Top Venice Historical Tours

Delve into Venetian history on this tour that showcases two of the city's most iconic structures and sheds light on the stories behind them both. Your first stop is legendary St. Mark's Basilica. Wander around the mosaic-covered interior and Byzantine treasures while a local guide fills you in on how this collection came to be. Then continue to the Doge’s Palace to explore the former political heart of Venice.

Venice is home to hundreds of attractions, making it difficult to cover the highlights in limited time. Ideal for first-time visitors, this full-day tour of Venice checks off top sights. Stroll across the Rialto Bridge and browse the lively Rialto fish market, then hop aboard a traditional gondola for a romantic cruise along the Grand Canal. Finally, visit St. Marks's Basilica and enjoy skip-the-line entrance to the grandiose Doge's Palace.

Maximize time in Venice with an express tour designed to feature the city’s top sights in a short time period. Explore Venice with a walking tour that includes entry to St. Mark’s Basilica, and skip-the-line entry to the popular Doge’s Palace. To fully appreciate the grandeur of Venice, finish your tour in style with a scenic gondola ride.

Discover a side of Venice many tourists never see on this real secret Venice walking tour. Join your Venetian guide for a stroll through authentic local neighborhoods and past captivating hidden gems. Delve into the history and lore of the Jewish Ghetto, Cannaregio, and San Polo districts, stopping to admire its quiet canals and tiny artisan workshops that still make traditional handicrafts.

Explore Venice with a small-group tour that dives into the city’s history, culture, and iconic landmarks, including St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. With your guide leading the way, skip the lines with pre-reserved tickets and step inside these stunning sites to uncover their fascinating stories. Wander through St. Mark's Square, cross the legendary Bridge of Sighs, and hear tales of Casanova while visiting the Old and New Prisons—then marvel at the grandeur of the Correr Museum, once home to Napoleon and the King of Italy.

Explore the intricacies of two famed Italian handicrafts on a fully guided day trip from Venice to the nearby islands of Murano and Burano with a group of up to 22 people. Watch centuries-old glassblowing techniques in Murano, and marvel at the detailed stitches of exquisite Burano lace. Your knowledgeable guide will share the history of these two artisan islands while you visit local workshops and wander the picturesque streets.

Discover several Venetian attractions in one itinerary with this full-day tour. Visit St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Rialto Bridge with an art historian guide leading the way. Stroll along Venice’s romantic canals and climb aboard a gondola for a scenic boat ride. After free time for lunch, skip the line for instant access into Doge’s Palace to see Casanova’s prison cell and walk across the Bridge of Sighs.

As two of the most popular attractions in Venice, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace draw huge crowds. Bypass the usual wait times on this skip-the-line tour, which guarantees you fast-track admission tickets to both sites, plus a guided tour. Even better, you’ll also get entry to three additional museums, which you can explore at your own pace, and exclusive digital content on a special app.

With this tour, you can explore two stunning islands while visiting Venice—Murano, renowned for its centuries-old glassblowing tradition, and Burano, famous for its intricate lacemaking history. Travel comfortably by private boat, then enjoy the chance to disembark and learn about local crafts, including live demonstrations of both glassblowing and lacemaking, as well as free time to explore Burano alone.

This tour is the perfect pick for time-tight travelers visiting Venice. Save yourself the hassle of booking tickets and waiting in long lines and opt for this convenient one-day itinerary instead. As well as skip-the-line admission and guided tours of St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, the trip also includes a scenic gondola ride and visits to Murano and Burano to watch glass-blowing and lace-making demonstrations.

No visit to Venice is complete without taking in the Doge’s Palace, but this Gothic masterpiece has vast sections that most visitors never see. With this tour, enjoy exclusive skip-the-line access behind the scenes to explore the palace’s secret archives, torture chambers, and attic prison cells with a guide.

Explore Venice–and enjoy a more intimate experience at a time that suits you–on this private tour with a local guide, complete with half-hour gondola ride. Discover the city’s highlights, including St. Mark’s Square and Accademia Bridge, visit hidden gems you might otherwise have missed, and step inside historic buildings. Take a private gondola along the Grand Canal and enjoy plenty of time for photo opportunities on the water.

Discover the political and artistic grandeur of Venice with skip-the-line access to the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Square Museums. Walk through the lavish chambers of Venetian rulers, cross the legendary Bridge of Sighs, and visit the old prisons where Casanova was once held. Enhance your experience with a detailed guidebook available in multiple languages, offering historical insights and a customizable itinerary. With your included ticket, explore the Museo Correr, uncovering Venetian lifestyle, Napoleon’s Royal Rooms, and the secrets of the Republic’s naval power.

Discover a guided tour through Venice's iconic landmarks, immersing yourself in the city's rich history and culture. Begin at the Doge's Palace, the heart of Venetian authority, then cross the historic Bridge of Sighs. Explore the magnificent Basilica of San Marco with its breathtaking 9th-century mosaics. Finally, uncover the secrets of Murano glassmaking at a historic factory.

Step inside one of Venice’s prime attractions without the long wait on this small-group, skip-the-line tour of St. Mark’s Basilica. The entrance lines can last for hours, but you'll skip straight to the front of the queue with a reserved ticket so you can spend more time admiring the glittering gold mosaics and masterpieces of Renaissance painting and sculpture that adorn the interior. Learn the history behind the Italo-Byzantine basilica from an expert guide, using headsets so you can hear clearly.

Experience authentic Venice on a private walking tour with a local guide who contacts you beforehand to tailor the itinerary. Skip mainstream spots and discover hidden gems, including monument exteriors and museums if desired. Get recommendations and insider knowledge to make the most of your trip. Your guide can meet you at your accommodation for convenience, ensuring a unique and personal experience of this historic city.

Hiring a gondola on the fly in Venice can be stressful. Take the guesswork out of your experience on this pre-booked shared gondola ride that takes you through the most picturesque canals and beneath the iconic Bridge of Sighs. Kick off your ride with a brief explanation of the history and design of Venetian gondolas, then glide through the city to enjoy views of its sumptuous palaces from the water. Upgrade to visit Casanova's Palace, Ca’Rezzonico.

Skip the strict schedule of a private tour and discover Venice’s blockbuster sights and quiet corners with storytelling and a local treat. Join your local host for a custom stroll through the Floating City to admire St. Mark’s Square and the Doge’s Palace, cross the Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal, and skirt tiny canals known only to locals.

Skip the lines at Saint Mark’s Basilica and Doge's Palace and opt for a small-group guided tour instead. Then, enjoy the quintessential Venice experience—a gondola ride through the city’s canals and waterways. Your ticket also includes access to several landmarks surrounding Saint Mark’s Square, as well as access to a mobile app that provides commentary to a walking tour of the city at your own pace.

Visit Torcello, Murano, and Burano—three islands in the Venetian Lagoon—on this tour from Venice by motorboat. With a guide, watch glass being blown at a Murano glass factory, see historical cathedrals on Torcello, and admire exquisite handmade lace on Burano. This is a great way to see more than just the central sights of Venice and enjoy a cruise on the water. Select a departure time when booking.

Save yourself from the stress of standing in a long line to visit St. Mark's Basilica by choosing this tour with skip-the-line admission included. After meeting your guide at St. Mark’s Square, you can learn some background information and then discover the interior of St. Mark’s Basilica together. Highlights include the first-floor museum, the terrace, and the magnificent mosaics.

Skip the line St Mark’s Bell Tower is located in the heart of Venice, making it a perfect starting point for exploring other historic sites. Just a few steps away is St Mark’s Basilica, one of Italy’s most famous churches, known for its golden mosaics and Byzantine architecture. It’s a spiritual and cultural highlight that complements your Bell Tower visit perfectly. With our exclusive digital audio immerse yourself into the history of the bell tower as you ascend skipping all the queues, passing through the security.

Experience the tranquil beauty of Venice from the water on a private gondola ride that takes you through the city's less-traveled canals. Relax onboard a traditional Venetian boat as a gondolier navigates past historic palaces, churches, and landmarks that most tourists miss. Booking in advance guarantees your party’s seats and saves you the hassle of payment on the spot, so you can sit back and enjoy the ride.