Private Venice Tour: Doge’s Palace Early Entry & Basilica Terrace

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1

  Meet the personal guide for your private group at 8am in St. Mark's Square, before the crowds that fill it by midday have arrived. Your guide introduces the history of Venice's political and religious center, setting up the story of the two buildings you're about to enter.

  15 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 2
  Doge's Palace

  Step into the Doge's Palace on a specially secured early access, before the museum opens to the general public. Walk through the Hall of the Great Council, home to Tintoretto's largest painting, and the Doge's Apartments, hearing the history of Venetian politics, power struggles, and scandal along the way.

  1 hour 15 minutes • Admission ticket included
• 3
  St. Mark's Basilica

  Skip the line into St. Mark's Basilica, where your guide explains the Byzantine architecture, the golden mosaics overhead, and the basilica's connection to St. Mark himself. Climb to the upper level and step onto the balcony for views over St. Mark's Square, Doge's Palace, and the Venetian Lagoon.

  1 hour • Admission ticket included
• 4
  Bridge of Sighs

  Cross the Bridge of Sighs into the New Prisons, the cells that held the Venetian Republic's convicted. Small, windowless, and carved directly into the palace's stone foundations, they're a world away from the gilded halls you just walked through.

  30 minutes • Admission ticket included

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.
• Due to the religious nature of St. Mark's Basilica, all individuals regardless of gender must cover their shoulders and knees. You can bring extra covering (scarves, etc) to put on just before entering St. Mark's. Walks cannot be held responsible for those denied entry.
• Sites visited during this tour are subject to occasional closures due to holy observances, high tides, and/or flooding. If a site closes, your guide will tour the exterior of the site. If time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour. If the local municipality restricts access due to high tide and there are no walkways available, it is the client’s responsibility to bring appropriate footwear (e.g., boots). For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.
• No refund will be provided if high tide prevents certain parts of the tour, but adjustments to the route will be made for client safety and comfort.

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