Guided tour of Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica with gondola ride
Must Do

Guided tour of Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica with gondola ride

4.7/5
Excellent
Based on 11 reviews
from
$143.00
Free cancellation
Language: English, Italian, French, Spanish, German
Mobile voucher accepted
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Do this because
  • Cross the Bridge of Sighs and reach the prison cell of Giacomo Casanova
  • Admire masterpieces by Tintoretto, Titian and Veronese in the Doge's Palace
  • Marvel at the golden mosaics and marble inlay flooring in the Basilica
  • Enjoy a nice gondola ride and explore Venice from its charming canals
What to expect

Meet your guide in front of the Clock Tower in Piazza San Marco and start your combination tour discovering the buildings in the square.

Access the Doge's Palace, a combination of Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance architecture, the center of the Venetian Empire and the seat of the Venetian Government. Your guide will tell you everything about it as you pass through its lavish chambers, which display masterpieces by Tintoretto, Titian and Veronese. Hear about the different roles played by the Doge and his counselors, and discover Venetian legends as you walk through the eerie, narrow passageways toward the prison cells. Learn about the prisoners and Casanova, perhaps Venice's most famous and intriguing escapee. Later, visit Saint Mark's Basilica, which symbolizes the lagoon and enshrines the city’s history and Saints' relics.

At 1:00 pm you will end the first part of the tour and have approximately 2 hours of free time to stroll around Piazza San Marco, have lunch, or visit the Correr Museum on your own. In the afternoon, you'll enjoy an exploration of the Venetian romantic canals on a gondola. Unwind and relax while you appreciate the skill involved in steering the gondola through the intricate waterways of the city.

Read more
What's included
  • check Entrance fees
  • check Guided tour
  • check Headsets (to hear the guide)
  • check Gondola ride
Where

Calle larga de l'Ascension, 1256, 30124 Venice VE, Italy

Meeting point:
Meet your guide next to the post office San Marco (opposite side of Saint Mark's Basilica). Look for the yellow sign "Meeting Point" on the wooden kiosk. Leaving Piazza San Marco behind you, it's the one on your right (not the newspaper shop on the left). If arriving by boat, take Vaporetto line N1 or N2, get off at San Marco (Vallaresso) boat stop, walk directly down “Calle Vallaresso” street and turn right into Piazza San Marco at the end of the street. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure.
What to remember

Not suitable for:

  • people with mobility impairments

Not allowed:

  • no bare shoulders or knees. An appropriate dress code is required when visiting the Basilica
  • backpacks are not allowed inside the Basilica and Doge's Palace

Know in advance:

  • Please note that on certain days between April 25, 2024, and July 14, 2024, visitors to Venice are required to pay, directly to the Municipality of Venice, an access fee (5€/person), except for specific exemptions (i.e. Minors under the age of 14 are excluded from the payment of the access fee; please bring an ID card for the proof of the age). For dates, payment methods, to benefit from exemptions, and for all related information, please check the official website for the "Venice access fee" from the "Comune di Venezia". Please pay the access fee online before attending the tour
  • Doge's Palace and Basilica tour departs at 10:45 am; gondola ride departs at 3:00 pm or 5:15 pm. From April to October the gondola is available at 3.00 pm or 5.15 pm. From November to March the gondola is available at 3.00 pm only
  • The gondola tour is not guided, and it can be shared with a maximum of 6 people per gondola
  • On very few occasions Saint Mark's Basilica may be closed due to religious ceremonies, public holidays, private events or high water
  • At the end of the tour, keep your Doge's Palace ticket to visit Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Piazza San Marco
Read more
Provider
VENICE EVENTS srl
Booking fee
Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.
Cancellation policy
Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the experience begins.

What people say about this experience

Excellent

4.7/5

Based on 11 reviews from verified customers

64%
36%
0%
0%
0%

Review categories

Value for money

4.1/5

Safety

4.6/5

Staff

4.6/5

Service

4.6/5

  • Markus65

    From United States of America - November 2024

    Traveled with family

     

    35 - 44 years old

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    5/5

    Der Treffpunkt war etwas kompliziert beschrieben so das wir eine Zeitsuchen mussten

  • Manuela Dinnendahl

    From Germany - October 2024

    Traveled with a group of friends

     

    35 - 44 years old

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    5/5

    Wir haben uns für einen Besuch Mitte Oktober entschieden, da dann einfach weniger Touristen in Venedig sind und es besser riecht. ;-) Unsere Tour wurd ...

  • Del

    From United States of America - October 2024

    Traveled as a couple

     

    55 - 64 years old

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    5/5

    The trip was very well organised and the guide very knowledgeable. It was a little precarious getting on and off the gondola, but no accidents.

  • Anonymous

    From United States of America - August 2024

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    5/5

    Perfect way to beat the queues, excellent guide very informative and easily the best way to appreciate the places we visited. Would highly recommend

  • Anonymous

    From United States of America - June 2024

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    5/5

  • Karl

    From United States of America - May 2024

    Traveled with family

     

    45 - 54 years old

    Excellent

    Overall rated

    5/5

    Sehr kompetente Führerin . Keine Wartezeiten.

You might also like

Private gondola tour in Venice off the beaten track
Activities

Private gondola tour in Venice off the beaten track

Glide through the canals of Venice and learn about the city on this private gondola ride. Choose from different tour durations to make the most out of your trip.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it 

Venice private tour with skip-the-line St. Mark's Basilica
Must see
Activities

Venice private tour with skip-the-line St. Mark's Basilica

Book this private, customisable tour and skip the line at St. Mark's Basilica and explore Rialto with a local expert guide. Snap pics of the Grand Canal too.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de 

Doge's Palace small group or private tour with a local guide
Attractions & guided tours

Doge's Palace small group or private tour with a local guide

Book tickets on this tour of Venice's UNESCO-listed Doge's Palace. Follow an expert local guide through the palace, Bridge of Sighs and the New Prisons.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Private tour of Venice off the beaten path
Attractions & guided tours

Private tour of Venice off the beaten path

Book now to explore Venice's hidden gems, culture and traditions on this customisable private tour. With your guide, you'll get a glimpse of local hotspots too.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de 

Private tour of Venice highlights with skip-the-line ticket to St. Mark's Bell Tower
Activities

Private tour of Venice highlights with skip-the-line ticket to St. Mark's Bell Tower

Book this private customisable tour discovering the best of Venice's St. Mark's Square with a local expert. You'll get skip-the-line tickets up the bell tower too.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de 

Accademia Gallery of Venice and Sestiere Dorsoduro private tour
Activities

Accademia Gallery of Venice and Sestiere Dorsoduro private tour

Book tickets to explore the best of Venetian art on this private customisable tour. Look inside the prestigious Accademia Gallery and visit the Dorsoduro district.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de 

Guided tour of Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica with gondola ride
Attractions & guided tours

Guided tour of Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica with gondola ride

Combine the most popular Venice tours in one day. Visit Basilica di San Marco and Palazzo Ducale, and then enjoy a gondola ride on the Grand Canal.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de 

Murano glassblowing & Burano lace-making private boat tour in Venice
Excursions & day trips

Murano glassblowing & Burano lace-making private boat tour in Venice

Get off the beaten track with this tour and visit the enchanting islands of Murano and Burano. Don't miss live demonstrations of glassblowing and lace making.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Murano, Burano and Torcello day trip
Excursions & day trips

Murano, Burano and Torcello day trip

Enjoy a 4-hour guided tour discovering the gems of the Venice lagoon: Burano, Murano and Torcello.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it, fr, es, de 

Alilaguna transport from Marco Polo Airport to Venice city centre
Must see
Excursions & day trips

Alilaguna transport from Marco Polo Airport to Venice city centre

Buy your one-way or roundtrip Alilaguna transport ticket from Marco Polo Airport to Venice city center.

Validity 720 hours
Instant Confirmation