Venice in a Day Tour with Gondola Ride

Venice in a Day City Tour Description

Your 6-hour tour includes:

• Skip-the-line entry and guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica

• Visit to Rialto Bridge and Market

• Walking tour of Venice's quieter areas

• Venetian gondola ride

• Skip-the-line entry and guided tour of Doge's Palace

• An English-speaking tour guide

This Venice in a day tour is a combination of two popular tours. After enjoying lunch on your own, meet up with your group again to keep exploring the city with the same (or a new) guide. Booking a combo tour saves you money since you see more attractions at a lower price!

St. Mark's Square and Basilica Tour

Kick off your Venice in a Day Combo Tour in one of the most famous piazzas in all of Italy: St. Mark's Square (or Piazza San Marco). Before you head inside, enjoy the view of magnificent St. Mark's Basilica, also known as the "Church of Gold." Learn all about the importance of the basilica, when it was built, and the impressive list of historical events that have happened here.

If you're here during the busy summer months, you'll appreciate saving some waiting time and skipping the line with your guide. If you're here from November through March, St. Mark's Basilica does not offer skip-the-line entry to any tour groups since there's rarely a line to skip!

St. Mark's is a sacred place, which means both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Otherwise, you may be refused entry during this portion of your tour. We understand the summers in Venice are 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.

Rialto Bridge and Neighborhood

After visiting St. Mark's Basilica, follow your local guide through the back streets along Venice's canals towards your next tour stop, the iconic Rialto Bridge. Learn about the stories behind the gorgeous and historic bridge before crossing over to one of the best neighborhoods in Venice, the Rialto District.

Take a stroll through the attractive streets and see Rialto Market, a place that’s been satisfying appetites for seven centuries. Remember to ask your guide where the best bacari (wine bars) and restaurants are so you can return later!

Hidden Gems of Venice

While visiting Venice's most popular attractions is important, so is getting away from the crowds and experiencing Venice off the beaten path. Instead of taking well-trodden routes, your local guide knows how to navigate the smaller back streets for an experience most tourists don't get.

Tucked away in these streets are secret places you’d never think to look for or would simply pass by without noticing. This is the authentic side of Venice.

Venice Gondola Ride

It may be touristy, but one thing simply you must do in the magical city of Venice is take a gondola ride. So of course, we included one on this tour! Here your guide will leave you with a trusted gondolier for a 30-minute, scenic cruise down Venice's Grand Canal and other hidden canals.

The privilege of working as a gondolier is not taken lightly. In fact, Venice only awards a limited number of licenses per year, and they'll make sure you glide safely through some beautiful canals for those forever photos.

Break for Lunch

After your gondola ride, your guide will lead you back to St. Mark's Square and mention several great spots for you to enjoy lunch on your own. Enjoy a freshly made panini, a slice of local pizza, or try some typical Venetian cicchetti (small plates of food) with a glass of delicious wine. Lunch isn't included as part of the tour, so this time is free for you to choose your favorite food!

After you've eaten, head back to your original meeting point so your guide can prepare you to see one of Venice’s most sought-after experiences: Doge’s Palace.

Doge's Palace Tour

Perhaps the most fascinating attraction in Venice, the stunning Gothic building known as the Doge's Palace was where the Venetian Empire's rulers once controlled the city until 1797, often using brutal methods. With your expert guide, you'll skip the line to explore this incredible Venetian palace over the next couple of hours. Alongside beautiful features such as the Golden Staircase and the paintings of Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese, you’ll explore its darker side as you visit the torture chamber, prison cells, and the haunting Bridge of Sighs.

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.