from
$128
St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Half-Day Tour with Gondola Ride
Experience Venice’s top 3 must-dos, back-to-back, with timed entry tickets and an expert guide
from$127.53
What's included
Doges, domes, and canals in one go
Expert English-speaking guide
Timed-entry ticket at St. Mark’s Basilica
Timed-entry ticket at the Doge’s Palace
Guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace
30-minute shared gondola ride
Guide tips
Itinerary
Your tour begins in St. Mark's Square
Meet your guide in St. Mark’s Square. The exact location will be listed on your booking voucher. You guide will be holding a red "The Tour Guy" sign or flag, awaiting your arrival.
Step inside St. Mark’s Basilica
Use timed entry tickets and spend about 20 minutes inside St. Mark’s Basilica. Admire gold mosaics, domes, and marble floors while your guide explains how Venice’s seafaring empire shaped this sacred landmark.
Explore the Doge’s Palace
Steps away from the basilica, enter the Doge’s Palace. Get ready to learn all about power and politics. Use pre-reserved tickets and follow your guide through lavish chambers where Venice’s leaders ruled with unmatched ambition.
Cross the Bridge of Sighs and enter the prisons
Follow the corridor across the famous Bridge of Sighs and hear the legend behind its name. Then descend into the palace prisons and dungeon, where cramped cells reveal punishments, plots, and Casanova’s escape story.
Take a quick break before your gondola ride
After the touring the Doge's Palace, take a 20-minute break to sit down, use the restroom, or grab a quick snack nearby.
Sightsee on a shared 30-minute gondola ride
Next, prepare for your gondola ride. After exploring Venice by land, you’ll take to the water for a 25 to 30-minute gondola ride along the Grand Canal or under the Bridge of Sighs. With only a few fellow travelers aboard, it’s a perfect, peaceful finale.
Your tour ends near St. Mark’s Square
Return to St. Mark’s Square by gondola, to find yourself right where the adventure started. Having just finished a full day of timed entry, secret stories, and canal views you'll have met Venice properly!
For Reference Only. Itineraries are subject to change
Meeting and drop-off point
Important Details
Discover what to expect, what's included, and everything you need to know before booking.
Good to know:
Dress Code: 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.
ID Requirement: 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 will be refused entry.
Tour Changes: All St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace tours are subject to potential time change due to ticketing. Please keep the date of your tour flexible.
Accessibility: This tour involves extensive walking, standing, and climbing stairs. It is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible and not suitable for guests with mobility issues.
Weather Advisory: Doge's Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica may be closed unexpectedly and without much notice due to adverse weather events, maintenance, or safety reasons. If this occurs, you will be notified as soon as possible.
St. Mark's Basilica: Please note, the tour inside St. Mark's Basilica usually lasts around 20 minutes, as per the monument's rules and protocol.
Gondola Ride: Your gondola ride is a shared experience, with each boat accommodating up to five guests. A professional gondolier will operate the boat, but please note that this portion of the tour is not guided. The ride lasts approximately 25 to 30 minutes, including the time needed to board and disembark.
Bag Policy: Large backpacks or bags aren’t allowed inside the attractions; please leave them at your accommodation.
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can enter sites on time.
Your tour includes:
Expert English-speaking guide
Timed entry ticket and guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica
Timed entry ticket and guided tour of Doge’s Palace
25 to 30-minute gondola ride (max 5 people shared experience)
What to bring:
Covering for knees and shoulders
Government-issued ID
Comfortable shoes
Camera
Water bottle
See what people are saying
4.96
940 verified ratings
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What reviewers sayPowered by Cicero AIBETA
Reviewers frequently praise the guides for their extensive knowledge, engaging storytelling, and ability to make the history of St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace vivid and memorable. Many also highlight the gondola ride as a relaxing and enjoyable conclusion, though some note variability in gondoliers' engagement and occasional issues with group size or pacing during the tour.
Excellent!
Jonathan L.
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November 05, 2026
This was our 5th and final TheTourGuy tour on our vacation to Italy and like the 4 others it was excellent. Our guide Michaela was knowledgeable, engaging, efficient and very friendly. We left with a true understanding of the history of Venice to put the places we visited on the tour into context.
Chelsea B.
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November 04, 2026
Great tour
Stephen S.
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November 03, 2026
Our tour guide was excellent. Having gone on the tour knowing now how it was I would book it with no reservations again.
Susan L.
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November 01, 2026
RAYMONE S.
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October 30, 2026
Fantastic Tour and Gondola Ride
John L.
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October 29, 2026
A tour won't be a complete without knowing all the information that seat on the place. Taking pictures without guided tour will not tell all the stories and it feels incomplete. The Tour Guy does the job of making St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Half-Day Tour with Gondola Ride very memorable with the work of Julliano who curated the tour with high exception. He explained every bits very well and his way is effective. The anecdotes are really good. Most of all, me and wife have enjoyed the gondola ride as it considered to be one of the memorable ride we have in Venice.
St Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Half Day Tour with Gondola Ride
Susan B.
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October 28, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyed the tours and very knowledgeable guide. Gondola ride a highlight! Highly recommend!
Amazing day of such great experiences!
Caroline R.
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October 24, 2026
We loved the entire day of amazing wonders and experiences. We only had 2 days to work with and this tour ticked so many boxes for us!! Loved it.
Great tour but no gondola ride
Christina K.
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October 24, 2026
Great tour of St. Mark’s Basilica & Doges Palace. Our tour guide, Marco was excellent! He was very knowledgeable and funny. The gondola ride was backed up due to the weather. We left after waiting an hour.
Great Tour Guide
Patricia P.
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October 24, 2026
Loved our tour guy!
Wonderful tour guide
Blaise S.
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October 23, 2026
Our tour guide Eliza was the best. We have been on many tour guy tours this rates as one of the best. Eliza did a wonderful job. When taking tours through companies you never know how good your guide will be. If you are taking this tour ask for her.
Phillipo was Amazing!!
Tammy H.
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October 23, 2026
Just the perfect amount of time to see the highlights and end with a gondola ride. Phillipo was so funny while giving us the history. Great tour guide! Thank you so much Phillipo!!
wonderful guide
Diane M.
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October 22, 2026
great day in Venice! Guide was very informative and allowed us enough time to explore on our own
St. Marks
Curtis T.
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October 22, 2026
Excellent the tour guide was Venetian and so knowledgeable. Amazing!
Great historical facts w/ a funny tour guide!
MICHELLE P.
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October 22, 2026
Filippo took us up and around Palazzo Ducale, through every major room, and provided fun and interesting tips! The 25-minute gondola ride was super fun as well! All in all a great tour to go on in Venice!
Larry O.
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October 22, 2026
Very good
Steve H.
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October 22, 2026
Marco is the best
Kyle J.
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October 21, 2026
This was one of our favorite experiences of the trip and a lot had to do with Marco's great personality.
Survey
ANTHONY M.
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October 20, 2026
Great tour!! I forget guides name but she definitely educated us...she has great personality and when she is on subject she goes beyond..Thank u
Susan R.
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October 20, 2026
Phillipo was a great guide - shared a lot of interesting information with some local color. Really enjoyed the gondola ride.
St. Marks, Doge’s Palace, and
Daniel B.
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October 19, 2026
Very interesting! Great guide! Thank you 😊
Daniel G.
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October 18, 2026
Overall very good experience. If you enjoy museums, Marco and “The Tour Guy” are a great way to spend time together and learn a lot about what you are touring.
Great itinerary!
Bettina F.
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October 18, 2026
Our guide, Claudia, was wonderful & knowledgeable. Basilica, Palace & Gondola ride were perfect. (If I would change anything it would be better headsets)
St. Mark's Basilica half day tour
Kimbra L.
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October 17, 2026
It was great! The guide was informative and easy to understand.
Afternoon Tour
Michael C.
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October 15, 2026
Well done! All aspects - FANTASTICO!
FAQs
Where to meet?
Where to meet?
What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?
What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?
Does this tour skip the line?
Does this tour skip the line?
What if it rains?
What if it rains?
Is lunch included in the price of the tour?
Is lunch included in the price of the tour?
How long is the gondola ride?
How long is the gondola ride?
Do I have a private gondola just for myself?
Do I have a private gondola just for myself?
Does this tour include an entry ticket to St. Mark's Basilica?
Does this tour include an entry ticket to St. Mark's Basilica?
Is this tour family friendly?
Is this tour family friendly?
Do I need to follow a dress code?
Do I need to follow a dress code?
What is the gondola ride like?
What is the gondola ride like?
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