Venice Highlights Group Tour: Explore Basilica San Marco and Enjoy a Gondola Ride
4.6
293 Ratings
Venezia
Discover the best of Venice on this small-group tour. Visit iconic landmarks like St. Mark's Basilica and the Rialto Bridge, and enjoy a gondola ride through the city's charming canals.
Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Mercati di Rialto - Meet near the Rialto Bridge and learn why it was initially considered a very bad idea to build it. Take a quick look at the Rialto Fish Market to learn about the long fishing history of the city and its famous cuisine. Get a couple of restaurant recommendations from your local guide!
  • Cannaregio - Continue to the sestiere (district) of Cannaregio, home to some of the city’s hidden gems. Discover the house where Marco Polo once lived, and go to the unique Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli. See a remarkable statue by Verocchio on the Campo San Giovanni and Paolo, where you will also see a variety of typical Venetian architectural styles. Meander through hidden alleyways, and hear tales of the city’s past.
  • Basilica di San Marco - Learn what it is like to live on the island today as you walk to St. Mark’s Square. Look inside St. Mark’s Basilica for a better understanding of how Venice built a mercantile empire that once spanned the entire Mediterranean. Gaze at exquisite mosaics and other treasures inside and hear how the city begged, borrowed and stole to grow from a tiny island to one of the biggest powers in the medieval world.
  • Bacino Orseolo - Your guide will then leave you to enjoy a 30-minute (approximately) gondola ride with a professional gondolier. Limited to only 5 people per gondola, this experience will be both intimate and relaxing. Punt through the quieter canals of Venice as you relax and enjoy the city at its best!
What's Included
  • Gondola Ride
  • Skip-the-line ticket for St. Mark’s Basilica
  • Local English-speaking guide
  • Headset for clear guidance
  • Expertly guided walking tour
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
  • Guide (during gondola ride)
Additional Information

New to Venice or unsure where to start your journey? Join this intimate group tour to discover some of the city’s most popular attractions. Trace the path over the Rialto Bridge, gather insights at St. Mark’s Square and St. Mark’s Basilica, and unwind with a peaceful gondola trip. Moreover, explore less-visited corners of the city, from the Cannaregio district to the Rialto Fish Market, often overlooked by tour groups.

  • St. Mark’s Basilica can be subject to unforeseen closures due to particular liturgical celebrations. In the case in which the basilica is closed, we will give you explanations from the outside.
  • Gondola rides can be subject to unforeseen closures due to the weather, an alternate activity will be provided in those circumstances
  • A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
  • Backpacks are prohibited inside of St. Mark’s Basilica
  • Rialto Market closed on Sunday
  • This tour runs rain or shine. However, occasionally St. Mark’s Basilica is closed to the public, without previous notice, due to high tides or particular festivities. In these cases we endeavor to contact customers as soon as possible to arrange a suitable alternative.
  • After your 2-hour exploration of Venice, your guide drops you off at the Gondola Stand for a relaxing gondola ride. The guide will not be with you on the gondola.
  • Walks complies with all local government regulations. Please refer to Italy government guidelines for the most up to date information
  • On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
Location
Campo S. Giacomo di Rialto, 255
Campo San Giacomo di Rialto
At the central fountain of Campo San Giacomo di Rialto (Campo San Giacometto). Your guide will be holding a Walks sign.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.6
(293 Ratings)
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Madelynn_l
Apr 23, 2024
Great tour - Our tour guide Elena was amazing. We learned a lot about Venice and loved the tour. Great details about the intracicies of Venice.
Review provided by Viator
Rafael_s
Apr 22, 2024
excelent experience - The best tour in venice! Our guide the best ever! Very kind and know a lot. Also always looking for the needs of us. I travel with my parents and he wascvery comprehesive. 100% recomended
Review provided by Viator
Peggy_m
Apr 13, 2024
Venice at it’s best - Knows and shares history and traditions of Venice and has great recommendations of where to shop, eat, and really get to know Venice. Gondola ride was very pleasant and showed us the Grand Canal and lots of smaller waterways.
Review provided by Viator
Darren_w
Apr 11, 2024
Excellent tour - Excellent way to experience the city of Venice at a relaxed pace, Nico was a really good tour guide, gondola ride was a perfect way to finish.
Review provided by Viator
Alyssa_h
Apr 7, 2024
Amazing Tour! - Monica was an amazing tour guide!! The history of Venice was fascinating as we walked towards Saint Marco’s Square. The Gondola ride was also a nice touch- 10/10! We would highly recommend this tour to anyone who is visiting Venice!
Review provided by Viator
Richayden
Apr 7, 2024
Great way to get to know the city - This is an excellent walk and value for money. Paola was a great guide and very informative. A great way to get to know Venice and also fast track entry without having any of the long long queues.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sinead_m
Apr 5, 2024
Superb - This was an excellent tour. Our tour guide, Monika, was superb. The tour gave a great overview of the city and included the basilica and a lovely gondola ride that included the Grand Canal. Definitely recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Amcallister2015
Mar 17, 2024
Lovely short intro to Venice with a knowledgeable guide - We really enjoyed our tour with our guide Sabrina. She was very knowledgeable but also friendly, funny and approachable. It was great to have St Marks Basilica included and the gondola trip at the end was a lovely chilled way to end the morning.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alexandria_s
Mar 14, 2024
Interesting stories - Our guide Elena was amazing and funny. As a local Venetian - she had many great background stories which made the walking guide very interesting.
Review provided by Viator
Danielle_p
Apr 24, 2024
Decent - Nice walking tour around Venice! The only downside was the gondola ride was great, but they have you go with other couples/groups and one couple got to sit together in the back with the good view, and the other couple had to sit, staggered across the boat, all paying the same price. The main reason I chose this tour was for a good gondola ride, but that kind of defeated the purpose.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 12 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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