Don't spend half your vacation waiting in line! This Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica Tour gives you skip-the-line access to Venice’s top landmarks, paired with insider tales from an expert local guide. Discover the grandeur of Venetian history in a small group, without the hassle. Let us handle the tickets; you focus on feeling the overwhelming wealth and imagining those poor souls walking over the Bridge of Sighs to prison. An essential experience for your first time in Venice.
What's included
Expert, English-speaking guide
Pre-booked tickets
St. Mark's Basilica
Doge's Palace
Bridge of Sighs
Group size of 15
Hotel pick up
Guide gratuity
Meals
Itinerary
St. Mark’s Square
Begin in the city’s symbolic heart, admiring the soaring Bell Tower, marble lions, and ornate façades while learning about Venice’s storied past.
St. Mark’s Basilica
Step inside to see golden mosaics and the Byzantine domes.
Doge’s Palace
Explore majestic chambers and council halls while your guide shares tales of politics, conspiracies, and justice.
Bridge of Sighs & New Prisons
Walk across the famous bridge and glimpse the historic prisons of Venice.
Correr Museum
End your tour with entry to the Correr Museum, featuring art, royal history, and daily life in historic Venice.
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 2 days in advance!
Sat, 09 May 2026
Meeting and drop-off point
...
Important Details
...
4.9
185 Ratings
5
172
4
8
3
5
2
0
1
0
Skip the line tour of Doge’s palace and St. Mark’s Bassilica
Jessica S.
Verified Review
May 07, 2026
St Marks Basilica & Doges Palace
Randy H.
Verified Review
April 27, 2026
Spent most of the time in Doges Palace and only had about 15 minutes to see St Marks before closing. Our guide seemed to know a lot, but it was difficult to hear her because she pinned the mike on her lapel and we constantly got static when the mike rubbed against her shirt as she moved. Suggest she hold the mike close to her mouth for better reception.
Lenore F.
Verified Review
April 25, 2026
Great tour
Paddy A.
Verified Review
April 02, 2026
Our guide was knowledgeable and fun and had such wonderful insights.
RAGHAVENDRA P.
Verified Review
March 24, 2026
We had an excellent experience on the Skip-the-Line Tour of St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace with The Tour Guy. The entire tour was very well organized, and the skip-the-line access made a huge difference in saving time and avoiding long queues.
Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and brought the history of Venice to life with engaging stories and insights. Visiting both St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace felt much more meaningful with the detailed explanations
Sylvia was amazing!
Rachel D.
Verified Review
March 19, 2026
Our original tour was canceled without much of an explanation. It left me with a bad taste. The positive, we booked a different tour and Sylvia was amazing! She was so kind, connected with everyone and the time passes too quickly. We appreciated her sincerity and recommend her.
Jennifer S.
Verified Review
February 26, 2026
Sandra was an exceptional guide who was very knowledgeable and attentive to our questions. We loved our time with her!
Knowledgeable tour guide and very enjoyable insights
Peter C.
Verified Review
February 23, 2026
Local guide was a treasure trove of information about the fascinating history of Venice. There's a lot to take in so having a guide to explain things is invaluable, as well as being able to skip the lines at the basilica.
The crowds are crazy but Venice is still worth the visit!
Perfect Tour
Catherine Y.
Verified Review
February 21, 2026
Sandra was EXCEPTIONAL! We decided to do an organized tour of Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basillica - we ended up with a small group of 7 plus tour guide. Information was interesting and head sets made it easy to hear Sandra even if you wondered off to take pictures. Highly recommend!
Venice epic experience
Adriana B.
Verified Review
February 20, 2026
Ilaria was a wonderful guide and very knowledgeable. We will definitely book in the future.
Skip-the-line your of St Mark’s Basilica and Doge Palace.
Gail N.
Verified Review
January 14, 2026
We had Illiaria (Hillary) for our small group tour and she was very detailed in explaining the history and art history of the various sites.
Bridget P.
Verified Review
November 21, 2025
Wonderful Team
Victoria G.
Verified Review
October 10, 2025
Our guide made history exciting and easy to follow. So glad we chose this company. Would do it again!
Regal Beauty
Michelle R.
Verified Review
October 09, 2025
I can’t believe how grand the Doge’s Palace is. So much art, gold, and mystery! Fantastic tour all around.
Best of Venice
Charles F.
Verified Review
October 07, 2025
This tour covered everything beautifully. It felt personal and unique. The group size was small, making it comfortable and interactive. Venice at its best!
Highly Enjoyed
Bryan G.
Verified Review
October 05, 2025
The mix of storytelling, architecture, and history made it special. Our guide clearly loved Venice.
Worth Every Penny
Carolyn M.
Verified Review
September 25, 2025
We got so much value from this! Skipped the crowds, learned exciting stories, and captured gorgeous photos. Great balance between sightseeing and storytelling. 10/10!
Wonderful Art Journey
Jason S.
Verified Review
September 23, 2025
Art lovers will adore this. St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace were full of masterpieces. The guide shared details I’d never have noticed alone. Beautiful!
Very Informative
Albert H.
Verified Review
September 21, 2025
Every detail about Venice’s past was shared beautifully. The guide spoke clearly and made us laugh often.
Perfectly Guided Tour
Jennifer F.
Verified Review
September 19, 2025
So glad we joined! Our guide’s knowledge added so much meaning to what we saw. The stories behind the throne rooms were just fascinating.
Stress-Free Sightseeing Day
Janet R.
Verified Review
September 17, 2025
Venice was packed, but this tour saved us time. The guide handled everything smoothly. Doge’s Palace was simply mesmerizing. Couldn’t ask for a better experience.
Easy Adventure
Jacqueline M.
Verified Review
September 15, 2025
Wonderful pace, easy walking, no confusion. Felt relaxed the whole time. Perfect for first-time visitors.
Fascinating Venice Tour
Sarah T.
Verified Review
September 13, 2025
Fascinating Venice Tour
Picture Perfect
Willie R.
Verified Review
September 11, 2025
Took so many photos! The Basilica’s gold ceilings are stunning. The Doge’s Palace was an incredible surprise.
