from
$163
Venice in a Day Tour with Gondola Ride
Visit St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace, plus take a guided walk to the Rialto Bridge
What's included
Experience the Venice you imagined
Expert English-speaking guide
Timed-entry ticket for St. Mark’s Basilica
Timed-entry ticket for the Doge’s Palace
Guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace
Venice walking tour with Rialto Bridge
30-minute shared gondola ride
Guide tips
Lunch
Itinerary
Meet your guide at St. Mark's Square
Your day begins between the two columns on the lagoon side of St. Mark’s Square. As your guide sets the scene, you’ll learn how this city rose from muddy islands into a maritime empire, and what lies ahead for your full Venetian experience.
Enter St. Mark’s Basilica
Use your pre-reserved tickets to skip the ticket line, go through security, and step into St. Mark's Basilica, Venice’s landmark church. Study the gold mosaics and domes while your guide explains relic legends and the city’s rise through trade.
Walk Venice’s backstreets and see the Rialto Bridge
Then, follow your guide on walking tour through Venice’s narrow streets, quiet bridges, and tucked-away courtyards that most visitors walk right past. Along the way, pause to see the Rialto Bridge.
Sightsee on a 30-minute shared gondola ride
Next, swap cobblestones for the canal as you board a shared gondola with others from your group. Drift through slender side canals, then float into the Grand Canal for the postcard views you came to Venice for.
Take free time for lunch
After your gondola ride, take a break for lunch of your choosing. Your guide will point out nearby favorites for pizza, panini, or traditional cicchetti. Lunch isn’t included, but you'll have 60 to 90 minutes to eat before meeting back up with the group.
Explore Doge’s Palace and cross the Bridge of Sighs
After lunch, it’s time to use pre-reserved tickets, enter security, and head inside Venice’s former seat of power, the Doge's Palace. Climb the Golden Staircase, walk through frescoed council halls, and cross the Bridge of Sighs into the old prisons.
Your tour ends inside Doge’s Palace
The tour finishes inside the Doge’s Palace, but you’re welcome to stay and wander a bit longer. Before you go, ask your guide for a favorite nearby spot to enjoy a drink or bite to eat—you’ve earned it after seeing Venice at its very best!
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!
Tue, 08 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 may 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. The order of stops may change due to timed entry schedules, crowds, or operational reasons, but you will still visit the same key sights listed.
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: 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
Walking tour of Rialto Bridge and Venice’s quieter areas
30-minute shared gondola ride (max 5 people shared experience)
Free time for lunch (meal not included)
What to bring:
Government-issued ID
Covering for knees and shoulders
Comfortable walking shoes
Water bottle
Camera