Founder of Tour Leader Venice – Your Friend in the Floating City
If you’ve ever dreamed of discovering Venice like a local — skipping the crowds, unlocking secret corners, sipping wine by a quiet canal while the sun sets behind a crumbling palace — chances are, Igor Scomparin is the person who can make that dream come true.
Because Igor doesn’t just guide tours.
He opens doors you didn’t know existed.
He tells stories you won’t find in any guidebook.
He’s the kind of guide you remember years later — the one who made Venice feel like home.
🌍 From Global Tour Leader to Local Legend
Igor’s story begins in the Veneto countryside, between Treviso and Venice, in a family that taught him the value of heritage, hospitality, and good wine. But his career started far from the lagoon — as a tour leader crisscrossing Europe.
For over a decade, he led travelers through Paris, Amsterdam, Prague, Budapest, Florence, Madrid, and even the Arctic Circle. It was glamorous, exhausting, and exhilarating. He worked with Globus, one of the biggest names in travel, and became known as the guy who could handle anything — lost passports, surprise proposals, grumpy in-laws, you name it.
But no matter how far he roamed, his heart kept pulling him back to one place: Venice.
🛶 Coming Home to Venice
In 2007, Igor made the leap. He returned to the city that had always felt like magic to him — and this time, he wasn’t just passing through.
He trained, studied, and earned every license required to become a fully certified local guide:
✔️ Tour Guide License for Venice & the Veneto
✔️ Accompagnatore Turistico
✔️ Travel Agency Technical Director
✔️ European Tour Leader Certification
By 2009, he had launched Tour Leader Venice — a boutique, private guiding service designed for travelers who didn’t want the typical tourist experience. No flags. No earpieces. No herding.
Just you, your curiosity, and Venice the way it’s meant to be seen.
📺 Recognized by the Best in the World
Word spread quickly. Igor’s deep knowledge and warm personality caught the attention of top travel names:
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Rick Steves has recommended him in his Venice and Italy guides since 2008.
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National Geographic profiled Igor’s personal Venice in their “I Heart My City” series.
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He’s worked with TV crews, journalists, and travel bloggers from the U.S., UK, France, and beyond.
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And most recently, NBC’s TODAY Show featured Igor behind the scenes of the Bezos-Sánchez Venice wedding.
But Igor doesn’t boast. In fact, most guests only find out about these accolades after the tour — usually over a spritz, when someone says, “You should have your own show.”
🥂 The TLV Philosophy: No Scripts. No Stress. Just Venice, Your Way.
Ask anyone who’s toured with Igor or his team, and they’ll tell you the same thing:
“It felt like walking with a friend who just happened to know everything.”
Because that’s the experience Igor has built with Tour Leader Venice:
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100% private tours
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Tailor-made itineraries based on your interests
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Insider access to artisan studios, hidden gardens, and non-touristy bacari
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A team of licensed local guides, personally selected and trained by Igor
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Seamless support for transfers, tickets, logistics, and last-minute magic
Whether you’re visiting Venice for the first time or the fifth, with a partner or with kids, for a honeymoon or a bucket list trip — Igor will make sure you see the Venice most travelers never find.
💬 What Guests Say
“Igor didn’t just guide us. He gave us Venice.” – Karen & David, California
“Hands down the best tour we took in Italy — and we took a lot.” – Lisa, Texas
“From the secret mask shop to the perfect spritz stop, everything was magic.” – Mike, New York
“I almost cried when we said goodbye.” – Julie, Australia
🎯 More Than a Guide. A Storyteller. A Host. A Local Friend.
Today, Igor lives just outside Venice with his family. But he’s still in the city nearly every day — guiding, connecting, discovering, and continuing to share the magic of La Serenissima with guests from around the world.
His mission?
To make sure your time in Venice feels effortless, personal, and unforgettable.
And if you ask him why he does it?
He’ll smile and say:
“Because Venice is a gift. And it deserves to be shared the right way.”
👉 Ready to explore Venice with Igor and his team?
📩 Contact Tour Leader Venice to plan your private experience
🌐 Learn more about our tours and experiences
