Private Doge's Palace & St Mark's Basilica After Hours Night Tour
Description
This Private Night Doge's Palace and St Mark's Tour is a perfect way to visit two of the most famous sights in the city. You will begin in St Mark's square, where you will hear all about the long history of this famous piazza, as you make your way to the Doge's Palace. Your private guide will regale you with the stories of famous prisoners who were kept in the dungeons of the Palace, as you roam the opulent rooms, prisons, courts and halls of the Doge’s Palace. Then, you will make your way to St. Mark's once it has already closed its doors. That's right! With this tour, you will have exclusive After Hours access: only you, your group, and your tour guide!! Once inside the basilica, you will be mesmerised by a spectacular light show highlighting the sacred art and mosaics which adorn the golden mosaic ceilings. You will also see the Pala d'Oro altar, and descend into the crypt where St Mark himself is laid to rest. We guarantee this to be a once in a lifetime experience!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your Private Night Doge’s Palace and St. Mark's Tour starts in one of the most beautiful and famous squares in all of Venice – St Mark’s Square – which has stood through wars, flooding, changes in governments for over a millennium. As you admire the square's romantic, historic and powerful atmosphere, your guide will give you a good idea of the timelines and history of this famous piazza before, as you make your way inside the Doge’s Palace.
An exemplary work of Venetian Gothic architecture, the Doge's Palace was once the seat of the Venetian Republic and their leader, the Doge. For over 700 years, this impressive palace has housed 120 powerful Doges, as well as government offices, prison cells and the Court. You will be mesmerized by the stories your guide will share with you as you stroll through the Doge’s private, ornate apartments and impressive halls with their enormous paintings and frescoes. Walking through the corridors with your private guide you will appreciate the whole gamut of Venice’s history, not only the romantic and polished side, but also its most secret and mysterious corners. This tour takes you behind the scenes, allowing you to learn about the fear and authority the Palazzo Ducale used to represent. Your private guide will regale you with the stories of famous prisoners who were kept in the dungeons of the Doge’s Palace...discover the most famous one!
By the time you exit the Doge’s Palace the sun will have set and darkness will have taken its place, offering the perfect atmosphere for your next stop. There will be no crowds and no waiting in line as we have EXCLUSIVE access to the basilica at night, so only you, your group, and your tour guide will be admitted. Imagine being alone at night in St Mark’s!! When you enter, the church will be in complete darkness and your guide will help you find the perfect pew. Get your camera ready, as one by one the lights will be turned on to reveal gorgeous golden ceiling mosaics. This is truly a one of a kind experience, which will leave you with unforgettable memories, making history come to life – and light! An original, valid photo ID is required for entry to St. Mark's Basilica. Photocopies are not accepted.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
- Please note that tour starting times are subject to change based on ticket availability
- Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter.
- Due to the highly variable nighttime opening and closing times of Doge’s and St. Mark’s, your tour may need to take up to a 1.5 hour break between the two sites, in which case your guide will recommend a local restaurant or bar in which to wait. In some cases, however, there will be no break. In all cases, the total duration of the guided tour will ALWAYS be three hours, regardless of the break time.
- An original, valid photo ID is required for entry to St. Mark's Basilica. Photocopies are not accepted.
- 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.
- Admission to St. Mark’s Basilica is included (valued from €50 per person).
Reviews(78)
Nico did an excellent job showing us around the basilica and keeping our tired kids engaged. After hours timing was nice, with only a handful of other people around.
This was a one of a kind, very unique experience going into the Basilica at night. Being among only a few to enter was truly special. Our guide Lucia was amazing highly highly recommend.
Lucia was amazing! This Tour was worth every penny! Going into the doge after hours and seeing it lit up was really special. Lucia was incredibly knowledgeable about everything – and we threw some hard questions at her! 10/10 recommend!
We had an amazing experience on this very special tour. It was informative, engaging, and fun for us and our three kids. There is nothing like seeing the lights of the basilica turn on and start to glow!
Lara was amazing! Such a great tour at night and Lara was very knowledgeable and funny!
The experience was fabulous. The tour visits spectacular monuments that need no introduction, but in our case, Adriana's explanations greatly improved the tour. I don't know whose mistake it was, but we thought we had booked the tour in Spanish and, upon arriving, we were signed up for English. Luckily, Adriana didn't have any problem and switched to Spanish, which, not being her language, must have required more effort than usual. Without her, this experience would not have been the same. Furthermore, it is noticeable that she loves what she does; she explains everything with such excitement and enthusiasm that she makes every corner and every story even more interesting. A 10/10 guide!
Impressive. Interesting. Relatively short. So okay for kids.
Getting in the palace and basilica at night is the only way to go. You have the spaces almost to yourself and it’s special for that reason.
We absolutely loved our tour! Ottavia was a wonderful guide and a wealth of knowledge. We couldn’t recommend this tour and Ottavia more! Thank you for an amazing experience!
Francesca was an excellent guide. Super informed showing her experience with the material and the history of Venice. She was also easy talk to and fun. We highly recommend her.
