Venice must-see: Doge's Palace, Golden Basilica and St.Mark's area-Guided tour

Archaeology Tours
Digital Voucher
210 minutes (Approx.)
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Join to the half day tour in the heart of Venice: walking tour of Piazza San Marco and visit to the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica. The guided visit begins in Piazza San Marco where you will discover the history of the main highlights and, then proceeds until Rialto bridge, admiring the lovely spots and fascinating place as Campo Santa Maria Formosa and Basilica of S. Giovanni and Paolo. Later, the guide will bring you inside the marvelous Doge’s Palace with the fine decorated halls of power, the Golden Staircase and the most famous artworks of Tiepolo. Cross the infamous Bridge of Sighs to reach the old prisons where only Casanova managed to escape! The last but not the least point of the visit is the breathtaking St. Mark’s Basilica: enter inside the Basilica to see its golden mosaics! Discover its secrets, history and admire the many artworks as the five domes covered by gold. Enjoy the audio guide to visit more than 200 Venice highlights by yourself!

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Things To Know

  • Mobile audio guide with commentary for a self-guided tour of the 5 districts of Venice
  • Skip the line entrace to Doge's Palace and Basilica of Saint Mark
  • Entrace to the San Marco Museum and the Basilica Terrace
  • Ticket valid to visit by yourself the Palaces in St. Mark's Square
  • Guided walking tour of Piazza San Marco and Venice city
  • Guided tour of Doge's Palace and St. Mark Basilica
  • Acces to the Bridge of Sighs and the Piombi Prisons.
  • Hotel pickup
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Tour does not operate in case of exceptional high tide or in case of unexpected religious functions (in these cases it can be postponed the days after otherwise it will be refunded)
  • For the visit of the Basilica suitable clothing is required (no shorts)
  • You must download the audio guide with digital map on your mobile phone.
  • You will receive the audio guide with digital map by e-mail. If you have any problems with this, please come to Venice Tours office (San Marco 1093/B) for assistance.
  • Due to the security reason, luggage and bags are not allowed inside the Basilica
  • Admire mosaics, the San Marco Museum and enjoy a breathtaking overview of St. Mark's Square from the Terrace.
  • On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it

What's included in the package

Itinerary

Piazza San Marco

Learning about the past of this charming city while walking along the historical streets of Venice! Walk through the Piazza San Marco with a qualified and experienced guide in order to learn Venetian history before the viewing of the main monuments in this area, including the Basilica San Marco, Palazzo Ducale, Bell Tower, Clock Tower and Procuratie. You will admire Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Campo SS. Giovanni e Paolo (the “Pantheon” of Venice), the Great School of Charity before viewing Marco Polo’s House and the Malibran Theatre. Visit the stunning Rialto Bridge with its traditional market. Coming back to San Marco through the main shopping area known as Mercerie!

Doge's Palace

The Palazzo Ducale has been for centuries the seat of the Venetian political power. In its splendid rooms, plastered and immersed in hundreds of painting masterpieces, the Duke and his Council controlled the fate for thousand-years in the old Republic. You’ll live it together with a guide who will show you the halls of power, plunging you into a very special historical context: the European Middle Ages. You’ll be surprised by the details of the gold staircase and of the realism of the scenes depicted by many artists who have decorated this building.

Admission Ticket Included

Ponte dei Sospiri (Pass-by Only)

Relive the anguish of the prisoners crossing the famous Bridge of Sighs, and entering the Venetian prisons, famous for hosting Giacomo Casanova.

Basilica di San Marco

Follow a tour guide through St. Mark's Basilica, one of the most majestic cathedrals in the world. Learning about byzantine art and its religious background while taking a glimpse at the gold mosaics and marble floors. After the visit of the Basilica you will have the opportunity to visit a Glass Factory close to Saint Mark’s Square where you can see a Glass Craftsman at work. Please note this is a free of charge optional tour of approximately 20 minutes and it is not a part of the tour.

Admission Ticket Included

Museo Correr (Pass-by Only)

You may visit by yourself the other magnificent palaces around St. Mark’s Square as known as Procuratie. You will discover the Venetian way of life, Venetian paintings, library, coinage, sculpture. You will go back directly to the secrets of Venetian Empire and you will visit the area built by Napoleon and the rooms restored for Sissi Empress Austria


Where to meet and pickup

Pickup and Dropoff

You will make your own way to the meeting points

Meeting / End Points

  • The meeting point is at the brown wooden newsstand with the yellow sign where is written "MEETING POINT", Calle Larga de l'Ascension, St. Mark’s Square, in front of the Post Office. Please be at the meeting point 15 minutes before the departure time.

Ticket Redemption

Direct access, no redemption is required


Reviews By Other Travelers

3.6
Based on 9 reviews

What do other 9 guests say about Venice must-see: Doge's Palace, Golden Basilica and St.Mark's area-Guided tour

F
Fioravante_A
5
Aug 2024
All the sights are of course wonderful. But what made the tour memorable was our guide Katerina - her knowledge and passion of Venice was amazing.
J
Jennifer_B
5
Jul 2024
Great tour. Our guide was so knowledgeable and informative. Glad we got a little insight into the “back neighborhoods” of Venice.
A
Anthony_L
5
Jun 2024
Great walking tour, St Marks, and Doge's Palace. Covered all the high points. I would recommend this

Operated By

CITY TOURS CO. LTD

Payment Methods

Accept all major debit and credit cards
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Things to know

Included
  • Mobile audio guide with commentary for a self-guided tour of the 5 districts of Venice
  • Skip the line entrace to Doge's Palace and Basilica of Saint Mark
  • Entrace to the San Marco Museum and the Basilica Terrace
  • Ticket valid to visit by yourself the Palaces in St. Mark's Square
  • Guided walking tour of Piazza San Marco and Venice city
  • Guided tour of Doge's Palace and St. Mark Basilica
  • Acces to the Bridge of Sighs and the Piombi Prisons.
Not Included
  • Hotel pickup
Additional Information
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Tour does not operate in case of exceptional high tide or in case of unexpected religious functions (in these cases it can be postponed the days after otherwise it will be refunded)
  • For the visit of the Basilica suitable clothing is required (no shorts)
  • You must download the audio guide with digital map on your mobile phone.
  • You will receive the audio guide with digital map by e-mail. If you have any problems with this, please come to Venice Tours office (San Marco 1093/B) for assistance.
  • Due to the security reason, luggage and bags are not allowed inside the Basilica
  • Admire mosaics, the San Marco Museum and enjoy a breathtaking overview of St. Mark's Square from the Terrace.
  • On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it

Payment Methods

Accept all major debit and credit cards
discoverCreated with Sketch.
jcbCreated with Sketch.
alipay_hkCreated with Sketch.
Accept crypto currencies