Skip-the-Line: Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica Fully Guided Tour
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Our Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica tour is perfect for visitors with only a limited time in Venice, who want to get a true taste of the city. In just a few hours we take you to the most famous sites of the city, seeing the Rialto Bridge and venturing inside St, Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please note that the itinerary for our tours may differ from the advertised order of destinations. We assure you that any changes made to the tour itinerary are carefully planned and intended to enhance your overall experience.
We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any impairments requiring special assistance. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages on our group tours.
The Municipality of Venice has introduced an Access Fee that applies on specific dates. To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend checking the official guidelines and completing the necessary registration through the provided link before your visit. (https://cda.ve.it/en/ Official Link for Registration)
Due to St. Mark's Basilica security regulations, a PASSPORT OR VALID ID DOCUMENT IS MANDATORY to join this tour. It is your responsibility to ensure you have a valid document with you on tour. Passengers who fail to provide a valid proof of identity will be denied entry.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Piazza San Marco
There is so much to see and do in the incredible Floating City of Venice, so why should you spend your precious vacation time waiting in line? With Skip-the-Line Access to two of Venice’s unmissable sights, Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica, you can immerse yourself in Venetian history and maximize your time in Venice on this carefully curated tour.
Palazzo Ducale
Once home to the Duke of Venice and the city’s courts, it is the center of Venetian history – and as one of the world’s oldest republics, that’s quite a history. We’ll explore all the best sights of the palace open to the public, from spectacular works produced on demand by artistic masters Tintoretto and Veronese, to the evidence of the genius checks and balances that made the republic so successful. With your guide on hand to lead you through the most important rooms, to explain magnificent frescoes and to tell you the tales behind every nook and cranny, your visit to the Doge’s Palace will be the perfect way to wrap up your tour through the history and culture of Venice.
What‘s Included
Skip the Line Access to St. Mark’s Basilica
English/Spanish-speaking guide (depending on option selected)
Groups of 25 people or less
Skip the line Access and entrance ticket to the Doge’s Palace
Audio headsets when appropriate, so you can always hear your guide
Food/Beverage
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Options
Guided Tour - English
English Tour: Guided Tour with a English-speaking guide
Guided Tour - Spanish
Spanish Tour: Guided Tour with a Spanish-speaking guide
Reviews
1,917 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great Tour - Would Recommend
ClaireFromDublin,Mar 8, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tour guide was knowledgable & friendly. The headset was a great way to hear her throughout the tour. All admission tickets included making the tour seem less. Tour lasted about 2hrs & 20mins.
Great guide and tour
Hugh A,Mar 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide was superb - well informed, articulate and very well organized. She provided an excellent historical background and explained the context of what we were seeing. She kept to the schedule and accommodated the needs of group members. Overall a wonderful guide and a great experience.
Shannon was an excellent...
Kathy J,Mar 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Shannon was an excellent tour guide. She was very helpful and informative. She shared so many interesting facts and stories. The basilica and palace were beautiful.
Wonderful tour guide. Really informative. Great value for money
zoes215,Mar 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing tour and very lovely Denise as our tour guide. Very interesting tour with lots of information .
Don’t skip this tour on your trip to Venice!
Sam G,Mar 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Shannon was our tour guide and she did a fantastic job! She was very knowledgeable about all parts of the palace and basilica and pointed out some other facts and items that we would not have known to look at otherwise. Thank you shannon!
Fascinating, informative and spectacular!
Ian P,Mar 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00There are lots of steps to climb in the Doge’s Palace. However, the guide always gave us plenty of time to keep up with him. He was very knowledgeable and entertaining. It’s a fascinating place with amazing decoration and artwork. St Marks Basillica is also truly spectacular.
A tour that is worth every penny
397beverleyd,Mar 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent tour - Michaela was an informative and humorous guide!
Highly informative and...
Marjorie I,Mar 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Highly informative and good historical context provided. Michaela had deep knowledge of the subjects
We had Phillipo as our...
Kaitlyn O,Mar 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had Phillipo as our tour guide. He was outstanding!!! So funny and so knowledgeable. I was highly impressed with how much he knew about the history of Venice. He was also very welcoming and kind. I would highly recommend this tour for a full experience of the Doge Palace and Basilica, but most importantly I would recommend it with Phillipo as your tour guide if you’re able to ask for a specific person!!
Terrific tour by Shannon!
DeacBlues84,Feb 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Shannon gave an excellent tour of the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. She provided interesting historical context for the palace rooms and was particularly passionate about the artwork. Her stories were engaging and easy to understand. I suppose skipping the line is a benefit, but the real value is Shannon's knowledge expertly delivered.
From €72.00
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