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!
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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
EeExcellent
GetYourGuide customer · Evalo · South Africa · Oct 19, 2025 Excellent
Great tour, hitting all the Venice highlights. There was a lot of great info given in the cathedral and palace, and the gondola ride was an epic experience.
Tripadvisor customer · Laura · Oct 18, 2025 Excellent
A great experience! Our guide, Denise, was a native Venetian with local knowledge that just can't be beat. We started near the Rialto Bridge and toured the extensive open-air Rialto market, then walked through a large part of the city (and over many bridges) before the gondola ride, which was really fun. Then we broke for lunch, and afterwards went inside St. Mark's church, which is not to be missed. A ton of walking -- my phone said we did over 12,00 steps -- a ton of information, and we really did see an amazing amount of unique sights in a single day.
Tripadvisor customer · Steve · Oct 18, 2025 Excellent
This was a long tour, but it was fun and engaging for every moment! Our tour guide was hilarious and we laughed the whole way through. Well also learning really cool facts about Venice, culture, History and more.
We only had two days in Venice and I was so glad that we spent one of them doing this tour, worth every penny, the gondola ride was a favorite :)
Tripadvisor customer · Jessica · Oct 17, 2025 Great
Truly recommend this tour to go around town and know the history behind Venice. Great tour if you have limited time visiting and want to explore the town with a guide. Also the gondola is shared, five people at the same time, this was the only thing I did not like. I had to go in another gondola to be with my husband only.
Tripadvisor customer · Nahyr · Oct 15, 2025
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 953 Walks’ customer ratingsTotal guest reviews
:
2632
guest reviews
Excellent 2275
Great 314
Good 25
Average 12
Poor 6
Latest reviews
Excellent
EeExcellent
GetYourGuide customer · Evalo · South Africa · Oct 19, 2025 Excellent
Great tour, hitting all the Venice highlights. There was a lot of great info given in the cathedral and palace, and the gondola ride was an epic experience.
Tripadvisor customer · Laura · Oct 18, 2025 Excellent
A great experience! Our guide, Denise, was a native Venetian with local knowledge that just can't be beat. We started near the Rialto Bridge and toured the extensive open-air Rialto market, then walked through a large part of the city (and over many bridges) before the gondola ride, which was really fun. Then we broke for lunch, and afterwards went inside St. Mark's church, which is not to be missed. A ton of walking -- my phone said we did over 12,00 steps -- a ton of information, and we really did see an amazing amount of unique sights in a single day.
Tripadvisor customer · Steve · Oct 18, 2025 Excellent
This was a long tour, but it was fun and engaging for every moment! Our tour guide was hilarious and we laughed the whole way through. Well also learning really cool facts about Venice, culture, History and more.
We only had two days in Venice and I was so glad that we spent one of them doing this tour, worth every penny, the gondola ride was a favorite :)
Tripadvisor customer · Jessica · Oct 17, 2025 Great
Truly recommend this tour to go around town and know the history behind Venice. Great tour if you have limited time visiting and want to explore the town with a guide. Also the gondola is shared, five people at the same time, this was the only thing I did not like. I had to go in another gondola to be with my husband only.
Tripadvisor customer · Nahyr · Oct 15, 2025 Excellent
Paula was our guide and she was excellent! Definitely knows her history! The entire tour and the places we visited were so very impressive.
Viator customer · Catherine · Oct 13, 2025 Excellent
Our guide, Martina, was knowledgeable and excited to share that knowledge with our group. We got to see all the main attractions in Venice, and the gondola ride was a highlight! We learned so many interesting things about Venice!
Viator customer · Nancy · Oct 12, 2025 Excellent
Shannon was easy going and provided an excellent tour. Communication was excellent from the start to the finish explaining everything we were going to do along with the history and culture of Venice.
Tripadvisor customer · Wattana · Oct 12, 2025 Excellent
Outstanding tour! Our guide Shannon was terrific! We were able to hit all of the top places we wanted to visit and enjoy a gondola ride as well. So much easier to have pre-bought, front-of-the line tickets and the gondolas ready to go as soon as we arrived. Shannon was awesome - just a wealth of knowledge across all subjects (history of Venice, the culture, the art we saw, what life would have been like 1,000 years ago as well as today, etc.) and she shared all of this info in a very engaging way with insightful stories, along with the facts. Overall, a great day spent visiting a beautiful city. Would definitely recommend.
Tripadvisor customer · Jeff · Oct 12, 2025 Excellent
This was an amazing tour! Very informative and you saw the touristy musts but also the hidden gems of the city. Keep in mind there is a good amount of walking and stairs.
Viator customer · Katelyn · Oct 12, 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.
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 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.
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