Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica Tour
Venice, Italy
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
St. Mark’s Square is the heart of Venice and was the center of political and religious power during the Doges’ time. Get to know how the different pieces fit together on this walking tour led by an informative guide. You also visit St. Mark’s Basilica (not accessible on Sundays), famed for its golden mosaics and sacred relics, and learn how the saint came to represent the city.
- Spot details you might otherwise miss thanks to insights from your guide
- No hidden costs: Admission to St. Mark’s Basilica is included
- Choose between morning or afternoon tours for more flexibility
- Headsets are available so that you can hear your guide clearly
What's Included
- Headsets to hear the guide clearly
- Professional guide
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Alilaguna & Bucintoro Viaggi -Ticket Office San Marco GiardinettiRiva degli Schiavoni, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Alilaguna ticket office is located at San Marco Giardinetti vaporetto stop, next to the Royal Gardens. Please don't look for Alilaguna office on Google maps. Strictly requested to be at the meeting point 15 minutes before the departure of the tour.
End point
- St. Mark's SquarePiazza San Marco, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
The tour ends in St. Mark's Square.
Itinerary
1
Piazza San Marco
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Palazzo Ducale (Pass By)
Campanile di San Marco (Pass By)
Torre dell'Orologio (Pass By)
Procuratie Vecchie (Pass By)
2
Basilica di San Marco
40 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Please be aware that shorts and sleeveless tops are not permitted. Both men and women must have their knees and shoulders covered to enter. Failure to comply with these dress code requirements may result in refused entry.
- If you're planning a day trip to Venice and staying outside the city, please note that an access fee will be required on certain dates. For more information, including details about exemptions and the specific dates when the fee applies, please visit (https://cda.ve.it).
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers’ full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the attraction
- Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to St.Mark’s Basilica
- Entrance ticket is included and it costs 24,00 Euro per person (St. Mark’s Basilica and Museum)
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 3 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
3.1
based on 53 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Marcela_A, Mar 2026
Denise is a great tour guide very proud of her native city and makes a very interesting presentation of the Dukes life on the palace
Keith_C, Sep 2025
It was cancelled by the tour operator with NO NOTICE to us after we delayed our departure from Venice
WAIMAN_L, Sep 2025
We just aware skip-the-line tickets for st. Mark’s basilica tour was not available when we arrived and told by the tour guide today (21Sep), which was very disappointed. We come all the way from Hong Kong to Rome to Florence & Venice and this is part of our important journey. Since we will fly to London tomorrow, there’s no time for us to visit anymore. Therefore, please refund the St. Mark’s Basilica skip-the-line tickets (x3 people) for me in cash.
Pls reply by email at anitalam@gmail.com for the arrangement as soon as possible.
Thanks with regards,
Anita Lam
Alex_A, Oct 2024
Great guide with lots of knowledge experience made our tour great. My son who is 4 was interested in the exhibits.
Stephen_H, Oct 2024
The tour operator refused to honour our tickets on the day, even though they conceded we booked some time ago. The local tour operator staff were also arrogant and rude. Viator, on the other hand, was highly professional and helpful and we rebooked with another tour.
JoeandDyan_R, Oct 2024
Sun Oct 6, 2024- Texas, USA
CANCELLED-NOExplanation!
Beware!!😠 Got there 20 minutes early to get our tickets. Showed the the guy our confirmation and he said our tour was cancelled, you should have received an email. I checked my email, NO cancelation emailed received! We recvd hours count down before our tour. A family from Chicago booked their tour 4 wks before and theirs was cancelled also with NO explanation or email notice. Hopefully we'll get our money back. Filed complaint with CC company THAT day! Had a GREAT time in Venice except for THIS tour! Buyer Beware!
Pamela_G, Oct 2024
I loved learning the history from our guid who was very knowledgeable but a little hard to understand. We also loved the terrace access and over looking the square! Skipping the longs lines is always a bonus!
Sally_B, Jul 2024
Our tour guide, Fredriqua, was amazing and informative! So glad we did this tour to hear about all the history and traditions.
Ram_P, Jul 2024
Frederica was an excellent guide and made sure to point out all the key details in the tour. She is very knowledgeable and made key references to historic context where applicable.
Matthew_G, Jun 2024
Tour cancelled without warning or notification. Took considerable time and effort to get my money back. AVOID. AVOID. AVOID.
Stacey_R, Jun 2024
This was a horrible experience. We paid for the Uber to Venice from Mestre and was there several hours early. We showed up to the window for check in only to be told they canceled the tour but kept taking people's money.
Tiffany_N, Jun 2024
Our tour guide was interesting and knowledgeable, especially with an advanced degree in architecture to explain the building of Venice! We went at a good pace through St. Mark’s Cathedral and the Doges’ Palace and then were able to peruse the rest of the museum at our leisure. So worth it!
Maria_C, Jun 2024
Your was cancelled when we walked up at 15 min prior. I understand things happen, but there is no excuse to cancel once you arrive. You should have notified everyone in the morning. Will not use Viator again. Now I have to go through the hassle of getting our money back while on vacation.
Walter_W, May 2024
Excellent tour, informative and entertaining guide, and NO LINES! Everything that we saw was amazing! I highly recommend this tour.
MEGHAN_B, May 2024
My husband and I had booked this tour and paid for it. When we showed up at the meeting point after walking 30 mins from our hotel we were turned away and told the tour was cancelled with no information provided through the tour company prior to this. We then did not get to get into the Basillica and Palace as a result due to the amount of tourists on the day. Very disappointed 😭
Vinod_N, May 2024
Tour guide went on and on for a longtime which we could not understand nor heard clearly. I would like to have at least partial refund
Terry_O, May 2024
The tour was a great way to see two beautiful buildings and learn about the interesting history of Venice.
The guide was very knowledgeable and made the experience one to remember
Jane_S, Mar 2024
Marina was an excellent guide and her tour was really interesting. We learnt lots about the history of Venice.
Lisa_D, Mar 2024
Frederica was the best! She was a great tour guide. The history behind St. Marks and the Doge's Palace is fascinating. The history behind all the Doges who lived at the palace and the Bridge of Sighs is intriguing. It was nice to take the tour to get away from all the crowds.
Liz_P, Oct 2023
We arrived on time and was told that we received a email saying it was over booked and they could not fit us in for the tour . I double checked my email and I received no communication. They were dismissive and said you’ll just have to get a refund. I’m in Italy for one time , this is it . And they did this to us !
Heather_C, Oct 2023
Very disappointed in this tour operator. Booked this tour before leaving Canada and when I went to the wicket to redeem our vouchers I was turned away saying the tour and all tours that day were booked. So even if you have paid for a voucher apparently means nothing
Bevin_C, Oct 2023
Fredrica was a wealth of information, articulation and grace. She skillfully educated and guided our group with a warmth and care that left us feeling informed through the way she integrated history, art, and architecture in a well structured tour. Her information was accessible. She is a 5 star guide.
Noella_R, Oct 2023
So glad we decided to do this tour, otherwise we wouldn’t have known anything. Our guide Marina was very informative. Viator made it easy. Emails were detailed on where to meet guide, etc. I will definitely use Viator again for tours.
Ian_B, Oct 2023
Trip was canceled on the morning it was scheduled for. No reason given and no options for other tours offered. Viator does not have its act together. We definitely will not use them again. Very disappointed.
Xin_L, Oct 2023
The most memorable experience is that the tour was canceled at 9pm the night before despite of the fact that the tour was confirmed and non-refundable when I booked it! I was told to contact Viator myself for a refund! I planned a very short stay in Venice and the last-minute cancellation made me scramble to make an alternative arrangement and nearly spoiled my vacation. I would not recommend this your company to anyone else and it is disappointing that Viator lists the company on its site
Shirly_C, Sep 2023
We had trouble finding the right group as well s other people having trouble to. We found the group. She was very rude to us and very frustrated as people were angry with her because they paid for skip the line and they werent offering that because of the crowds
She told us to go get a sticker. We did do that and the ticket man was extremely rude and sad we were on late. The group had not left yet but he wouldn't give us a sticker real quick to go with them! We were in Venice for a few days and paid for a tour that we never went on. Many others were very angry too!
Sara_R, Jul 2023
The guide was extremely informative and made it fun while taking in loads of knowledge. Definitely worth the time!
Resa_T, Jul 2023
Everyone was very helpful and our tour guide was exceptional 👌 will definitely use again. Absolutely beautiful place.
Ljupka_N, Jun 2023
When we arrived to pick up the tickets and start the tour we were told the tour was overbooked and we will be refunded.
We hope the refund is coming.
Ruth_T, Jun 2023
We really enjoyed our tour yesterday. Can’t remember the guide name but she was excellent. Despite waiting in line an hour to get into the basilica in the hot sun. We came upon as we got close to getting in an official said the line was going to be cut off due to a holiday and something special in the church. This was outrageous. But luckily the guide was persistent and we were the last group just around 3 pm to get in. We are wondering why Viator didn’t know there was a holiday and this could happen. We were under the impression it was skip the line. I’m semi handicapped and standing in the heat with a heart condition was very difficult.
Likely to Sell Out
From $115.15
per personup to 3 days in advance
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Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica Tour
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