Guided tour

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

Activity provider: Bucintoro Viaggi
Guided tour

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

Activity provider: Bucintoro Viaggi
Likely to sell out

From US$ 90.51 per person

Likely to sell out

Visit St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace on a group or private guided tour. See the Bridge of Sighs and New Prisons and, if the basilica is closed, the San Zaccaria Church or the Correr Museum.

About this activity

Free cancellation
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Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 3 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
French, Italian, German, Spanish, English
Private or small groups available

Experience

Highlights
  • Immerse yourself in the history of the Floating City with the help of your expert local guide
  • Miss the hordes with priority entrance for the Doge’s Palace
  • Choose from a private or shared group experience
  • See Venice’s Lagoon from the usually off-limits terrace at St. Mark’s Basilica
  • Hear anecdotes about how and why Venice was built on a lagoon in the 5th century and other fascinating facts
Full description

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.

Includes
  • Guided tour with expert guide
  • Priority entrance to the Doge's Palace
  • St. Mark's Basilica first floor and terrace access ticket
  • Church of San Zaccaria and its crypt entry or Correr Museum entry (if St. Mark's Basilica is closed)
    Not suitable for
    • Wheelchair users

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Meeting point

    Meeting point may vary depending on the option booked.

    Important information

    What to bring

    • Passport or ID card

    Not allowed

    • Luggage or large bags
    • Backpacks

    Know before you go

    • People with mobility impairments should be aware that the stairs to the upper part of the Basilica (Museum and Terrace) are steep and at times uneven
    • Shared group and private options do not always offer the same languages. Please check all languages of interest to find your preferred option type
    • St. Mark's Basilica is sometimes closed to visitors at short notice. If this is the case, you will visit the 15th-century Church of San Zaccaria and its crypt or the Correr Museum to learn about the art and history of Venice
    • You are welcome to explore the Doge's Palace at leisure after the guided tour
    • The Doge's Palace is asking visitors over 13 years old to show their passport/ID
    • As St. Mark’s Basilica is a holy place, people are asked to wear clothing that covers the shoulders and knees
    • Backpacks or large bags are not allowed inside St. Mark's Basilica
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    4.8 /5

    based on 4414 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      4.9/5
    • Value for money
      4.4/5
    • Service
      4.8/5
    • Organization
      4.5/5

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    Star rating:

    Marina was absolutely fantastic!! Super passionate about our tour and kept us wanting to hear more. Loved the skip the line and the headsets. Highly recommend Only complaint, where your apple map will tell you to go for meeting place is incorrect -go to ferry stop by the trees on the back side of the square. Just give yourself enough time.

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    March 16, 2023

    one of the best tours in Venice that was led by a kind, professional and patient guide. She spoke perfect English with a lovely Venetian accent and provided interesting local culture and dining / shopping tips. Definitely worth the extra costs over the self-pay and wait-on-line approach. We skipped all the lines and learned more from her. Take this tour FIRST so that you will enjoy your visit to Venice armed with insider tips for dining, shopping and even coffee drinking.

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    March 12, 2023

    That was really a great experience. The cathedral was the most beautiful I've seen so far and the decorations in the Doge's Palace speak for themselves anyway. It was like being in a museum... unbelievable that people were allowed to work in the rooms in the past. Otherwise, the guide was very competent and lively and was able to teach a lot of new things.

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    February 24, 2023

    Product ID: 234117