St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Half-Day Tour with Gondola Ride
Explore St. Mark's Square's most iconic attractions with skip-the-line tickets and an expert guide
Only have a few hours to spend on a guided tour in Venice? Then we have you covered. You’ll get skip-the-line entry at both St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace to maximize your time while you learn about the incredible centuries-old histories of these remarkable monuments. Then finish off with a must-do gondola ride in the Grand Canal. Your day in Venice can’t get much more perfect!
- Meet your guide at St. Mark's Square
- St. Mark Basilica
- Doge's Palace
- Grand Ballroom
- Golden Staircase
- Prison cells and dungeon
- Bridge of Sighs
- Gondola ride
- End near Piazza San Marco
You’ll meet up with your local guide and the rest of your group in the famous St. Mark’s Square near the two columns by the canal. Skip the long lines at St. Mark’s so you can get right inside to learn about this magnificent golden church. Then explore the Doge’s Palace where you’ll see the golden staircase, prisons, and Bridge of Sighs. Finally, your guide will escort you to your gondola ride that might just become your favorite activity of the day!
St. Mark’s, Doge’s Palace, and Gondola Tour Description
Your 3.5-hour tour includes:
Skip-the-line entry and guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica
Skip-the-line entry and guided tour of Doge’s Palace
30-minute gondola ride
Maximum group size of 20
A local, English-speaking guide
St. Mark’s Basilica
You’ll begin your tour of Venice in St. Mark's Square, or Piazza San Marco, which is perhaps one of the most famous public squares in the world. Then follow your guide past the crowds for your skip-the-line entry into St. Mark’s Basilica to see why it’s nicknamed the “Church of Gold”. With over 45,000 square feet of gilded mosaics constructed over eight centuries, the interior of St. Mark's Basilica is unlike anything you've ever seen.
Please note that St. Mark's is a sacred place, so we ask both men and women to cover knees and shoulders, otherwise you might be refused entry and you’ll miss out on a portion of your tour. We understand the summers in Venice can be hot, so a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.
Doge’s Palace and Bridge of Sighs
The Gothic building right next to St. Mark’s Basilica is the infamous Doge’s Palace that has a storied past of tyranny, torture, and an iron fist of rulers. From the 15th to 18th centuries, the Doges of Venice lived and ruled from this palace that includes paintings from Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese.
The interior of the Doge's Palace is grand to say the least. Inside you’ll find marble fireplaces, friezes and stucco adorning the walls. Some works of art stand out over the rest, including iconic pieces by Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese, and your guide will explain the stories and interpretations behind the art. You'll also pass through the awe-inspiring Great Council Chamber, which is one of the largest rooms in Europe and the place where the most important decisions were discussed.
One of the palace's most impressive features is the Golden Staircase, considered the most valuable staircase ever built. It connects the first floor of the palace to the third, where the Doge's offices were located. Your guide will show you the grand offices from which Venice was ruled for centuries, including the rooms that housed the powerful Council of Ten—the city's governing body.
Linking the palace to the prison cells, you'll cross the infamous Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri). Prisoners walked across this enclosed bridge before spending years or even the remainder of their lives behind bars. If that wasn’t enough to sigh about, look out from the small windows carved into the bridge that once offered convicts their last glimpse of beautiful Venice. That's plenty to sigh about.
Traditional Gondola Ride
You might think it’s a super touristy thing to do—and it is—but taking a gondola ride through the Venetian canals really is a fun activity. That’s why it’s included on this tour to make sure your time in Venice is filled with the best opportunities. Enjoy lazily gliding through the canal while your gondolier poses for photos!
Being an island and subject to problems related to high water, the gondola or boat tour cannot be guaranteed due to force majeure.
What you get with this tour
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See what people are saying
383 total reviews
Leave a reviewLinda Shimon
A lot of information given
Nigel Bostock
Were shown round the sights by guide who knew a lot of information, probably too much commentary for most people. The gondola trip was good (once we were taken to the correct departure point). Surprised that guide does not carry some spare scarfs for those women who have not read the need to cover up for the Basilica).
Unfortunate gondola ride
charles kalsted
We had the best guide, Clare. So knowledgeable with perfect communication skills and ability to guide a group. The best. Unfortunately the gondolier spend the entire time shouting to two other gondoliers about who knows what? Ok if it's a taxi in New York, but we were hoping for romance. At least for acknowledgement that we were in the boat
Frequently Asked Questions
What to bring?
We recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes, a camera, and a water bottle. Large bags and backpacks are not allowed and will have to be checked before entering the Doge's Palace. It's best to leave them at your hotel if possible.
What to bring?
We recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes, a camera, and a water bottle. Large bags and backpacks are not allowed and will have to be checked before entering the Doge's Palace. It's best to leave them at your hotel if possible.
What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?
This is a walking tour that includes several sets of stairs, and you will be on your feet for most of the 3.5 hours.
Does this tour skip the line?
Yes, this we provide Skip-the-Line tickets all year round!
What if it rains?
Our tours run rain or shine! If the weather is particularly bad the gondola may not run due to safety concerns, in which case a partial refund will be provided.
Is lunch included in the price of the tour?
No, lunch is not included in the price of your tour, but your guide will have lots of recommendations for tasty places to eat.
How long is the gondola ride?
The gondola ride is about 30 minutes long and the gondolier will decide which canals to float through.