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) 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!
Book Now
Verified Customer reviews
Verified ratings
4.7 /5
based on 983 Walks’ customer ratingsOverall rating
4.7 /5
983 reviewsRating summary by category
Latest reviews
Excellent
Very good tour. I actually had a problem. I reserved several tour from this company for group of 5. One person got sick and she couldn't go. I called the support number in U.S. They immediately refund and they made the process nice and easy. The quality of tour is great. If I ever go back to Italy, I will reserved tour with this company again.
Verified · Zhiling · USA · Female · May 23, 2026 Excellent
Guilian (Mr G) was an excellent guide! He provided so much knowledge and insight about the city of Venice. We would highly recommend this tour!
GetYourGuide customer · Peggy · May 17, 2026 Great
Great experience walking tour, the sights were lovely and the guide was clear speaking and very informative. She did well to keep us out of the rain in certain spots but you can’t help the weather. When we reached the Gondola ride the sun came out which was perfect and the ride was just how we would have imagined.
When we arrived at the last venue we were told we had a 20 min break for toilet and a coffee, problem was some of the queues for the ladies toilets were at least 15 mins long which gave no time for coffee and a quick bite, I do feel that we should have been given longer maybe 30-45 mins on a busy day, I managed to queue for 2 bottles of water while my friend queued for the toilet, that was our break!
Overall we really enjoyed the tour despite the weather and the sites were beautiful, it was well organised and we learned a lot about Venice as a whole.
Viator customer · Sandra · May 17, 2026 Excellent
Matteo was incredible! He was personable, fun, and so knowledgeable about the city. He made us all feel comfortable right away and took the time to really get to know us, which made the experience even better.
Be prepared for lots of walking, but it’s absolutely worth it — you get to see and experience so much!
Viator customer · Tyler · May 17, 2026 Excellent
Alessandro, our guide, was great. Very energetic, passionate, informative, and helpful. The support team was great, also.
Viator customer · M · May 17, 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 family Source: Walks Customers' Post-Tour Net Promoter Score Survey
Verified rating
4.7 /5
based on 983 Walks’ customer ratingsTotal guest reviews
:
4559
guest reviews
Excellent 4066
Great 450
Good 25
Average 12
Poor 6
Latest reviews
Excellent
Guilian (Mr G) was an excellent guide! He provided so much knowledge and insight about the city of Venice. We would highly recommend this tour!
GetYourGuide customer · Peggy · May 17, 2026 Excellent
Shannon was the perfect tour guide! She was knowledgeable and gave us an extensive look at Venice in only 6 hours. Would recommend!
Tripadvisor customer · haleyv222 · May 17, 2026 Excellent
review was amazing!!! such a surreal experience would recommend to anyone and everyone who gets the chance!
Tripadvisor customer · hayley · May 17, 2026 Excellent
Had a fantastic group tour this morning! Our guide was excellent — knowledgeable, engaging, and made the experience both relaxing and enjoyable. We appreciated the flexibility throughout the tour and all the great information shared along the way. Highly recommend!
Tripadvisor customer · Eric016 · May 17, 2026 Excellent
Had Shannon has the tour guide. Very knowledge and friendly. Great tour
Tripadvisor customer · Escape23364082538 · May 17, 2026 Great
Great experience walking tour, the sights were lovely and the guide was clear speaking and very informative. She did well to keep us out of the rain in certain spots but you can’t help the weather. When we reached the Gondola ride the sun came out which was perfect and the ride was just how we would have imagined.
When we arrived at the last venue we were told we had a 20 min break for toilet and a coffee, problem was some of the queues for the ladies toilets were at least 15 mins long which gave no time for coffee and a quick bite, I do feel that we should have been given longer maybe 30-45 mins on a busy day, I managed to queue for 2 bottles of water while my friend queued for the toilet, that was our break!
Overall we really enjoyed the tour despite the weather and the sites were beautiful, it was well organised and we learned a lot about Venice as a whole.
Viator customer · Sandra · May 17, 2026 Excellent
Alessandro, our guide, was great. Very energetic, passionate, informative, and helpful. The support team was great, also.
Viator customer · M · May 17, 2026 Excellent
Matteo was an incredible guide…knowledgeable, fun, and made Venice come alive with history and local insight. He made the tour unforgettable, and I’d highly recommend him to anyone visiting Venice.
Viator customer · Scott · May 17, 2026 Excellent
This experience was very worth it, it gave us everything we needed to feel like we did Venice right. Fillippo was a wonderful tour guide.
Viator customer · Molly · May 17, 2026 Excellent
Matteo was incredible! He was personable, fun, and so knowledgeable about the city. He made us all feel comfortable right away and took the time to really get to know us, which made the experience even better.
Be prepared for lots of walking, but it’s absolutely worth it — you get to see and experience so much!
Viator customer · Tyler · May 17, 2026FAQs
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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