Express St. Mark's Basilica and Gondola Tour
Save time and skip the stress with skip-the-line tickets and a guided ride through storied canals
Long basilica lines and confusing gondola stands can eat up half your Venice day. This express tour solves both with reserved St. Mark's access and a real gondola ride included in the price. Your guide brings the golden mosaics and domed ceilings to life with stories about stolen saints and Venetian power, then you glide under stone bridges and past shuttered buildings where locals actually live. It's Venice's two biggest experiences delivered in 90 punchy minutes.
What You Get With This Tour
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Expert English-speaking guide
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Skip-the-line basilica entry
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St. Mark's Basilica guided tour
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Traditional gondola ride
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Audio headsets
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Guide tips
Tour Itinerary
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1
Meet your guide at Piazza San Marco
Your tour begins in Piazza San Marco, Venice's grand central square framed by arcades and cafés. Look for your guide near the basilica entrance, ready to share the first stories about this thousand-year-old church and the republic that built it. -
2
St. Mark's Basilica
Step inside with reserved access and look up at walls covered in golden Byzantine mosaics. Your guide explains the basilica's origins as a shrine for the stolen saint's bones, its five domes inspired by Constantinople, and the marble floors that ripple like frozen waves. You'll learn why this cathedral became the spiritual and political heart of the Venetian Republic. -
3
Traditional gondola ride
Board a sleek gondola and glide away from the crowds into quieter waterways. Float beneath arched stone bridges, past shuttered palazzos with faded frescoes, and through canals where laundry hangs between buildings. Your gondolier navigates turns with practiced ease while your guide points out architectural details visible only from the water. -
4
Your tour finishes near Piazza San Marco
The gondola returns you close to where the tour began, leaving you with a fresh perspective on Venice from both land and water. Ask your guide for recommendations on where to find cicchetti or a quieter campo before they say goodbye.
Additional Information
Good to know:
Dress Code: Knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women to enter St. Mark's Basilica; entry may be refused otherwise. Please avoid wearing sandals, hats, shorts, skirts, or tops that expose your shoulders.
ID Requirement: A valid government-issued ID is required for entrance to St. Mark's Basilica. The name on your ticket (entered at check-out) must match the name on your ID, or you will be refused entry.
Accessibility: This tour involves extensive walking, standing, and climbing stairs. It is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible and not suitable for guests with mobility issues.
Weather Advisory: St. Mark's Basilica may be closed unexpectedly and without much notice due to adverse weather events, maintenance, or safety reasons. If this occurs, you will be notified as soon as possible.
Access Fee: The Municipality of Venice has introduced an Access Fee that applies on specific dates. To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend checking the official guidelines and completing the necessary registration before your visit.
Please Note: The itinerary for this tour may differ from the advertised order of destinations. Any changes made are carefully planned and intended to enhance your overall experience.
Bag Policy: Large backpacks or bags aren't allowed inside the attractions, please leave them at your accommodation.
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can enter sites on time.
Your 1.5-hour tour includes:
Expert English-speaking tour guide
Reserved access to St. Mark's Basilica
Guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica
Traditional gondola ride
Audio headsets
Maximum group size of 20
What to bring:
Government-issued ID
Comfortable walking shoes
Camera
Water bottle
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Frequently Asked Questions
What to bring?
Please bring a government issued ID to check in for the tour. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes as this tour involves walking. You can also consider wearing a rain coat as Venetian weather can be unpredictable.
What to bring?
Please bring a government issued ID to check in for the tour. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes as this tour involves walking. You can also consider wearing a rain coat as Venetian weather can be unpredictable.
Is there a dress code?
Yes, please note that a dress code is required to enter. St. Mark's Basilica. No shorts or sleeveless tops are allowed. Knees and shoulders must be covered for both men and women. You may be refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements.
Is this tour mobility accessible?
Unfortunately, this tour is not mobility accessible as it includes an ancient monument with narrow passage ways, stairs, and cobblestone.
Will the tour always start at St. Mark's Basilica?
No, please note it is possible this tour may run in reverse. Whether your tour begins with St. Mark's Basilica or a gondola ride, this tour is designed to offer a complete and memorable introduction to Venice's history, culture, and atmosphere.
Is the Doge's Palace included on this tour?
No, the Doge's Palace is not included on the tour. Consider our St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Half-Day Tour with Gondola Ride.
