Private Welcome to Venice Tour with St. Mark's & Gondola
3 hours
Max 8 people
Commentary: Guide · en
Venice, Italy
About this activity
Full description
Experience the best of Venice on a private walking tour designed as the ideal introduction to the city. With an expert local guide, explore both iconic landmarks and hidden neighborhoods. Wander through the lively Rialto Fish Market, where Venetians still shop for fresh seafood. Admire the Rialto Bridge and discover quiet canals, palaces, and charming courtyards that many visitors miss. You'll even stop by a bookstore considered by many to be the most beautiful in the world, with a stunning canal view, quirky decor, and friendly resident cats. Afterwards, soak in the lively atmosphere at St. Mark's Square before stepping into the famous Basilica itself. Enjoy a guided tour of the church and see its stunning gold mosaic ceiling. End your tour in true Venetian style with a 30-minute private gondola ride, gliding through tranquil waterways for an unforgettable view of the city from the water. Perfect for first-time visitors, couples, or families, this experience offers the best of Venice at a relaxed, personal pace.
Stop: Mercati di Rialto
Description: Explore one of Venice’s liveliest local markets, where vendors have sold fresh seafood for generations. See how Venetians still shop and enjoy this slice of daily life.
Admission: Free
Duration: 1 hour
Stop: Rialto Bridge
Description: Stroll across the city’s most iconic bridge and enjoy sweeping views of the Grand Canal while your guide shares the story of Venice’s rise as a maritime power.
Admission: Free
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Castello (Venice)
Description: Continue to a peaceful neighborhood filled with quiet canals, artisan workshops, and hidden courtyards. This sestiere reveals a side of Venice that few visitors see, full of atmosphere and history.
Admission: Free
Time: 50 minutes
Stop At: Museo di Palazzo Grimani
Description: Pause to admire a unique mansion that belonged to a powerful Venetian family.
Admission: Not Included
Time: Pass by without stopping
Stop At: Libreria Acqua Alta
Description: One of the highlights of your guided walk is a visit to a famous bookstore that feels authentically Venetian and uses gondolas and boats for decoration. Your guide will wait for you outside, allowing you to wander the stacks of books, see the friendly cats, and admire the view of the peaceful canal.
Admission: Free
Time: 10 minutes
Stop: St. Mark's Basilica
Description: Skip the line inside St. Mark’s Basilica with your guide to admire the gold ceiling, altarpieces, and incredible artwork. At each stop, your guide will reveal how this dazzling church came to symbolize Venice’s power, devotion, and artistry.
Admission: Included
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop: Bacino Orseolo
Description: After saying goodbye to your guide, conclude your experience with a serene private gondola ride through the city’s tranquil back canals, offering a timeless perspective of Venice from the water.
Admission: Included
Duration: 30 minutes
Description: Explore one of Venice’s liveliest local markets, where vendors have sold fresh seafood for generations. See how Venetians still shop and enjoy this slice of daily life.
Admission: Free
Duration: 1 hour
Stop: Rialto Bridge
Description: Stroll across the city’s most iconic bridge and enjoy sweeping views of the Grand Canal while your guide shares the story of Venice’s rise as a maritime power.
Admission: Free
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Castello (Venice)
Description: Continue to a peaceful neighborhood filled with quiet canals, artisan workshops, and hidden courtyards. This sestiere reveals a side of Venice that few visitors see, full of atmosphere and history.
Admission: Free
Time: 50 minutes
Stop At: Museo di Palazzo Grimani
Description: Pause to admire a unique mansion that belonged to a powerful Venetian family.
Admission: Not Included
Time: Pass by without stopping
Stop At: Libreria Acqua Alta
Description: One of the highlights of your guided walk is a visit to a famous bookstore that feels authentically Venetian and uses gondolas and boats for decoration. Your guide will wait for you outside, allowing you to wander the stacks of books, see the friendly cats, and admire the view of the peaceful canal.
Admission: Free
Time: 10 minutes
Stop: St. Mark's Basilica
Description: Skip the line inside St. Mark’s Basilica with your guide to admire the gold ceiling, altarpieces, and incredible artwork. At each stop, your guide will reveal how this dazzling church came to symbolize Venice’s power, devotion, and artistry.
Admission: Included
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop: Bacino Orseolo
Description: After saying goodbye to your guide, conclude your experience with a serene private gondola ride through the city’s tranquil back canals, offering a timeless perspective of Venice from the water.
Admission: Included
Duration: 30 minutes
Included / Excluded
- Local English-speaking guide
- Expertly guided walking tour
- Gondola Ride
- Headset
- Skip-the-line access to St. Mark's Basilica (12€)
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
- Guide (during gondola ride)
Meeting point
Start Location
Campo S. Giacomo di Rialto, 255, Campo S. Giacomo di Rialto, 255, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets outside the entrance of the Church of San Giacometto at Campo San Giacomo di Rialto (also known as Campo San Giacometto).
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.
- During times of high tides, flooding, or heavy rain, the gondola ride may be substituted for another experience.
- The Rialto Fish Market is closed on Sundays.
- This tour is in English.
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- Large bags, trolleys and backpacks cannot be accommodated on this tour.
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.
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- During times of high tides, flooding, or heavy rain, the gondola ride may be substituted for another experience.
- Large bags, trolleys and backpacks cannot be accommodated on this tour.
- The Rialto Fish Market is closed on Sundays.
- Appropriate footware is advised.
- Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
- Walks and Devour comply with all local government regulations. Please refer to local government guidelines for the most up to date information.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 7 days before the activity starts
Cancellations received greater than 7 days prior to tour commencement are fully refundable. Cancellations received within 7 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.
Additional information
Ticket age ranges:
- Adult (15+)
- Child (2-14)
- Infant (0-1)
- Adult (15+)
- Child (2-14)
- Infant (0-1)