St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Half-Day Tour with Gondola Ride

Free CancellationSkip the Line

Explore St. Mark's Square's most iconic attractions with skip-the-line tickets and an expert guide

4.95

(529)


3.5 h


Max 20 Guests

The excitement of planning a visit to Venice can become a challenge due to crowds and long waits. Our expert guides grant you privileged entrance, allowing you to skip the lines at St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. Next, it's time to relax as your guide will then lead you to the serene waters of the Grand Canal on a classic gondola ride, capturing the essence of this enchanting city in just a few hours. Without the hassle, our guides get you where you need to be with time to spare.

You’ll meet up with your local guide and the rest of your group in the famous St. Mark’s Square near the two columns by the canal. Skip the long lines at St. Mark’s so you can get right inside to learn about this magnificent golden church. Then explore the Doge’s Palace where you’ll see the golden staircase, prisons, and Bridge of Sighs. Finally, your guide will escort you to your gondola ride that might just become your favorite activity of the day! Each gondola seats up to 5 guests and is s...

Select participants and date

Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance!

Skip the line tickets

Passionate English-speaking guide

Gondola Ride

St. Mark's Basilica

Doge's Palace

Bridge of Sighs

Wheelchair accessible

Meet your guide at St. Mark's Square

Your tour begins with a warm welcome from your guide in one of the world’s most beautiful squares, conveniently located in central Venice.

St. Mark Basilica

With skip-the-line tickets, head straight inside the historic basilica, whose magnificent domes and lavish gold mosaics are sure to impress.

Doge's Palace

Thanks to fast-track entry, step into the opulent 14th-century palace where the Doge of Venice, the highest authority, once lived and ruled.

Grand Ballroom

Gaze up at the towering ceilings and detailed frescoes by Veronese and Tintoretto in the Grand Ballroom, the former seat of Venice's council.

Golden Staircase

Deemed the most valuable staircase ever built, the Golden Staircase leads to the palace’s third floor, where Venice was ruled for centuries.

For Reference Only. Itineraries are subject to change

Between the two big columns in St. Mark’s Square (columns of San Marco & San Teodoro) located on the south side of the square, near the canal. Our friendly representative will be there holding a sign with our company name on it. Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in.

We recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes, a camera, and a water bottle. Large bags and backpacks are not allowed and will have to be checked before entering the Doge's Palace. It's best to leave them at your hotel if possible.

4.95

529 Ratings

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Mary Mathews

Verified Review

May 15, 2025

Wonderful guide-very educational

Great tour and excellent tour guide

Richard Shulkosky

Verified Review

May 15, 2025

We spent 2 days in Venice and signed up for the St Mark’s and Doge tour. Nico was our tour guide and did a great job of explaining the important historical highlights of the church and palace and tying them into the overall history of Venice and Italy. We all learned a lot including the key meanings behind a lot of the paintings. Nico was easy to understand, very knowledgeable and had a great personality. He was friendly and funny. Thank you Nico! The tour is just long enough to not take too much time while still giving you a basic understanding of the significance of the buildings.

Host par excellence

Jennifer Bergeron

Verified Review

May 15, 2025

Fillipo was engaging and warm. We enjoyed his voice and friendliness.

Beautiful and Amazing

Sharman Holloway

Verified Review

May 14, 2025

Rita was amazing!! She explained so many pictures and told stories. She made sure everyone was well taken care of. The palace was breathtaking! I highly recommend this tour snd Rita!

Julie Galeazzi

Verified Review

May 12, 2025

Bill Starnes

Verified Review

May 11, 2025

Great tour

Patti Lou Cunningham

Verified Review

May 10, 2025

Knowledgeable guide in the Doge Palace, St Mark’s Basilica and nice gondola ride

Great Tour

Kevin Smith

Verified Review

May 10, 2025

Our guide Roberta was fantastic, she was very thoughtful for elderly visitors and being a local had a wealth of information. Thankyou Roberta

St. Mark's & Doge's Palace Tour with Gondola Ride

Marie Yeo-Antonis

Verified Review

May 09, 2025

Marco was awesome as our tour guide! He was not only knowledgeable in Venetian history but was also kind and funny. We would love to do more tours with him as our tour guide! We would definitely recommend this tour and Marco to our friends and family!

Joe Lawless

Verified Review

May 09, 2025

James M Bauck

Verified Review

May 08, 2025

Venice morning

Stephani Moseley

Verified Review

May 08, 2025

Tulia was so informative and gave us such great insight to the history of Venice. The gondola ride is a must do.

Federica Murari

Verified Review

May 07, 2025

Federica Murari

Verified Review

May 07, 2025

Tour Guide Couldn’t Manage Time

Karen Sabella

Verified Review

May 05, 2025

We spent almost all of our time in Doge’s palace because our tour guide got hung up on every detail, then rushed through the basilica instead of getting time there. It was not well balanced and to be honest quite boring.

Great Tour of St. Marc's and Doge's Palace

Lloyd Baxter

Verified Review

May 04, 2025

Marc, our guide, gave an interesting and detailed tour!

Doge/st Mark’s/Gondola ride

Susan Prosch

Verified Review

May 04, 2025

Our guide was wonderful, knowledgeable and accommodating. Thanks for a great tour.

Elizabeth Lau

Verified Review

May 04, 2025

Lee Schraith

Verified Review

May 04, 2025

Barbara was a fantastic guide. She was incredibly knowledgeable of Doges palace and St Marks Basilica of the most intricate facts. Explaining the details of paintings Etc!! A definite see.

Maria Bertucci

Verified Review

May 03, 2025

Michael Boling

Verified Review

May 03, 2025

kamil krajcigr

Verified Review

May 01, 2025

Lourdes Aponte

Verified Review

May 01, 2025

St Mark’s Basilica and Doge Palace boat cruise Murano and Burano

Marianne Sullivan

Verified Review

May 01, 2025

Both tours were exceptional due to the guides and their knowledge of the history of the cities and landmarks! Roberta with St Mark’s Basilica and Doge Palace. And Cecilia and Nicola with Murano and Barono! We loved our day in Venice!

Roberta was the best!!

Jeff Quinn

Verified Review

May 01, 2025

Roberta was out knowledgeable and friendly tour guide guiding us through the Doges Palace and the Basilica San Marco before leading us through the back streets to our waiting gondola ride. Given the crowds Roberta did sn amazing job keeping our group together all the way through