See St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace on a 3-hour guided tour of Venice. Learn the history of the Venetian Republic at its 2 landmark monuments. Discover masterpieces of art, and walk the corridors of the Venetian doges.
About this activity
- Free cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
- COVID-19 precautions
- Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
- Mobile ticketing
- Use your phone or print your voucher
- Duration 2.5 hours
- Starting times 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM
- Skip the ticket line
- Instant confirmation
- Live tour guide
- English
What customers loved
Experience
Highlights
- Learn about the doges of the Venetian Empire in the Doge's Palace
- Walk across the Bridge of Sighs from the inside
- See more than 4,000 square meters of stunning mosaics
- Admire frescoes by Veronese and Tintoretto
- Learn about some of the famous prisoners of the Doge's Palace
- Hear how Venice grew from a tiny island to become one of the great powers of the Mediterranean
- Marvel at the Byzantine façade of St. Mark's Basilica
- Enjoy special access to the 1st floor terrace of St. Mark's for panoramic views of the lagoon
Full description
COVID-19 Update
Due to health and safety regulations, this itinerary may change. See Know before you go for the latest updates.
Immerse yourself in the history of Venice on a 3-hour small group tour of the once-great maritime empire. Explore two of the floating city’s most important buildings: St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge's Palace.
Meet your guide in St. Mark’s Square, taking a moment to appreciate the space before entering St. Mark’s Basilica. Get an in-depth look at how Venice built a mercantile empire that once spanned the entire Mediterranean. Marvel at mosaics and other treasures as your guide explains how the city begged, borrowed and stole to grow from a tiny island to one of the great powers of the Middle Ages. Enjoy special access to the 1st floor terrace, where you can see the famous horses stolen from Constantinople during the 4th Crusade.
Next, skip the lines to the Doge’s Palace, and explore the political heart of the Venetian Empire for hundreds of years. Admire the opulent apartments and Hall of the Great Council where matters of state were decided under stunning frescoes by Veronese and Tintoretto. Continue to the armory and prisons and learn how grim life was for anyone unlucky enough to be taken prisoner. Discover the secret behind the mysterious black veil that interrupts the official series of Doge’s portraits.
End by walking across the Bridge of Sighs, and learn why this romantic icon has a darker history than you could ever imagine.
Includes
- Entrance to St. Mark's Basilica
- Skip-the-line entrance to the Doge's Palace
- Special access to the terraces in St. Mark's Basilica
- Headsets (when needed)
- Local guide
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
Not suitable for
- Wheelchair users
COVID-19 precautions
Safety measures in place
- All required protective equipment is provided
- All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
- The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
Select participants and date
Participants
Date
Prepare for the activity
Meeting point
Meet your guide just outside the entrance of the Correr Museum on Piazza San Marco, 30124. On St. Mark's square at the opposite side of the Basilica you will find the Correr Museum entrance underneath the portico.
Open in Google Maps ⟶Important information
Not allowed
- Backpacks
Know before you go
- Tours will not enter the Basilica until further notice. Tours will visit the Terrace and the Museum instead.
- Please note, this tour cannot accommodate those in wheelchairs as the terrace of St. Mark's Basilica and the prisons and armory of the Doge's Palace are not wheelchair-accessible
- St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace can be subject to unforeseen closures due to liturgical celebrations. In the event the venue is closed, you will be given explanations from the outside
- Please remember that the Basilica is a holy place and attire must be appropriate: both men and women are asked to wear clothing that covers at least the shoulders and knees
- Backpacks are prohibited inside St. Mark's Basilica
