Venice 3.5-Hour Walking Tour: Doge's Palace, St Mark's Basilica and Hidden Gems
by Avventure Bellissime
Choose from 2 available options
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.€270Overview
This 3.5-hour walking tour in Venice begins in the quiet backstreets and canals behind St Mark’s Square. The guide leads the group through lesser-known areas, pointing out everyday Venetian life, local bridges, and small squares. The tour includes visits to two notable sites: the exterior of Teatro La Fenice and the spiral staircase of Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, with explanations about their history and architecture. After this introduction to hidden parts of the city, the group proceeds to Doge’s Palace with skip-the-line access. Inside, the guide spends about two hours showing the palace’s grand rooms, including artworks by Tintoretto and Veronese. The tour also includes crossing the Bridge of Sighs to visit the historic prisons. While in the palace courtyard, the guide highlights the Giant Staircase used for formal entrances and explains the significance of the main entrance, Porta Della Carta, which connects the palace to St Mark’s Basilica. The final part of the tour is a 30-minute skip-the-line visit inside St Mark’s Basilica. Here, the guide describes the golden mosaics, Byzantine domes, and marble details that characterize the building’s architecture. The tour is conducted in small groups with a professional English-speaking guide and includes headsets if the group has more than eight participants. Participants should follow a dress code covering knees and shoulders to enter the basilica and other sites. Large bags are not allowed inside St Mark’s Basilica, and identification is required for entry. The tour does not include hotel pickup, gratuities, or food and drinks.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Piazza San Marco
The guide provides a brief overview of Venice’s history and introduces the Doge's Palace.
30 min
Palazzo Ducale
Take a 2-hour tour from 11.10am to 1.30pm of the Doge's Palace and explore the well-known Prisons.
90 min
Scala dei Giganti di Palazzo Ducale
From the palace courtyard, learn about the architecture and history of the Doge's Palace and see the Giant Staircase used for formal entrances.
Ponte dei Sospiri
Cross the Bridge of Sighs that links the Doge's Palace to the old prisons and hear why it has this name.
Porta Della Carta
Discover the main entrance of the Doge's Palace, known as the Paper Door, which connects the palace to St Mark's Basilica.
Basilica di San Marco
Take a 30-minute guided tour inside St Mark’s Basilica, learning about its mosaics, Byzantine domes, marble inlays, and the architectural influences on Venice.
30 min
Teatro La Fenice
View the exterior of Teatro La Fenice and learn about its historical significance.
10 min
Scala Contarini del Bovolo
Visit the spiral staircase of Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo and hear about the Contarini family and the mix of Gothic and Renaissance styles in its design.
10 min
Meeting point
Entrance to the Royal Gardens, on the waterfront of St Mark's Square - You'll meet Avventure Bellissime tour coordinator outside the gardens, in front of the wrought iron Gate holding a sign with the name of the tour and Avventure Bellissime logo written on it.
End point
Entrance to the Royal Gardens, on the waterfront of St Mark's Square - You'll meet Avventure Bellissime tour coordinator outside the gardens, in front of the wrought iron Gate holding a sign with the name of the tour and Avventure Bellissime logo written on it.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Venice 3.5-Hour Walking Tour: Doge's Palace, St Mark's Basilica and Hidden Gems
by Avventure Bellissime
Choose from 2 available options
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.€270Overview
This 3.5-hour walking tour in Venice begins in the quiet backstreets and canals behind St Mark’s Square. The guide leads the group through lesser-known areas, pointing out everyday Venetian life, local bridges, and small squares. The tour includes visits to two notable sites: the exterior of Teatro La Fenice and the spiral staircase of Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo, with explanations about their history and architecture. After this introduction to hidden parts of the city, the group proceeds to Doge’s Palace with skip-the-line access. Inside, the guide spends about two hours showing the palace’s grand rooms, including artworks by Tintoretto and Veronese. The tour also includes crossing the Bridge of Sighs to visit the historic prisons. While in the palace courtyard, the guide highlights the Giant Staircase used for formal entrances and explains the significance of the main entrance, Porta Della Carta, which connects the palace to St Mark’s Basilica. The final part of the tour is a 30-minute skip-the-line visit inside St Mark’s Basilica. Here, the guide describes the golden mosaics, Byzantine domes, and marble details that characterize the building’s architecture. The tour is conducted in small groups with a professional English-speaking guide and includes headsets if the group has more than eight participants. Participants should follow a dress code covering knees and shoulders to enter the basilica and other sites. Large bags are not allowed inside St Mark’s Basilica, and identification is required for entry. The tour does not include hotel pickup, gratuities, or food and drinks.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Piazza San Marco
The guide provides a brief overview of Venice’s history and introduces the Doge's Palace.
30 min
Palazzo Ducale
Take a 2-hour tour from 11.10am to 1.30pm of the Doge's Palace and explore the well-known Prisons.
90 min
Scala dei Giganti di Palazzo Ducale
From the palace courtyard, learn about the architecture and history of the Doge's Palace and see the Giant Staircase used for formal entrances.
Ponte dei Sospiri
Cross the Bridge of Sighs that links the Doge's Palace to the old prisons and hear why it has this name.
Porta Della Carta
Discover the main entrance of the Doge's Palace, known as the Paper Door, which connects the palace to St Mark's Basilica.
Basilica di San Marco
Take a 30-minute guided tour inside St Mark’s Basilica, learning about its mosaics, Byzantine domes, marble inlays, and the architectural influences on Venice.
30 min
Teatro La Fenice
View the exterior of Teatro La Fenice and learn about its historical significance.
10 min
Scala Contarini del Bovolo
Visit the spiral staircase of Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo and hear about the Contarini family and the mix of Gothic and Renaissance styles in its design.
10 min
Meeting point
Entrance to the Royal Gardens, on the waterfront of St Mark's Square - You'll meet Avventure Bellissime tour coordinator outside the gardens, in front of the wrought iron Gate holding a sign with the name of the tour and Avventure Bellissime logo written on it.
End point
Entrance to the Royal Gardens, on the waterfront of St Mark's Square - You'll meet Avventure Bellissime tour coordinator outside the gardens, in front of the wrought iron Gate holding a sign with the name of the tour and Avventure Bellissime logo written on it.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.