Venice Highlights: Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Skip-the-line entry to Doge's Palace
- Guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica with Pala d'Oro access
- Gondola ride through Venice's canals
- Explore the Bridge of Sighs
- Discover Venetian art and history
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Skip-the-line entry to Doge's Palace
- Guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica with Pala d'Oro access
- Gondola ride through Venice's canals
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Itinerary
Your guide will give you a brief introduction to the history of Venice and of the Doge's Palace
Enjoy a 2-hour (from 11.10am to 1.30pm) in-dept tour of the Doges Palace and visit the famous Prisons.
Pass by: While standing in the courtyard as your guide will introduce you to the Doges Palace architecture and history, see and learn about the Giant Staircase leading up to the Palace and used for formal entrances.
Pass by: Walk over the famous Bridge of Sighs connecting the Doge's Palace to the Prisons and learn why it was given this name.
Pass by: Learn about the Main entrance of the Doges Palace, the paper door that links the Doges Palace to St Mark's Basilica.
We'll discuss the famous landmarks of St. Mark's square, you'll enjoy an in-depth tour of St. Mark's Basilica, to admire the astonishing interior covered in rich and lavish mosaics and you'll learn about the strong Byzantine influences on the city that helped Venice realize its own unique style of architecture.
Marvel at Teatro La Fenice and delve into its fascinating legacy.
Discover the hidden gem of Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo on a guided visit to its iconic spiral “snail” staircase. Hear the story of the Contarini family and the blend of Gothic and Renaissance design.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for weather conditions.
- Gondola ride may be substituted due to weather conditions; no refunds provided.
- Tour is not wheelchair accessible; consider mobility limitations before booking.
Know before you go
- Dress modestly for basilica visits; shoulders and knees must be covered.
- Arrive at the meeting point at least 15 minutes before departure.
- Be prepared for a moderate amount of walking; comfortable footwear is recommended.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
- Large bags and rucksacks are not allowed inside St Mark's Basilica
- At certain times it may not be possible to enter any of the visited churches due to religious functions taking place. These closures are beyond our control so no refunds or discounts will be issued
- 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.
- Small group Tour - maximum 14 - Min 5 people
- ID Cards and Passports of all participants are mandatory to enter inside the St. Mark's Basilica.
- 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.
- St. Mark’s Basilica tickets are priced at €12 per person
Traveler reviews
Walking on air in Venice
Giorgia was on time, outgoing and friendly, but most of all very knowledgeable about the city and the places we visited. Would definitely recommend!!
Not the best:(
Overall the tour was average. We cannot say it was great. First the tour had too much walking down alleys (partly my fault) for not reading the paperwork they sent. In the description it doesn’t say much about “the walk”. But it was most of the afternoon tour! We spent less than a half hour inside the Basilica, but spent an hour and a half walking down alleys and past shops. Second the guide talked way too much. We got so tired of listening to her going on and on. Also the way they did the tours she repeated a lot of things to the afternoon guests, that we had already heard in the morning. She is very knowledgeable but we did not want that much information!. We were disappointed in this tour, and came home exhausted. Way too much useless walking.
We were signed up for...
We were signed up for Doge Palace and Saint Marks Basilica, when we arrive, they did not have our name on the list for Doge Palace. We still was able to tour the palace, but we were very disappointed that our name was not on the list. It certainly caused us some anxiety! as well, it slowed down the tour because she had to call her headquarters to get approval for us to go.
Our guides (one for Doges...
Our guides (one for Doges Palace and another for St. Mark's) met us promptly at the assigned location. Both were excellent communicators, knowledgeable and passionate about their subjects. We would book with Viator again!!!
Moses walks you into history
4 oct 2025 Moses was walking history teller and passionate Venice history Loved every bit of it. Especially doges palace