St Mark's, Doge's Palace, with Murano and Burano & Gondola Ride
Recommended by 90% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Venice, Italy
- 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Check off Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica in a day
- Maximize time in Venice with skip-the-line tickets
- Take part in an essential Venice experience—a gondola ride
- Enjoy a guided visit to Murano and Burano Island by Private Boat
What's Included
- Skip-the-Line Entry and Guided tour of St Marks Basilica (if option is selected)
- Skip-the-line Entry and Guided tour of the Doge’s Palace (if option is selected)
- Round Trip Transportation to/from Murano & Burano Island (if option is selected)
- 30 Minute Gondola Ride (if option is selected)
- Glass Blowing Demonstration
- Some Free Time to Explore Burano Island
- Professional, English Speaking Guide
- Small-group size, maximum 20 participants
- Free time for Lunch (at own expense - if option is selected)
- Access to St. Mark's Basilica (valued at €12 per person - if option is selected))
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Colonna di San TodaroP.za San Marco, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Please Arrive 15 Minutes Early. Between the two big columns in St. Mark’s Square (columns of San Marco & San Teodoro) located on the south side of the square, near the canal. Your guide will be holding a "The Tour Guy" sign.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
1
Basilica di San Marco
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Palazzo Ducale
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Venice
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Venice
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
5
Isola di Murano
1 hour 45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Burano
1 hour 45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Please refrain from bringing big back packs or bags, because they are not allowed inside.
- All guests must supply their full name and date of birth that matches a valid ID at the time of the booking. Please note that a photo ID is required to visit the St. Mark's Basilica. Name changes are not permitted.
- Please note that depending on the start time the itinerary order can vary.
- This tour consists of two parts and includes free time for lunch (at your own expense)
- The remainder of the itinerary is spent walking from one place to the next alongside the guide and travelling to the next site
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 802 reviews
Carl_J, Mar 2026
Marco was great tour guide. Full day and it was very fun. Tour was well organized and moved quickly Very informative and great overall tour.
Christine_D, Mar 2026
Such a great deal! We were visiting a lot of different cities in Italy and this tour helped us see such a large swath of Venice with minimal effort on our part. Gaia (spelling?) was a fantastic and friendly guide to Murano and Burano, and Marco was our expert around the city. Highly recommend!
Daryl_M, Mar 2026
It is a lot of walking, but had rest times too. Because it was pretty noisy, I had a hard time hearing and understanding the guide at times. I’d say if you have noise cancelling headphones they would be a good option. Murano and Burano were very interesting but the boat ride to and from took a good amount of time. Overall a good way to experience Venice and the islands in a day, which was our goal.
Liz_C, Mar 2026
Great experience to get a flavour of murano and Burano. Very knowledgeable guide for Doges Palace and Basilica. Good if you’re time poor but if you have more time book longer tour for the islands.
Gary_N, Mar 2026
A mix of history with visit to glass factory on Murano and colorful Burano. Tour guides were knowledgeable and humorous.
Irma_G, Mar 2026
Our guide was Michaela. She did a great job. Also our group was not so big that we could not hear her
Frances_L, Mar 2026
Well worth the money! Everything was timed perfect, got to see and learned a lot. I would highly recommend the tour.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Frances,
Thank you for your lovely feedback.
We are so pleased to hear you enjoyed your Venice tour and that everything ran smoothly and at a good pace for you. It is great to know you were able to see so much and learn along the way.
We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on another tour again soon.
Kelsey_I, Mar 2026
Perfect Venice tour! It’s divided into two, with the islands in the afternoon and different guides for both. You’ll have a hour for lunch in between.
Valerie_B, Mar 2026
Unforgetable experience. It was a long day but was wirth it. Venice is a beautiful City. The guide were Local and obviously loved their City. I loved it
M_P, Mar 2026
The tour company was: "The Tour Guy"
There were a couple of unexpected challenges that need attention:
1. Tour starting time was moved to 30-minutes later (and ended 30 minutes later). This was very well communicated via text and on the app. HOWEVER, I booked a train ticket based on the original ending time - I was very rushed to catch my train.
2. I was lost and hence late for start (that's my fault). I communicated with tour provider that they should leave me & just tell me where the group was going, so that I catch-up. The tour group had just entered the Basilica (2 minutes from the meeting point) ... so I asked the Tour Guide for my ticket so that I could go in. They categorically refused! I missed the Basilica and St. Mark's Doge....it makes no sense; yes I was 10 minutes late but the tour group was just in the Basilica, I could have easily joined the tour and my ticket had already been paid for
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi M,
Thank you for your feedback and for sharing your experience. Just to clarify, Viator is a booking platform and not the tour operator. The actual tour is run by the provider shown on your voucher and product page.
Regarding timing changes, when a start or end time is adjusted, this is always communicated as early as possible. If a new time does not work for a guest, we are always happy to look at alternatives, but we do need to be informed in advance so we can assist properly.
In terms of late arrival, all tickets are part of a pre-booked group reservation and are issued for entry with the guide as a group. For many sites, including St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, entry is strictly managed and individual access is not permitted once the group has entered. This is a rule set by the venues themselves, and unfortunately we cannot provide separate entry or hand over tickets once the tour has started.
We are sorry you missed part of the experience and understand your frustration, but we do have to follow these regulations in place at the sites.
Renate_D, Mar 2026
Plan on a fun filled long day of sights and experiences. Well worth it but bring your walking shoes.
Nancy_H, Mar 2026
This was one of the best tours that we had while in Italy. Our tour guide in the morning was amazing, informative and hilarious. He made the history come alive for my kids. In the afternoon Alexsia was absolutely a delight. She provided amazing information, was friendly kind, and personable. Willing to share her city and culture with us. Highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Nancy. We’re thrilled to hear that both your morning and afternoon guides made such a positive impression and brought the history and culture to life for your family. It’s lovely to know that Alessia shared her knowledge in such a friendly and personal way. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on another tour in Italy in the future.
Christine_T, Mar 2026
A wonderful full day trip! Philip was very knowledgeable during our tour of St. Mark’s and the Doge’s Palace. The 30 minute gondola ride was excellent and truly memorable Venice experience. We also visited the islands of Murano and Burano with Silvia, who was kind and fantastic guide.
James_W, Mar 2026
You see everything you want to see in one day with the best guides. The islands exceeded my expectations. St. Mark’s and Doge’s Palace were spectacular and the gondola ride was everything we hoped for.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi James,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that the Venice tour exceeded your expectations and that you enjoyed St. Mark’s, Doge’s Palace, the islands, and the gondola ride.
It’s fantastic to know our guides helped make the day so memorable. We hope to welcome you on another tour soon!
Danelle_R, Mar 2026
Both tour guides were exceptional sharing so much knowledge but it was not overwhelming.
Can’t pick which part of the tour was better it was all well organised.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Danelle,
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that both of your guides made your Venice tour so enjoyable and informative without feeling overwhelming.
It’s wonderful to know that you found every part of the tour well organised and memorable. We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
Shelly_M, Mar 2026
Excellent experience!! Everyone was very helpful and knowledgeable. It was a long day but we enjoyed it very much!!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Shelly,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the full day and found our team helpful and knowledgeable. It’s a long day, but we’re glad it was worth it and that you got to enjoy every part of Venice, from St. Mark’s to Murano and Burano.
Kristin_S, Mar 2026
This was a great tour and gave good highlights of a lot of aspects of Venice. I was a little surprised to have two different tour guides, but it turns out this is kind of like two tours put together. Could have used a little more time at each of the islands, maybe half an hour or so? I mean there was so much to see at the glass gallery that I didn't even get a chance to venture to the rest of the island.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Hi Kristin,
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience! We’re glad you enjoyed the tour and got to see so many highlights of Venice. You’re right—this tour is really a combination of two experiences, which is why you had two guides. We appreciate your feedback about the timing on the islands and the glass gallery—it’s helpful for us to keep improving the balance between guided experiences and free exploration.
Chris_C, Feb 2026
Was an ok experience. Guides were great but a lot of pressure from the glass work staff to buy. Lace experience was a bit of a waste of time. Not s terrible afternoon overall but wouldn't do again
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Chris, thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We are pleased to hear that you found our guides to be great, as they work hard to provide a high-quality experience across so many iconic Venetian sites.
However, we are sorry to hear that the visits to the local workshops didn't quite hit the mark for you. While we include the glass-blowing and lace-making demonstrations to highlight the traditional craftsmanship that Murano and Burano are famous for, we never want our guests to feel pressured to make a purchase. Your comments regarding the sales approach and the lace demonstration are very helpful, and we will certainly share this with our Venice Operations Manager to ensure these stops remain an enjoyable part of the cultural experience rather than a stressful one.
We appreciate your honesty, as it helps us refine our tours, and we hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in the Floating City.
Kevin_K, Feb 2026
The tour was fantastic. The tour guides were vey knowledgeable, friendly, and made every effort to ensure the experience was great. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking to see the main sights in Venice in one day.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi Kevin,
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We’re really pleased to hear you enjoyed the full Venice experience and that our guides made the day so enjoyable.
It’s great to know you found them friendly and knowledgeable, and that the tour gave you a great overview of the main sights.
Thanks for recommending us, and we hope you’ll come back and explore with us again sometime.
GuoRui_S, Feb 2026
Very well-arranged day trip covering all the key highlights of Venice. Our guides, Philip and Sivia, were extremely friendly and helpful throughout the journey. We truly enjoyed the entire trip. The explanations and sharing sessions at Doge’s Palace, Murano, and Burano were very detailed and engaging. Venice is a lovely and beautiful place, this tour made the experience even more special.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Hi,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review. We’re really glad to hear you enjoyed your day in Venice, and that Philip and Silvia helped make it such a special experience.
It’s great to know the tour felt well organised and that the explanations at the Doge’s Palace, Murano and Burano were detailed and engaging. Venice really is a beautiful place, and we’re happy the tour helped you appreciate it even more.
Thanks again for sharing, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon.
LesaMarie_S, Jan 2026
Silvia, our tour guide, was an absolute delight. Her kindness, thoughtfulness, and friendliness made us feel welcome and engaged. She had an amazing ability to share captivating stories about the history and culture for both Murano and Burano. Her infectious enthusiasm and personalized interactions made our tour feel like a unique and special experience. Whether it was a hidden gem or a popular landmark, Silvia brought each site to life with her vivid descriptions and historical photographs. As a result, we left with a newfound appreciation for the places we had explored.
Angeline_J, Jan 2026
Amazing experience that captured Venice in a day! Has all the highlights of Venice and the guides were a great resource
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Angeline,
Thank you so much for your fantastic review. We’re really pleased to hear that you enjoyed the full Venice experience and that the tour captured all the highlights in one day.
It’s wonderful to know that the guides were helpful and added value to your visit.
Thank you again for recommending the tour, and we hope to welcome you back on another trip soon!
Connie_L, Jan 2026
This is the tour to book! Do this tour early in your visit so you can see the main Venice highlights, and know what you’d like to go back to. Filipo was the perfect guide! He was so knowledgeable, kind, warm and friendly and answered every question clearly and patiently. He seemed genuinely happy to share his knowledge of Venice with us! Filipo’s warm vibe will make you happy to be in Venice! We had an hour for lunch before the afternoon portion of the tour and I highly recommend a little sandwich shop tucked away in one of the side streets behind St Mark’s Plaza where you can get a Select spritz for 5 euros, a perfect espresso for 1.5 euros and a delicious sandwich with meat, cheese and fresh veggies. You stand up at the counter and get to meet local people and see where they go to hang out, maybe even strike up a conversation. Then Silvia, our afternoon guide, was also warm and friendly and gave us some interesting fun facts on our way to Murano and Burano. The gondolier was also super nice and knowledgeable and happy to share his knowledge. And, the other Silvia was the perfect guide to explain the glass making process in Murano.
I also really liked that there was time to explore the islands on our own before heading back. I feel lucky to have had such wonderful guides as Filipo, the gondolier whose name I forgot, and Silvia! Take this tour! It is really the best!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review Connie. We’re thrilled to hear you had such a great time and that Filipo, Silvia, and the rest of the team helped make your day so special. It means a lot to us that you enjoyed the balance of guided highlights and free time to explore on your own.
We really appreciate you sharing your recommendations too; that little sandwich spot sounds like a perfect local find.
Thank you again for your kind words, and we hope to welcome you back to Venice on another tour in the future!
Robert_Z, Jan 2026
Wonderful and knowledgeable tour of doges palace and st Marks Basilica. Gondola ride was on the bucket list and it didn’t disappoint. Wish we had more time on the islands
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Hi Robert,
Thank you so much for your review. We’re really glad you enjoyed the tour of St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, and that the gondola ride lived up to your expectations, it’s always a special moment.
We completely understand wanting more time on the islands. They’re lovely places to explore and it’s always a balance between fitting everything in and keeping the day enjoyable. Thank you for joining us, and we hope you had a wonderful time in Venice!
Tamas_S, Jan 2026
I was looking for a trip that would include as much as possible in a day because I was short on time and this one didn't disappoint. In the morning, our guide was Grazia who was born and raised in Venice, had very good (C level) English and was very knowledgeable about both the Doge's Palace and the St Mark's Basilica. Not trying to be rude, just a bit of feedback, I felt her explanation of the differences between her name "Grazia" and the way to say thanks in Italian "grazie" a bit too long.
After these morning sessions we had some free time to grab a bite, then we met at the same pickup location for the afternoon part which was Murano and Burano with 2 guides Cecilia and Serena. They were very friendly and did a great job, Cecilia even answered questions on the way back from Burano. All in all, I think it's a reasonably priced tour and I highly recommend it if you're also short on time in Venice.
Barbara_M, Dec 2025
If you want a whole day experience, this is great. We did the doge and the basilica in the morning. That was enough. The after lunch murano and burano was too much for us. If I had to do it over, I would not do the after lunch schedule. Murano glass and burano lace. Really?Don't have an interest in either one of them. But if you do it is a very good experience. Especially Burano, if you go early, it's certainly sweet town.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Barbara, thank you for being so candid about your experience. We are glad you enjoyed the morning exploring the Doge’s Palace and Basilica, though we certainly understand that an eight-hour itinerary isn't for everyone—especially if glass and lace aren't your passions! Venice has so many layers, and we appreciate you noting that Burano is a sweet town despite the long day. Next time, we would love to host you on our shorter evening cicchetti tour for a more relaxed pace.
Deborah_T, Dec 2025
Really enjoyed the tour with Marco! Great guide. Afternoon in Murano and Burano also very good despite the weather!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Deborah, we are glad Marco made your day great despite the rain! We hope to see you again soon.
Colin_B, Dec 2025
Afternoon boat trip to Murano Island and Burano was perfect. The visit to the glass factory and shop was amazing so many great items. Burano Island was full of pictuesque coloured houses an the shops and restaurants were great. We got the water taxi back to the bus station, quicker than the 1 hour walk to get to St Marks square.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your review of this Venice experience! We are delighted to hear that the afternoon boat trip to Murano and Burano was perfect.
It sounds like you were amazed by the glass factory and shop on Murano, and truly enjoyed the picturesque colored houses, shops, and restaurants on Burano. We are also glad you found a quicker way back to the bus station via the water taxi!
We hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in Venice.
Logan_B, Dec 2025
My wife and I loved our Venice in One Day tour. We skipped the lines at St. Mark’s Basilica and enjoyed the beautiful gold mosaics. The Doge’s Palace was impressive, with interesting rooms and great stories from our guide. In the afternoon, we took a boat to Murano for a nice glass-blowing demonstration and to colorful Burano with its lovely houses and lace shops. Everything ran smoothly, the guide was friendly, and the day felt special without being rushed. Highly recommend it.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your extensive and wonderful review! We are thrilled that you and your wife loved your Venice in One Day tour.
It is fantastic that you skipped the lines, enjoyed the impressive Doge's Palace, and loved the afternoon boat trip to Murano and colorful Burano. We are especially pleased that everything ran smoothly, your guide was friendly, and the day felt special without being rushed.
We highly recommend you come back soon!
Noemi_O, Dec 2025
This was a great experience but it was extremely upsetting that there was an issue with Viator that almost caused us to not be allowed on our tour. They sent confirmation emails to us and our tickets but somehow the guide did not have us registered. It took a while to get it sorted and we had to independently buy a ticket for the basilica. Luckily we went in low time and we got tickets. But this made the experience much less enjoyable in the beginning.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
We sincerely regret the stress and difficulty you faced at the beginning of your St. Mark's and Doge's Palace tour due to an issue with the booking registration. While we are glad you had a great experience overall, we understand that almost being denied access significantly detracted from your start.
We apologize for the inconvenience and the necessity of purchasing an independent Basilica ticket to resolve the matter. We are actively working with our partner, Viator, and our Venice team to investigate this confirmation failure thoroughly and ensure the guide registration process is completely reliable moving forward.
Thank you for bringing this crucial technical detail to our attention. We look forward to providing you with a seamless experience on your next trip.
From $34.03
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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