Welcome to Venice Group Tour St. Mark's Basilica & Gondola Ride
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
A first-timer to Venice, or don’t know where to begin your explorations? Over the course of this tour, experience many of the city’s top highlights. See the Rialto Bridge, fish market, historic mansions, and a quirky bookshop on a city walk before admiring the shimmering gold mosaics inside St. Mark’s Basilica. Plus enjoy a relaxing gondola ride and explore areas of the city that many tour groups miss. If you're short on time or want an introduction to Venice in just 2.5 hours, select the Welcome to Venice Express option at time of booking. Note: This option does not include a gondola ride.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
The Rialto Fish Market is closed on Sundays.
This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
Large bags, trolleys and backpacks cannot be accommodated on this tour.
During times of high tides, flooding, or heavy rain, the gondola ride may be substituted for another experience.
The full names of all participants must be provided at the time of booking and must match the names on the ID/Passport. Name changes are not permitted.
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.
St. Mark’s Basilica can be subject to closures due to particular liturgical celebrations, especially during major religious holidays such as Easter or Christmas. In the event that the Basilica is closed, explanations will be provided from the outside.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
What To Expect
Mercati di Rialto
Meet near the Rialto Bridge and learn why it was initially considered a very bad idea to build it. Take a quick look at the Rialto Fish Market to learn about the long fishing history of the city and its famous cuisine. Get a couple of restaurant recommendations from your local guide!
Continue your walking tour to discover some of the city’s hidden gems. You'll learn what it is like to live on the island today as you meander through hidden alleyways. See a remarkable statue by Verocchio on the Campo San Giovanni and Paolo, where you will also see a variety of typical Venetian architectural styles.
What‘s Included
Local English-speaking guide
Skip-the-line access to St. Mark's Basilica (12€)
Headset
Expertly guided walking tour
Gondola Ride (if option selected)
Gratuities
Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Guide (during gondola ride)
Options
Welcome to Venice
Duration: 3 hours: Learn the history of Venice on a walking tour, skip-the-line access to St. Mark’s Basilica, and enjoy a gondola ride.
Welcome to Venice (No Gondola)
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes: Explore Venice’s highlights on a 2.5-hour walking tour with skip-the-line access to St. Mark’s Basilica.
Private - Welcome to Venice
Duration: 3 hours With Gondola Ride: Learn the history of Venice, visit famous monuments, see St. Mark’s Basilica, and a gondola ride down the enchanting canals.
Reviews
459 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great
Christian R,May 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was great! Very informative and fun. History and a perfect gondola ride. All you need to experience Venice
Venice walking tour…amazing
N2869BJscotts,May 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful family/ small group walking tour of Venice. Our local guide gave us so much great information showed us places in Venice we would never know to look for!
Perfect Tour Guide
annemariemL4970HH,May 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing. She was not only kind (lending me her sweater for the church) but so smart. She was friendly (made me want to get a spritz with her) and funny, knowing a lot of knowledge of her town and it showed that she was a proud Venetian. I would 100% recommend her as a tour guide!
Nice mix of experiences and Mose was excellent guide
cjrhea,May 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Mose was a great guide. Excellent story teller and you have to love his Italian accent! Nice mixture of experiences on this tour - highly recommended
Informative afternoon
D1896NMteresag,Apr 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Informative and interesting. Elana C paced the tour well!
Venice tour
Richie R,Apr 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour was a great welcome to Venice by Elenora. She was informative with the history of the city and the walk was pleasant.
Great tour!
829betsyk,Apr 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing experience with Martina. She took us to see the quieter side of Venice. Very educational and engaged.
Great introductory tour to Venice
Excursion518031,Apr 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A fun and informative tour with Julianno. Walk was well planned & thought out with a short & much appreciated, midway comfort break. Many nuggets of interest delivered with humour by a local man with an obvious love for Venice. St Mark's Basilica was impressive. Good to end the tour with a gondola ride.
Wonderful walking tour of Benice
A7189ZMbrianl,Apr 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Carolina was a truly excellent and informative guide . She gave us lots of background information about the history of Venice and the tour of St Marks Basilica was especially good ! Thank you so much , we had a lovely time W
Venice Tour
Vacation47329933267,Apr 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour made Venice very interesting other than gondola.
From €59.00
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