Private Tour
Private Doge's Palace & St Mark's Basilica After Hours Night Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
This Private Night Doge's Palace and St Mark's Tour is a perfect way to visit two of the most famous sights in the city. You will begin in St Mark's square, where you will hear all about the long history of this famous piazza, as you make your way to the Doge's Palace. Your private guide will regale you with the stories of famous prisoners who were kept in the dungeons of the Palace, as you roam the opulent rooms, prisons, courts and halls of the Doge’s Palace. Then, you will make your way to St. Mark's once it has already closed its doors. That's right! With this tour, you will have exclusive After Hours access: only you, your group, and your tour guide!!
Once inside the basilica, you will be mesmerised by a spectacular light show highlighting the sacred art and mosaics which adorn the golden mosaic ceilings. You will also see the Pala d'Oro altar, and descend into the crypt where St Mark himself is laid to rest.
We guarantee this to be a once in a lifetime experience!
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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
Please note that tour starting times are subject to change based on ticket availability
Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter.
Due to the highly variable nighttime opening and closing times of Doge’s and St. Mark’s, your tour may need to take up to a 1.5 hour break between the two sites, in which case your guide will recommend a local restaurant or bar in which to wait. In some cases, however, there will be no break. In all cases, the total duration of the guided tour will ALWAYS be three hours, regardless of the break time.
An original, valid photo ID is required for entry to St. Mark's Basilica. Photocopies are not accepted.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Piazza San Marco
Your Private Night Doge’s Palace and St. Mark's Tour starts in one of the most beautiful and famous squares in all of Venice – St Mark’s Square – which has stood through wars, flooding, changes in governments for over a millennium. As you admire the square's romantic, historic and powerful atmosphere, your guide will give you a good idea of the timelines and history of this famous piazza before, as you make your way inside the Doge’s Palace.
Doge's Palace
An exemplary work of Venetian Gothic architecture, the Doge's Palace was once the seat of the Venetian Republic and their leader, the Doge. For over 700 years, this impressive palace has housed 120 powerful Doges, as well as government offices, prison cells and the Court. You will be mesmerized by the stories your guide will share with you as you stroll through the Doge’s private, ornate apartments and impressive halls with their enormous paintings and frescoes. Walking through the corridors with your private guide you will appreciate the whole gamut of Venice’s history, not only the romantic and polished side, but also its most secret and mysterious corners. This tour takes you behind the scenes, allowing you to learn about the fear and authority the Palazzo Ducale used to represent. Your private guide will regale you with the stories of famous prisoners who were kept in the dungeons of the Doge’s Palace...discover the most famous one!
What‘s Included
Exclusive Access into St Mark's after it has closed!
Private, Professional, Expert and Local Tour Guide
Admire the Pala d'Oro, and descend into the crypt where St Mark himself is buried
Discover the Doge's Palace, touring the prisons, apartments and courts of this historic Palazzo
Enjoy a magical light show of the Golden Mosaics inside St Mark's Basilica
Food and Drink
Gratuities
Options
Private Night Tour of Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica
Reviews
56 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fantastic tour!
Escape83439,,Oct 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic tour of the Palace and Church with Nico! He was friendly, funny and very knowledgeable!! My husband loves History and Nico answered all his questions enthusiastically. Both the palace and the Church are incredibly beautiful and were made even more so with Nico and all his knowledge of the two. What a great night! We highly recommend this tour!
St. Mark’s and Doge Palace outstanding
V384WAtriciaw,,Oct 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Sabrina was delightful and very knowledgeable. The tour was outstanding and St. Mark’s was stunning. We all truly enjoyed the tour and our time with Sabrina.
Outstanding!!
Jerry R,,Sep 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This by far is one of the best tours we have booked in our travels to Europe. Nico our tour guide made the experience that much more enjoyable. Extremely knowledgeable young man. Never felt rushed and took his time explaining all the little details that only a local would know. Thank you viator and more so Nico. Highly recommended.
A special experience with an amazing guide!
Mary C,,Sep 24, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00A special experience, with an amazing guide! We had a perfect visit with light crowds and a special chance to see the Basilica lit perfectly to showcase the mosaics. Martina was a warm welcome for our first experience in Venice and made sure we were well taken care of. Highly recommend this experience.
Romy the Venice Expert
Paul R,,Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Romy was there on time. She guided us perfectly throughout the evening. Very informative and very polite. She answered all our questions perfectly. A lovely person. Highly recommend her if you visit Venice.
Stunning, unmissable.
Leonard B,,Sep 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An absolutely stunning evening in the company of an extremely knowledgeable guide. The guide was such a pleasure to listen to and was incredibly attentive . My wife was recovering from a knee injury and he took extra care that there were plenty of chances where she could be seated; he also was very careful in pointing out uneven floors. He was a fountain of knowledge with regard to the subject matter at hand and communicated that very well. We heartily recommend this tour to all and have already sent details to friends and relatives telling them to book this tour if they should ever visit Venice.
A truly spiritual experience
Jane P,,Sep 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00She was very knowledgeable and easy going and she was very accommodating. She was able to handle special requests and had a very pleasing personality. I would highly recommend her.
This tour is worth every...
Eileen M,,Aug 21, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour is worth every penny. Well done. Pamela was a great tour guide. Very knowledgable and friendly. We loved this tour!
Magical Evening Tour with Marie-Therese
veracZ8498IB,,Aug 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a lovely tour for my family. It was very special being able to access St. Mark's Basilica after hours. Marie-Therese was our guide and provided a detailed tour of the Doge's Palace explaining the history, legacy and the many rooms. We were able to walk through where the prisoners were and over The Bridge of Sighs. It was a fabulous evening capped off by the light show in the Basilica. We were able to take many photos and view the sacred treasures in the Basilica with great explanations and descriptions of what we were looking at with no crowds. This is one of those experiences you remember for a lifetime.
Exceptional
S4995CClaurieg,,Jun 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Maria was exceptional as a tour guide. She was the best we had in Italy! I recommend her highly. Ask for her by name and enjoy the city with many cultural stories.
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