from
$151
Semi Private St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Tour with Gondola Ride
Use timed entry tickets to enter Venice’s biggest monuments, back to back, with an expert guide
Experience the floating city’s most prestigious landmarks with the elegance and attention to detail that only a semi private tour provides. This elevated journey takes you through Venice with an expert guide and plenty of time for questions. From the hushed beauty of St. Mark’s Basilica to the Doge’s Palace, and iconic Grand Canal, every moment is heightened by a semi private group setting. It's the perfect choice for travelers seeking a streamlined, intentional introduction to Venice.
What's included
Conquer Venice's top 3 must-dos with time for questions
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
Semi private experience
Guide tips
Itinerary
Meet your guide in St. Mark's Square
Your tour begins in the heart of the city. Meet your expert guide and semi private group among the soaring clock towers and historic cafés of St. Mark’s Square. Receive your headsets and prepare to enter the most famous religious site in the lagoon.
Enter the golden St. Mark's Basilica
Next, use your pre-reserved tickets to step into the glittering interior of St. Mark’s Basilica. Learn about the thousand-year-old mosaics and the seafaring empire that brought these treasures to the city while standing on ancient marble floors.
Explore the Doge’s Palace
Then, your semi private group moves into the Doge’s Palace, the Venetian Gothic palace that served as the center of political power for centuries. See the lavish council chambers and the Great Council Hall while learning about the ambitious leaders who shaped the history of the Mediterranean. Enjoy time to interact with your guide and ask questions.
Cross the Bridge of Sighs
Next, cross the Bridge of Sighs, the famous white limestone bridge that connects the palace to the old prisons. Look out through the stone grates to see the last view prisoners had of the water before descending into the historic cells.
Relax on a gondola ride
After exploring the Doges Palace, split into two groups and board a traditional gondola boat for a quiet tour of the back canals. After exploring the city by land, enjoy this peaceful perspective of the water. Relax and take in beautiful views as your professional gondolier navigates the tight bends and stone arches.
Your tour finishes at St. Mark’s Square
Your tour finishes back near the main piazza, leaving you perfectly positioned to enjoy a local spritz or continue shopping in the nearby district.
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 24 hours in advance!
Wed, 04 Nov 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.
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 monuments rules and protocol.
Gondola Ride: The gondola ride is a shared experience, as each boat can hold up to 5 guests. While you will have a professional gondolier operating the boat, it is important to note that this portion of the tour is not guided.
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
30-minute gondola ride (max 5 people shared experience)
Semi private experience
What to bring:
Covering for knees and shoulders
Government-issued ID
Comfortable shoes
Camera
Water bottle
See what people are saying
4.92
12 verified ratings
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gary B.
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October 25, 2026
Tour guide gave very informative details of tour . Gave details such as oil painting methods & attachment. We had time to absorb the history. Not rushed. Us being mid 80s, looked out for our & others safety. Only complaint, not with guide, but wth meeting instructions was we were looking for red flag & red clothing person located between two pillars. We were bit early but we panicked when could not locate them until after deadline!!! It would have made it easier for us if guide used the red flag marker especially in the crowded areas. All in all very interesting tour & exciting gondola ride, actually more than I had expected, even wth the drizzle. Highly recommend it!
Two major sites and a gondola ride in 3 1/2 hours
Gisela L.
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October 20, 2026
Our guide Rita was informative and entertaining. She knew when to give her group a break from standing while still learning and exploring. Ending with the gondola ride was really special.
Semi Private St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace
Christine G.
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October 16, 2026
We had Grace as our tour guide and she was amazing. She is a local Venetian and she clearly loves the city and taught us so much on our tour. She was professional, kind, classy and very "in control" amidst other large tour groups that threatened to get in our way. I would absolutely ask for her or book another tour that she was doing we liked her so much. The gondola ride at the end of the tour was a nice touch. It was nice to be in a small group in such a busy area and Grace maneuvered us along so we wouldn't miss anything. I definitely felt the tour was worth the price. Glad I chose this tour with the tour guy.
Thomas A.
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October 15, 2026
Cyndee W.
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October 07, 2026
Anthony Panuccio
Anthony P.
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October 07, 2026
Marco was excellent! Entertaining and informative. Would highly recommend!
Great tour, wonderful guide
Shayna R.
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October 03, 2026
We had a great experience on our tour with Giuliano. He was knowledgeable, engaging, and entertaining. I would highly recommend this tour.
St marks doge semi private tour
Terry A.
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October 02, 2026
Fun, informative and fantastic!
Beverly K.
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September 22, 2026
Giuliani was a fantastic guide. He had a great grasp of the history and shared in a fun and easy to understand way. He spoke English very well. The history was so interesting and the pace was perfect.
Irina H.
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August 02, 2026
Outstanding!!
Stacy B.
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June 28, 2026
Rita have a phenomenal tour of 2 very incredible places! Her history knowledge is outstanding and the tour is a must do!!
Melony U.
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June 28, 2026
FAQs
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Where to meet?
Is this tour family friendly?
Is this tour family friendly?
What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?
What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?
Does the boat ride run in the rain?
Does the boat ride run in the rain?
Is the gondola ride private?
Is the gondola ride private?
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