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 provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers’ full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the attraction.
Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to St.Mark’s Basilica
Basilica tickets are priced at €12 per person. Doge's Palace tickets are priced at €30 per adult. All additional charges are considered administrative costs
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.
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.
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.
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Options
Guided Tour - English
English Tour: Guided Tour with a English-speaking guide
Guided Tour - French
French Tour: Guided Tour with a French-speaking guide
Guided Tour - Spanish
Spanish Tour: Guided Tour with a Spanish-speaking guide
Reviews
2,104 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Unbalanced pacing: St. Mark's was rushed, Doge's Palace dragged on
KONUNG C,May 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00We booked this tour based on the published itinerary, which stated we would visit the Doge's Palace first and end our tour at St. Mark's Basilica. However, our actual tour did the exact opposite, which completely threw off our plans. Our first stop was St. Mark's Basilica. We felt incredibly rushed and spent very little time inside. Because the tour didn't end here as advertised, we couldn't stay behind at the end to see the Pala d'Oro or the Museum Loggia Cavalli/terraces. If we had known the Basilica would be first, we would have planned our day very differently. Our second stop was the Doge's Palace. In stark contrast to the rushed Basilica, we felt we spent far too much time here, and the tour really dragged out. While the skip-the-line access worked well and saved us time, the unannounced change to the itinerary and the unbalanced pacing were very disappointing. If you are specifically hoping to see the Pala d'Oro or the terrace views, be warned that the guide might flip the schedule and you won't get to stay behind to see them.
Great Experience
sbrady6,May 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an amazing experience. The access inside enables you to see a lot of the Palace, plus the ability to see and relax in the main courtyard.
Not enough St. Mark’s time! False advertising
Elizabeth C,May 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00The advertising should say that 1.5 hours of this tour is the Doge palace and only 15 minutes was in the St. Mark’s Cathedral.
Very well organized with a professional and knowledgeable guide!
Carmenron,May 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The small group was nice and allowed us to stay near our guide.
StMark/Doge
michael B,May 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Very knowledgeable. Easy to understand as an English speaker. Perhaps add a few quick mentions to the paintings regarding significant battles of Zara, Constantinople and Lepanto. Fascinating history. Well done Valentina!
Best ways to see these attractions
Wendy M,May 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Giavanna was an amazing tour guide. We learned so much more from her than we would have with a self guided audio. She was friend,g and engaging, welcomed questions and provided clear easy to follow explanations. We only felt rushed at the end (on the Bridge of Sighs), but it was extremely humid and some of the other guests were complaining, plus another tour group (not same operator) cut into ours so those of us in the back had to try to catch up. The headsets provided were very clear sounding and easy to use. One of the best guided tour experiences we’ve been on. Grazie Giavanna and City Wonders!
Good, but not great tour.
Jeffrey D,May 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Our tour guide, Anna, was very pleasant and knowledgeable. However, because of her accent, talking very fast at times, and the horrible clip-on ear piece, it was very hard to understand everything she was saying. The basilica and Doge Palace were remarkable, just wish I knew what was being said. 🤨
Overbooked
Gloria L,May 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00Even though I had a ticket and a confirmation number, they overbooked the tour and I could not go on the tour!
Rescheduled, late, rushed
Oliver C,May 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
1.00Our tour was rescheduled at the last minute from 10:30 to 12:15. It was also delayed a lot because the guide wasn’t given the new tickets so we had to wait 15 min outside the palace waiting for the group tickets. Once inside the palace was beautiful but it was hard to hear on the audio ear pieces. The connection frequently broke as the guide got far through the heavy walls. The group was so big and we were so late that I didn’t feel like I could ask questions. The doge had so many restrictions, and they couldn’t resign. Why even become a doge? Similarly I felt rushed through st marks because we were so late and it was so busy. I recommend just buying your own tickets and get a Rick Steves audio guide.
Excellent tour guide, very knowledgeable. The biggest issue was the ear phones! They did not stay on your and they hurt!
Pat S,May 26, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Excellent tour guide very nice!
From €76.00
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Operated by City Wonders Ltd