St. Mark's Basilica and Venice City Tour with Gondola Ride
Explore Venice's Main Highlights in a Small Group
Make your Venetian experience more memorable by joining our small group tour. You will skip the line to St. Mark's Basilica with your insightful guide who will make you laugh and have you in awe with the stories they will tell. Continue after the Basilica to find the many hidden gems that the city has to offer. Finally, your guide will leave you in the hands of a gondolier to check off the main bucket list item of riding in a Gondola! Admission Included.
Tour Details
- A Truly Memorable Experience
- St. Mark’s Square
- St. Mark’s Basilica
- Venetian “ Campos”
- Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
- Rialto Bridge & Grand Canal
- Rialto Neighborhood
- Hidden Gems in Venice
- Gondola Ride
- A Fun and Knowledgable Guide
Most people visit Venice for just a day or two, which makes it difficult to squeeze in all the best things to do and see. Experience the best of Venice in just a few hours, leaving you ample time to wander down romantic streets and enjoy yourself. This 2.5-hour tour includes:
A Memorable Experience
St. Mark's Square and St. Mark's Basilica
Rialto Bridge
A Fun, English-speaking Professional Guide
A gondola ride
St. Mark's Square in Venice
Begin your tour of Venice in St. Mark's Square, or Piazza San Marco. Home to the magnificent St. Mark’s Basilica, Bell Tower and Doge’s Palace, this is the biggest piazza (public square) in Venice. The first itinerary stop on your Venice small group walking tour, this is also the meeting point of the tour.
After meeting up with your fellow Venetian visitors and guide, it's time to head to St. Mark’s Basilica. As this is one of the most visited landmarks in Venice, long lines are expected in summer months. However, this Venice walking tour includes skip the line tickets.
St. Mark's Basilica
Once inside, it's clear why the basilica is nicknamed “the Church of Gold”. With over 45,000 square ft of gilded mosaics constructed over eight centuries, the interior of St. Mark's Basilica is unlike anything you've ever seen.
In part, the basilica is so richly outfitted because of the conquest of Constantinople. In 1204, after the Middle-East city fell, treasure was shipped back and installed in St. Mark's Basilica. Included in the haul were the four bronze horses and The Pala d’Oro (high altar retable of St. Mark's).
During November through March, St. Mark’s Basilica does not offer skip the line entry because lines are generally non-existent. St. Mark's is a sacred place, so both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Otherwise, you may be refused entry to a portion of your tour. We understand the summers in Venice are hot - 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
Just a few minutes away from St. Mark’s Square is the Rialto Bridge, as much a symbol of Venice as St. Mark's Basilica. Initially built from old boats, the unstable bridge was rebuilt in 1500. On one side of the bridge is the Rialto Market in the Rialto neighborhood, a place that’s been satisfying appetites for seven centuries.
Venice Gondola Ride
Now, it's time to enjoy the beauty of Venice from the water on a thirty-minute gondola ride. The privilege of working as a gondolier is not taken lightly. In fact, Venice only awards a limited number of licenses per year. In addition to being expert rowers, gondoliers are storytellers and Venice historians.
Your gondola ride ends a few minutes walk from St. Mark’s Square, where your tour began. From here, catch a water taxi back to your hotel or the train station. Or, if you aren't ready to call it a day, ask your guide where the best places to eat and drink in Venice are. We will happily point you in the direction of some delicious Venetian cuisine.
What you get with this tour

See what people are saying
49 total reviews
Leave a reviewSo beautiful
Amy Garrity
Our guide was amazing and Venice is so beautiful. If you are only staying a short time, this tour is perfect!
Glad I didn’t cancel!
Jason Nor
I was so close to cancelling last minute because of the rain but I took the chance and did the tour anyway! There were a total of 3 in the tour an I’m glad it was small. The tour lady was very informative that I would’ve miss all the little details and gems that Venice had to offer. The gondola ride was the highlight of the trip because that I was my first time on it. I highly recommended this tour if your in Venice for less than a day. Thank you for making my day!
Perfect
Sarah Kim
Tour guide was very knowledgeable. Learned a lot from her about Venice and it's sights. Made the day in Venice hassle-free and very pleasant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to meet?
Between the two big columns in St. Mark’s Square (columns of San Marco & San Teodoro) located on the south side of the square, near the canal. A representative will be there holding a sign with our company name on it. Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in.
What to bring?
Walking shoes and something to cover your knees and shoulders for St Mark's Basilica. Sunscreen in the summer.
I have doubts about my mobility. Is this the right tour for me?
If you have reduced mobility, we suggest taking a private Venice tour. The itinerary is much more flexible and easily modified.
What should I wear?
Since St. Mark's is a sacred place, both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Otherwise, you may be refused entry to a portion of your tour. We understand the summers in Venice are hot - a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way, you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary. Remember to wear comfortable shoes, you'll be walking plenty on this tour of Venice.
What should I bring?
A sense of curiosity, comfortable shoes, your phone or camera and a water bottle.
Does the tour always skip the line?
Skip the line access to St. Mark's is offered during busier months. During November through March, St. Mark's Basilica does not offer skip the line entry to tour groups. This is because the lines are generally non-existent.
What to bring?
Walking shoes and something to cover your knees and shoulders for St Mark's Basilica. Sunscreen in the summer.
Where to meet?
Between the two big columns in St. Mark’s Square (columns of San Marco & San Teodoro) located on the south side of the square, near the canal. A representative will be there holding a sign with our company name on it. Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in.