Venice in a Day with St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, & Gondola Ride
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)
- 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)
- 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!
Book Now
Verified Customer reviews
Verified ratings
4.7 /5
based on 953 Walks’ customer ratingsOverall rating
4.7 /5
953 reviewsRating summary by category
Latest reviews
Excellent
Carla did a great job as our guide and she gave us a wealth of information! The itinerary was planned nicely to spend time outdoors and on the gondola first before going indoors when the temperature soared after noon! This was a great tour to catch the top sights in Venice in a day including an awesome gondola ride for 30 minutes with a brief stint in the grand canal.
GetYourGuide customer · Aravind · United States · Aug 16, 2025 Great
Sylvie led our tour and was simply fantastic. She walked at a reasonable rate and shared historical information that was relevant and memorable. We loved all the learning and the gondola ride was a huge bonus. We used a microphone and transmitter system to hear her as we moved through the city tour.
Consider booking this tour on every other day of the week, BUT Sunday. We couldn’t enter the Basílica sanctuary because of holy mass on the Sunday that we visited. Bring water to stay hydrated. There is also two short breaks and a third longer (half hour) break that allows you to purchase coffee, snacks and/or lunch.
Tripadvisor customer · Kerri · Aug 16, 2025 Excellent
This tour was great. Mose was the name of our tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and funny. This tour lasted about six hours. We took a gondola ride and it was great. We went up and down a few of the canals plus we were on the Grand Canal. It was Tuesday so we were able to go in St.Mark’s Basilica. It was beautiful inside. Worth going inside. We went in Doges’s Palace. This place was amazing several rooms. We had some free time before we went in the Basilica. I would recommend this tour to everyone. If you are visiting Venice do this tour.
Tripadvisor customer · Corinne · Aug 12, 2025 Excellent
Marco was fantastic. We had a great day. We had the 8:30 booking, which included the inside of the Basilica and Doge’s Palace.
Tripadvisor customer · Tara · Aug 11, 2025 Excellent
You really do get to see all the major sites in Venice in a six hour period: Doge Palace, St Marks, a gondola ride and a thorough view of Venice in general. Ioli (sp?) did a terrific job, taking her time and answering all the questions professionally. She was also sensitive to my wife’s movement issues and adjusted sensitively so that she could enjoy the tour experience fully. An A+ for Ioli the tour guide and the tour itself.
Tripadvisor customer · Brian · Aug 03, 2025FAQs
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'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 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.
Can I take a gondola ride if I use a wheelchair?
No. Unfortunately, gondolas are not wheelchair accessbile.
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, 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
You Can Also Experience These Similar Tours
Legendary Venice: St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace Tour
Explore the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica and traverse the Bridge of Sighs as you become immersed in the story of the rise and fall of the Venetian Empire.
4469
3 h
20 max
Welcome to Venice: Walking Tour, St. Mark's & Gondola Ride
Take to the streets and canals of Venice in this walking (and floating!) tour that combines some of the city’s top sites with a few of her hidden gems.
1231
3 h
18 max
VIP Venice Boat Tour With Grand Canal
Explore the winding canals of Venice in a private motorboat, taking in iconic landmarks like St. Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge, the Bridge of Sighs, and more with a small group.
456
1.25 h
8 max
