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‘s Included
Skip the Line Access to St. Mark’s Basilica
Skip the line Access and entrance ticket to the Doge’s Palace
Audio headsets when appropriate, so you can always hear your guide
Expert, English-speaking tour guide
Groups of 20 people or less
Food/Beverage
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
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.
Doge's Palace
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.
Options
Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica Guided Tour with Skip the Line
Reviews
1,708 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
There is NO line to skip—and you risk losing your money!
Gary G,
Sep 9, 2025
- Viator
1.00We feel completely ripped off, and Viator offered no support, siding only with their subcontractor. We booked this 10:00 am tour months in advance specifically to ensure we wouldn’t miss out on visiting this architectural marvel. We arrived 15 minutes early at the exact location shown on their published map (see picture), by the bridge, but no one from City Wonders was there. While searching, I received what looked like a spam call from Ireland—which I understandably ignored—only to find out later it was them. At 10:05 am, I finally located the City Wonders representative right at the entrance, but was told we had already missed the tour. I asked if we could join the 10:30 am group and was told “No,” because “the 10:00 am guide has your tickets.” There was no solution offered, despite the fact this was our only chance to visit before leaving on a cruise the next day. I called Viator for help, but was told nothing could be done. Frustrated and disappointed, I started looking for alternatives—only to discover the regular walk-up line, which had just five people in it (see photo). We purchased entry tickets directly for only €30 each and were inside Doge’s Palace within minutes. Throughout the day, I checked the line several times, and it never had more than ten people. This experience left us feeling scammed. We paid more, received nothing, and were treated poorly in the process. Thankfully we still got to enjoy Doge’s Palace, but only by ignoring the overpriced “skip-the-line” option, We paid almost $250 for. I rarely write reviews, but I feel it’s my responsibility to warn fellow travelers: avoid this tour. You’ll pay more and very likely get less—if anything at all.
It was a great experience...
Mary J,
Sep 9, 2025
- Viator
5.00It was a great experience at Doge’s Palace. Our guide, Iole, was extremely knowledgeable and personable. We only wish we had a little more time to explore St. Mark’s. We would definitely recommend this tour.
Not a great experience.
Tim G,
Sep 9, 2025
- Viator
1.00Generally speaking, we had a poor experience with this tour and the guides involved. Not very helpful.
Outside doesn’t do it...
Deborah M,
Sep 9, 2025
- Viator
5.00Outside doesn’t do it justice….need to see the inside. Value for the price was great and having a guide was very informative.
Solid tour
Sean H,
Sep 8, 2025
- Viator
4.00Good tour of two amazing place in Saint Mark Square. Tour length was good and the guide did a nice job. Group was 20ish people so took a while to get folks herded at times.
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Operated by City Wonders Ltd