from
$807
Private Venice Tour: St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and Gondola Ride
Enjoy a curated day in the floating city with pre-reserved tickets, a private boat, and an expert
What's included
Shape the day around what you love
Expert English-speaking private guide
Timed entry tickets to St. Mark’s Basilica
Timed entry tickets to Doge’s Palace
Private gondola ride
Bridge of Sighs and prisons visit
Private group experience
Guide tips
Itinerary
Private Venice Tour: St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and Gondola Ride
Enjoy a curated day in Venice with timed entry tickets and a private boat ride
Your tour begins at St. Mark’s Square
Meet your private guide in St. Mark’s Square and get a quick orientation to Venice’s history, politics, and faith. Then walk together toward the Basilica, timing your entry to bypass the long general admission line.
Enter St. Mark’s Basilica with timed entry
Step inside Venice’s most famous church and take in the gold mosaics, marble floors, and soaring domes that earned it the nickname “the Church of Gold.” Your guide explains how Venice blended Byzantine influence with local ambition, and what you’re actually looking at as you move through the nave.
Explore Doge’s Palace with timed entry
Next, head into the Doge's Palace, the seat of the old Venetian Republic, where Gothic façades hide rooms built for power and spectacle. Walk through grand chambers and corridors while your guide unpacks how Venice governed itself, punished crime, and projected authority across the Adriatic.
Cross the Bridge of Sighs and see the prison cells
Follow the same passage prisoners once took from courtroom to cell, with Venice framed through the small stone windows. In the prisons, your guide shares about the darker side of the Republic with stories of justice, reputation, and what daily confinement looked like behind these walls.
Float through the canals on a private gondola ride
Trade marble halls for open water as you step into a private gondola for a 30-minute ride. With no standard route, your gondolier steers based on conditions and mood, slipping into quieter canals, so you can see the authentic Venice.
Your tour ends near St. Mark’s Square
After your gondola ride, finish the tour near St. Mark’s Square, well-placed to keep exploring on foot. Stay nearby for a coffee, browse the arcades, or ask your guide where to go next based on your interests.
For Reference Only. Itineraries are subject to change
Select participants and date
Start times are in the product’s local time
Free cancellation up to 7 days in advance!
Sun, 27 Sep 2026
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.
Accessibility: As this is a private tour, the itinerary can be accommodated to be wheelchair or mobility accessible. Please contact us to make the proper arrangements.
Bag Policy: Large backpacks or bags aren’t allowed inside the attractions, please leave them at your accommodation.
St. Mark's Basilica: Please note, the tour inside St. Mark's Basilica usually lasts around 20 minutes, as per the monuments rules and protocol.
Gondola Ride: While you will have a professional gondolier operating the boat, it is important to note that this portion of the tour is not guided and is meant for sightseeing and relaxing.
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so you can enter sites on time.
Your tour includes:
Expert English-speaking private guide
Timed entry tickets and guide tour of St. Mark’s Basilica
Timed entry tickets and guided tour of Doge’s Palace
Private gondola ride
Flexible itinerary designed around your interests
Private group experience
What to bring:
Government-issued ID
Comfortable shoes
Camera
Covering for knees and shoulders
See what people are saying
4.94
143 Ratings
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Annette M.
September 22, 2026
Exceeded our expectations
Joseph M.
September 22, 2026
Chiara, our guide, was amazing. She was easy to understand, knowledgeable and passionate about her subjects. She started off asking us if we needed to use the restroom or a bottled water which I felt was very thoughtful. I was amazed at the amount of art decorating the Doge’s Palace and have never seen a Basilica anything like St Mark’s. The use of mosaics and eastern influenced architecture made it a unique experience for my wife and I.
Such an informative and enjoyable tour
Julia K.
September 18, 2026
Thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Michaela was a fantastic guide who knew so much about the area and was so passionate about the history. Would highly recommend 👌
DONNA V.
September 15, 2026
Great tour!
Michael F.
August 14, 2026
We had an excellent time for the St. Mark's Basillica and Doge's Palace tour. The guide had extremem knowledge of the area and we would surely do it again. Thanks!
Kara
Kara S.
July 28, 2026
Eliza was exceptional. We not only learned a lot, but also had an amazing time seeing the sights! I would recommend her 110%
Great Guide, Great tour
Joshua W.
July 15, 2026
Chiara was wonderful for the tour. She was very educated and informative on everything Venice and she was very accommodating for our family of six with younger children. She kept them engaged where they all really enjoyed the tour.
Brian T.
June 23, 2026
Rita was the BEST!!!! Highly recommend the private tour if within reach.
Excellent experience - fantastic guide
P R.
June 12, 2026
We had a great tour. Our guide Julia was outstanding. We learned so much more than we would have navigating on our own.
Memories In Motion
Klaus H.
January 13, 2026
Claudia guided us with such warmth and excitement. From the basilica to the gondola, everything was spot on. It was such a peaceful and romantic way to see Venice.
Elegant Escape
Willow W.
January 11, 2026
Venice seemed even more stunning with Silvia showing us around. She explained every golden mosaic and painting so well. And skipping those lines was a total lifesaver.
Beyond Expectations Tour
Jackson B.
January 09, 2026
It was a totally five-star day. We learned so much about Venice's history and culture. Our guide, Roberta, made sure everything ran like clockwork and was a pleasure to be a part of.
Stunning Hidden Corners
Lina B.
January 06, 2026
Bianca told us the most captivating stories about Venice's powerful past and its artistic legacy. We got to see everything at a nice, relaxed pace and the private setting made it feel really special.
Magical Walk
Arlo P.
January 03, 2026
Serena was so lovely and patient with us. We felt like locals discovering all the secrets of the Doge's Palace. And the gondola ride after was so calm and dreamy.
Peaceful Gondola Moments
Freya D.
December 31, 2025
The sunset gondola ride was everything I'd hoped for and more. Our guide, Matilde, filled us in on every landmark we passed. You could tell the whole tour was really well planned and they looked after us so well.
Venice Beauty
Lukas S.
December 28, 2025
We got to explore at our own pace, which was brilliant. No crowds, no rushing, just amazing art and captivating stories. Noemi really brought the monuments to life with her stories.
Venice Without Crowds
Mila C.
December 25, 2025
Seeing the peaceful side of Venice was just magical. Our guide, Carlotta, showed us hidden places and told stories that really made the city's history come alive.
Best Private Experience
Sebastian H.
December 22, 2025
Arianna was so friendly and knew absolutely everything. She made the whole visit feel personal and like a real memory. The gondola ride at the end was definitely the best part for me.
Wonderful Journey
Ivy K.
December 18, 2025
This tour was just perfect. Isabella made us feel so relaxed and answered all our questions thoughtfully. I'll always remember this magical day in Venice.
Calm Canal Wonders
Friedrich H.
December 14, 2025
I soaked up every single second. Skipping the crowds made it so easy to really appreciate the art inside the Doge's Palace, and those incredible golden mosaics inside St. Mark's.
Romantic Ride
Amelie H.
December 10, 2025
Caterina told us the most fascinating stories about the Doges. Floating along the canals afterwards just made me fall head over heels for Venice.
Perfect Venice Day
Theo F.
December 07, 2025
Federica truly made our day unforgettable. She told us the most interesting stories about Venice and knew exactly how to guide us from St. Mark's, to the Doge's Palace, and then onto our gondola.
Smooth And Special
Florence G.
December 04, 2025
Nicole had everything organized perfectly. The history inside the Doge's Palace was gripping, and the gondola ride gave us the most amazing views of those tiny canals.
Dreamy Venice Magic
Leon M.
December 01, 2025
This private tour of Venice was truly something else. We skipped all the lines, which was amazing, got a really personal look at St. Mark's, and then had a super relaxing gondola ride along the quiet canals.
Bravo
Kristen B.
October 07, 2025
Roberta was amazing! Extremely knowledgeable, kind and engaging with our kids. She was flexible to our interests and knew how to maximize our experience. The tour itself was the perfect overview of Venice. Greatly enjoyed our morning!