Legendary Venice: St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace Tour
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 (St. Mark's Basilica + Museum 24€)
- Exclusive access to the balcony of St. Mark's Basilica
- Pre-reserved ticket to the Doge's Palace (25€)
- Headset (when necessary)
Immerse yourself in centuries of Venetian lore.
Book Now
Verified Customer reviews
Verified ratings
4.7 /5
based on 2758 Walks’ customer ratingsOverall rating
4.7 /5
2758 reviewsRating summary by category
Latest reviews
Excellent
Our guide was very down to earth and extremely knowledgeable, We saw alot of guides running through areas whilst our guide took her time and asked if we had any questions or queries throughout the full tour, the only gripe I had was paying over £100 per person and we didn't get into the area directly beside the tomb of St Mark, this was an extra 10 Euro charge that we had to pay after the tour ended, this was the main reason I took the tour and I feel we shouldn't have had to pay another fee to see what I would say is the main reason anyone would want to tour St Marks Basilica. Other than this the tour was very informative and never rushed so I would definitely recommend but just know you need to pay extra to get close to St Marks sarcophagus.
Tripadvisor customer · Scott · Oct 18, 2025 Excellent
Excellent
GetYourGuide customer · Belinda · Australia · Oct 16, 2025 Excellent
This tour was very thorough and impressive historically and architecturally. Great guide - extremely knowledgeable. Impressive and shouldn’t be missed while in Venice
Tripadvisor customer · Coastal67952995788 · Oct 16, 2025 Excellent
This was an amazing tour. Our guide was knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor!
GetYourGuide customer · United States · Oct 13, 2025 Excellent
This tour was EXCELLENT. The tour leader did an detailed job withy logistics and provided great history in an easily understood manner. His English was excellent and easily understood. I would certainly take this tour again.
Viator customer · Jeffrey · Oct 13, 2025
Reviews from our guests
Legendary Venice: St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace Tour
Verified rating
4.7 /5
based on 2758 Walks’ customer ratingsTotal guest reviews
:
5017
guest reviews
Excellent 4226
Great 617
Good 113
Average 47
Poor 14
Latest reviews
Excellent
Our guide was very down to earth and extremely knowledgeable, We saw alot of guides running through areas whilst our guide took her time and asked if we had any questions or queries throughout the full tour, the only gripe I had was paying over £100 per person and we didn't get into the area directly beside the tomb of St Mark, this was an extra 10 Euro charge that we had to pay after the tour ended, this was the main reason I took the tour and I feel we shouldn't have had to pay another fee to see what I would say is the main reason anyone would want to tour St Marks Basilica. Other than this the tour was very informative and never rushed so I would definitely recommend but just know you need to pay extra to get close to St Marks sarcophagus.
Tripadvisor customer · Scott · Oct 18, 2025 Excellent
Excellent
GetYourGuide customer · Belinda · Australia · Oct 16, 2025 Excellent
This tour was very thorough and impressive historically and architecturally. Great guide - extremely knowledgeable. Impressive and shouldn’t be missed while in Venice
Tripadvisor customer · Coastal67952995788 · Oct 16, 2025 Excellent
This was an amazing tour. Our guide was knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor!
GetYourGuide customer · United States · Oct 13, 2025 Excellent
This tour was EXCELLENT. The tour leader did an detailed job withy logistics and provided great history in an easily understood manner. His English was excellent and easily understood. I would certainly take this tour again.
Viator customer · Jeffrey · Oct 13, 2025 Excellent
So I was a little apprehensive when realizing I could have booked these tours directly with the venues instead of a tour agency, which would have saved me money, but our tour guide Filippo M made it worth every penny and then some. He was not only extremely knowledgeable about the artifacts, history and general information of these historic sites, but was absolutely hilarious, lots of jokes. If he no longer wanted to be a tour guide he could be a very successful comedian (no joke, pardon pone)!!! The sites themselves I would give a 8.5/10 rating as Doge Palace was extremely interesting and full of history and Saint Marks Basillca was absolutely incredible. To imagine that they built the place more than three centuries ago is unbelievable. Tons of beautiful mosaics and rich history. Although our tour guide made it a 10/10 (mind you I very rarely give “10’s”). Lots of walking, steps and climbing, so would not recommend it for someone who is either not fit or disabled. Overall wonderful experience.
Viator customer · Joshua · Oct 13, 2025 Excellent
The sites were beautiful, the gondola ride was memorable and our guide was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable.
Tripadvisor customer · Trail19073050530 · Oct 13, 2025 Excellent
Great tour filled with great information. Our tour guide lead us through the Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica relaying historical facts and anecdotes about each space we entered. Skipping the lines were a great advantage also. Getting to walk across the Bridge of Sighs and along the balcony of St Mark’s Basilica were the highlights for me.
Tripadvisor customer · Rachel · Oct 11, 2025 Excellent
Excellent tour taking in Doge’s palace and St Marks Basilica. These tours are all about the leader. Magdalena was excellent, knowledgable, great English and easy to understand accent. Just the right enough information to keep you interested but not overloaded
Viator customer · Jane · Oct 10, 2025 Excellent
Elena was a wonderful tour guide! Very knowledgeable and extremely passionate about Venice! She infused local history with her fun and unique personality and stories, which made for an experience where we learned a lot and had a great time. I would recommend this tour and this particular guide to everyone. We feel the skip-the-line option is a must-do!
Tripadvisor customer · April · Oct 10, 2025FAQs
What's the cancellation policy for my St. Mark's Basilica tour?
This experience is refundable up to 7 days before your tour. Thank you for understanding.
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.
Do I need to bring my passport/ID with me?
Yes! All guests (including children) must bring a government-issued ID/passport on the day of their tour. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument. The full names of all participants are required at the time of booking and must match the names on their ID/passport. Name changes are not permitted.
What happens if there's a private event at the Doge's Palace and/or St. Mark's Basilica?
On rare occasions access may be restricted due to private events inside the Doge's Palace and/or St. Mark's Basilica. Unfortunately this is a situation beyond our control. Our tour guides will make modifications to ensure you still have an excellent experience, but no refunds will be issued. We appreciate your understanding.
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.
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.
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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