Venice in a Day with St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, & Gondola Ride
4712 reviews
6 hours
Max 20
Why take this tour?
Highlights
Acquaint yourself with the history of the city
Explore the backstreets of Venice and marvel at the landmarks nestled within
Enjoy a 30-minute gondola ride through the city's canals
Tour St. Mark's Basilica and familiarize yourself with the story behind it
Explore the Doge's Palace, the heart of political power in Venice
8:30am tour: Enjoy a relaxed 6-hour guided tour of Venice with a break for lunch (not included although your guide will share recommendations) with max 20 people
8:15am tour: If you're short on time, choose the 8:15am tour when booking to visit all of Venice's highlights in just 4 hours (without a lunch break) and with max 25 people
Sites Visited
St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)
Skip-the-Line Access to St. Mark's Basilica
Gondola ride
Doge’s Palace
New Prisons
Bridge of Sighs
Rialto Bridge
Rialto Fish Market
House of Marco Polo (exterior)
Tour Includes
Local English-speaking guide
Expertly guided walking tour
Skip the line ticket for St. Mark's Basilica (12€)
Pre-reserved ticket to the Doge's Palace (25€)
Gondola Ride
Headset
Take a day to explore Venice; by land & water!
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Verified Customer reviews
Verified ratings
4.7/5
based on 990 Walks’ customer ratings
Overall rating
4.7/5
990 reviews
Rating summary by category
Guide
4.8/5
Guest Support
4.7/5
Latest reviews
Excellent
What a great tour! Fun. Informative. Interesting. Filipino was great! He made this a wonderful experience.
Viator customer·Scott·Jun 07, 2026
Excellent
Sylvia was an amazing tour guide. I can’t imagine leaving Venice without this experience. We learned so much about the history of Venice, the culture, and the architecture. The gondola ride was on my Bucket List and was such a beautiful ride!
Viator customer·leigha·Jun 07, 2026
Excellent
Eleanor was an awesome tour guide, very knowledgeable and informative. Highly recommended specially if you’re in Venice for a short period of time
Viator customer·Rosalia·Jun 07, 2026
Excellent
This tour is a long thorough tour of Venetian history and a gondola ride. It was a fantastic tour with a very informative guide. The tour was 5.5 hours long with a one hour break and a 15 minute break. Be prepared to walk quite a biit (9000 steps or so). But worth it, especially if you are a history buff
Viator customer·Binoy·Jun 07, 2026
Excellent
That it is alot of walking. My back was hurting at end. But all was worth seeing. Guide excellent. Bad knees wont handle all the steps.
Viator customer·Melinda·Jun 07, 2026
Reviews from our guests
Venice in a Day with St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, & Gondola Ride
of Walks customers highly recommend this tour to friends or familySource: Walks Customers' Post-Tour Net Promoter Score Survey
Verified rating
4.7/5
based on 990 Walks’ customer ratings
Guide
4.8/5
Guest Support
4.7/5
Total guest reviews
:
4712
guest reviews
Excellent4212
Great457
Good25
Average12
Poor6
Latest reviews
Great
The tour was great until we visited St Marks and Doges Palace. It took just far too long to get through the tour, there was far too much information, so much that could never be retained. The entire tour should take 4 hrs max, not 6. It turned out to be draining. Sorry
Viator customer·Terry·Jun 07, 2026
Excellent
Our guide Roberta was great! She was fun and very knowledgeable
Tripadvisor customer·Kevin·Jun 07, 2026
Excellent
That it is alot of walking. My back was hurting at end. But all was worth seeing. Guide excellent. Bad knees wont handle all the steps.
Viator customer·Melinda·Jun 07, 2026
Excellent
What a great tour! Fun. Informative. Interesting. Filipino was great! He made this a wonderful experience.
Viator customer·Scott·Jun 07, 2026
Excellent
Eleanor was an awesome tour guide, very knowledgeable and informative. Highly recommended specially if you’re in Venice for a short period of time
Viator customer·Rosalia·Jun 07, 2026
Excellent
Sylvia was an amazing tour guide. I can’t imagine leaving Venice without this experience. We learned so much about the history of Venice, the culture, and the architecture. The gondola ride was on my Bucket List and was such a beautiful ride!
Viator customer·leigha·Jun 07, 2026
Excellent
This tour is a long thorough tour of Venetian history and a gondola ride. It was a fantastic tour with a very informative guide. The tour was 5.5 hours long with a one hour break and a 15 minute break. Be prepared to walk quite a biit (9000 steps or so). But worth it, especially if you are a history buff
Viator customer·Binoy·Jun 07, 2026
Excellent
We had a 8:30 am tour with Filipo who was amazing and made the tour experience exceptional. I would recommend booking the earlier times in the morning as Venice get really busy later in the day. We got to see and hear about many amazing sites and stories as we made our journey through the city. I would highly recommend the tour and if you get Filipo that is an extra bonus!
Tripadvisor customer·Andy·Jun 07, 2026
Excellent
It was well organised and insightful experience. Giovanni was funny, pleasant and managed to engaged the whole group. There was a nice balance of walking, time for a quick/comfort break and longer lunch break, with clear instructions what we are doing next and what time.
Tripadvisor customer·Emilia·Jun 07, 2026
Excellent
Filippo was Great. Very knowledgeable and informative. He also has a great sense of humor.
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.
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.
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.
Can I get a refund if, due to inclement weather, I choose not to participate in the walking tour on the day of?
If the client chooses not to attend the walking tour due to adverse weather, no refund will be issued. However, the client may still participate in the second part of the tour if they notify us in advance.
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.
Is lunch included on this tour?
No. But your guide is always happy to offer you plenty of recommendations for great places to eat in the vicinity that will suit any price point.
Can I take a gondola ride if I use a wheelchair?
No. Unfortunately, gondolas are not wheelchair accessbile.
Can I bring a stroller into the Doge's Palace?
No. The Doge's palace is full of staircases and narrow corridors. Strollers are not allowed inside.
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.
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'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.
Will the gondola ride take place in inclement weather?
Safety is our top priority. Unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather (heavy rain, strong wind, high tide) many prevent the gondola ride from taking place. If the gondola ride cannot occur due to any operational or safety reasons such as these beyond our control, no refund will be provided.
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.
Does my guide accompany me on the gondola ride?
No. During your gondola ride you will be alone with maximum 5 other people and your Venetian gondoliere. This experience is much better as quiet time. Just sit back, relax and soak up the beauty of the city's canals.
What if the weather is bad (rain, snow, hail, etc.) on the day of my tour?
Our tours run rain or shine so please dress for the elements. We also ask you to please remember hats and sunscreen if you are taking this tour in the summer as it might be very hot.
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