | Half day | €10 per adult (abbey) |
| Castello Brown, Portofino | Liguria | 1–2 hours | €10 per adult |
Multi-Day Wedding Packages With Time for Guests
These live packages run over two or three nights, so there is room for activities around the wedding day. Guests and prices are those published on each product page.
| Package | Location | Guests and nights | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-Day Wedding — Tuscany (Relais Val d’Orcia) | Val d’Orcia, Tuscany | 40 guests, 18 overnight, 3 nights, welcome dinner | €57,000 |
| Romantic Wedding in the City of Juliet — Villa Cariola | Hills between Verona and Lake Garda | 60 guests, 2 nights, welcome party | €69,000 (low season) |
| Multi-Day Wedding — Lake Garda (Villa Arcadio) | Lake Garda | 40 guests, 2 nights, welcome dinner | €84,000 |
| The Chianti Wedding Experience — Borgo Vescine | Radda in Chianti, Tuscany | 60 guests, 3 nights; truffle hunts, cooking classes, vineyard tours and tastings can be added | €159,000 |
| Multi-Day Wedding — Castel Badia, Dolomites | Dolomites | 50 guests, 3 nights, full board | €159,000 |
| Multi-Day Wedding — Amalfi Coast (Tramonto d’Oro) | Amalfi Coast | 80 guests, 3 days in 40 rooms (low season) | €159,000 |
Every package includes a dedicated wedding planner, who can build the guest program around the timeline. More are listed in our wedding packages in Italy.
Lake Como
1. Private boat tour of the lake
A boat is the easiest way to show guests the lake: villas, gardens and villages seen from the water. A two- to three-hour loop fits between check-in and a welcome dinner.
Private boats on the lakes cost €400 to €1,200 per hour on our published ranges, depending on the size of the boat. Larger groups need more than one boat.
2. Villa Carlotta gardens and museum
Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo has a botanical garden and a museum with sculptures and paintings. The official site lists adult tickets at €17.50 for 2026, with reduced prices for over-65s and students.
3. Public ferry to Bellagio and Varenna
For guests who like to explore on their own, the public ferries link Bellagio, Varenna, Menaggio and Cadenabbia. Timetables and fares are on Navigazione Laghi; they change with the season.
Our Lake Como wedding planning guide and the Lake Como wedding itinerary help you fit activities around the wedding.
Lake Garda
4. Walk in Sirmione old town
Sirmione sits on a narrow peninsula at the south end of the lake, with a castle at the entrance to the old town. Walking the lanes is free; museum and castle tickets are separate.
5. Private boat on Lake Garda
A boat ride works well on either shore. Keep guests on the same side of the lake as the venue: roads between the east and west shores are slow in summer. Private boats cost €400 to €1,200 per hour on our published ranges.
See the Lake Garda wedding guide for venues and logistics.
Venice
6. Gondola ride
Under the official fares of the Comune di Venezia, a gondola ride costs €90 for 30 minutes from 9am to 7pm, and €110 for 35 minutes from 7pm to 4am. The price is per gondola, not per person.
For a group, book several gondolas leaving from the same point, so everyone travels together.
7. Murano Glass Museum
The Museo del Vetro on Murano tells the story of Venetian glass. The official ticket page lists a full ticket at €15 and a reduced ticket at €7.50. A combined ticket for the island museums of Murano, Burano and Torcello costs €20.
8. Water taxi tour of the lagoon
A water taxi is the fastest way to move a small group around the lagoon. On our published ranges, a water taxi costs €300 to €600 per trip.
See the Venice wedding cost guide and our Venice venues.
Tuscany
9. Chianti wine tasting
A tasting at a Chianti estate is one of the most requested guest activities in Tuscany. Book a morning or late-afternoon slot in summer, and provide transport so nobody drives after the tasting.
At Borgo Vescine, Chianti Classico tastings can be added to the Chianti Wedding Experience. Prices are on request.
10. Cooking class or truffle hunt
A cooking class gives guests time together in a small group. A truffle hunt with a local guide and dog works well for smaller groups. Both are on request.
11. Val d’Orcia countryside drive
The Val d’Orcia is known for cypress-lined roads and hill towns. A private coach costs €1,200 to €2,500 per day on our published ranges, which keeps the group together.
More in our Tuscany venue guide and the Tuscany wedding cost overview.
Amalfi Coast
12. Boat along the Amalfi Coast
From the sea, guests see Positano, Amalfi and the cliffs without the traffic of the coast road. Private boat prices are on request. Boat transfers from Naples or Salerno cost €1,500 to €5,000 on our published ranges.
13. Path of the Gods walk
The Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei) is a hiking trail high above Positano. It suits guests who like to walk; plan good shoes, water and an early start in summer. A local guide is on request.
See the Amalfi Coast wedding cost guide and Amalfi Coast venues.
Liguria
14. Boat and walk to San Fruttuoso Abbey
San Fruttuoso Abbey sits in a small bay reached only by boat or on foot. According to FAI, boats run daily from Camogli all year, with seasonal boats from Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure and Rapallo. Adult tickets for the abbey cost €10.
15. Castello Brown, Portofino
Castello Brown stands above the harbor of Portofino, with views over the bay. The official site lists park and castle tickets at €10, free under 12, sold at the entrance.
See our Portofino wedding page, the Portofino wedding cost breakdown and the Cinque Terre wedding page.
How to Plan Wedding Guest Activities
- Keep the wedding day free. Put activities on the day before or the day after.
- Half a day is enough. Guests want time to rest, change and get ready.
- Offer two options. An active one, like a walk or a boat, and a calm one, like a tasting or a garden.
- Plan transport. A coach or boats keep the group together and solve the problem of drinking and driving.
- Check the season. Some boats and museums change hours outside the summer.
- Share the plan early. Put the program on your wedding website so guests can book flights around it.
Transfers are often the biggest cost. Our Italy wedding shuttle guide and wedding guest accommodation in Italy cover the logistics.
A Sample Three-Day Weekend
- Day 1: arrivals, an afternoon activity of two to three hours, welcome dinner.
- Day 2: a free morning, then the wedding.
- Day 3: late brunch, optional excursion, departures.
See our ideas for a post-wedding brunch in Italy, the wedding entertainment guide and Italian wedding menu ideas.
Dolomites
In the mountains, the simplest guest activities are a short walk to a viewpoint, a cable car ride and a long lunch at a mountain hut. Check cable car opening dates, as many lifts close between seasons.
See the Dolomites wedding guide. To build a guest program around your date, contact Kiss Me Italy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you do with wedding guests the day before?
Keep it light and short: a welcome aperitivo, a boat ride, a garden visit or a wine tasting, followed by a welcome dinner. Half a day is enough. Plan transport, so the group stays together, and end early enough for everyone to rest before the wedding day.
What are the best activities for destination wedding guests?
The ones that show the region: a boat on Lake Como or Lake Garda, a gondola in Venice, a tasting in Chianti, a boat along the Amalfi Coast or to San Fruttuoso in Liguria. Offer an active option and a calm one, so every guest finds something they enjoy.
How many days is an Italian wedding?
The wedding itself is one day, but destination weddings in Italy often run over two or three days, with a welcome dinner and a brunch or excursion. Our multi-day packages cover two or three nights, for example Relais Val d’Orcia in Tuscany, from €57,000 for 40 guests.
