Private 4 hrs Venice Tour: St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace and Secret Venice
Overview
Enjoy skip-the-line access to two top Venice attractions — Doge's Palace and St Mark’s Basilica — on tours led by an expert local guide, and see the city’s highlights and hidden gems, too! Learn all about St Mark's Square and the Basilica, Doge's Palace and Hidden Venice from our expert guide.
Inclusions
- Professional English-speaking local guide
- Guaranteed to skip the long lines to Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica
- Headset to hear the guide clearly when there are more than 8 participants in the group
- Guaranteed to skip the lines
- Entry/Admission - Basilica di San Marco
- Entry/Admission - Scala dei Giganti di Palazzo Ducale
- Entry/Admission - Piazza San Marco
- Entry/Admission - Doge's Palace
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Piazza San Marco, 31024 Venice Italy
Your guide will give you a brief introduction to the history of Venice and of the Doge's Palace
Stop At: Doge's Palace, Piazza San Marco, 1, 30124 Venice Italy
Enjoy a 2-hour in-dept tour of the Doges Palace and visit the famous Prisons.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Scala dei Giganti di Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo Ducale Sestiere San Marco, 1, 30124 Venice Italy
While standing in the courtyard as your guide will introduce you to the Doges Palace architecture and history, see and learn about the Giant Staircase leading up to the Palace and used for formal entrances.
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Ponte dei Sospiri, Piazza San Marco, 1, 30100 Venice Italy
Walk over the famous Bridge of Sighs connecting the Doge's Palace to the Prisons and learn why it was given this name.
Stop At: Porta Della Carta, Between Basilica di San Marco and Palazzo Ducale, Venice Italy
Learn about the Main entrance of the Doges Palace, the paper door that links the Doges Palace to St Mark's Basilica.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Piazza San Marco, 31024 Venice Italy
Start the second part of the Venice day tours package which will focus on St. Mark’s Basilica and Venice city center narrow streets with a 2-hour walking tour including Skip-the-Line tickets to St. Mark's Basilica.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Basilica di San Marco, San Marco, 328, 30124 Venice Italy
We'll discuss the famous landmarks of St. Mark's square, you'll enjoy an in-depth tour of St. Mark's Basilica, to admire the astonishing interior covered in rich and lavish mosaics and you'll learn about the strong Byzantine influences on the city that helped Venice realize its own unique style of architecture.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Chiesa di San Zaccaria, Campo San Zaccaria Castello 4693, 30122 Venice Italy
During the tour you will also see the beautiful San Zacharia's church (exterior only), set in a quiet square, with its rich façade, a blend of gothic and renaissance style.
Stop At: Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Castello, Venice Italy
Admire from outside the Renaissance S. Maria Formosa church built on the site of a former 7th century church. The name "formosa" refers to an apperance of Holy Virgin in the form of a voluptuous woman.
Duration: 5 minutes
Pass By: Calle del Paradiso, Venice Italy
Cross Ponte del Paradiso bridge and enter a typical Hidden Venice alley "calle" to admire examples of Byzantine and Gothic architecture.
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Piazza San Marco, 31024 Venice Italy
Your guide will give you a brief introduction to the history of Venice and of the Doge's Palace
Stop At: Doge's Palace, Piazza San Marco, 1, 30124 Venice Italy
Enjoy a 2-hour in-dept tour of the Doges Palace and visit the famous Prisons.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Scala dei Giganti di Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo Ducale Sestiere San Marco, 1, 30124 Venice Italy
While standing in the courtyard as your guide will introduce you to the Doges Palace architecture and history, see and learn about the Giant Staircase leading up to the Palace and used for formal entrances.
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Ponte dei Sospiri, Piazza San Marco, 1, 30100 Venice Italy
Walk over the famous Bridge of Sighs connecting the Doge's Palace to the Prisons and learn why it was given this name.
Stop At: Porta Della Carta, Between Basilica di San Marco and Palazzo Ducale, Venice Italy
Learn about the Main entrance of the Doges Palace, the paper door that links the Doges Palace to St Mark's Basilica.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Piazza San Marco, 31024 Venice Italy
Start the second part of the Venice day tours package which will focus on St. Mark’s Basilica and Venice city center narrow streets with a 2-hour walking tour including Skip-the-Line tickets to St. Mark's Basilica.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Basilica di San Marco, San Marco, 328, 30124 Venice Italy
We'll discuss the famous landmarks of St. Mark's square, you'll enjoy an in-depth tour of St. Mark's Basilica, to admire the astonishing interior covered in rich and lavish mosaics and you'll learn about the strong Byzantine influences on the city that helped Venice realize its own unique style of architecture.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Chiesa di San Zaccaria, Campo San Zaccaria Castello 4693, 30122 Venice Italy
During the tour you will also see the beautiful San Zacharia's church (exterior only), set in a quiet square, with its rich façade, a blend of gothic and renaissance style.
Stop At: Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Castello, Venice Italy
Admire from outside the Renaissance S. Maria Formosa church built on the site of a former 7th century church. The name "formosa" refers to an apperance of Holy Virgin in the form of a voluptuous woman.
Duration: 5 minutes
Pass By: Calle del Paradiso, Venice Italy
Cross Ponte del Paradiso bridge and enter a typical Hidden Venice alley "calle" to admire examples of Byzantine and Gothic architecture.
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. 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
- Large bags and rucksacks are not allowed inside St Mark's Basilica
- Stroller accessible
- At certain times it may not be possible to enter any of the visited churches due to religious functions taking place. These closures are beyond our control so no refunds or discounts will be issued
- Near public transportation
- High season operational schedule (Apr - Oct): Skip the Line: St Mark’s Basilica tour starts at 11.10 am , Doges Palace tour at 2.30pm
- Most travelers can participate
- To ensure safety and well-being of our guests the itinerary of the tour has been amended to follow the Covid-19 guidelines. Visits to St Mark's Basilica may be subject to restrictions. Depending on the situation on the day of the tour the itinerary may be amended to offer you the best experience possible.
- Guaranteed skip-the-line entrance to St Mark's Basilica is compulsory from April to October due to high number of visitors. St Mark’s Basilica does not offer a fast entry service to anyone in other periods considered off peak season. No refund is due when skip-the-line reservation isn't required.
- Beginning Friday 6 August 2021 and until further notice, access to the Doge’s Palace and all related areas will be permitted only to those in possession of a Green COVID-19 Certification (Green Pass or equivalent certificate). Please remember to also bring your ID or passport to confirm your identity.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
ThomasL
October 2023
The guide for this private tour provide us with a wealth of information that brought what we saw in context. The tour guide made sure to tailor the experience.
The guide for this private tour provide us with a wealth of information that brought what we saw in context. The tour guide made sure to tailor the experience.Larry_S
July 2022
The tour itself was fine -but the viator confirmed time was not accurate. I called the actual Guide agency - fortunately- to confirm our time and was told that Viator had made an error. They could not provide a guide for us at the time we wanted and had been promised, but we could do it at a di...
The tour itself was fine -but the viator confirmed time was not accurate. I called the actual Guide agency - fortunately- to confirm our time and was told that Viator had made an error. They could not provide a guide for us at the time we wanted and had been promised, but we could do it at a different time with one guide for the first half and another for the second half. This change meant that we could not do the Murano glass tour offered by our hotel. So the guides were very good and the sights marvelous, but no thanks to Viator.ALFREDO_Z
July 2022
Very knowledgeable and passionate local guide. Provides a great introduction to Venice. Guide brings you to less well-known neighborhoods so you see a side of Venice not many people see.
Very knowledgeable and passionate local guide. Provides a great introduction to Venice. Guide brings you to less well-known neighborhoods so you see a side of Venice not many people see.LISA_F
July 2022
Great tour and tour guide. Lots of walking but manageable. Very informative. All the perfect highlights.
Great tour and tour guide. Lots of walking but manageable. Very informative. All the perfect highlights.Karen_C
July 2022
Excellent tour guide and content. Enjoyed the walking part round the city and the Basilica. Doges Palace add on was also excellent.
Excellent tour guide and content. Enjoyed the walking part round the city and the Basilica. Doges Palace add on was also excellent.Daniel_M
July 2022
We went to the departure site early but no tour guide showed. We texted tour guide but I answer. We called but phone message said that it was closed. Walked to tour office but not at address. I booked another tour for 11am. My partner was so frustrated that he refused. It was hot and we were alre...
We went to the departure site early but no tour guide showed. We texted tour guide but I answer. We called but phone message said that it was closed. Walked to tour office but not at address. I booked another tour for 11am. My partner was so frustrated that he refused. It was hot and we were already chested out of several hours of tour time. When the tour operator came she was from the same company. She said that there was no tour for 9am. I had booked another ancient city tour for a few hours after this but couldn’t make it since the 11 am tour from Viator went past that time. We wasted a lot of money and time as well as discomfort! The tour guide called her company and they told her that I will have to call Viator and get money refunded for all the tours since it was their fault for having wrong time. I’ll report back about outcome.