5.0(11 reviews)
Private Welcome to Venice Tour with St. Mark's & Gondola
3 hours
Max 8 people
Commentary: Guide · en
Venice, Italy
About this activity
Let your expert local guide give you the perfect introduction to Venice on a private walking tour featuring St. Mark’s Basilica, the Rialto Bridge, and a 30-minute gondola ride through the city’s quieter canals.
Highlights
- See Venice’s hidden gems and highlights in 3 hours
- Explore the canals on a private gondola ride
- Enjoy local insight from an expert private guide
- Skip the line into St. Mark's Basilica
- Relaxed pace ideal for families, couples, or friends
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.
Begin your introduction to Venice near the Rialto Fish Market along the Grand Canal. This is where locals have purchased fresh seafood for centuries, offering a glimpse of authentic daily life. From there, follow your guide to the Rialto Bridge, one of Venice’s oldest crossings over the Grand Canal. Enjoy sweeping views of the waterway and hear tales of the merchants who once made this area the bustling center of Venetian trade.
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. 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.
Then you'll arrive in St. Mark’s Square, the city’s most famous landmark and a showcase of its former glory. 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.
After saying goodbye to your guide, conclude your exploration with a 30-minute private gondola ride, gliding through serene canals and beneath elegant bridges. It’s the perfect finale to your private walking tour, offering first-time visitors an intimate and memorable introduction to the city.
Important: You must provide the following details for every guests in your party at the time of booking: first and last name. All guests must bring ID on the day of their tour as it is required to visit the St. Mark's Basilica. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument. Name changes are not permitted. This experience is refundable up to 7 days before your tour.
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. 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.
Then you'll arrive in St. Mark’s Square, the city’s most famous landmark and a showcase of its former glory. 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.
After saying goodbye to your guide, conclude your exploration with a 30-minute private gondola ride, gliding through serene canals and beneath elegant bridges. It’s the perfect finale to your private walking tour, offering first-time visitors an intimate and memorable introduction to the city.
Important: You must provide the following details for every guests in your party at the time of booking: first and last name. All guests must bring ID on the day of their tour as it is required to visit the St. Mark's Basilica. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument. Name changes are not permitted. This experience is refundable up to 7 days before your tour.
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.
- 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.
- The full names of all participants must be provided at the time of booking and must match the names on the ID/Passport. Name changes are not permitted.
- 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. No refunds can be provided for late arrivals or no-shows.
- 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.
- 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.
- The full names of all participants must be provided at the time of booking and must match the names on the ID/Passport. Name changes are not permitted.
- 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.
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.
Reviews
5.0(11 reviews)
Lisa
Jun 20265.0
The tour was great and having priority on the boat was excellent
Matthew
Jun 20265.0
If you’re reading this, book it now! You’ll be one of the first on the boat and get the best spot before anyone else. Daniela (aka “Daniel”) treated us exceptionally well from start to finish. Her knowledge of the falls and the stories behind them was the perfect balance of informative and entertaining. She keeps you laughing throughout the tour and enjoys the experience right alongside you as if it were her first time seeing it. 10/10 — I would recommend this tour to anyone. As an added bonus, our group had only four people, which made the experience absolutely incredible and much more personal. Thanks again, Daniel! 😉
Lisa
Jun 20265.0
The tour was great and having priority on the boat was excellent
Additional information
Ticket age ranges:
- Adult (15+)
- Child (2-14)
- Infant (0-1)
- Adult (15+)
- Child (2-14)
- Infant (0-1)