5.0(65 reviews)
Private After-Hours Tour of Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica
From€375
2 hours
Venice, Italy
About this activity
Experience Venice's iconic Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica on a private after-hours tour, offering skip-the-line access and expert insights in a serene setting.
Highlights
- Skip-the-line access to Doge's Palace
- Explore St. Mark's Basilica after hours
- Learn from an expert guide
- Experience Venice's landmarks with fewer crowds
- Enjoy a personalized private tour
Full description
Discover the rich history and architectural splendor of Venice's most iconic landmarks on this exclusive private after-hours tour. With skip-the-line access, you'll delve into the opulent halls of Doge's Palace and the stunning mosaics of St. Mark's Basilica without the usual crowds. Led by an expert guide, you'll gain in-depth knowledge of these historic sites, making for an unforgettable and personalized experience in the heart of Venice.
Included / Excluded
- Skip-the-line access to Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica
- Expert guide providing historical insights
- Exclusive after-hours visit with fewer crowds
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Itinerary
1
Your Private Night Doge’s Palace and St. Mark's Tour starts in one of the most beautiful and famous squares in all of Venice – St Mark’s Square – which has stood through wars, flooding, changes in governments for over a millennium. As you admire the square's romantic, historic and powerful atmosphere, your guide will give you a good idea of the timelines and history of this famous piazza before, as you make your way inside the Doge’s Palace.
Duration: 30 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE
2
An exemplary work of Venetian Gothic architecture, the Doge's Palace was once the seat of the Venetian Republic and their leader, the Doge. For over 700 years, this impressive palace has housed 120 powerful Doges, as well as government offices, prison cells and the Court. You will be mesmerized by the stories your guide will share with you as you stroll through the Doge’s private, ornate apartments and impressive halls with their enormous paintings and frescoes. Walking through the corridors with your private guide you will appreciate the whole gamut of Venice’s history, not only the romantic and polished side, but also its most secret and mysterious corners. This tour takes you behind the scenes, allowing you to learn about the fear and authority the Palazzo Ducale used to represent. Your private guide will regale you with the stories of famous prisoners who were kept in the dungeons of the Doge’s Palace...discover the most famous one!
Duration: 1h 30mAdmission: YES
3
By the time you exit the Doge’s Palace the sun will have set and darkness will have taken its place, offering the perfect atmosphere for your next stop. There will be no crowds and no waiting in line as we have EXCLUSIVE access to the basilica at night, so only you, your group, and your tour guide will be admitted. Imagine being alone at night in St Mark’s!! When you enter, the church will be in complete darkness and your guide will help you find the perfect pew. Get your camera ready, as one by one the lights will be turned on to reveal gorgeous golden ceiling mosaics. This is truly a one of a kind experience, which will leave you with unforgettable memories, making history come to life – and light! An original, valid photo ID is required for entry to St. Mark's Basilica. Photocopies are not accepted.
Duration: 1h 30mAdmission: YES
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour is conducted in English; ensure you understand the language.
- Children under 6 years old can join for free; please inform in advance.
- The tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes as the tour involves walking on uneven surfaces.
- Bring a valid ID for entry into the basilica.
- Photography may be restricted in certain areas; please follow the guide's instructions.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 1 days before the activity starts
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
- Please note that tour starting times are subject to change based on ticket availability
- Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter.
- Due to the highly variable nighttime opening and closing times of Doge’s and St. Mark’s, your tour may need to take up to a 1.5 hour break between the two sites, in which case your guide will recommend a local restaurant or bar in which to wait. In some cases, however, there will be no break. In all cases, the total duration of the guided tour will ALWAYS be three hours, regardless of the break time.
- An original, valid photo ID is required for entry to St. Mark's Basilica. Photocopies are not accepted.
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers’ full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the attraction.
- Admission to St. Mark’s Basilica is included (valued from €50 per person).
Traveler reviews
5.065 reviews
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After hours tour of Doges Palace and St Marks Basilica
Romy was our our guide for this great tour. Firstly we were touring without the crowd. Romy was friendly and so knowledgeable about the architecture, history and paintings. She was able to point out the stories in the remarkable artwork. Fast paced and well timed but took time to answer our questions. We really enjoyed this tour and appreciated Romy’s knowledge. 🇨🇦
Kikk0manMay 22, 2026TRIPADVISOR
A great way to spend half a day
Thoroughly enjoyable walking tour around Venice seeing the sights. Our tour guide Pamela was excellent, very knowledgeable and passionate about the history of this amazing city. Would highly recommend.
Compass51490972164May 21, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Amazing after-hours tour of Venice!
Brankica was an amazing guide! She was very knowledgeable and we learned so much about Venice and its history. It was fun and entertaining and I highly recommend!
nicoledD4368ZTMay 11, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Amazing tour!
The tour was incredible and Pamela was a truly exceptional guide: her story was pleasant and she was able to answer all our questions, including the more technical ones about the construction of the building. The visit to the Basilica was memorable, without the crowds
Mohamad_MMay 4, 2026VIATOR
Awesome Venice tour with Nico!
We had a wonderful time with Nico touring the Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s after hours. He is so knowledgeable about Venice and loves the city and its history. We all learned so much. Seeing St Mark’s light up from the dark was incredible. If you can, doing the private was so worth it!
JenS760Apr 29, 2026TRIPADVISOR
Additional information
On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
Please note that tour starting times are subject to change based on ticket availability
Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter.
Due to the highly variable nighttime opening and closing times of Doge’s and St. Mark’s, your tour may need to take up to a 1.5 hour break between the two sites, in which case your guide will recommend a local restaurant or bar in which to wait. In some cases, however, there will be no break. In all cases, the total duration of the guided tour will ALWAYS be three hours, regardless of the break time.
An original, valid photo ID is required for entry to St. Mark's Basilica. Photocopies are not accepted.