Exclusive Alone In St. Mark's Basilica After Hours
1.25 hours
Max 25
Why take this tour?
Highlights
Take in the splendor of St. Mark's Square
Enjoy special-access entry to St. Mark's Basilica
Go even further and explore the crypt
Marvel at the Pala d'Ora altarpiece
- Sites Visited
- St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)
- St. Mark's Basilica
- St. Mark's Crypt
- Pala d’Oro Altarpiece
- Bell Tower in St. Mark's Square (exterior)
- Marciana Library (exterior)
- Tour Includes
- Local English-speaking guide
- Expertly guided walking tour
- Exclusive access ticket for St. Mark's Basilica (after closing)
- Headset
Don't walk, tip-toe; this is the most precious access in Venice
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Verified Customer reviews
Verified ratings
4.8 /5
based on 1056 Walks’ customer ratingsOverall rating
4.8 /5
1056 reviewsRating summary by category
Latest reviews
Excellent
This nighttime tour was anything but an ordinary visit. After official opening hours, we – a small group of just 23 people – were given the opportunity to experience Venice in the darkness of night in a truly special way: exclusive access to the Doge's Palace and then to St. Mark's Basilica. Completely without tourists, in total silence, we walked through the empty halls and corridors of the palace and immersed ourselves in the city's mystical, nocturnal atmosphere. A real wow factor – far removed from the usual crowds. St. Mark's Basilica also opened its doors just for us. At first, the church was shrouded in complete darkness, then the light slowly began to illuminate one area after another, revealing the golden splendor of Byzantine art. A breathtaking moment. Walking through this impressive church – including the crypt – as the only group felt like traversing the very soul of Venice.
GetYourGuide customer · Susanne · Nov 04, 2025 Excellent
Wow! This is an amazing tour. Nothing prepares for the peace of the venues, free of crowds and noise. The guide takes you through a ton of history in an animated story telling. The palace and prisons come alive. The Church is the golden ticket. I’ve never seen so many people’s moths drop in surprise at the treasures you’re about to see! Amazing! It’s the best tour I’ve ever been on.
GetYourGuide customer · GetYourGuide · Nov 04, 2025 Excellent
Elena was the best guide we could possibly have had. She is very knowledgable and related very well with an (inevitably) quite diverse group of tourists. She put a lot of effort and enthusiasm into the tour and you never got the impression that it was just a day's work.
GetYourGuide customer · Ernst · Nov 04, 2025 Excellent
Our guide Romy was extremely knowledgeable and shared lots of interesting history about San Marco and Venice itself. Doing the tour in the evening was great as we had the basilica to ourselves. Definitely recommend!
GetYourGuide customer · Laura · United States · Oct 26, 2025 Excellent
Excellent experience. Small group with exclusive access. Guide was extremely knowledgeable, explained the history of the Doja and Cathedral very well.
Viator customer · Paul · Oct 22, 2025
Reviews from our guests
Exclusive Alone In St. Mark's Basilica After Hours
of Walks customers highly recommend this tour to friends or family Source: Walks Customers' Post-Tour Net Promoter Score Survey
Verified rating
4.8 /5
based on 1056 Walks’ customer ratingsTotal guest reviews
:
1999
guest reviews
Excellent 1785
Great 167
Good 29
Average 10
Poor 8
Latest reviews
Excellent
This nighttime tour was anything but an ordinary visit. After official opening hours, we – a small group of just 23 people – were given the opportunity to experience Venice in the darkness of night in a truly special way: exclusive access to the Doge's Palace and then to St. Mark's Basilica. Completely without tourists, in total silence, we walked through the empty halls and corridors of the palace and immersed ourselves in the city's mystical, nocturnal atmosphere. A real wow factor – far removed from the usual crowds. St. Mark's Basilica also opened its doors just for us. At first, the church was shrouded in complete darkness, then the light slowly began to illuminate one area after another, revealing the golden splendor of Byzantine art. A breathtaking moment. Walking through this impressive church – including the crypt – as the only group felt like traversing the very soul of Venice.
GetYourGuide customer · Susanne · Nov 04, 2025 Excellent
Elena was the best guide we could possibly have had. She is very knowledgable and related very well with an (inevitably) quite diverse group of tourists. She put a lot of effort and enthusiasm into the tour and you never got the impression that it was just a day's work.
GetYourGuide customer · Ernst · Nov 04, 2025 Excellent
Wow! This is an amazing tour. Nothing prepares for the peace of the venues, free of crowds and noise. The guide takes you through a ton of history in an animated story telling. The palace and prisons come alive. The Church is the golden ticket. I’ve never seen so many people’s moths drop in surprise at the treasures you’re about to see! Amazing! It’s the best tour I’ve ever been on.
GetYourGuide customer · GetYourGuide · Nov 04, 2025 Excellent
Our guide Romy was extremely knowledgeable and shared lots of interesting history about San Marco and Venice itself. Doing the tour in the evening was great as we had the basilica to ourselves. Definitely recommend!
GetYourGuide customer · Laura · United States · Oct 26, 2025 Excellent
Excellent experience. Small group with exclusive access. Guide was extremely knowledgeable, explained the history of the Doja and Cathedral very well.
Viator customer · Paul · Oct 22, 2025 Excellent
Nico was very knowledgeable and kind to answer all questions while on the tour. He took his time to explain every detail in both Basilica San Marco and Doge Palace. Other travelers should note that the tour is over three hours with one 20 min snack/bathroom break and mostly standing up. We learned so much from Nico on this tour and we would book with him again.
Viator customer · Dominick · Oct 19, 2025 Excellent
Great evening tour. Franco, our guide was the best. Travel all over Italy, and this was one of the best side tours. St. Mark's and Palace are number 1 and 2 on top things to see in Venice.
Tripadvisor customer · Keith · Oct 18, 2025 Excellent
Booked this tour on-line. Night tour of St. Marks and Doges palace was to 1 and 2 things to see in Venice. Our guide (Franco?) was the best. Highly recommend this tour, which is limited to about 20 persons at a time. So, we got to see everything without the crowds.
Tripadvisor customer · Keith · Oct 18, 2025 Excellent
Marina was an excellent guide. She was very knowledgeable about the area and everything we saw. I would highly recommend this tour and especially Marina!
Tripadvisor customer · bethanyelaine0719 · Oct 13, 2025 Excellent
Fantastic tour with Marina! She is so informative, funny, and personable, making the tour very enjoyable. She majored in art and history so she was able to pepper in so many neat details that would’ve otherwise been missed. There were 2 other tours that moved through the space but always in separate rooms, so we shared the space quite well. The tour was well paced letting us explore leisurely and silently through was fantastic.
Viator customer · Claudia · Oct 13, 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.
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.
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.
Can I use a wheelchair on this tour?
Yes, but we require advance notice in order to accommodate wheelchairs on this tour. After booking, please contact us so that we can organize a private tour for you. If we cannot find a guide to lead you that day we'll offer you the same tour on the next available date or give you credit for another tour anywhere else in the world.
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.
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