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Venice Walking tours

Our most recommended Venice Walking tours

Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica with Terrace Access Tour

1. Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica with Terrace Access Tour

Delve deep into Venice’s history with a 3-hour guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge's Palace, either as a private tour or shared group experience. Take in two of the city’s most important landmarks while discovering the history of the one-time mercantile capital of the Mediterranean.  Start by exploring St. Mark's Square with your guide before heading into the cathedral. From the first-floor terrace you’ll be able to admire views across the lagoon and see the famous bronze horses up close. Hear how they traveled all the way to Paris and back in Napoleon’s time. St. Mark's Basilica sometimes closes to visitors without warning. If this happens, visit the Church of San Zaccaria or the Correr Museum instead, depending on availability. Take a tour of the beautifully ornate 15th-century church and its flooded crypt or learn about the art and history of Venice. Next, you’ll use the priority entrance to reach Doge's Palace, formerly the residence of the leader of the Republic of Venice. Enjoy visiting the Chamber of the Great Council and courtrooms among other things. Highlights include frescoes by Tintoretto and the Giants’ Staircase.  After this, cross the infamous Bridge of Sighs that links to the New Prisons. Learn how the bridge got its name and the purpose for its construction in the 17th century as you take in the amazing views of the canals. At the end of your tour, feel free to stay and explore the Doge’s Palace with tips from your guide.

Venice: Highlights Tour, St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace

2. Venice: Highlights Tour, St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace

Discover two of Venice's top highlights on a small group guided tour including tickets. Visit the Basilica of St. Mark and the Doge’s Palace and soak up the splendor of these Venitian landmarks. Entry to the Correr Museum, National Archeological Museum, and Biblioteca Marciana is also included. Meet your expert guide at St. Mark’s Square and start delving into the origins of Venice. See the most renowned public space in the city and find out its historical, social, and political importance. Learn about the Clock Tower and the Marble Lions. Continue to the Basilica of St. Mark and enter the cathedral with pre-reserved tickets. Savor its amazing sheer size and the fascinating golden mosaics. Learn about its opulent design and its status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power. Bask in all the exotic elements of Venetian Renaissance Art. Listen to the story of the life-size horses of St Mark’s Basilica, and have all your questions answered. Follow your guide through Doge’s Palace at a relaxed pace. Acquaint yourself with the supreme authority and wealth of the ruling Venetian Doges in the palace’s Gothic architecture. Learn about the 14th-century sculptors that worked on the palace. Enjoy stunning views across the Lagoon as you explore this world-famous landmark. Continue to the Old Prison that was part of the Doge’s Palace, learn why the New Prisons were built, and understand the significance of the Bridge of Sighs, another highlight of Venice. Listen to the extraordinary story of the famous Casanova and his life in Venice. Your admission ticket also includes entry to the Correr Museum on St. Mark's Square. The building was originally designed as a residence for Napoleon, and later became the Venetian residence of the King of Italy. Entry to the National Archeological Museum and Biblioteca Marciana is also included.

Venice: St. Mark's Basilica Guided Visit & Terrace Access

3. Venice: St. Mark's Basilica Guided Visit & Terrace Access

See the highlights of St Mark's Basilica with a local guide, including its museum, mosaics, and masterpieces. Marvel at the views of St Mark's Square from the basilica. Meet your guide near the famous Piazza San Marco and head straight to visit St Mark’s Basilica. As soon as you enter the atrium, admire the ceiling and see a glittering expanse of golden mosaics that will lead you to the interior of the church.  Discover masterpieces from the past such as the famous golden domes, the iconostasis, the ciborium, the main altar housing the tomb of St. Mark the Evangelist, and other wonders. Then, climb a steep but fascinating staircase to the 1st floor which houses the Museum of St Mark. Here, see the wonderful inside of St Mark's Basilica from above.  Next, reach the St Mark’s Basilica terrace where, in the shadow of the famous 4 bronze horse statue (a copy), experience one of the most beautiful views of St Mark’s Square. Finally, visit the original horse statue that once stood on the upper part of the church facade.  At the end of the tour you can stay longer in St Mark’s Basilica Museum to explore at your leisure – the entrance ticket is included in the tour. Alternatively, admire the splendid panorama of the Piazza from the Basilica’s terrace once more or return to the ground floor to explore at your own pace.

Venice: Jewish Ghetto 2-Hour Walking Tour

4. Venice: Jewish Ghetto 2-Hour Walking Tour

See a side of Venice that is missed by most visitors on this walking tour of the Jewish Ghetto around the Cannaregio district.  Join a small-group tour on a leisurely stroll to see such landmarks as the Deportation Memorial, which has stories to deepen your understanding of Venice’s Jewish history. Start your Jewish Ghetto tour at the Cannaregio district, now a fascinating residential area in the northern part of the city. Learn about the historic Jewish influence the minute you enter this area as you see yellow signs in Hebrew and Italian directing you to the Synagogue.  This charming area is teeming with artisan workshops, galleries, shops, and delis and is best explored at a leisurely pace. Cross the bridge into Campo del Ghetto Nuovo (New Ghetto Square) which belies its name as it was founded as a fortified island in 1516. Hear how the Venetian Jews were confined to the island and how it became densely populated.  The resourceful residents found the solution to the overcrowded conditions; building tenement blocks up to six stories high. Walk past the Deportation Memorial, the Levantine Synagogue, and the Jewish Museum of Venice on this captivating Jewish Ghetto Venice Tour.  One of the most significant highlights of your Jewish Ghetto Venice tour is a series of bas-reliefs in the Campo del Ghetto Nuovo – a sight most visitors to Venice never get to see. Discover how Napoleon's decision to tear down the gates of the Jewish Ghetto gave Jews the right to live anywhere in Venice. Visit a hub of Jewish culture, with bakeries, restaurants, and handicraft stores, and your local guide will bring the hidden niche of cultural life with tales of past residents.

Venice: Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica Tour

5. Venice: Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica Tour

See the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, two of the most iconic sites in Venice, on a guided tour. For centuries, the destiny of the Most Serene Republic was decided in the majestic halls of the Doge’s Palace. Walk through the magnificent halls and marvel at the well-conserved priceless treasures, art masterpieces, and frescos. Visit the prison, passing over the celebrated Bridge of Sighs, so called because prisoners often sighed while looking at their beloved lagoon and freedom for the last time before reaching their cells. Among the famous guests of the Doge’s Palace prisons was Giacomo Casanova, the celebrated seducer and adventurer who managed to escape from the prison in 1756. Next, head to St. Mark’s Basilica, one of the world’s most stunning churches. As the name suggests, this cathedral is bound tightly to Venice’s patron, St. Mark, and the saint's remains are in fact here. Admire the breathtaking golden mosaics covering the high walls, and see the Pala d’Oro, an altarpiece made from hundreds of pieces of enamel on a golden leaf.

Venice: St. Mark's Basilica Guided Tour with Terrace Access

6. Venice: St. Mark's Basilica Guided Tour with Terrace Access

Journey through the centuries with a tour of the iconic St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. Marvel at the intricate mosaics and architecture that make this church one of the most stunning religious sites in the world. Follow your guide as they walk through the history of this sacred place, from its origins as a simple chapel to its current grandeur. Learn about the basilica's role in the political and religious life of Venice and discover the stories behind its many treasures. Explore the first floor's intricate details and exquisite beauty, which boasts a unique blend of Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. Choose to include the famous outdoor terraces, climb the steps and experience St. Mark's Basilica from a new perspective. Step outside and take in the stunning views of Venice from the basilica's elevated vantage point. See the famous horses and explore the details and hidden corners of the outdoor terraces. Admire the intricate stonework and sculptures up close as you take in the sights and sounds of the city below. Bask in the sunshine and fresh air as your tour ends.

Venice St. Mark’s Basilica After Hours: 1.5-Hour Tour

7. Venice St. Mark’s Basilica After Hours: 1.5-Hour Tour

Your guide will meet you at St. Mark’s Square for this special after-hours visit to St. Mark’s Basilica. With thrilling anecdotes and swashbuckling stories, your guide will tell you about the history of Venice and St. Mark’s. Hear how the Basilica received its precious relics via a 9th-century kidnapping. Passersby will wonder where you are going as a custodian unlocks the Basilica’s doors for you to enter. Inside, take a deep breath as you experience St. Mark’s Basilica as almost no one else has ever been able to, aside from the doge himself. There is no standing elbow-to-elbow with other tourists and no crowd noise. Instead, you are alone with your guide and the custodian. In tranquility and peace, experience the Basilica. You can even go where the others cannot during the day. See the crypt where the bones of St. Mark are said to be kept. Plus, you can see the walls stained by the past floods that devastated Venice. The crypt used to be flooded every time high tide hit the city. The evening is also the best time to visit because it is the time of day that the mosaics are at their most beautiful. All 43,000 square feet are illuminated, glimmering and sparkling in the dark. Your guide is passionate about Venetian art and history. Hear the tale of how St. Mark’s became St. Mark’s, a story that pivots on a kidnapping and a dangerous sea voyage. Learn where the precious marbles decorating St. Mark’s come from in one 1-hour tour.

Venice: Doge’s Palace Guided Tour

8. Venice: Doge’s Palace Guided Tour

Visit Doge's Palace with an expert guide and tour its extraordinary rooms. Together with your expert guide, you will be escorted inside the palace where you can admire artistic masterpieces created by the most famous painters and sculptors of that time. Tiepolo and Tiziano make up only a few of the many artists that decorated this palace. Be stunned in front of the golden staircases, the entrance of the rooms of the Doges, and the halls of power from where you can see the “Last Judgment” by Tintoretto, one of the greatest and largest paintings in the world. Visit the Old Royal Palace in St. Marks Square. Here you will discover the Venice lifestyle in the past; the rooms of Sissi (Empress of Austria) and the archaeological museum.

Venice Doge's Palace & St Mark's Basilica Skip-the-Line Tour

9. Venice Doge's Palace & St Mark's Basilica Skip-the-Line Tour

Set off on a guided walking tour of St. Mark’s Square, the Doge's Palace, and St Mark's Basilica with skip-the-line entry. Meet your guide at St. Mark’s Square and head for Doge's Palace, the extraordinary palace that served as the seat of Venetian political power for centuries. Enter the splendid rooms, with hundreds of painted masterpieces. Explore where the Duke and his Council controlled the fate of a 1,000-year republic and admire the details of the medieval gold staircase. See the famous Bridge of Sighs. Enter the notorious Venetian prison that held Giacomo Casanova. Visit St Mark’s Basilica and enjoy a guided tour of this Byzantine masterpiece, with its beautiful gold mosaics and marble floor inlays. See the treasure and the terrace of the Basilica of St.Mark's

Venice: St. Mark’s Basilica with Terrace & Doge’s Palace

10. Venice: St. Mark’s Basilica with Terrace & Doge’s Palace

Combine the top two sights in Venice on one extraordinary tour led by a local guide. With pre-reserved tickets and skip-the-line access, head straight into St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace for a guided experience. Select the 8 AM tour to enjoy exclusive early entry to the Doge's Palace and have the door opened exclusively for your group an hour before the general public arrives. First, step inside Venice's most important church—St. Mark's Basilica—and gain a full appreciation for its east-meets-west architecture and breathtaking gold mosaics. In the company of a local guide, get up close with some of the basilica’s greatest treasures, such as the millennia-old Quadriga of four gold horses. Have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to admire beautiful views from the balcony over St. Mark's Square. At every step of the way, you’ll hear the fascinating story of how most of the basilica's prized possessions ended up here by less-than-honest means. The second stop on your itinerary is no less beautiful. The Palazzo Ducale, or Doge's Palace, was home to the doge, or duke, of Venice and his seat of government. Skip the long line with pre-reserved tickets and walk straight inside to explore huge council chambers, incredible audience rooms, and a stunning ballroom with larger-than-life works by renowned Venetian masters such as Veronese and Tintoretto. Hear the intriguing history of this building that housed the world's oldest republic—as well as its fascinating government and even an incarcerated Casanova. To finish your morning of discovery, walk in the footsteps of many a less-fortunate Venetian from centuries past. Head over the Bridge of Sighs from the inside and into the grim New Prisons—a stark yet fascinating contrast to the opulent halls and galleries that lie within the palace just across the narrow canal.

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What people are saying about Venice

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 13,802 reviews

Great little tour in the quieter streets of Venice's Cannaregio District. Fascinating with a very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. It's a shame that the Jewish museum and 3 synagogues normally open to the public still remain closed for renovation. As we would have loved to visit these after the tour. But hopefully next time!

So glad that we booked this trip. We'd have missed so many things if we'd have just gone in by ourselves (and would have had to queue for ages!) Our guide was really knowledgable, engaging and funny. The headsets were great and we could hear him at all times.

A fun stroll in a cool neighborhood away from the massive crowds but easy to get to. The host was funny and a knowledgeable native of Venice. The drinks and the cichettis were a perfectly balance happy hour before dinner.

We had the most wonderful and knowledgeable guide. The tour was exceptional the palace oh my gosh! Definitely a must do and great value for money.

Was a great insight into the devices that were used.