Venice in a Day Tour with Gondola Ride
Visit St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, Rialto Bridge, and the hidden areas of Venice
Venice's narrow streets, winding canals, and countless attractions means it's easy to lose your way in this floating city. Our Venice In A Day tour takes away the guesswork with skip-the-line access to St. Mark's Basilica and Doge’s Palace, ensuring you maximize your time. Discover hidden gems and charming back streets with a passionate local guide who reveals the secrets of Venice. Finish your day with a relaxing gondola ride, capturing the true essence of Venice.
- Meet your guide at St. Mark's Square
- St. Mark's Basilica
- Rialto Bridge
- Rialto Market
- Gondola ride
- Lunch break
- Doge's Palace
- Golden Staircase
- Bridge of Sighs
- End inside Doge's Palace
You'll meet your local guide on the south side of St. Mark's Square, near the canal, between the San Marco and San Teodoro columns. Once you and your small group are there, your guide will share the incredible history of Venice and the piazza you're currently standing in. You'll get skip-the-line access to the two most important and famous buildings in Venice: St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace. And our local guide will take you to some intriguing hidden gems in Venice, along with a tour of Rialto Bridge and Market. And of course, you'll also enjoy a serene gondola ride that's a must-do activity in Venice. Each gondola seats up to 5 guests and is shared exclusively with fellow travelers from your group—offering a more intimate and comfortable way to enjoy Venice’s canals without the crowds.
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
30-minute gondola ride (max 5 people shared experience)
Lunch break
Skip-the-line entry and guided tour of Doge's Palace
An English-speaking tour guide
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.
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.
Each gondola holds up to 5 guests and will be shared only with others from your tour group—never with random travelers. This allows you to soak in the beauty of Venice from the water in a more intimate, relaxed setting, all while keeping the experience affordable and authentic.
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.
Being an island and subject to problems related to high water, the gondola or boat tour cannot be guaranteed due to force majeure.
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.
What you get with this tour
See what people are saying
356 total reviews
Leave a reviewThomas E Szklarz
Wonderful experience thankyou
Anne Crouch
We thoroughly enjoyed our Venice Day Tour. Marco was a charming tour guide who gave us many interesting facts about the history of Venice and Italy. His experience and local knowledge was so much appreciated as were the many fun facts which popped up along the way. Thankyou so much for a wonderful day in Venice.
EILEEN RYAN
Venice in a day led by Elian in the morning was great. She is very knowledgeable and really helped us understand the structure of Venice. She wove history into present day life. The gondola ride was a perfect ending to the morning. Paula in the afternoon led us through the Doge Palace pointing out so much. She definitely has an indepth knowledge of art and history. She was very caring and responsive to questions.
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 and St. Mark's. It's best to leave them at your hotel if possible.
What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?
If you have any doubts about your mobility, we suggest checking out one of our private Venice tours so your needs can be better accommodated
What should I wear?
Since St. Mark's is a sacred place, we ask both men and women to cover knees and shoulders, otherwise you might be refused entry and 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. Please also wear comfortable shoes since this is a walking tour.
Does the tour always skip the line?
Yes, we buy Skip-the-Line tickets year round for St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace.
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.
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 and St. Mark's. It's best to leave them at your hotel if possible.
If I am coming in on a cruise can I book this tour?
We do not provide private transfers from port for this tour. For that, I would recommend www.blacklane.com/en
Does this tour include an entry ticket to St. Mark's Basilica?
This product includes an entry ticket to St. Mark's Basilica, for which our cost is 12 euros per person.
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