Private Legendary Venice St Mark's Basilica and Doge Palace Tour
- 3 hours
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
- Private tour
Highlights
On this private tour, let Venice’s history reveal itself through its most iconic landmarks. With skip-the-line access, explore the Doge’s Palace, where the city’s rulers once governed a powerful maritime empire. Wander through grand halls adorned with masterpieces by Tintoretto, and cross the Bridge of Sighs to reach the palace’s eerie prison cells. Continue to St. Mark’s Basilica with 99,000 square feet of golden mosaics. Hear the remarkable story of how St. Mark’s relics were smuggled into Venice and admire the Pala d’Oro, a gem-studded masterpiece of medieval craftsmanship. Led by an expert private guide, this tour offers a deeper, more personal connection to Venice’s past.
Inclusions
What's included
- Local English-speaking guide
- Bell Tower in St. Mark's Square (exterior)
- New Prisons
- Marciana Library (exterior)
- Exclusive access to the balcony of St. Mark's Basilica
- Pre-reserved ticket to the Doge's Palace
- Skip-the-line ticket for St. Mark's Basilica (St. Mark's Basilica + Museum 24€)
- Bridge of Sighs
- St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)
What's not
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
- Gratuities
Itinerary
Your private tour starts with a brief introduction from your guide about Venice and its maritime past. In this lively square, your guide will set the scene for what you are about to see on your tour.
Enter the Doge’s Palace with pre-reserved access and explore the opulent halls where the doge and his council ruled the Venetian Republic. Discover stunning artworks by Tintoretto and Veronese and learn how this grand building once served as the center of government and justice.
Cross the Bridge of Sighs from within and hear the story behind its name. Step into the palace’s prison cells, where Casanova once awaited his fate.
Skip the long lines and step into Venice’s most famous church. Gaze up at its golden mosaics, hear the story of how St. Mark’s relics were smuggled into the city, and admire the glittering Pala d’Oro, one of the world’s most beautiful altarpieces. You'll also enjoy the rare opportunity to step onto the basilica's balcony for a privileged view of St. Mark's Square.
Cancellation
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Reviews
5.0
- 533
- 40
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- 10
Ratings come from 33 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a yellow WalksDevour sign. This tour meets at Correr Museum in Piazza San Marco 52. Your guide will be waiting under the portico just outside the entrance of the museum.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Walks - Italy & Spain
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- Due to the religious nature of St. Mark's Basilica, all individuals regardless of gender must cover their shoulders and knees. You can bring extra covering (scarves, etc) to put on just before entering St. Mark's. Walks cannot be held responsible for those denied entry.
- Sites visited during this tour are subject to occasional closures due to holy observances, high tides, and/or flooding. If a site closes, your guide will tour the exterior of the site. If time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour. If the local municipality restricts access due to high tide and there are no walkways available, it is the client’s responsibility to bring appropriate footwear (e.g., boots). For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.
- All guests must supply their full name that matches a valid ID at the time of the booking. Should you fail to provide these, your reservation will be canceled. Name changes are not permitted.
- Please note that a photo ID is required to visit the St. Marks Basilica. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument.
- St. Mark’s Basilica can be subject to closures due to particular liturgical celebrations, especially during major religious holidays such as Easter or Christmas. In the event that the Basilica is closed, explanations will be provided from the outside.
How it compares in Venice
- Its from-price is 93% above the median of the 1991 experiences we list in Venice.
- It is longer than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 325 of 1991.
About Venice
Venice floats on a lagoon of more than a hundred islands, a city of canals, palaces and bridges with no cars, where every walk ends somewhere unexpected.
The Grand Canal sweeps through the city in a great reversed S, lined with palaces and crossed by the Rialto Bridge. Near its mouth, Piazza San Marco gathers St Mark's Basilica with its golden mosaics, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the tall brick campanile. Water buses and gondolas show the city from the angle it was built to be seen.
Top-ranked sights in Venice: St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco), St. Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), Grand Canal.
Special offers in Venice
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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