Sunset Navigli Boat Tour in Milan with Optional Aperitivo
Description
The Navigli canals are the beating heart of Milan's social and cultural life. Partly designed by Leonardo da Vinci, this ancient network once transported marble for the Duomo and goods across northern Italy. Today, the Navigli district is Milan's most beloved bohemian neighborhood — canal-side bars, art studios, and trattorias that embody the city's spirit after dark. A sunset boat cruise along the Naviglio Grande offers a unique perspective: you glide past centuries-old buildings and vibrant terraces as golden light reflects off the water. The optional aperitivo includes one drink of your choice — such as a Spritz or Italian wine — plus a selection of snacks (stuzzichini) like olives and bruschetta. A classic Milanese ritual that marks the transition from day to evening. History, atmosphere, and aperitivo — an authentic immersion into what makes Milan unique.
Tour Options
Itinerary
A quaint Baroque-style church nestled by Milan’s Naviglio Grande. Its elegant façade, intricate interior frescoes, and tranquil riverside setting make it a hidden gem of spiritual and artistic beauty.
A charming Gothic-Romanesque church it's the chosen locations for the weddings of the Milanese people. Its twin façades, serene courtyard, and centuries-old frescoes create a peaceful retreat, reflecting the rich spiritual and architectural history of the city.
The Darsena of Milan is a lively waterfront hub where historic canals meet modern vibrancy. Surrounded by bustling markets, trendy cafés, and picturesque promenades, it offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and relaxation in the heart of the city.
The "alzaie" of Milan are picturesque towpaths lining the Navigli canals, once used by horses pulling barges. Today, they’re charming pedestrian walkways where locals and visitors stroll, cycle, and soak in the city’s historic charm and vibrant atmosphere.escription
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- In case of bad weather condition, the tour can be suspended
Reviews(265)
It was good experience but the weather was very hot outside so go early in the day. Boat was clean and not too crowded
The history provided during the experience was fairly good. The aperitif was fair, nothing exciting. The captain did a great job
The boat trip on the canal was very interesting but allow plenty of time to get to the starting point as it’s not that easy to find. Drinks were ok, beer and an Aperol Spritz but the snacks were very underwhelming. I wouldn’t pay for the drink and snack option. Crew were pretty non committal and didn’t interact with the passengers at all.
We thought it was extremely lame. It was inexpensive but still not worth the money. We cruised the canal 15 minutes, turned around and came right back. Boring.
Dear Sheila, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations. The Sunset Navigli Boat Tour is designed as a short and relaxed cruise along Milan's iconic canals, and we regret that the duration and experience felt insufficient for you. We take all comments seriously and will use your feedback to evaluate ways to improve and better communicate what guests can expect. We hope you may give us another opportunity to welcome you on one of our other experiences in Milan. Warm regards, Zani Viaggi
Unfortunately, it was very short, but very good. We did not understand the optional drink. It was also a bit meager.
Liebe Heike, vielen Dank für Ihre Bewertung und Ihr positives Feedback zur Bootsfahrt! Es freut uns sehr zu hören, dass Ihnen die Fahrt selbst gut gefallen hat. Wir bedauern, dass die Dauer zu kurz erschien und dass das optionale Getränk-Angebot nicht klar genug kommuniziert wurde. Das Aperitivo ist als optionale Ergänzung buchbar und wir werden daran arbeiten, diese Information in Zukunft deutlicher hervorzuheben. Ihr Feedback hilft uns, unser Angebot kontinuierlich zu verbessern. Wir würden uns freuen, Sie bald wieder bei einer unserer Touren begrüßen zu dürfen. Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Zani Viaggi
No aperitivo offered! Not much of interest to look at - just a straight up and down on the canal - the crew did not engage with the passengers at all - you also had to pay extra to download the commentary. Not worth the money - definitely the worse cruise - if you can call it that - that I've been on
Dear Scott, thank you for sharing your experience. We sincerely apologize that the tour did not meet your expectations. The aperitivo is listed as optional in the tour description, and we regret if this was not made sufficiently clear. We also take your feedback about the crew's engagement and the additional charge for the audio commentary very seriously — these are points we will address with our team. We appreciate your honest feedback and hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a much better experience in the future.
The trip is advertised as 50mins, but the boat is only moving for 40mins. There is an automated voiceover in a variety of languages accessible via a QR code, so having some earphones is useful. The voiceover was factual but not very entertaining. The boat has no toilet or refreshments available. It was nice to sit in the shade on the boat in the heat of the sun, but the seats are rigid plastic and not very comfortable. Overall, it was nice to see the canal without walking but I don’t think this trip represents good value for money.
Dear Nicola, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the experience did not fully meet your expectations. You are right that the boat cruise lasts approximately 40 minutes of navigation within the advertised 50-minute experience, and we apologise if this was not made sufficiently clear in the description. We take note of your comments regarding seating comfort and the on-board amenities — your feedback is genuinely valuable and will help us evaluate ways to improve the experience. We are glad you enjoyed seeing the Navigli canals from the water, and we hope to welcome you again for one of our other tours. Best regards, Zani Viaggi Team
The appetizer is not worth it, and the ride is short with nothing particularly different, curious, or beautiful that cannot be seen without going through the canal; the best part is the end of the trip and the accessibility for wheelchairs they have.
Estimada Ainhoa, muchas gracias por compartir su experiencia con nosotros. Lamentamos que el paseo en barco y el aperitivo no hayan cumplido sus expectativas. Tomamos nota de sus comentarios, ya que nos ayudan a seguir mejorando nuestro servicio. Nos alegra saber que la accesibilidad para sillas de ruedas fue un punto positivo para usted. Esperamos poder darle la bienvenida en otra de nuestras excursiones. Un cordial saludo, El equipo de Zani Viaggi
This could’ve been a great opportunity to learn about the history of the canals, what they were used for and how they have become a destination for dining now. Instead it was a simple up and back with no commentary, enthusiasm or connection with the clients. Could’ve been so much better
Dear Jan, thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Sunset Navigli Boat Tour. We are sorry to hear that the experience fell short of your expectations. We understand that a guided commentary on the history of the Navigli canals would have greatly enriched the experience, and we take your feedback on board. We are reviewing our approach to guest engagement during the cruise to ensure future visitors have a more informative and memorable experience. We appreciate your honest feedback and hope you will consider trying another one of our tours. Best regards, Zani Viaggi Team
Unfortunately we missed our booking as the taxi dropped us at the opposite in the river. The address on the website we thought was 44 however we later were told it was 4. This misunderstanding caused us to be dropped at the wrong place. They did offer us another booking but with a additional 5 euros if some people did not arrive. However the next booking was full.
Dear Trupti, thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We are truly sorry to hear that you missed your booking due to the confusion over the meeting point address. We understand how frustrating this must have been, especially when you were so close to joining us. We will review our listing to ensure the address is displayed as clearly as possible to prevent any similar misunderstandings in the future. We regret that the next available departure was fully booked and that we were unable to accommodate you on the same day. We hope you will give us another opportunity to provide you with a wonderful experience on the Navigli canals. Please do not hesitate to contact us directly and we will do our best to make it up to you.
