Venice in a Day with St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, & Gondola Ride
6.5 hours
Max 20
Why take this tour?
Highlights
Acquaint yourself with the history of the city
Explore the backstreets of Venice and marvel at the landmarks nestled within
Enjoy a 30-minute gondola ride through the city's canals
Tour St. Mark's Basilica and familiarize yourself with the story behind it
Explore the Doge's Palace, the heart of political power in Venice
- Sites Visited
- St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)
- Skip-the-Line Access to St. Mark's Basilica
- Gondola ride
- Doge’s Palace
- New Prisons
- Bridge of Sighs
- Rialto Bridge
- Rialto Fish Market
- House of Marco Polo (exterior)
- Santa Maria dei Miracoli (exterior)
- Tour Includes
- Local English-speaking guide
- Expertly guided walking tour
- Skip the line ticket for St. Mark's Basilica
- Pre-reserved ticket to the Doge's Palace
- Gondola Ride
- Headset
Take a day to explore Venice; by land & water!
Book Now
Total Customer Reviews: 1707
Verified Ratings
4.7 /5
based on 931 Walks’ customer ratings
Rating summary by category
Latest reviews
Great
Definitely a “Must Do” tour if visiting Venice. Our Tourguide Roberta C. was so passionate about her home city of Venice. Her knowledge was incredible in regards to all things Venice. Visiting the Basilica and Doge Palace without waiting in a long queue. Value for money certainly.
Verified · Michael · Oct 18, 2024 · Germany · Male · 65 to 74 years
Excellent
Oh my gosh!! Our guide was AMAZING. So smart and knowledgeable and so funny. He was priceless!! A GREAT day.
Verified · Mary · Oct 15, 2024 · USA · Female · 55 to 64 years
Excellent
Roberta C is enthusiastic and knowledgeable about Venice. She makes an effort to connect with folks on the tour. Even the rain didn't deter her! I would suggest , however, that the gondola ride in the pouring rain may have been ill advised!!!
Verified · Joan · Oct 05, 2024 · USA · Female · 75 or older years
Great
Our tour was great overall. Alrhough, it rained heavily all day and we did not have the gondola ride. We also had to wait for some time in the rain outside of St Mark's Basilica because "the skip the line" que was not properly separated from the regular line (not the tour company's fault). Overall we would recommend this tour as Matea was VERY well educated about Venice and was a pleasure to spend the day with.
Verified · James · Oct 04, 2024 · USA · Male · 45 to 54 years
Excellent
Nicolette was an amazing tour guide! So knowledgeable and professional:)
Verified · Diana · Oct 02, 2024 · USA · Female · 45 to 54 years
Reviews from our guests
Venice in a Day with St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, & Gondola Ride
of Walks customers highly recommend this tour to friends or family
Verified rating
4.7 /5
931 Walks’ customer ratings
Guide 4.8/5
Guest Support
4.7/5
Guest reviews
1707
total guest reviews
Excellent 1436 74.1%
Great 228 13.4%
Good 25 1.5%
Average 12 0.7%
Poor 6 0.4%
Latest reviews
Great
Definitely a “Must Do” tour if visiting Venice. Our Tourguide Roberta C. was so passionate about her home city of Venice. Her knowledge was incredible in regards to all things Venice. Visiting the Basilica and Doge Palace without waiting in a long queue. Value for money certainly.
Verified · Michael · Oct 18, 2024 · Germany · Male · 65 to 74 years
Excellent
Oh my gosh!! Our guide was AMAZING. So smart and knowledgeable and so funny. He was priceless!! A GREAT day.
Verified · Mary · Oct 15, 2024 · USA · Female · 55 to 64 years
Excellent
Roberta C is enthusiastic and knowledgeable about Venice. She makes an effort to connect with folks on the tour. Even the rain didn't deter her! I would suggest , however, that the gondola ride in the pouring rain may have been ill advised!!!
Verified · Joan · Oct 05, 2024 · USA · Female · 75 or older years
Great
Our tour was great overall. Alrhough, it rained heavily all day and we did not have the gondola ride. We also had to wait for some time in the rain outside of St Mark's Basilica because "the skip the line" que was not properly separated from the regular line (not the tour company's fault). Overall we would recommend this tour as Matea was VERY well educated about Venice and was a pleasure to spend the day with.
Verified · James · Oct 04, 2024 · USA · Male · 45 to 54 years
Excellent
Nicolette was an amazing tour guide! So knowledgeable and professional:)
Verified · Diana · Oct 02, 2024 · USA · Female · 45 to 54 years
Excellent
Matt is an excellent tour guide! My husband and I enjoyed him very much as he shared so much information about Venice while keeping it all very interesting and not overwhelming. We highly recommend Walks tours!
Verified · Kris · Sep 27, 2024 · USA · Female · 55 to 64 years
Great
Our guide was great but we had 2 people show up 25 minutes late to the meeting point after our midday break and then we had a 3rd person not show so we waited a total of 30-35 minutes getting that sorted out. Then one of the late couples needed to use the restroom and took 25 minutes to do so while we all had to wait to begin the tour. We lost about an hour of the tour and felt that we rushed and skipped things to finish on time.
Verified · Elizabeth · Sep 20, 2024 · USA · Female · 35 to 44 years
Excellent
Francesca was awesome! Just before the second part of the tour, St Mark's Square became flooded and we all bought "boots". We waded through the water and Francesca took it all in stride! Grazie!
Verified · Jack · Sep 19, 2024 · USA · Male · 65 to 74 years
Excellent
Wonderful tour! Our guide Grazia was born and raised in Venice and her tour was filled with rich descriptions and fascinating historical facts. So glad we did this tour!
Verified · Janice · Sep 15, 2024 · USA · Female · 55 to 64 years
Excellent
Great walking tour with Juliano!! He was great at providing the culture and history of Venice! We got to see and learn so much!
Verified · Cathy · Sep 07, 2024 · USA · Female · 65 to 74 years
FAQs
Can I take a gondola ride if I use a wheelchair?
No. Unfortunately, gondolas are not wheelchair accessbile.
Is this tour wheelchair accessible?
No. Unfortunately, due to site restrictions we cannot accommodate wheelchairs on this tour. Guests should be prepared for a moderate level of physical activity, including standing for extended periods and climbing stairs, which may not be suitable for travelers with certain health conditions or mobility limitations.
Can I get a refund if access to the Doge's Palace is restricted due to a private event?
If access is restricted due to private events inside the Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible as this is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued.
Can I get a refund if, due to inclement weather, I choose not to participate in the walking tour on the day of?
If the client chooses not to attend the walking tour due to adverse weather, no refund will be issued. However, the client may still participate in the second part of the tour if they notify us in advance.
Will the gondola ride take place in inclement weather?
Safety is our top priority. Unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather (heavy rain, strong wind, high tide) many prevent the gondola ride from taking place. If the gondola ride cannot occur due to any operational or safety reasons such as these beyond our control, no refund will be provided.
Will the tour route be modified in the event of high tide/"acqua alta"?
If the local municipality restricts access due to high tide and there are no walkways available, it is the client’s responsibility to bring appropriate footwear (e.g., boots). The guide will modify the itinerary to include alternate dry paths whenever possible.
No refund will be provided if high tide prevents certain parts of the tour, but adjustments to the route will be made for client safety and comfort.
Can I take a bag with me into St. Mark's Basilica?
You can only take small bags into St. Mark's. Anything bigger than a purse - backpacks or luggage - is prohibited. There is no coat check either, so do not bring any large bags with you.
Does St. Mark's Basilica have a dress code?
Yes. Because it is a holy place, St. Mark's Basilica insists that both men and women wear clothing that covers their shoulders and knees. They can and will refuse entry to anyone who does not meet this standard and we can't do anything about it, so come prepared.
What if the weather is bad (rain, snow, hail, etc.) on the day of my tour?
Our tours run rain or shine so please dress for the elements. We also ask you to please remember hats and sunscreen if you are taking this tour in the summer as it might be very hot.
Is lunch included on this tour?
No. But your guide is always happy to offer you plenty of recommendations for great places to eat in the vicinity that will suit any price point.
What can I bring into the Doge's Palace?
You are permitted to enter the Doge's Palace with handbags and small backpacks. But any large backpacks or luggage are not permitted inside. You have to check them in the cloakroom.
Does the Doge's Palace accommodate wheelchair users?
The Doge’s Palace is not wheelchair-friendly. Some parts are accessible, but the Secret Rooms, Prisons, and Armory and not. Our route, in particular, is not wheelchair-friendly so we do not recommend that wheelchair users take this tour.
Does my guide accompany me on the gondola ride?
No. During your gondola ride you will be alone with maximum 5 other people and your Venetian gondoliere. This experience is much better as quiet time. Just sit back, relax and soak up the beauty of the city's canals.
You Can Also Experience These Similar Tours
Legendary Venice: St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace Tour
Explore the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica and traverse the Bridge of Sighs as you become immersed in the story of the rise and fall of the Venetian Empire.
3994
3 h
20 max
Welcome to Venice: Walking Tour, St. Mark's Basilica & Gondola Ride
Take to the streets and canals of Venice in this walking (and floating!) tour that combines some of the city’s top sites with a few of her hidden gems.
1135
3 h
18 max
Venice Boat Tour With Grand Canal And Tower Climb
Explore the winding canals of Venice in a private motorboat, taking in iconic landmarks like St. Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs, and more with a small group.
442
2 h
8 max
