Venice In a Day: St Mark's, Doges Palace Gondola Ride & City Tour
Recommended by 95% of travelers
Venice, Italy
- 4 to 6 hours (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Soak up local life on a walking tour of Venice’s colorful neighborhoods and the Rialto markets
- Check off all of Venice's top attractions in just one day
- Skip the lines and explore the magnificent Doge’s Palace on a tour
- Learn more about Venice history and culture than you could alone
What's Included
- Expertly Guided Tour with local English-speaking guide
- Small Group of no more than 20 people
- Skip-the-line ticket for St. Mark's Basilica (12€)
- Pre-reserved ticket to the Doge's Palace (25€)
- Gondola Ride (Venice Express Half Day Option excluded)
- Guided Walk of the back streets of Venice
- Bridge of Sighs
- Rialto Bridge
- Rialto Fish Market
- New Prisons
- House of Marco Polo ( exterior)
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
- Lunch
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Chiesa di San Giacomo di RialtoC.po San Giacomo, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets outside the entrance of the Church of San Giacometto at Campo San Giacomo di Rialto 255, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy.
End point
- St. Mark's SquarePiazza San Marco, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
St. Mark's Square
Itinerary
Meet up with your guide and small group to emark on your adventure. The group size is limited to 20 people, so you don't have to worry about large crowds.
Start by strolling across Rialto Bridge as you take in the sights. Make your way to the bustling Rialto markets and stop at the fish market, learning about the history from your guide.
Next, be swept away on a romantic gondola ride along the Grand Canal. As you drift leisurely through the water, let Venice's charm and beauty enchant you before arriving at St. Mark's Basilica for a guided tour.
Finally, enjoy skip-the-line access at Doge's Palace before the tour comes to a close.
Start by strolling across Rialto Bridge as you take in the sights. Make your way to the bustling Rialto markets and stop at the fish market, learning about the history from your guide.
Next, be swept away on a romantic gondola ride along the Grand Canal. As you drift leisurely through the water, let Venice's charm and beauty enchant you before arriving at St. Mark's Basilica for a guided tour.
Finally, enjoy skip-the-line access at Doge's Palace before the tour comes to a close.
1
Ponte di Rialto
1 hour 45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Rialto Market (Pass By)
Marco Polo's House (Pass By)
2
Canal Grande
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Venice
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Basilica di San Marco
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
5
Palazzo Ducale
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Bridge Of Sighs (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- If access is restricted due to private events inside St. Mark's Basilica and/or Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible. This is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued.
- In case of unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather (heavy rain, strong wind, high tide) conditions that prevent the gondola ride from taking place or any operational or safety reasons beyond our control it may be substituted for another experience, but no refund will be provided.
- Due to the religious nature of sites on this tour, all individuals (regardless of gender) must cover their shoulders and knees. It is acceptable to bring extra coverings to put on just before entering a holy site. Walks cannot be responsible for anyone denied entry.
- This tour is non-refundable. All guests must supply their full name that matches a valid ID at the time of the booking. Should you fail to provide these, your reservation will be canceled. Name changes are not permitted.
- Venice Express Option: Gondola is not included.
- Please note that a photo ID is required to visit the St. Marks Basilica. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument.
- 8:30am tour is limited to 20 people and includes a lunch break on your own, while the 8:15am tour does not include a lunch break (shorter duration of 4 hours) and a maximum of 25 people in your group.
- St. Mark’s Basilica can be subject to closures due to particular liturgical celebrations, especially during major religious holidays such as Easter or Christmas. In the event that the Basilica is closed, explanations will be provided from the outside.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 3 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 3,996 reviews
Lisa_S, May 2026
A great way to see the highlights of Venice. Ariana was a great guide with a lot of knowledge. We had
Phillip_R, May 2026
Hi. When we tried to cancel three or four days before, the website says we would have to give more notice more in advance (more than three days), no refund.
We wanted to cancel the tour because it was going to rain and thunder.
The day of the tour, I was very ill, it was very cold and raining. I called the day of to see if we could do the next day or get half back of our funds.
Viator agent said we had to give 24 hour notice to cancel and no refund.
Just disappointed with the 40 degree weather, heavy rain, and no type of refund of over $1,100.
Perplexed as to more than three days or 24 hours, no refund for weather-related issues. At 74, that’s not safe to walk around in the freezing rain, 40 degree weather, for hours and sit in a wet gondella.
I. An understand a cancellation fee, but no refund…
Also, Viator cancelled our private Vitican tour and Colloswm tour with no notice, the day of.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Phillip,
Please send an email to info@walks.org including your comments and your booking ref. number.
Kind Regards,
Gerard
Alexandra_S, May 2026
It’s was a must. So much history and Robbie made it fun and even though it rain she kept our spirits high. She did an amazing job. She kept us at a good pace and we were able to see a ton of things. Lots of walking
Peter_R, May 2026
It was ok , unfortunately our tour guide did not have much of a personality and very difficult to understand.
Response from Host, May 2026
Hi Peter,
Thank you for providing your feedback regarding your recent tour in Venice.
We are sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations. We aim for our tours to be both engaging and easy to follow, and it is disappointing to learn that the guide's delivery and clarity were not at the level you anticipated. Clear communication is a vital part of the experience, and we regret that this was a hurdle for you during your day in the city.
We appreciate you sharing these observations with us.
Kind Regards,
Gerard
Gina_B, May 2026
Marco was incredibly knowledgeable. We provided us with so much detail about everything we saw. His dry sense of humor was an added plus!
Peter_D, May 2026
There is a lot of walking involved. Should bring something to drink along. Wearing good walking shoes is a must.
GEnie_M, May 2026
She was so knowledgeable. Well worth the money. Ccccvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvccccccvcvvvcvvvvvvv
Tammy_A, May 2026
Our tour guide talked for a long time at the meeting point and then rushed us through the important stuff! She was hard to understand and I didn't feel like she was as knowledgeable even though she said she's been doing tours a long ti.e.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for sharing your honest feedback with us, Tammy. I am sorry to hear that your experience in Venice didn't live up to your expectations and that the pacing of the day felt off.
We aim for our tours to feel like a seamless journey through the city, so it’s disappointing to hear that too much time was spent at the meeting point, leaving the rest of the experience feeling rushed. We also believe that clear communication and deep local insight are essential, and I apologize that you found it difficult to follow the commentary or feel the depth of knowledge we strive to provide.
I will be passing your comments along to our Venice team to help us improve the balance and delivery of this itinerary. We appreciate you letting us know where we can do better.
Kind Regards,
Gerard
Andre_V, May 2026
Whether you only have one full day in Venice (like we did) or if you just want a proper introduction to the city, this tour is your way to go. We opted for the full day experience and did not regret it one bit. Our tour guide, Filippo grew up in Venice and shared so much of the city’s history during our time with him. The tour is paced well with plenty of history, but breaks and a gorgeous gondola ride to balance out all the learning. You truly do get an ideal Venice experience and it was worth every penny. Thank you to our guide Filippo for a wonderful, engaging day in Venice.
GaryJohn_L, May 2026
The tour is long, but it is worth the effort, if you want to see a lot in a short amount of time. Francesca was very knowledgeable, kind, and flexible. The gondola ride was 30 minutes, and exceeded expectations. The Doge's Palace and St. Marks are breathtaking. A lot of walking but there were reasonable breaks. Expensive but worth it. Thank you, Francesca!
Theresa_A, May 2026
Other than the weather (rain) our experience was great. Our group was the right size (20) for this type of tour. Our guide, Guliano was a wealth of great information about the history of Venice and the 6 districts. His presentation captured our attention and his knowledge was ompessive.
Kennedy_M, May 2026
Filippo was the best! Felt like I saw all the important parts of Venice and learned the personality of the city. Our tour guide was SO funny I was laughing the whole time! No hidden charges all admission included. This is the best way to see Venice!
Judith_K, May 2026
Our guide Antoinette S was so passionate about Venice and the stories she told our tour group were amazing. Every stop on the tour she gave historical facts and then related backstories of the people/places involved. There were quite a few stars to climb but she made sure we could use a private elevator for those unable to walk it. Highly recommend
Alison_M, May 2026
This tour is full of information. Many stops and things to see. Worth the time but be prepared to walk ~7 miles total. It is not a leisurely tour. It keeps you moving.
Constance_J, May 2026
Very comprehensive tour. Luisa was knowledgeable and easy to understand. It is a pretty long tour with minimal sitting (just in the gondola) so be prepared.
Deepali_S, May 2026
This was a fabulous tour. Our guide Marco made all the difference. He was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. He would explain the location and history in a louder voice and then go into his “footnotes” undertone with lots of comments that were very funny. The group size was good at 12, and the gondola ride was enjoyable at 4 a piece. This part is important - since the tour was long, about 6 hours, Marco did give us some good break times, which helped keep it manageable. The tour was smooth and very well operated. Thank you for a great experience.
Patricia_N, May 2026
Very detailed history in everything you see. Lots of walking but very slow. The town is not really equipped for handicap people. Tour guide was sweet and knowledgeable (Julia). Expect to pay 1.50 euro for public restroom use. I did not like the hearing devices provided. They kept falling off my ear everytime I looked up. Maybe I am too old to figure it out.
reenam, May 2026
Very knowledgeable guide.
Had enough time
Only disappointment was we could not enter the cathedral since it was Easter
Danessa_L, May 2026
Martina S, our local Venetian tour guide, was just fantastic and made all the difference especially for me as a solo female traveler. I loved every bit of information and education she gave us. She took our questions and accomplished so much for us in one day of Venice. That gondola ride is expensive!
Richard_M, May 2026
Highly informative and the guide was very easy to communicate with throughout the tour. Duration was ideal.
Brenda_S, May 2026
This was a good tour. I feel like we really got a feel for Venice. Tullia was a great tour guide. She was very knowledgeable and passionate about Venice. I highly recommend recommended
Bob_D, May 2026
was great. would reccomend for anyone who has not been to Venice to get lay of the land. Wasn't too long and guide was great.
Lenny_D, May 2026
Need to eliminate the gondola ride it's not great, and cut this tour down to 4 hours. Very hard walking tour you see amazing things but can be challenging for elder.
richard_k, May 2026
G was born in Venice, grew up there and actually showed us where he loved. Extremely knowledgeable and was excited that we were in Venice. Stayed perfectly on time. Also very easy to understand.
Shawnah_V, May 2026
This tour hits all the highlights in one day. It even includes a gondola ride, Although you have to share with strangers. It moves at a nice steady pace and our guide was perfect.
Kathleen_L, May 2026
The gondola ride arranged by the tour company is amazing. Skip the line, and sat comfortably on the cushion bench, and rode along the canals.
The tour guide is knowledgeable about all the arts in the palace
Thumb up
Ramsey_J, May 2026
We had 48 hours in Venice and this was the perfect tour to see the highlights and learn the history and see the hidden treasures in Venice! Our tour guide was an amazing storyteller weaving in history with humorous insights on Venice and the culture. Truly a must do!
Elizabeth_B, May 2026
So much packed into the tour. Feel like we have ‘done Venice’. Our guide, G, was attentive, knowledgeable and fun. I would definitely consider a similar tour in other cities.
John_H, May 2026
Guiliano was a great guide for the day. Very detailed explanations and history of sights. Saw most spots in Venice and enjoyed a gondola ride.
Mark_P, May 2026
You get to see a lot on this tour and our guide Giuliano was extremely knowledgeable and made our tour both informative and entertaining. He was outstanding!
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Venice In a Day: St Mark's, Doges Palace Gondola Ride & City Tour
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