Venice In a Day: St Mark's, Doges Palace Gondola Ride & City Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

6 hours

Mobile ticket

First time in Venice? Maximize your time in the city with a full-day itinerary that ticks off all the most memorable attractions. Stroll across the Rialto Bridge and browse the lively Rialto fish market, then hop aboard a traditional gondola for a romantic cruise along the Grand Canal. Next, access St. Mark’s Basilica (8:15am & 8:30am tours only) and gaze in awe at the stunning gold mosaics. Finally, enjoy skip-the-line entrance to the grandiose Doge’s Palace. This small-group tour is limited to 20 people ensuring a personalized experience. If you're short on time, be sure to select the Express option when booking to explore these iconic sites (excluding St. Mark's Basilica) in even less time.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.

If access is restricted due to private events inside St. Mark's Basilica and/or Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible. This is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued.

In case of unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather (heavy rain, strong wind, high tide) conditions that prevent the gondola ride from taking place or any operational or safety reasons beyond our control it may be substituted for another experience, but no refund will be provided.

Due to the religious nature of sites on this tour, all individuals (regardless of gender) must cover their shoulders and knees. It is acceptable to bring extra coverings to put on just before entering a holy site. Walks cannot be responsible for anyone denied entry.

This tour is non-refundable. All guests must supply their full name that matches a valid ID at the time of the booking. Should you fail to provide these, your reservation will be canceled. Name changes are not permitted.

8:15am & 8:30am tours only: Skip-the-line ticket for St. Mark's Basilica

9am Express tour: Skip-the-line ticket for St. Mark's Basilica (NOT included)

Please note that a photo ID is required to visit the St. Marks Basilica. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 7 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 7 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

What‘s Included

Gondola Ride

Pre-reserved ticket to the Doge's Palace (25 €)

Local English-speaking guide

Expertly guided walking tour with headset

8:15am & 8:30am tours only: Skip-the-line ticket for St. Mark's Basilica (12 €)

Gratuities

Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off

Lunch

9:00 AM departure does NOT visit St. Mark's Basilica

What To Expect

Ponte di Rialto

Your tour starts at ground level with a guided walking tour of the city's most famous and most interesting sights. See the Rialto Bridge and learn about Venice's food culture at the Rialto Fish Market. Along the way hear tales of famous Venetians like Marco Polo as well as how Venice came to be—and how it survived against the odds. (1 hour if Express option selected)

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Included

Sightseeing & Photo Stop

Admission Not Applicable

Options

Venice Express Day Tour

Venice’s top sights in about 4 hours a gondola ride, and skip-the-line access to Doge's Palace. Does NOT include the Basilica

Private - Venice in a Day

Explore Venice from top to bottom in just one day, visit St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, & a picturesque gondola ride

Venice in a Day

Small Group Tour: 815 AM tour only - Experience Venice in a Day in about 4hrs, St. Marks included. 830 AM tour - Full 6hrs Venice Experience

Reviews

4.76

3,409 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

2942

278

Absolutely a gem
elizabeth s,
Oct 1, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Giuliano was a wonderful guide. We had a small group of 12 I think and he kept everyone in sight, with patience and good humor. He is from Venice and shared childhood memories, gave us convenient breaks and great suggestions. He obviously loves Venice but at the same time, didn’t pull punches on some of the facts. He is a lover of history and talented in weaving together connections from the past to more current , as well as sharing the actual perspective of the medieval world in order to help us understand the Venetian perspective of the world and how people lived. He made sure that we respected the city and its history even as he treated others we encountered , for example, in not taking up the whole passage away, but leaving room for others. I especially love that he painstakingly explained to us the significance of the paintings in the Doges Palace, and how that related to the government of Venice and in it’s heyday. I had never realized that the church of Venice is similar to the Anglican church in England and that before the 1800s, the church of Venice did not consider the pope as its supreme leader. City states are so interesting aren’t they? And Venice was a high interest to us already because we had just been to Croatia and delved quite a bit into Croatian territory as a sea state of Venice for quite a long time way back. . I also appreciated that Giuliano explained how to go into Saint Mark‘s Basilica to just pray, bypassing the main entrance and going through a small other entrance. That actually worked beautifully and it was very nice to have the opportunity to actually pray in there because otherwise you could not with the hordes of Tourists, etc. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Giuliano
Fast Paced Day, but Sooo Good!
Scott M,
Oct 1, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Our day was fantastic! We only had one day in Venice, but we feel like we successfully saw a good portion of it.
Valentina S. was a...
Andrew S,
Oct 1, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Valentina S. was a wonderful guide. She has lived in Venice for decades and shared her knowledge in a way that was captivating without overwhelming. This was a great way to see and learn a lot in a relatively short time.
Worth to visit!
tatyanadomashenko,
Oct 1, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Martina, our guide was very intelligent, explained a lot of interesting things about the Venice. Be ready to walk a lot.
Mose was great!
Jason B,
Oct 1, 2025
- Viator
5.00
The Venice tour was fascinating, packed with unique facts about canals, architecture, and traditions. The guide’s stories made history come alive and revealed secrets most visitors miss.

From €139.00