Venice St. Mark's Basilica Optional & Doge's Palace Guided Tour
- 2h 30m
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 6 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Maximize time in Venice on this guided tour featuring skip-the-line access to St. Mark's Basilica (If option with Basilica it's selected) and Doge's Palace. Begin at St. Mark's Basilica, one of Venice's most iconic landmarks, and admire its dazzling golden mosaics, rich history, and remarkable Byzantine architecture with an expert guide. Continue to Doge's Palace, the former seat of the Venetian Republic, where you'll explore magnificent halls, historic chambers, and impressive artworks while uncovering centuries of Venetian power and intrigue. Complete your experience with a visit to a traditional Murano glass workshop, where master artisans demonstrate the centuries-old craft that has made Murano glass famous worldwide. A perfect Venice highlights tour for first-time visitors.
Inclusions
What's included
- Pre-reserved tickets for St. Mark's basilica, euros 12(If option with Basilica it's selected)
- Tickets for the Correr Museum
- Headset to hear the guide (groups more than 9 people)
- Small group tour for a more personalized experience
- Pre-reserved tickets for Doge's Palace (euros 35)
- Expert Certified Guide
What's not
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Access to Pala d'Oro and Terrace
Itinerary
Meet your expert guide in famous St. Mark’s Square and start getting to know "the Floating City" and its origins. Explore the most renowned public space in the city and, learn about its historical, social, and political importance. Learn about the Clock Tower and the Marble Lions that both play an important role in St Mark’s history.
St. Mark's Basilica, located in the enchanting city of Venice, Italy, captivates visitors from afar with its breathtaking exterior. The basilica's façade, adorned with intricate marble carvings, elegant arches, and majestic bronze doors, stands as a testament to the city's architectural brilliance and historical significance.
The Doge's Palace, located in St. Mark's Square, is an iconic monument of Venice and the former home of the Doge, the ruler of the Republic of Venice. This Gothic palace, with Renaissance and Baroque elements, offers a fascinating look into the city's history. Visitors can explore rooms decorated with masterpieces by artists such as Tintoretto and Veronese and the famous Bridge of Sighs that connects to the former prisons. It is a must-see stop to understand the rich history and culture of Venice.
We will pass by the Bridge of Sighs whose name came from the lamentations of the prisoners before being condemned to death, that is linked with the Doge Palace.
We will conclude our experience with a visit to one of the oldest glass factories in Murano, La Vecchia Murano, where you will discover the centuries-old tradition that has made this island famous around the world. During the visit, you will enjoy a fascinating live demonstration by master glassmakers, showcasing the traditional techniques used to blow and shape authentic Murano glass, a craft passed down through generations. After the demonstration, you will have time to explore the factory’s elegant showrooms, featuring unique glass artworks, sculptures, chandeliers, decorative pieces, and exquisite handcrafted jewelry. This is an excellent opportunity to admire the wide variety of colors, styles, and techniques that make Murano glass so distinctive. For those interested, there will be an opportunity to purchase authentic Murano glass creations, internationally recognized for their exceptional quality, beauty, and craftsmanship.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.0
- 532
- 48
- 34
- 25
- 16
Ratings come from 55 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
- Meet your host and your guide under the blue Clock Tower at the corner of St. Mark's Basilica, next to Bar Americano. The host will be holding a blue flag.
- 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
- Journey Tours
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The visit inside St. Mark’s Basilica lasts about 15–20 minutes, according to local regulations.
- The tour runs even in light rain. Please note that during certain time of the year, high tide may occur. In that case, raised walkways are set up to allow access and disposable shoe covers can be purchased in front of the entrance.
- We kindly ask you to arrive on time, as late arrivals can’t be accommodated or refunded.
- Please dress appropriately for a place of worship: shoulders and knees should be covered.
- Please make sure to provide a valid e-mail address and phone number including your country code, so we can send you confirmations and updates.
- Basilica tickets are priced at €12 per person. Doge's Palace tickets are priced at €35 per adult. All additional charges are considered administrative costs.
How it compares in Venice
- Its from-price is 65% below the median of the 1991 experiences we list in Venice.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 228 of 1991.
- 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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