Doge's Palace Early Access & St. Mark's Basilica Skip-the-Line Tour
About this activity
Enter the Doge's Palace at 8am, an hour before the general public, and skip the line into St. Mark's Basilica, all with a local expert guide.
Highlights
- Walk into the Doge's Palace before it opens to the public
- Stand under Tintoretto's largest painting, crowd-free
- Skip the line into St. Mark's Basilica
- See a terrace view over the square, palace, and lagoon
- Cross the Bridge of Sighs into the New Prisons
Full description
The Doge's Palace fills with visitors the moment its doors open, and stays that way most of the day. This early access Doge´s Palace and St Marks Basilica tour gets you inside the Doge´s Palace at 8am, before the general public, for a walk through the Hall of the Great Council in the kind of quiet this building rarely offers. Built for guests who want Venice's grandest palace without sharing it with a crowd. Continue with skip-the-line entry into St. Mark's Basilica, its golden mosaics, and a terrace view over the square, the palace, and the lagoon.
Meet your guide at 8am in St. Mark's Square, before the crowds that fill it by midday have arrived. Your guide introduces the history of Venice's political and religious center, setting up the story of the two buildings you're about to enter.
Step into the Doge's Palace on a specially secured early access, before the museum opens to the general public. Walk through the Hall of the Great Council, home to Tintoretto's largest painting, and the Doge's Apartments, hearing the history of Venetian politics, power struggles, and scandal along the way. The only footsteps you'll hear echoing off these floors are your own group's.
Next, skip the line into St. Mark's Basilica, where your guide explains the Byzantine architecture, the golden mosaics overhead, and the basilica's connection to St. Mark himself. Climb to the upper level and step onto the balcony, looking out over St. Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, and the Venetian Lagoon, the same skyline the Doges once ruled over from this exact spot.
Before the tour ends, cross the Bridge of Sighs into the New Prisons, the cells that held the Venetian Republic's convicted. Small, windowless, and carved directly into the palace's stone foundations, they're a world away from the gilded halls you just walked through.
Included / Excluded
- Exclusive early morning early access to the Doge’s Palace
- Skip-the-line ticket to St. Mark’s Basilica
- St Marks Basilica terrace and Museum
- Local English-speaking guide
- Headset
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
- Gratuities
Meeting point
Start Location
Correr Museum (Museo Correr), Piazza San Marco, 52, Venezia, IT
Museo Correr, P.za San Marco, 52, 30124 Venezia, VE, Italy
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a yellow WalksDevour sign. This tour meets at Correr Museum in Piazza San Marco 52. Your guide will be waiting under the portico just outside the entrance of the museum.
Get directions →Important information
Know before you book
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- Due to the religious nature of St. Mark's Basilica, all individuals regardless of gender must cover their shoulders and knees. You can bring extra covering (scarves, etc) to put on just before entering St. Mark's. Walks cannot be held responsible for those denied entry.
- Sites visited during this tour are subject to occasional closures due to holy observances, high tides, and/or flooding. If a site closes, your guide will tour the exterior of the site. If time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour. If the local municipality restricts access due to high tide and there are no walkways available, it is the client’s responsibility to bring appropriate footwear (e.g., boots). For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.
- No refund will be provided if high tide prevents certain parts of the tour, but adjustments to the route will be made for client safety and comfort.
- If access is restricted due to private events inside St. Mark's Basilica and/or Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible. This is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued.
- All guests must supply their full name that matches a valid ID at the time of the booking. Should you fail to provide these, your reservation will be canceled. Name changes are not permitted.
- Please note that a photo ID is required to visit the St. Marks Basilica. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument.
- St. Mark’s Basilica can be subject to closures due to particular liturgical celebrations, especially during major religious holidays such as Easter or Christmas. In the event that the Basilica is closed, explanations will be provided from the outside.
Know before you go
- Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour start time for check-in. Out of courtesy to other guests, we’re unable to wait for latecomers. No refunds can be provided for late arrivals or no-shows.
- Due to the religious nature of the Basilica, all individuals regardless of gender must cover their shoulders and knees. A scarf or shawl is acceptable. Walks cannot be held responsible for those denied entry.
- Sites visited during this tour are subject to occasional closures due to holy observances, high tides, and/or flooding. If a site closes, your guide will tour the exterior of the site. If time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour. If the local municipality restricts access due to high tide and there are no walkways available, it is the client’s responsibility to bring appropriate footwear (e.g., boots). For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.
- Large bags and backpacks cannot be accommodated on this tour.
- No refund will be provided if high tide prevents certain parts of the tour, but adjustments to the route will be made for client safety and comfort.
- If access is restricted due to private events inside St. Mark's Basilica and/or Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible. This is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued.
- St. Mark’s Basilica can be subject to closures due to particular liturgical celebrations, especially during major religious holidays such as Easter or Christmas. In the event that the Basilica is closed, explanations will be provided from the outside.
- Appropriate footwear recommended
- All guests must supply their full name that matches a valid ID at the time of the booking. Should you fail to provide these, your reservation will be canceled. Name changes are not permitted.
- Please note that a photo ID is required to visit the St. Marks Basilica. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument.
- Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations received greater than 3 days prior to tour commencement are fully refundable. Cancellations received within 3 days of tour commencement are nonrefundable. Amendment requests are subject to availability and price changes. Late arrivals and no shows are nonrefundable. This is applicable to any tour participant that fails to arrive, or arrives after tour departure.
Reviews
Lara was a wonderful local tour guide!! The whole trip was as seamless, fun, and we felt prepared with parking logistics. Highly recommend the morning tour, as there was very little traffic and we had fewer tourists to navigate around. Also be prepared to be soaked on the boat tour! The priority tickets get you to the front of the boat and the waterfall spray hits you directly in the face. So fun!!
Lara was an excellent tour guide and the whole experience was worth the price.
Amazing Tour!!
Additional information
Ticket age ranges:
- Adult (15+)
- Child (2-14)
- Infant (0-1)