St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Half-Day Tour with Gondola Ride

Experience Venice’s top 3 must-dos, back-to-back, with skip-the-line tickets and an expert guide

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· 3.50h · Venice, Italy

St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Half-Day Tour with Gondola Ride

A group of tourists inside St. Mark's Basilica with a guide from The Tour Guy.

A woman taking a picture of the golden archways inside St. Mark's Basilica.

A group of tourists in line to enter the Doge's Palace in Venice with their guide from The Tour Guy.

A woman taking a picture of the Golden Staircase inside the Doge's Palace.

A group of tourists inside the Doge's Palace with a guide from The Tour Guy.

A group of tourists looking at a prison cell in the Doge's Palace dungeons and listening to a guide from The Tour Guy.

A picture of the Bridge of Sighs with a gondola passing under.

A group of friends on a gondola in Venice.

See Venice’s most famous landmarks in one unforgettable morning or afternoon! Skip the lines at St. Mark’s Basilica, a 1,000-year-old masterpiece filled with gold mosaics, and wander through the Doge’s Palace, where centuries of Venetian rulers once made their decisions. Then, relax on a small-group gondola ride along the Grand Canal. With an expert local guide leading the way, this is the ultimate, stress-free way to experience the best of Venice in just a few hours.

What you get with this tour

Expert, English-speaking guide
Skip-the-line tickets for St. Mark’s Basilica
Skip-the-line tickets for Doge’s Palace
30-minute gondola ride
Guide tips

Tour Itinerary

1

Meet your guide at St. Mark's Square
Your journey begins in St. Mark’s Square, with the basilica and Doge’s Palace towering around you. Tune in as your guide shares fascinating stories and reveals the sights that await.
2

St. Mark Basilica
Thanks to skip-the-line tickets, you’ll quickly find yourself gazing up at the grand domes of St. Mark’s Basilica. From the golden mosaics that shimmer overhead to the relics brought home by crusaders, every inch of this masterpiece tells a chapter of Venice’s past.
3

Doge's Palace
Steps away from the basilica, the Doge’s Palace is all about power and politics. Skip the lines and follow your guide through lavish chambers where Venice’s leaders ruled with unmatched ambition.
4

Grand Ballroom
No visit to the Doge’s Palace is complete without stepping into the Chamber of the Great Council. With your guide, you’ll uncover the meaning behind Veronese and Tintoretto’s paintings and how this room witnessed the Republic’s most pivotal decisions.
5

Golden Staircase
Your journey through the Doge’s Palace continues with the dazzling Golden Staircase (Scala d’Oro). Covered in gold and marble, it was designed to impress kings and ambassadors as they ascended to the Doge’s private halls.
6

Bridge of Sighs
Leaving the grandeur behind, you’ll cross the bridge that once carried prisoners to their fate. Legend says their sighs echoed through the passage as they caught their final glimpse of Venice, giving this bridge its haunting name.
7

Prison Cells and Dungeon
At the other end of that fateful bridge lies the palace’s grim underbelly—a maze of cells that once held Venice’s condemned. Hear the incredible story of Casanova’s escape and brace yourself for more spine-tingling tales of life behind these iron bars.
8

Gondola ride
After exploring Venice by land, you’ll take to the water for a 30-minute gondola ride along the Grand Canal. With only a few fellow travelers aboard, it’s a perfect, peaceful finale.
9

End Near St. Mark’s Square
Returning to St. Mark’s Square by gondola, you’ll find yourself right where the adventure started. Turns out, a day of skipping lines, secret stories, and canal views is the ultimate way to meet Venice properly!

Additional Information

Good to know:

Dress Code: St. Mark’s Basilica is a sacred space, so both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Guests who don’t meet the dress code may be refused entry and miss part of the tour.
Weather Advisory: Due to high water or other weather-related conditions, the gondola or boat portion of the tour may occasionally be canceled.
Bag Policy: Large backpacks or bags aren’t always allowed inside the attractions, so pack light when possible.
ID Requirement: Please bring a valid photo ID—it’s required for entry into St. Mark’s Basilica.
Accessibility: Unfortunately, this tour is not wheelchair accessible.
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can enter sites on time.

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 (max 5 people shared experience)
Maximum group size of 20
A local, English-speaking guide

What to bring

Comfortable walking shoes
Water bottle
Covering for knees and shoulders
Camera

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Customer reviews

695 total reviews

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5.0/5 (based on 695 reviews)

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1 stars

03 November 2025

Reviewed by
Susan De Faber

31 October 2025

Reviewed by
Billy Walley

Great day!

30 October 2025

Reviewed by
William Clark

Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and did a great job explaining everything we were seeing. The pace was easy going and the sights were breathtaking. Highly, highly recommend this tour!

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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?

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.

Do I have a private gondola just for myself?

Not exactly—but it’s still special! Each gondola seats up to 5 people and is shared only with others from your tour group, never with random strangers. It’s a fun and comfortable way to enjoy the canals together