Venice Highlights:Doge's Palace,St. Mark's Basilica,Walking Tour
- 4 hours
- Skip the line
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 2 languages
Highlights
Discover Venice on this unforgettable 4-hour walking tour of its iconic landmarks and hidden gems. Start at St. Mark’s Square, then explore Santa Maria Formosa, Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Marco Polo’s area, and Teatro Malibran. Walk the lively Mercerie to Rialto, Venice’s historic heart. Afterwards, enjoy skip-the-line access to St. Mark’s Basilica with its golden mosaics and the magnificent Doge’s Palace, former seat of Venetian power. This tour blends art, history, and storytelling, offering a rich introduction to Venice. Led by an expert guide, it’s a must for first-time visitors seeking the true soul of the city. You will love this tour for its perfect mix of must-see highlights, hidden corners, and unforgettable stories that bring Venice to life.
Inclusions
What's included
- Skip-the-line entry to Doge’s Palace
- Professional guide
- Headsets provided for groups of more than 10 participants to ensure you can clearly hear the guide.
- Skip-the-line entry to St. Mark’s Basilica
What's not
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Itinerary
The Heart of Venice - Begin your journey in the magnificent St. Mark's Square, the city's most famous landmark and the political, religious, and social center of Venice for centuries. Admire the elegant Procuratie, the soaring Bell Tower, the iconic Clock Tower, and the magnificent façade of St. Mark's Basilica while your guide reveals the fascinating stories behind this extraordinary square
Continue through the charming Venetian streets to Campo Santa Maria Formosa, one of the city's oldest and most picturesque squares. Discover the beautiful church designed by the famous Renaissance architect Mauro Codussi and learn about the legends and traditions that have shaped this peaceful corner of Venice.
Reach one of Venice's largest and most impressive squares, home to the magnificent Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, often called the "Pantheon of Venice" because many Venetian Doges are buried here. Admire the impressive monuments, the historic Scuola Grande di San Marco, and hear stories of Venice's powerful rulers and noble families.
Walk through narrow streets rich in history until you reach the area traditionally associated with Marco Polo's House, where the famous explorer is believed to have lived.
Nearby Marco Polo's house, admire the elegant Teatro Malibran, one of Venice's oldest opera houses, and discover its connection to the city's rich artistic and musical heritage.
Follow the lively Mercerie, Venice's historic shopping streets connecting St. Mark's Square with the Rialto district. Stroll among elegant boutiques, artisan shops, and hidden alleyways before arriving in the vibrant Rialto area, the commercial heart of Venice for over a thousand years, famous for its colorful atmosphere and fascinating history.
After the walking tour, skip the line and enter the spectacular St. Mark's Basilica, one of the world's most breathtaking churches. Admire its dazzling golden mosaics, precious marble floors, magnificent Byzantine architecture, and centuries of priceless treasures. Your guide will explain the history, symbolism, and artistic masterpieces that have made this extraordinary basilica the spiritual heart of Venice.
Complete your experience with a guided visit to the magnificent Doge's Palace, the former residence of the Doge and the seat of the Venetian Republic for nearly 1,000 years. Explore its lavish halls decorated with masterpieces by Tintoretto and Veronese, walk through the grand institutional chambers where Venice was governed, and cross the legendary Bridge of Sighs before visiting the historic prisons. Discover how one of the most powerful maritime republics in history ruled an empire that shaped the Mediterranean for centuries.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
3.8
- 56
- 42
- 33
- 21
- 11
Ratings come from 13 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
- Tickets must be collected from the meeting point at Campo San Zaccaria, at ‘The Tour Shop’ opposite the church on the square
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Tickets
- Tickets are redeemed at a different location from the meeting point.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 25 travellers
- Operated by
- Very Viva Venice Srl
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
- Because of security checks, you might experience a line to get inside the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. You will skip the line for non-reserved tickets, but the security check is mandatory.
- Maximum of 25 people on each tour
How it compares in Venice
- Its from-price is 25% below the median of the 210 city tours we list in Venice.
- It is longer than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 61 of 210.
- 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.
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