St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace Skip the Line Guided Tour — Semi-Private (8 Guests Max)
About this activity
A 2.5-hour semi-private guided visit to St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, limited to eight guests. Reserved entry to both landmarks is included; see golden mosaics, Tintoretto and the Bridge of Sighs.
Highlights
- St Mark’s Basilica: Byzantine mosaics and marble
- Pala d’Oro gold altarpiece and Bronze Horses
- Doge’s Palace: Golden Staircase and chambers
- Tintoretto, Veronese and Venetian Renaissance art
- Bridge of Sighs and St Mark’s Square highlights
Full description
Explore St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace on a 2.5-hour semi-private guided tour for up to eight guests. Reserved entry to both sites is included. See the Basilica’s golden mosaics, the Palace’s grand chambers and the Bridge of Sighs with an expert guide.
Discover Venice’s most iconic landmarks on a 2.5-hour semi-private guided tour of St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. With reserved entry to both landmarks included, explore the Basilica’s Byzantine interior, golden mosaics, marble floors and Pala d’Oro, then continue to the Doge’s Palace, the historic seat of Venetian power. See the Golden Staircase, grand chambers, Renaissance works by Tintoretto and Veronese, and the Bridge of Sighs, which links the palace to the former prison. Begin at St Mark’s Square and hear the stories behind Venice’s religious, artistic and political history from an expert guide. The semi-private group is limited to 8 guests. Food and drinks, hotel pickup and drop-off, gratuities, and luggage or coat storage are not included. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour.
Included / Excluded
- Professional expert tour guide
- Semi-private group limited to 8 guests
- 2.5-hour guided tour
- Reserved entry tickets and admission to St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace included
- Food and drinks are not included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included
- Gratuities are optional and not included
- Luggage and coat storage are not included
Itinerary
St Mark’s Square and meeting point
Meet your guide at the covered gallery corner near the Bell Tower, opposite the Basilica by the Rolex shop, then hear an introduction to St Mark’s Square.
St Mark’s Basilica and golden mosaics
Enter the Basilica with reserved admission and explore its golden mosaics, marble and bronze horses with your guide.
Meeting point
Start Location
St Mark’s Bell Tower — covered gallery corner meeting point
P.za San Marco, 41, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Meet at the covered gallery corner near St Mark’s Bell Tower, across from St Mark’s Basilica by the Rolex shop. Arrive 10 minutes early.
Get directions →Important information
Know before you book
- Admission and reserved entry to St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace are included.
- The semi-private tour is not wheelchair accessible.
- Children are welcome; the tour suits those engaged by 2.5 hours of art and history.
Know before you go
- Meet at the covered gallery corner near St Mark’s Bell Tower, opposite the Basilica entrance by the Rolex shop, Piazza San Marco 41. Arrive 10 minutes early.
- Bring your booking confirmation and a photo ID or a clear photo of it. Arrive 10 minutes early.
- Large bags cannot be stored. Basilica dress and security rules apply; check the venue guidance before arrival.
Cancellation policy
Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund
Reviews
We booked this tour to get as much as possible out of our time at The Met. What we didn’t know we were getting was a personalized experience full of captivating stories about the artists' lives and the people who brought the art to the museum. Robin was a wealth of knowledge and a highlight of our trip to New York!
Spent a great day with Charlie he was very engaging and shared lots of information and entertaining stories with us. He took great care of us and we would recommend him for any future tours.
Mark, tour guide for the Metropolitan Museum is an outstanding teacher: engaging; entertaining; professional; personable; experienced and deeply knowledgeable as a result of a lifelong passion and relationship with the Met. He loves what he does and cares deeply about sharing his knowledge and insight to spark curiosity and inspire his clients--his students--to understand context and meaning of each piece or work of art reviewed. My wife, a retired professor emeritas and myself both left thoroughly impressed and grateful to have been taught by best and most captivating guides we have had the privilege of meeting on one of our many travels and adventures. Hire the best. Hire Mark. Worth every penny and every minute of your time you can afford at the Met. Like us, you will look forward to coming back for another teaching session from Mark. In my case, hopefully we will be back on my birthday next year! (Thanks again Mark!)
Frequently asked questions
FAQs
Additional information
Reserved entry and guided admission to St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace are included. Meet at Piazza San Marco 41 by the Rolex shop near the Bell Tower. For help call +1 917 999 0380.