Saint Mark's Basilica Guided Tour with Gondola Ride in Venice
- 1h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Explore Venice’s rich heritage with a skip-the-line guided tour of Saint Mark’s Basilica, famous for its breathtaking golden mosaics and Byzantine art. Your expert guide will reveal the history behind the biblical scenes, marble inlays, and unique architecture. After the tour, enjoy a peaceful 30-minute gondola ride through Venice’s hidden canals and onto the Grand Canal. Admire landmarks like the Rialto Bridge, Mozart’s home, and the elegant palaces lining the waterways. This combo offers the perfect mix of art, history, and classic Venetian charm.
Inclusions
What's included
- 30 minutes shared Gondola Ride
- Official certified guide
- Tickets and Reservations to Saint Mark's Bascilica
- Radio system to hear the guide
What's not
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transportation to/from attractions
- Entrance tickets to the attractions are not mentioned in the inclusions
- Gondola ride is not guided
Itinerary
Begin your journey with skip-the-line access to Saint Mark’s Basilica, Venice’s most iconic cathedral. As you step inside the “Golden Church,” your expert guide will introduce you to its breathtaking Byzantine mosaics, covering over 8,000 square meters. These stunning artworks, unique in Italy, bring to life scenes from the Old Testament with vibrant color and intricate detail. As you walk through the atrium and along the intricately inlaid marble floors, the guide will explain the basilica’s deep religious and historical significance. Learn about the architectural evolution, hidden symbols, and centuries of devotion that shaped this sacred space. The tour concludes at the St. Mark’s Museum, where you are welcome to stay and explore more at your own pace, making it a relaxed and enriching experience.
After your basilica visit, unwind with a tranquil 30-minute gondola ride through Venice’s enchanting canals. Your journey begins on quiet waterways, passing charming sights like Mozart’s home along Rio dei Barcaroli and the scenic Rio dell’Ovo. Soon, you’ll glide onto the majestic Grand Canal, where you’ll see the iconic Rialto Bridge to your right—a marvel of Renaissance engineering. On the left, admire historic buildings such as Ca' Farsetti and Palazzo Grimani, each steeped in Venetian history. Continue through Rio San Luca, passing under the Ponte del Teatro and Ponte di San Paternian, and catch a glimpse of Palazzo Manin, once home to the last Doge of Venice. The ride ends back at your starting point—a peaceful, picture-perfect way to see Venice from the water.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Please meet your guide in front of the wooden souvenir kiosk, just behind the Correr Museum in Piazza San Marco, next to the entrance to the post office.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 25 travellers
- Operated by
- Star Florence
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Photography is not allowed only inside the Cathedral.
- Please wear clothes that cover your shoulders and are knee-length to access St Mark’s Basilica, otherwise you might not be allowed in.
- For security reasons sacks, bags or knapsacks are not allowed inside the Basilica.
- The storage service is free of charge but please allow sufficient time to do so.
- The tour does not operate in case of exceptional high tide or in case of religious functions (in these cases it can be rearranged or refunded).
- Subject to favourable weather conditions. If cancelled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund.
How it compares in Venice
- Its from-price is 23% below the median of the 210 city tours we list in Venice.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
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.
5% offFree cancellation
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