Venice in a Day Tour with Gondola Ride
Visit St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, Rialto Bridge, and the hidden areas of Venice
If you’re in Venice for a short stay and want to hit the essentials without spending your morning in ticket lines, book this tour. You'll enter St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace with timed entry for a fascinating guided tour, walk along hidden canals, see the Rialto Bridge, then unwind on a 30-minute shared gondola ride. With time for lunch built in, it’s a clean, complete plan.
What You Get With This Tour
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Experience the Venice you imagined
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Expert, English-speaking guide
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Tickets and tour of St. Mark’s Basilica
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Tickets and tour of Doge’s Palace
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Venice walking tour
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30-minute shared gondola ride
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Guide tips
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Lunch
Tour Itinerary
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1
Meet your guide at St. Mark's Square
Your day begins between the two columns on the lagoon side of St. Mark’s Square. As your guide sets the scene, you’ll learn how this city rose from muddy islands into a maritime empire, and what lies ahead for your full Venetian experience. -
2
Enter St. Mark’s Basilica
Use your pre-reserved tickets to skip the ticket line and step into Venice’s landmark church. Study the gold mosaics and domes while your guide explains relic legends and the city’s rise through trade. -
3
Walk Venice’s backstreets and see the Rialto Bridge
Follow your guide through Venice’s narrow calli, quiet bridges, and tucked-away courtyards that most visitors walk right past. Along the way, pause to see the Rialto Bridge. -
4
Sightsee on a 30-minute shared gondola ride
Swap cobblestones for water as you board a shared gondola with others from your group. Drift through slender side canals, then float into the Grand Canal for the postcard views you came to Venice for. -
5
Free Time for Lunch
After your gondola ride, take a break for lunch of your choosing. Your guide will point out nearby favorites for pizza, panini, or traditional cicchetti. Lunch isn’t included, but you'll have 60 to 90 minutes to eat before meeting back up with the group. -
6
Explore Doge’s Palace and cross the Bridge of Sighs
Back in tour mode, it’s time to skip the ticket lines and head inside Venice’s former seat of power. Climb the Golden Staircase, walk through frescoed council halls, and cross the Bridge of Sighs into the old prisons. -
7
Your tour ends inside Doge’s Palace
The tour finishes inside the Doge’s Palace, but you’re welcome to stay and wander a bit longer. Before you go, ask your guide for a favorite nearby spot to enjoy a drink or bite to eat—you’ve earned it after seeing Venice at its very best!
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 into 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.
Itinerary order: The order of stops may change due to timed entry schedules, crowds, or operational reasons, but you will still visit the same key sights listed.
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: Some activities on this tour 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.
Bag policy: Large backpacks or bags aren’t always allowed inside the attractions, so pack light when possible.
Check-in: Please arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can enter sites on time.
Your 6-hour tour includes:
Expert English-speaking guide
Timed entry and guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica
Timed entry and guided tour of Doge’s Palace
Walking tour of Rialto Bridge and Venice’s quieter areas
30-minute shared gondola ride (up to 5 people per boat, with others from your tour group)
Free time for lunch (meal not included)
Maximum group size of 25
What to bring:
Government-issued ID
Covering for knees and shoulders
Comfortable walking shoes
Water bottle
Camera
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Customer Reviews
Robbie did a great job today showing us Venice! She is very passionate about the area and loved to teach us about her home.
Silvia was our guide, she was very informative and keep us moving to so we had time to see all she had planned. She first took us to the Cathedral, where she gave us a great tour of it with plenty of history. After that we went walking towards the Realto Bridge and along the way telling us about the area. We then went for the Gondola ride, 5 people per gondola so it will not be private. It was good, taking on to the main canal and back. The we had a time for quick lunch on our own. And after lunch a tour of the Doge Palace Overall a really good tour and time
We booked this tour last minute, and I'm so glad we did as we learned so much about Venice than we would have just roaming around. Marco was very funny and informative- he managed to keep our two teenagers engaged the whole time.
Frequently Asked Questions
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
Do I need to follow a dress code?
Yes. Knees and shoulders must be covered to enter St. Mark’s Basilica, and entry may be refused if you do not meet the dress code.
Does the tour always skip the line?
Yes, this tour skips the long ticket line. However, you will still need to pass through security.
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.
Is this tour family friendly?
Yes, families are welcome.
Do I need to bring an ID?
Yes. Bring a valid government-issued ID for entrance to St. Mark’s Basilica. The name on your ticket must match the name on your ID.
Can the itinerary order change?
Yes. The order of stops may change due to timed entry schedules, crowds, weather, or operational reasons, but you will still visit the same key sights listed.
