St. Marks Basilica & Doge's Palace: Private Venice Half-Day Tour

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3 hours 30 minutes (approximately)
Offered in: English

If this is your first time visiting Venice, this is half-day tour is the perfect experience to discover two of the city’s must-see sites: St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace, and to explore the best of the city of canals in a short amount of time.

Your tour begins with a wow – at the heart of the world-famous St Mark’s Square. Probably one of Italy’s most iconic locations and Venice’s largest urban open space, this square is enclosed by the stunning St Mark’s Basilica and the absolutely magnificent Doge’s Palace, both of which you will visit with your private guide.

Then, your guide will take you off the beaten path for a leisurely stroll as you head towards Venice’s most iconic bridge - the Rialto. Famous for being the oldest bridge to cross the Grand Canal, its arcade full of small souvenir shops.

After walking across this fantastic bridge, your tour will end with magnificent views of the Grand Canal.

What's Included

Entrance tickets to St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace
Plenty of time to take photos of your favourite places
A friendly, professional English Speaking tour guide for your own private group
Hotel pickup/drop-off
Food and drink, although your guide will be happy to recommend snacks along the way
Gratuities
Transportation throughout tour

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Your guide will meet you outside the entrance to the Museo Correr in St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco). P.za San Marco, 52, 30124 Venezia VE.

End point

Finish point will be at Rialto Bridge, and the guide will assist with advising you on your journey.

Itinerary

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes (approximately)
  • 1

    Start your tour by exploring the lovely Piazza San Marco.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 2

    Step into St Mark’s Basilica, the cathedral of Venice built to house the remains of St. Mark's, and famously decorated with shimmering mosaics.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket included
  • 3

    Explore the magnificent buildings of St. Mark's Square, including the Renaissance St. Mark's Clocktower, and St. Mark's Campanile, the tallest structure in Venice and one of the city's most recognisable symbols.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 4

    Visit the Doge’s Palace, built in Venetian gothic style, the former residence of the Doge and the seat of the Venetian government.

    1 hour • Admission ticket included
  • 5

    Enjoy a leisurely walk through Venice, step off the beaten tourist path and explore magnificent Campi (squares) and charming alleys and often missed gems, like the Aqua Alta Library, the house of Marco Polo, and the Church of Miracles.

    45 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
Supplied by Travel Curious

Tags

Half-day Tours
Private Sightseeing Tours
Cultural Tours
Walking Tours
City Tours

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

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