St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace Guided Tour with Gondola Ride
Description
This tour pairs Venice’s two most important landmarks with a 30-minute shared gondola ride. Use timed entry tickets to enter St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace with an expert guide. Learn fascinating details as you explore, from the basilica’s mosaics to the palace’s political history and prison passages. Finally, board a shared gondola, for a classic and memorable Venetian experience.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Use time entry to tickets to enter St. Mark’s Basilica, go through the required security line, then spend about 20 minutes inside with your expert guide. Admire gold mosaics, domes, and marble floors while your guide explains how Venice’s seafaring empire shaped this sacred landmark.
Move from St. Mark's across the square to the Doge's Palace. Follow your guide inside with time entry tickets, skipping the general admissions line. As you explore the Doge’s Palace, learn about the wild ways of the Venetian Republic under the rule of elected magistrates. This tour not only showcases the interior of this ornate palace, but also goes in depth about the crime and legal system that was once in place in the city of Venice. Admire classic works of Venetian art and visit Doge’s Palace’s main sights, such as the Grand Staircase and the Bridge of Sighs.
Following your guided tour of the Doges Palace, your guide will introduce you to some other highlights surrounding St. Marks Square like the stunning bell tower (exterior visit) and adorning portico's surrounding the square. Then take a 20-minute break to grab a snack and relax.
Lastly, join a quintessential Venice activity, a gondola ride! Left in the care of a trusted gondolier, enjoy the beauty of Venice from the water. Glide through the panoramic canals in a shared gondola, each boat accommodating up to 5 participants.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women to enter St. Mark’s Basilica; entry may be refused otherwise. Please avoid wearing sandals, hats, shorts, skirts, or tops that expose your shoulders.
- A valid government-issued ID is required for entrance to St. Mark's Basilica. The name on your ticket (entered at check-out) must match the name on your ID, or you may be refused entry.
Reviews(1,160)
Absolutely breathtaking! The tour guide was funny, interactive, knowledgeable and even took pics of you and your individual groups!!
Excellent guide with a very good detailed knowledge of the chapels. The gondola ride was also very good.
The guide was great. She shared a lot about the sites, but also a lot of local knowledge and history.
Elena is an animated and knowledgeable guide. We learned so much and enjoyed her insights. Nice moments to sit during the heat of summer!
A comprehensive visit to famous local spots and a gondola ride included for a reasonable price. Roberta the tour guide was amazing
Really good tour. Our guide was Elena and she provided a really interesting tour, explained a lot about the history of Venice and interaction with the group was good. If you only have a day in Venice I would recommend it as also includes gondola ride.
Lots of walking Beautiful artwork. Why demand 100 characters in a review. It will make the majority of people not leave one.
Excellent tour amazing experience great guide worth the price
Giulia was very knowledgeable and friendly. She gave us interesting facts about the origins and histories of both places. She was attentive to the group and invited questions throughout the tour. We learned a lot about the architecture, art, and uses of the rooms. Both places are absolutely beautiful, inside and out.
Fernando was fantastic! I would skip the additional 3 hour walking tour part. It consisted of lunch on your own and a 20 min walk to the Rialto bridge with a short history and back. This was not a walking tour of Venice. But the basilica and palace were wonderful!!
