Venice: St.Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace Tour with Tickets
Recommended by 90% of travelers
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Venice, Italy
- 3 hours 10 minutes (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Discover two Venice highlights in one tour
- Utilize pre-reserved tickets to maximize time
- Explore St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace
- Learn about history and architecture
What's Included
- Pre-reserved tickets for St. Mark's basilica
- Pre-reserved tickets for Doge's Palace
- Expert local guide with insider's knowledge
- Small group tour for a more personalized experience
- 3-hour walking tour at a relaxed pace
- Tickets for the Correr Museum
- Admission to National Archeological Museum and Biblioteca Marciana
- Guided Tour of Correr Museum, National Archeological Museum, and Biblioteca Marciana
- Transportation to/from the meeting point
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Colonna di San MarcoP.zt San Marco, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
We meet in Saint Mark’s Square near the waterfront by the two large columns. Our guide will be under the one with the winged lion on top. Your guide will have a signboard that says, “Walks In Europe.”
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Venice (Pass By)
1
Piazza San Marco
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Basilica di San Marco
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Palazzo Ducale
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Bridge of Sighs (Pass By)
4
Museo Correr
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- 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.
- 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.
- Acqua Alta (high tide) in Venice can cause delays in entering the Basilica.
- Sites visited during this tour are subject to occasional closures due to holy observances, high tides, and flooding. If a site closes, your guide will tour the exterior of the site. If time permits, you will be contacted before your tour. For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.
- Basilica is a holy place, both men and women must wear clothing that covers the belly, shoulders and knees.
- Religious authorities may decide to suspend skip-the-line priority because of the high number of visitors. We are only allowed to stay inside the Basilica for 20 minutes.
- In case of denied access, you will be provided with entrance tickets to visit the Basilica on your own at the assigned time.
- If you take the 2:00 PM tour, the Correr Museum will be closed before your tour finishes. Therefore, you will have Correr tickets for the next day
- Please note that carrying any type of weapon or sharp objects, such as a knife, is not allowed for this tour.
- Do not bring large bags or luggage. These items are not allowed, and there is no place to leave them, so you will be denied entry.
- Clients must arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start of the tour. This is due to the timed entry of the tickets.
- Please be advised that it is not possible to join the tour after it has commenced.
- Direct ticket costs for the included attractions are as follows: Doge’s Palace (€27.00) and St. Mark’s Basilica (€12.00).
- Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
Supplied by
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 1,303 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Andrew_M, Jul 2026
The tour of the Doge's Palace and St Marks Basilica was amazing. Our tour guide Iole was so knowledgeable and presented the whole tour with great passion and interest. The magnificent rooms with amazing paintings in the Doge's Palace were absolutely stunning. We walked over the 'Bridge of Sighs' to the Prison, a remarkable experience. St Marks Basilica was remarkable; the walls all covered in gold ground mosaics. Then we went up to the balcony and walked outside with the most tremendous view of St Marks Square you could ever imagine. This is an absolutely unique opportunity to see the great building and to hear the fascinating history of the great City of Venice.
Sheryl_P, Jul 2026
Clair was an exceptional guide. She was full of energy, vivacious and very knowledgeable. The tour was extremely well done, and we would highly recommend it.
Randel_D, Jul 2026
Knowledgeable entertaining guide Christina! She answered some questions about details before I asked. Probably our best tour in Venice.
Robert_P, Jul 2026
Its a little long-winded and all could have been covered in two hours. Way more knowledge than you could gather on your own so I can put up with the extra hour. Overall this was great experience just wish it were a little faster and less time. For older travelers you will appreciate the slower pace. For your toddlers they probably wont last this long.
Kate_S, Jul 2026
The tour guide Sara, was wonderful. She was knowledgeable and thorough. We learned quite a lot about The Doge Palace as we spent most of our time there. 2.5 hours.
We were only in St Mark’s Basilica for 15 minutes which disappointed me.
The cost of the tour was $150 US per person. I booked late and found this last minute tour. However, when I searched additional tours after this experience, I saw many tours that were less expensive. The tour was advertised as running 3.5 hours. It ran 2 hours and 20 minutes. While Sarah, the guide was terrific, I think this tour was incredibly overpriced. I paid $300 US dollars for two of us. I would not recommend this tour to others as there are much more affordable options.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Hi Kate,
Thank you for your feedback. We're pleased to hear you enjoyed the tour and Sarah's expertise.
We would gently suggest that, rather than encouraging other travelers to look elsewhere, it may be worth acknowledging the unique access and expertise that made your visit possible in the first place.
Our tour is clearly advertised as lasting 3 hours. It also explains that, in accordance with the Basilica's regulations, all guided groups are limited to approximately 20 minutes inside the Basilica. This rule applies to every accredited tour operator and is outside our control. The Basilica is a relatively small church that receives an extraordinary number of visitors every day.
One of the key benefits of booking with us is that we are one of the few companies officially accredited by the Basilica. This privileged status allows our guests to enter without waiting in the general admission line—an advantage you were able to enjoy. You also benefited from the knowledge of a licensed Venetian guide and were able to secure a last-minute place on the tour.
We certainly respect that every traveler has different expectations. However, we believe it's important that reviews reflect the experience that was actually advertised and delivered. We hope future readers will also consider the value of the priority access, expert guiding, and the opportunity to visit one of Venice's most sought-after monuments without the long wait.
Sara_C, Jul 2026
Claire was amazing! High energy and enthusiastic! She knew us all by name and was so animated, which I appreciated because she kept my kid’s attention. We were so lucky to have her!
Ben_G, Jul 2026
This tour exceeded our expectations, the guide was exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly. We love history and she gave a comprehensive overview of Venetian history throughout the tour. Highly recommend.
Vivian_H, Jul 2026
Very good tour of both the Doges Palace, including walking across the Bridge of Signs, as well as Basilica San Marco. The guide was very knowledgeable. The Tour also included museums tickets on San Marco square that we visited the next day.
ELAINE_F, Jul 2026
We enjoyed the tour and the guide was lovely and knowledgeable but it did not include the Pala d’Ora or balcony. As we wished to do these activities we paid separately but could only pay via internet and the internet connection was almost non existent and we spent over an hour to get the extra tickets. If you wish to view all areas book a tour which includes everything so you don’t waste time unnecessarily.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thanks, Elaine and Paul,
We are glad you enjoyed the tour we provided. Yes, it does not include the other parts of San Marco, as there is very limited access (it is very, very small), and because we only have 20 minutes allowed inside the basilica, we prefer to use it wisely for the main areas.
Jim_G, Jul 2026
Excellent tour. Our guide Zoe was knowledgeable. We enjoyed the tour.
Lots of beautiful history to enjoy
Jhalak_A, Jul 2026
This tour was expensive compared to some of the others. But our guide was Claire was amazing and super energetic. She had great info to share.
Andrew_B, Jul 2026
Our guide, Christina, was extremely knowledgeable about Venice, its history and the buildings we toured.
Sherry_G, Jul 2026
Claire was energetic, engaging, and incredibly knowledgeable. She somehow remembered the names of all 15 people in our group, which made the tour feel much more personal. Her passion for the history and stories behind St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace made everything come alive. This was a wonderful experience, and I would highly recommend Claire to anyone visiting Venice!
Thomas_S, Jul 2026
Good, very informative and the guide Simonetta was great, I don't think it was worth the cost as quite expensive to book. Would look to book ourselves next time
Dana_W, Jul 2026
This tour was above and beyond my expectations! The tour in the Doge’s Palace was fantastic. Our tour guide Simonetta was so knowledgeable, and we really appreciated and enjoyed the history telling combined with the tour. I wish we had a little bit more time in St. Mark’s Basilica, as I thought that part felt a bit rushed. However that did not take away from the amazing sites.
Heather_S, Jul 2026
The guide was very knowledgeable and let us know the history behind the art, statues and architecture. Very enjoyable.
Amanda_B, Jun 2026
I was exhausted and I really appreciated our guides energy. She was amazing! I believe her name was Claire. Best tour guide ever. The Doge and Saint Marks was incredible. Even in the brutal heat of the day. So glad I didn’t cancel
graemealannicoll, Jun 2026
We were lucky to have Alexandro as our guide, an historian who has lived locally for many years. His enthusiasm was catching and the detail he provided was fantastic. Hard to believe you are visiting locations from the 11/12th century.
Julie_R, Jun 2026
Liza was professional and knowledgeable. Highly recommend! We learned so much and valued her expertise.
Andrew_M, Jun 2026
Easy to locate, the guide was very pleasant and informative and the location was beautiful. The microphone and earpieces worked well
Kenneth_P, Jun 2026
Guide was charming and personable.
Tour was comprehensive. Recommend on a cooler day. No a/c so it can get very hot.
Joseph_S, Jun 2026
We had a great time! We came with 3 children and everyone enjoyed the tour. Our tour guide was very kind and patient. Most of all, she always smiled
Jeff_S, Jun 2026
Wonderful tour of Venice’s heart of past political and religious power. Guide was knowledgeable, engaging & just made tour so much fun learning about Venice, not only for adults, but also our 16 year old twins, not an easy task 🤪. Would recommend to anyone as a must do during your visit to Venezia 🇮🇹❤️🇮🇹
Jennifer_C, Jun 2026
Unfortunately our guide seemed unprepared… you still need to enter more characters here to post and give review
Clement_L, Jun 2026
We had to wait for 10mins for a lady to show up. Then. The guide decided to go in without waiting any longer. That lady did not show up. Then, we waiting in line to go through security. That’s another 10 mins at least. After all, we are cutting short of time to go to the Basilica after the Doge’s Palace.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
As a courtesy to all guests, our guide waited for a late-arriving participant before beginning the tour. Unfortunately, the guest never arrived, but we believe making a reasonable effort to accommodate fellow travelers is the right thing to do.
Joining a small-group tour also requires a degree of patience and understanding toward the other travelers sharing the experience. While we strive to start on time, we occasionally allow a short grace period when someone is making a genuine effort to reach the meeting point.
Regarding the security line, this is a mandatory screening process imposed by the site and applies to all visitors. While our tour includes pre-reserved access, no tour operator can bypass security checks, and waiting times may vary depending on visitor volumes on the day.
Despite these factors, the itinerary was completed as planned, including the visit to St. Mark's Basilica following the Doge's Palace.
All groups are allowed a maximum of 30 minutes inside the basilica which is also clearly stated in the tour description.
Laynee_L, Jun 2026
Incredible journey through these historical sites! It was almost overwhelming the amount of information provided! Martina was so knowledgeable, she made it so easy to follow, I took away a whole new perspective on Venice.
Shelley_S, Jun 2026
Tour guide was amazing and very knowledgable. I would recommend for those who want to understand Venice's history
kswenson73, Jun 2026
Interesting history, beautiful buildings worth seeing. Guide was very knowledgeable. He was friendly and personable.
Isabel_W, Jun 2026
It is a comprehensive tour with political, cultural & architectural commentary. Our guide was interesting & entertaining.
Han_P, Jun 2026
Tour guide was ok, moved very slow a lot of standing around and talking vs walk and talk which is better when the place has no AC.
1 star for Viator-
You should state what size the group is instead of the misleading “small group tour” 20 people is not a small group. Under 10 could be considered small.
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