Delve deep into Venice’s history with a 3-hour guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge's Palace, either as a private tour or shared group experience. Take in two of the city’s most important landmarks while discovering the history of the one-time mercantile capital of the Mediterranean.  Start by exploring St. Mark's Square with your guide before heading into the cathedral. From the first-floor terrace you’ll be able to admire views across the lagoon and see the famous bronze horses up close. Hear how they traveled all the way to Paris and back in Napoleon’s time. St. Mark's Basilica sometimes closes to visitors without warning. If this happens, visit the Church of San Zaccaria or the Correr Museum instead, depending on availability. Take a tour of the beautifully ornate 15th-century church and its flooded crypt or learn about the art and history of Venice. Next, you’ll use the priority entrance to reach Doge's Palace, formerly the residence of the leader of the Republic of Venice. Enjoy visiting the Chamber of the Great Council and courtrooms among other things. Highlights include frescoes by Tintoretto and the Giants’ Staircase.  After this, cross the infamous Bridge of Sighs that links to the New Prisons. Learn how the bridge got its name and the purpose for its construction in the 17th century as you take in the amazing views of the canals. At the end of your tour, feel free to stay and explore the Doge’s Palace with tips from your guide.

Experience the best of Venice on a small group guided tour that visits two of the city's most iconic landmarks, the Basilica of St. Mark and the Doge's Palace. Skip the long queues with pre-reserved tickets included and enjoy the splendor of these Venetian treasures at your own pace. Start your tour at St. Mark's Square. Admire the Clock Tower and Marble Lions before entering the Basilica with your guide. Marvel at the golden mosaics and opulent design, and learn how it is a symbol of Venetian power and wealth. Next, explore the Doge's Palace, a Gothic masterpiece that was once the seat of the Venetian government. Learn about the life of the ruling Venetian Doges and the 14th-century sculptors who worked on the palace.  Enjoy stunning views across the lagoon as you stroll through this world-famous landmark. Learn about the extraordinary story of Casanova and the significance of the Bridge of Sighs, as well as the Old and New Prisons. Once your tour concludes, continue your exploration of Venetian history and culture with your included entry to the Correr Museum, National Archeological Museum, and Biblioteca Marciana.

Save time during your visit to Venice with a skip-the-line ticket to the popular St. Mark’s Basilica. Admire the hundreds of golden mosaics in the Basilica and learn details about the byzantine art inside with your audio guide. Download your audio guide to your mobile device and head to St. Mark’s Basilica to begin your tour. Breeze past the long lines and put in your headphones. Explore the five-domes and an array of artworks. Hear legends and stories surrounding this church which has stood for almost a 1,000 years.  Witness the dazzling effect of the 43,000 square feet of mosaics in the church. Take in the stunning marble inlay work on the floors. Soak up the atmosphere in the building that dominates St. Mark’s Square. 

Set off on a guided walking tour of St. Mark’s Square, the Doge's Palace, and St Mark's Basilica with skip-the-line entry. Meet your guide at St. Mark’s Square and head for Doge's Palace, the extraordinary palace that served as the seat of Venetian political power for centuries. Enter the splendid rooms, with hundreds of painted masterpieces. Explore where the Duke and his Council controlled the fate of a 1,000-year republic and admire the details of the medieval gold staircase. See the famous Bridge of Sighs. Enter the notorious Venetian prison that held Giacomo Casanova. Visit St Mark’s Basilica and enjoy a guided tour of this Byzantine masterpiece, with its beautiful gold mosaics and marble floor inlays. See the treasure and the terrace of the Basilica of St.Mark's

See the highlights of St Mark's Basilica with a local guide, including its museum, mosaics, and masterpieces. Marvel at the views of St Mark's Square from the basilica. Meet your guide near the famous Piazza San Marco and head straight to visit St Mark’s Basilica. As soon as you enter the atrium, admire the ceiling and see a glittering expanse of golden mosaics that will lead you to the interior of the church.  Discover masterpieces from the past such as the famous golden domes, the iconostasis, the ciborium, the main altar housing the tomb of St. Mark the Evangelist, and other wonders. Then, climb a steep but fascinating staircase to the 1st floor which houses the Museum of St Mark. Here, see the wonderful inside of St Mark's Basilica from above.  Next, reach the St Mark’s Basilica terrace where, in the shadow of the famous 4 bronze horse statue (a copy), experience one of the most beautiful views of St Mark’s Square. Finally, visit the original horse statue that once stood on the upper part of the church facade.  At the end of the tour you can stay longer in St Mark’s Basilica Museum to explore at your leisure – the entrance ticket is included in the tour. Alternatively, admire the splendid panorama of the Piazza from the Basilica’s terrace once more or return to the ground floor to explore at your own pace.

Journey through the centuries with a tour of the iconic St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. Marvel at the intricate mosaics and architecture that make this church one of the most stunning religious sites in the world. Follow your guide as they walk through the history of this sacred place, from its origins as a simple chapel to its current grandeur. Learn about the basilica's role in the political and religious life of Venice and discover the stories behind its many treasures. Explore the first floor's intricate details and exquisite beauty, which boasts a unique blend of Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. You can choose to end your tour here. Or, you can choose to include the famous outdoor terraces. If you select this option, climb the steps and experience St. Mark's Basilica from a new perspective. Step outside and take in the stunning views of Venice from the basilica's elevated vantage point. See the famous horses and explore the details and hidden corners of the outdoor terraces. Admire the intricate stonework and sculptures up close as you take in the sights and sounds of the city below. Bask in the sunshine and fresh air as your tour ends.

See the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, two of the most iconic sites in Venice, on a guided tour. For centuries, the destiny of the Most Serene Republic was decided in the majestic halls of the Doge’s Palace. Walk through the magnificent halls and marvel at the well-conserved priceless treasures, art masterpieces, and frescos. Visit the prison, passing over the celebrated Bridge of Sighs, so called because prisoners often sighed while looking at their beloved lagoon and freedom for the last time before reaching their cells. Among the famous guests of the Doge’s Palace prisons was Giacomo Casanova, the celebrated seducer and adventurer who managed to escape from the prison in 1756. Next, head to St. Mark’s Basilica, one of the world’s most stunning churches. As the name suggests, this cathedral is bound tightly to Venice’s patron, St. Mark, and the saint's remains are in fact here. Admire the breathtaking golden mosaics covering the high walls, and see the Pala d’Oro, an altarpiece made from hundreds of pieces of enamel on a golden leaf.

Combine the top two sights in Venice on one extraordinary tour led by a local guide. With pre-reserved tickets and skip-the-line access, head straight into St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace for a guided experience. Select the 8 AM tour to enjoy exclusive early entry to the Doge's Palace and have the door opened exclusively for your group an hour before the general public arrives. First, step inside Venice's most important church—St. Mark's Basilica—and gain a full appreciation for its east-meets-west architecture and breathtaking gold mosaics. In the company of a local guide, get up close with some of the basilica’s greatest treasures, such as the millennia-old Quadriga of four gold horses. Have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to admire beautiful views from the balcony over St. Mark's Square. At every step of the way, you’ll hear the fascinating story of how most of the basilica's prized possessions ended up here by less-than-honest means. The second stop on your itinerary is no less beautiful. The Palazzo Ducale, or Doge's Palace, was home to the doge, or duke, of Venice and his seat of government. Skip the long line with pre-reserved tickets and walk straight inside to explore huge council chambers, incredible audience rooms, and a stunning ballroom with larger-than-life works by renowned Venetian masters such as Veronese and Tintoretto. Hear the intriguing history of this building that housed the world's oldest republic—as well as its fascinating government and even an incarcerated Casanova. To finish your morning of discovery, walk in the footsteps of many a less-fortunate Venetian from centuries past. Head over the Bridge of Sighs from the inside and into the grim New Prisons—a stark yet fascinating contrast to the opulent halls and galleries that lie within the palace just across the narrow canal.

Home to the magnificent St Mark’s Basilica, Bell Tower and Doge’s Palace, St. Mark's is the largest square in Venice. Discover the highlights of Venice's main sights, with a traditional gondola ride. After meeting your guide, skip the line and enter the awe-inspiring St Mark's Basilica. The church dominates the square with its incredible facade and domed roof. However, the interior is even more stunning. Learn about its fascinating history with your guide. Then, visit the majestic Doges Palace which was once home to Venice's justice system, prison as well its Duke. Bypassing the queues your guide will walk you through the monuments imposing hallways and take you on a journey through time, discovering the ins and outs of the Venetian empire. Following your visit to the Doges palace, the guide will accompany you to our trusted gondolier a couple of blocks away. For the next half an hour, sit back, relax, and see Venice from a whole new vantage point.

Your guide will meet you at St. Mark’s Square for this special after-hours visit to St. Mark’s Basilica. With thrilling anecdotes and swashbuckling stories, your guide will tell you about the history of Venice and St. Mark’s. Hear how the Basilica received its precious relics via a 9th-century kidnapping. Passersby will wonder where you are going as a custodian unlocks the Basilica’s doors for you to enter. Inside, take a deep breath as you experience St. Mark’s Basilica as almost no one else has ever been able to, aside from the doge himself. There is no standing elbow-to-elbow with other tourists and no crowd noise. Instead, you are alone with your guide and the custodian. In tranquility and peace, experience the Basilica. You can even go where the others cannot during the day. See the crypt where the bones of St. Mark are said to be kept. Plus, you can see the walls stained by the past floods that devastated Venice. The crypt used to be flooded every time high tide hit the city. The evening is also the best time to visit because it is the time of day that the mosaics are at their most beautiful. All 43,000 square feet are illuminated, glimmering and sparkling in the dark. Your guide is passionate about Venetian art and history. Hear the tale of how St. Mark’s became St. Mark’s, a story that pivots on a kidnapping and a dangerous sea voyage. Learn where the precious marbles decorating St. Mark’s come from in one 1-hour tour.