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Venice Highlights: St. Mark's Basilica, Doges Palace, and Gondola Ride Adventure
4.5
509 Ratings
Venezia
Experience the best of Venice in just 3.5 hours with a tour of St. Mark’s Basilica, Doges Palace, and a gondola ride. Skip the lines and explore the highlights before enjoying the rest of your day in Venice.
Experience the best of Venice in just 3.5 hours with a tour of St. Mark’s Basilica, Doges Palace, and a gondola ride. Skip the lines and explore the highlights before enjoying the rest of your day in Venice.
Duration:
3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Basilica di San Marco - We provide the skip the line tickets, so walk right past the long queue and go right on inside. During November through March, St. Mark’s Basilica does not offer skip the line entry because lines are generally non-existent.
- Doge’s Palace - As you explore the Doge’s Palace, you’ll hear about the wild ways of the…
- Basilica di San Marco - We provide the skip the line tickets, so walk right past the long queue and go right on inside. During November through March, St. Mark’s Basilica does not offer skip the line entry because lines are generally non-existent.
- Doge’s Palace - As you explore the Doge’s Palace, you’ll hear about the wild ways of the Venetian Republic under the rule of elected magistrates. This tour not only showcases the interior of this ornate palace, but also goes in depth about the crime and legal system that was once in place in the city of Venice. Admire classic works of Venetian art and visit Doge’s Palace’s main sights, such as the Grand Staircase and the Bridge of Sighs.
- Piazza San Marco - Following your guided tour of the Doges Palace, your guide will introduce you to some other highlights surrounding St. Marks Square like the stunning bell tower (exterior visit) and adorning portico’s surrounding the square. Get ready to dive into centuries of Venetian history!
- Venice - After your visit to St Marks and the Doges Palace conclude, it’s time to partake in that quintessential Venice activity. That’s right, step right up to your gondola boat! Left in the care of a trusted gondolier, enjoy the beauty of Venice from the water. Fun fact: in the Venetian dialect, “gondolier” translates into “rowing master”. Glide through the panoramic Canals in a gondola accommodating upto 5 participants.
What's Included
- Skip-the-line access to Doge’s Palace
- Small-group tour with a maximum of 20 guests
- Guided by a professional art historian
- Admission to St. Mark’s Basilica
- Venetian Gondola ride experience
- Skip-the-line access to Doge’s Palace
- Small-group tour with a maximum of 20 guests
- Guided by a professional art historian
- Admission to St. Mark’s Basilica
- Venetian Gondola ride experience
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information
If your visit to Venice is brief and you would rather use your time indulging in local cuisine, shopping, and relaxation, there’s a way to maximize your experience. Many people only spend a short while in Venice, so time optimization is key if you plan on exploring the major sights. Embark on a 3.5-hour tour to see the best of Venice, still leaving you…
If your visit to Venice is brief and you would rather use your time indulging in local cuisine, shopping, and relaxation, there’s a way to maximize your experience. Many people only spend a short while in Venice, so time optimization is key if you plan on exploring the major sights. Embark on a 3.5-hour tour to see the best of Venice, still leaving you ample time to leisurely explore the charming canal alleyways with no need to hurry. This 2.5-hour tour features:
• A visit to St. Mark’s Square and St. Mark’s Basilica
• ‘Skip the Line’ entry to the Doges Palace
• A professional guide who can explain in English
• A tranquil gondola ride
- Since we will be entering a church, please make sure that your shoulders and knees are covered. Also, please refrain from bringing big back packs or bags, because they are not always allowed inside.
- 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
Colonna di San Todaro
Piazza San Marco
Please Arrive 15 Minutes Early. Between the two big columns in St. Mark’s Square (columns of San Marco and San Teodoro) located on the south side of the square, near the canal. Your guide will be holding a "The Tour Guy" sign.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(509 Ratings)
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Laarni_t
Nov 3, 2024
Rita is the absolute best! - Out of all the 5 tours I’ve done in Italy over Rome, Florence, Pisa and Venice - The tour of the Doges Palace with Rita was my absolute favourite!
Rita! Rita! Rita!
Rita shares her knowledge in bite size pieces that are fascinating, relatable and memorable!
She’s left such an impression on me, I wish I gave a bigger tip! Totally worth every bit!
Rita! Rita! Rita!
Review provided by Viator
Nancy_b
Oct 31, 2024
Do this tour!!! - This tour was really amazing with a very knowledgeable guide, Gratzia. Afternoon sun was perfectly lighting St Marks and the Doges Palace. So much to see in Doges Palace and ended with the sunset gondola ride. This IS the excursion you are looking for!
Review provided by Viator
Lori_d
Oct 27, 2024
Breathtaking - Gorgeous museums and architecture!!! My dream came true❤️ was a fabulous tour and our guide was very knowledgeable and informative!! Thanks Viator for a lovely tour 😊
Review provided by Viator
Longostein
Oct 26, 2024
Fascinating tour with an excellent guide - Roberta was an excellent guide, pointing out many interesting details and historical stories along with amusing anecdotes. Doges Palace was especially fascinating with the contrast of the beauty and glamour for the dignitaries and the torture and squalor of the prisoners. The gondilavl ride was well organized and fun.
Review provided by Viator
Juliet_k
Oct 25, 2024
Absolutely fantastic - I traveled with my husband and elderly mum. The guide Jane was so friendly and knowledgeable nothing was too much trouble. When we were in the Doge's palace, Jane organised for my mum to use the lift - thank you! The gondola ride was fantastic too. Well worth the money.
Review provided by Viator
Jdianne_e
Oct 24, 2024
Great overview - The guide was very knowledgeable, humorous and entertaining adding to the history and enjoyment of Venice and insights into Venetians over time. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Steven_w
Oct 23, 2024
Hitting the Major Sites of Venice - Our guide, Marco, was very friendly and informative. I liked the small group too. This was a great way to see and learn about the Basilica, Doge's Palace, important highlights of the piazza, and enjoy a nice gondola ride!
Review provided by Viator
Susan_g
Oct 28, 2024
Don't bring a large backpack! - The tour was great but I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 because we were not warned that large backpacks could not be taken into the museum during the Doges Palace part of the tour. There were warnings in the tour description that your shoulders and knees must be covered to enter the Basilica so why not warn guests not to bring large backpacks. We were told there was a "secure area" to leave the backpack but my husband was still recovering from major surgery so he had his prescription medication with him. Since we were at the beginning of a 2-week vacation in a foreign country, he did not feel comfortable leaving it. So, this review is mainly to warn other guests not to bring a large backpack!
Review provided by Viator
Johnk
Oct 27, 2024
Go just to see Doges Castle - Doges Castle provided a lot of new information to me. The gondola ride was so-so. I'm saying a little more to allow me to finish the review. Do I need to say more?
Review provided by Viator
Vickie_j
Oct 26, 2024
St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Gondola ride - I really enjoyed the Gondola ride, which is why I went to Venice in the first place. It was upsetting that we had to leave the tour early and didn’t get to see all of St. Mark’s Basilica and we didn’t see any of Doges Palace. We also had to pay a second time for the gondola ride. There wasn’t enough time to do everything because we had to get back on the train to head back to Rome.
Review provided by Viator
