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!
Travelers
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
