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Venice 3.5-Hour Guided Tour: Saint Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, Gondola Ride & History Gallery
day_trips

Venice 3.5-Hour Guided Tour: Saint Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, Gondola Ride & History Gallery

by Venice City Tours

4 hours
Venice
€89.10€99 on ViatorSave 10%/person
From
€89.10€99 on ViatorSave 10%per person

Choose from 4 available options

4 hours
Starting time
Friday 11 September 2026
Language
Free cancellation until 10 Sept 2026.
€178.20€198Save 10%
2 adults × €89.10
All taxes and fees included

How do you want to book?

✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.

Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€198
4 hours
€178.20€198Save 10%
2 adults × €89.10
All taxes and fees included
4 hours
€178.20€198Save 10%
2 adults × €89.10
All taxes and fees included
4 hours
€178.20€198Save 10%
2 adults × €89.10
All taxes and fees included

Overview

This 3.5-hour guided walking tour in Venice begins in Piazza San Marco, the city's main square surrounded by key landmarks. The tour includes skip-the-line entry to Saint Mark’s Basilica, where visitors spend about 45 minutes with a guide viewing gold mosaics, marble floors, and biblical scenes. Next, a 90-minute guided visit to Doge’s Palace covers the former seat of Venetian government, including richly decorated rooms, the Bridge of Sighs, and the old prisons. The same ticket also grants access to the nearby palaces around the square. The tour continues with a shared 30-minute gondola ride through Venice’s canals and part of the Grand Canal. During this ride, guests see landmarks like La Fenice Opera House, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and Santa Maria della Salute Church while listening to commentary via a mobile app. The tour ends with a virtual reality experience in the History Gallery, showing Venice’s past and a detailed look at gondola craftsmanship. Included are guided entry and skip-the-line tickets to the basilica and palace, the gondola ride, and the VR experience. Hotel pickup and food are not included.

Highlights

Skip-the-line guided tours of Saint Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace
Shared 30-minute gondola ride on Venice's canals and Grand Canal
Mobile app commentary during the gondola ride
Access to nearby palaces around Saint Mark's Square with the same ticket
Virtual reality history experience in the History Gallery

What's included

Shared 30-minute gondola ride
Guided tours of Doge's Palace and Saint Mark's Basilica
Skip-the-line tickets to Saint Mark's Basilica
Access to Museums in Saint Mark's Square including Correr Museum, Archaeological Museum, and Marciana Library
Skip-the-line ticket to Doge's Palace
Virtual reality experience at the History Gallery
20-minute gondola introductory experience

What's not included

Hotel pickup
Food and drinks
Guided tours of Museo Correr, Museo Nazionale Archeologico, and Biblioteca Marciana

Itinerary

1

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco is the central square of Venice, surrounded by historic landmarks including Saint Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and the Campanile. It is a large open space that reflects the importance of the Venetian Republic.

2

Basilica di San Marco

Visitors spend about 45 minutes inside Saint Mark’s Basilica with a guide. The tour covers the golden mosaics, marble floor inlays, and biblical scenes depicted in the basilica, explaining its history and architectural details.

45 min

3

Palazzo Ducale

The 90-minute guided visit to Doge’s Palace explores the former Venetian government seat. The guide leads through decorated halls, the Bridge of Sighs, and the old prisons. The ticket also allows self-guided access to the nearby palaces around Saint Mark’s Square.

90 min

4

Canal Grande

The shared gondola ride lasts about 30 minutes, cruising through Venice’s canals and part of the Grand Canal. Passengers see landmarks such as La Fenice Opera House, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Ca’ Dario Palace, and Santa Maria della Salute Church. Commentary is provided via a mobile app included with the tour.

50 min

Meeting point

From St. Mark’s Square, face the Basilica and turn right towards the Doge’s Palace. Continue past the Bridge of Sighs to Riva degli Schiavoni (the waterfront promenade). Walk for 2 minutes, then turn left into Calle de le Rasse. The Venice Tours Office is at number 4536.

End point

From St. Mark’s Square, face the Basilica and turn right towards the Doge’s Palace. Continue past the Bridge of Sighs to Riva degli Schiavoni (the waterfront promenade). Walk for 2 minutes, then turn left into Calle de le Rasse. The Venice Tours Office is at number 4536.

Languages

English (guide)French (guide)Spanish (guide)

Cancellation policy

  • Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.

Additional info

1–15 travelers per booking
Mobile ticket
Reachable by public transport
Suitable for all fitness levels
The official ticket for St. Mark's Basilica costs €12.00 per person for the standard option or €24.00 including terrace access; the rest of the price covers assistance at the meeting point, guided entry with a certified guide or host, access to the Venice Gallery with a dedicated VR experience, use of an audio guide or radio system with earphones, and sales fees.
A valid identification document must be presented for security checks at the Basilica entrance.
Each gondola can carry up to 5 passengers; seating is assigned by the gondolier based on the guests' weight and cannot be chosen by passengers.
The gondola ride will not operate during exceptionally bad weather, high or low tide, or a local gondoliers’ strike; in these situations, the ride may be postponed to the following days or refunded if not rescheduled.
The gondola route may be altered due to wind or adverse weather conditions.
Visitors to the Basilica must wear appropriate clothing, specifically no shorts are allowed.
On certain days, most visitors staying outside Venice who plan a day visit must pay a €5 access fee; for details on exemptions and applicable dates, see: https://cda.ve.it
The tour will not operate during exceptional high tides or unplanned religious events; in these cases, it may be postponed to the next day or refunded if not rescheduled.
For security reasons, luggage and bags are prohibited inside both the Basilica and the Doge Palace.
Visitors to the Basilica are required to wear suitable clothing, with shorts prohibited.
All travelers’ full names must be provided when booking; presenting a voucher without all full names at the ticket office before entry may lead to denied access.
Total
€178.20Save 10% vs Viator