Exclusive Alone In St. Mark's & Doge's Palace Tour
3.5 hours
Max 25
Why take this tour?
Highlights
- Private access to St. Mark's Basilica after hours, only for Walks groups - no crowds, no lines!
- Experience being inside St.Mark's Basilica like almost no one else… Alone! Illuminated mosaics are even more breathtaking at night.
- Enter the Doge's Palace after closing time - on this tour you will see Venice's most famous sites in the best possible way!
- Explore both centres of Venice's power: church and politics!
- Enjoy the intimacy of our small groups with your enthusiastic, English-speaking guide.
- 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)
- Clock Tower on St. Mark's Basilica (exterior)
- Marciana Library (exterior)
- Doge’s Palace
- New Prisons
- Bridge of Sighs
- Tour Includes
- Local English-speaking guide
- Expertly guided walking tour
- Exclusive access ticket for St. Mark's Basilica (after closing)
- After-closing ticket to the Doge's Palace
- Headset
Take a flashlight! Explore both St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace after-hours.
Book Now
Verified Customer reviews
Verified ratings
4.8 /5
based on 655 Walks’ customer ratingsOverall rating
4.8 /5
655 reviewsRating summary by category
Latest reviews
Excellent
Tour guide Marina was excellent
Verified · Susan · Canada · Female · Jul 02, 2025 Excellent
Our tour guide was outstanding.
Verified · Kirk · USA · Male · Jun 04, 2025 Great
Nico was the best!
He did a great job of not only showing us the Doge's Palace and St. Marks Cathedral, but also gave us good details that told more than just facts.
Not only did we have a great tour guide, but to top it off, the empty buildings were WONDERFULL!
Verified · Juan · USA · Male · May 31, 2025 Excellent
The evening tour of the Doge's palace and St Mark's basilica is a wonderful way to experience the beauty and history of both without the crowds. This tour provides wonderful explanations and the light show in the basilica is truly awesome. This tour is a must do. It is pricey, but it is well worth the money.
Verified · Kelly · May 18, 2025 Excellent
Grazia was an amazing tour guide.
Verified · Janice · USA · Female · Apr 13, 2025
Reviews from our guests
Exclusive Alone In St. Mark's & Doge's Palace Tour
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 655 Walks’ customer ratingsTotal guest reviews
:
655
guest reviews
Excellent 540
Great 92
Good 16
Average 3
Poor 4
Latest reviews
Excellent
Tour guide Marina was excellent
Verified · Susan · Canada · Female · 55 - 64 years · Jul 02, 2025 Excellent
Our tour guide was outstanding.
Verified · Kirk · USA · Male · 55 - 64 years · Jun 04, 2025 Great
Nico was the best!
He did a great job of not only showing us the Doge's Palace and St. Marks Cathedral, but also gave us good details that told more than just facts.
Not only did we have a great tour guide, but to top it off, the empty buildings were WONDERFULL!
Verified · Juan · USA · Male · 45 - 54 years · May 31, 2025 Excellent
The evening tour of the Doge's palace and St Mark's basilica is a wonderful way to experience the beauty and history of both without the crowds. This tour provides wonderful explanations and the light show in the basilica is truly awesome. This tour is a must do. It is pricey, but it is well worth the money.
Verified · Kelly · May 18, 2025 Excellent
Grazia was an amazing tour guide.
Verified · Janice · USA · Female · 55 - 64 years · Apr 13, 2025 Excellent
This is a fantastic tour. There are so few people you can see everything and take beautiful pictures. Its quiet and exclusive, the absolute best way to see many things in St. Marks. I highly recommend this tour, we are going back to the Doge's Palace with our museum pass to see the things that were not included in the tour, though we know we saw the absolute highlights.
Verified · Heidi · USA · Female · 55 - 64 years · Mar 13, 2025 Excellent
I love the alternative tours that Walks offers, being in the Doge Palace without the crowds was fantastic, and experiencing St Mark's Basilica in the evening alone with the group and guide, watching the lights come on in the dark and having the freedom to walk all around was a life time experience. We could not have asked for more!
Verified · Elizabeth · Female · 25 - 34 years · Feb 26, 2025 Excellent
This was our third (Vatican key & London Tower) Walks Tour and it lived up to the expectations. We received a small group and personal experience with this tour. A walk through San Marco Square an hour before the tour will impress upon you how privileged you are going on this tour.
Verified · Carl · USA · Male · 55 - 64 years · Oct 30, 2024 Excellent
Our Guide Martina was welcoming, helpful and of course deeply knowledgable about the venues we visited in Venice. I have no hesitation in recommending the Tour or your company, which we have used in all our Italian trips. Excellent, thank you.
Verified · Keemar · United Kingdom · Male · 55 - 64 years · Oct 23, 2024 Excellent
Excellent tour with a very good guide. Would recommend.
Verified · Christine · United Kingdom · Female · 65 - 74 years · Oct 16, 2024FAQs
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.
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 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.
Are there any breaks on this tour?
During this tour there is a short break (15 to 30 minutes) in between visiting the Doge's Palace and entering St. Mark's Basilica.
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