All Venice Tours

Legendary Venice: St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace Tour

3992 reviews

3 hours

Max 20

Why take this tour?

Highlights

Enjoy a truly VIP experience in and around the famed St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco).
8 am time slot only: Take advantage of early access to the Doge's Palace before it opens to the public, a VIP experience arranged specially for our groups.
Skip the long lines and earn privileged access into St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace.
Drink in the surrounding views over Venice with exclusive access to the terraces of St. Mark's Basilica.
Let an expert local guide lead you through Venice's opulent history and culture—subjects they truly have a passion for.
Marvel at mosaics of gold, frescoes by Veronese and Tintoretto, and masterpieces around every turn.
Traverse the Bridge of Sighs, the Doge's apartments, the Armory, and the New Prisons.

Sites Visited
St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)
St. Mark's Basilica
St. Mark's Basilica terraces (exclusive access)
Bell Tower in St. Mark's Square (exterior)
Marciana Library (exterior)
Doge’s Palace
New Prisons
Bridge of Sighs

Tour Includes
Local English-speaking guide
Skip-the-line ticket for St. Mark's Basilica
Exclusive access to the balcony of St. Mark's Basilica
Pre-reserved ticket to the Doge's Palace
Headset (when necessary)

Immerse yourself in centuries of Venetian lore.

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Total Customer Reviews: 3992

Verified Ratings

4.7 /5

based on 2735 Walks’ customer ratings

Rating summary by category

Guide

4.8/5

Guest Support

4.7/5

Latest reviews

Excellent

Our tour guide, Eleanora, was incredible! Super knowledgeable and engaging throughout the whole tour. We took the 8am tour which was great because Doge Palace was so quiet (St. Mark’s Basilica was definitely busy when we got there - this was our ending location). Definitely recommend this tour!

Verified · Eric · Oct 28, 2024 · USA · Female · 25 to 34 years

Excellent

This tour was excellent. We wanted to see two main Venice attractions like St. Marks Basilica and Doge's Palace which would be timed with granted access. Name of the company was found on Facebook Venice travel group. The quality and logistics of the tour was superior. Easy to meet, ear piece to hear the guide. The guide Pamela was absolutely outstanding how she delivered all the information on this tour. Worth every penny and highly recommend.

Verified · Olga · Oct 26, 2024 · USA · Female · 45 to 54 years

Excellent

This was one of the best tours of our vacation. Our tour guide was amazing. She was very knowledgeable and kept us on our toes (with fun facts and historical notes). Getting the inside tour of St. Marks and Doge Palace (plus the bridge of sighs and prison) - was absolutely incredible. We highly recommend taking this tour.

Verified · Rebecca · Oct 21, 2024 · USA · Female · 55 to 64 years

Great

Guided Tours can be hit and miss - this one was a hit. I wanted one that was more than just historical highlights and I wanted to be able to ask the guide questions, this was perfect. Virginia is a Venice native, very warm and friendly and clearly passionate and knoweldgeable about her subject. Without a guide, the Doges Palace is just a series of impressive rooms and artwork - Virgina brought it to life. In St Marks, the historical background and insight was fascinating. Three hours is quite a long time but if you interested in the history of Venice this tour is excellent.

Verified · Julie · Oct 21, 2024 · United Kingdom · Female · 55 to 64 years

Excellent

With limited time ideal way to get a good grasp of Venetian history. Will return to Doges Palace as so much to take in. Could spend a day just viewing artwork.

Verified · Liz · Oct 20, 2024 · United Kingdom · Female · 65 to 74 years

FAQs

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

No. Unfortunately, due to site restrictions we cannot accommodate wheelchairs on this tour. Guests should be prepared for a moderate level of physical activity, including standing for extended periods and climbing stairs, which may not be suitable for travelers with certain health conditions or mobility limitations.

Can I get a refund if access to the Doge's Palace is restricted due to a private event?

If access is restricted due to private events inside the Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible as this is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued.

Will the tour route be modified in the event of high tide/"acqua alta"?

If the local municipality restricts access due to high tide and there are no walkways available, it is the client’s responsibility to bring appropriate footwear (e.g., boots). The guide will modify the itinerary to include alternate dry paths whenever possible. No refund will be provided if high tide prevents certain parts of the tour, but adjustments to the route will be made for client safety and comfort.

Can I take a bag with me into St. Mark's Basilica?

You can only take small bags into St. Mark's. Anything bigger than a purse - backpacks or luggage - is prohibited. There is no coat check either, so do not bring any large bags with you.

Does St. Mark's Basilica have a dress code?

Yes. Because it is a holy place, St. Mark's Basilica insists that both men and women wear clothing that covers their shoulders and knees. They can and will refuse entry to anyone who does not meet this standard and we can't do anything about it, so come prepared.

What can I bring with me on this tour?

St. Mark's Basilica has very tight rules about what you can and cannot bring inside. Anything bigger than a purse - including backpacks or luggage - is NOT allowed inside the Basilica. There is no coat check either, so do not bring any bags larger than a purse with you.

What can I bring into the Doge's Palace?

You are permitted to enter the Doge's Palace with handbags and small backpacks. But any large backpacks or luggage are not permitted inside. You have to check them in the cloakroom.

Does the Doge's Palace accommodate wheelchair users?

The Doge’s Palace is not wheelchair-friendly. Some parts are accessible, but the Secret Rooms, Prisons, and Armory and not. Our route, in particular, is not wheelchair-friendly so we do not recommend that wheelchair users take this tour.

Is this tour accessible to people in wheelchairs?

Unfortunately the terrace of St. Mark's Basilica, the prisons, and the armory of the Doge's Palace are not wheelchair-accessible, meaning we can't accept wheelchair user on this tour. For those interested in wheelchair friendly tours in Venice, please contact our Customer Care team at [email protected].

Do guests always see the sights on this tour in the same order?

No. Sometimes the tour runs in reverser order. However, we never take any sights out of the itinerary so you are always going to see St. Mark's Basilica, St. Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace (general access rooms), New Prisons, and Bridge of Sighs.

What's so special about the 8:00 am tour time?

The 8:00 AM tour time offer a unique and exclusive benefit - enter St. Mark's Basilica before it opens! With just your small group you enter through a side door and spend time alone in the Basilica. A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, and created for Walks guests only. The 8:00 AM tour time is the only time with this special access, although the later times are also skip-the-line!

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