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Private Night Tour of Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica

5 (29)
Venice, IT
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Private Night Tour of Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica

5 (29)
Venice, IT
Share
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Experience the magic of Venice after hours with the Private Night Tour of Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica. This exclusive tour offers you the opportunity to explore these iconic landmarks with only your group and a knowledgeable guide. Begin in St Mark's Square, hearing captivating stories of the piazza's long history before entering the opulent Doge's Palace. Discover the hidden secrets of the palace's ornate rooms, prisons, and halls, including the dungeons where famous prisoners were held. As night falls, you'll have exclusive access to St Mark's Basilica, witnessing a breathtaking light show that illuminates its golden mosaic ceilings. Marvel at the Pala d'Oro altar and descend into the crypt where St Mark himself rests. This once-in-a-lifetime experience guarantees unforgettable memories that bring history to life. Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity.

About this experience

  • Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
  • Admission Included
  • 4 hours 30 minutes
  • Suitable for 2-15 Participants
  • Private Tour
  • Guided Experience
  • Exclusive After Hours access to St. Mark's Basilica
  • Private tour guide sharing stories of Doge's Palace
  • Mesmerizing light show in St. Mark's Basilica
  • Opportunity to see normally restricted areas in the basilica
  • Once in a lifetime experience of visiting two iconic sights
  • Exclusive Access into St Mark's after it has closed!
  • Private, Professional, Expert and Local Tour Guide
  • Admire the Pala d'Oro, and descend into the crypt where St Mark himself is buried
  • Discover the Doge's Palace, touring the prisons, apartments and courts of this historic Palazzo
  • Enjoy a magical light show of the Golden Mosaics inside St Mark's Basilica
  • Food and Drink
  • Gratuities

How long before the event do I need to book?

  • You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

  • Mobile

Is an adult required for the booking?

  • At least one adult or senior required per booking

Your Itinerary

Piazza San Marco

Your Private Night Doge’s Palace and St. Mark's Tour starts in one of the most beautiful and famous squares in all of Venice – St Mark’s Square – which has stood through wars, flooding, changes in governments for over a millennium. As you admire the square's romantic, historic and powerful atmosphere, your guide will give you a good idea of the timelines and history of this famous piazza before, as you make your way inside the Doge’s Palace.

Doge's Palace

An exemplary work of Venetian Gothic architecture, the Doge's Palace was once the seat of the Venetian Republic and their leader, the Doge. For over 700 years, this impressive palace has housed 120 powerful Doges, as well as government offices, prison cells and the Court. You will be mesmerized by the stories your guide will share with you as you stroll through the Doge’s private, ornate apartments and impressive halls with their enormous paintings and frescoes. Walking through the corridors with your private guide you will appreciate the whole gamut of Venice’s history, not only the romantic and polished side, but also its most secret and mysterious corners. This tour takes you behind the scenes, allowing you to learn about the fear and authority the Palazzo Ducale used to represent. Your private guide will regale you with the stories of famous prisoners who were kept in the dungeons of the Doge’s Palace...discover the most famous one!

Admission Included

Basilica di San Marco

By the time you exit the Doge’s Palace the sun will have set and darkness will have taken its place, offering the perfect atmosphere for your next stop. There will be no crowds and no waiting in line as we have EXCLUSIVE access to the basilica at night, so only you, your group, and your tour guide will be admitted. Imagine being alone at night in St Mark’s!! When you enter, the church will be in complete darkness and your guide will help you find the perfect pew. Get your camera ready, as one by one the lights will be turned on to reveal gorgeous golden ceiling mosaics. This is truly a one of a kind experience, which will leave you with unforgettable memories, making history come to life – and light! During your time in St Mark’s your guide will also take you to see normally restricted areas showing you the Pala D’oro, an ancient altarpiece made entirely of gold and silver, and access to the crypts where some of the wealthiest Venetians, including St Mark himself, were laid to rest.

Admission Included

More about this experience

Introduction

Experience the enchanting allure of Venice after dark with the Private Night Tour of Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica. This exclusive tour offers you the opportunity to explore two of the city's most iconic landmarks away from the daytime crowds. Begin in St Mark's Square, as your knowledgeable guide shares the fascinating history of this famous piazza. Then, venture into the Doge's Palace, once the seat of power in Venice, and be captivated by its ornate rooms, prisons, and halls.

What to Expect?

During this tour, you can expect a truly immersive experience in the heart of Venice's rich history. With exclusive after-hours access, you and your group will have the Doge's Palace all to yourselves. Wander through the opulent chambers and secret passageways as you hear captivating tales of famous prisoners and the palace's grandeur. Next, visit St Mark's Basilica at night, where you'll witness a spectacular light show illuminating the breathtaking mosaics on the golden ceilings. Discover the hidden treasures of the basilica, including the Pala d'Oro altar and the crypt where St Mark himself rests.

Who is this for?

This tour is perfect for history enthusiasts, art lovers, and those seeking an unforgettable evening in Venice. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or a first-time visitor, this experience offers a unique perspective on the city's timeless beauty. The tour is suitable for individuals, couples, families, and small groups, providing an intimate and personalized exploration of these iconic landmarks.

Why Book This?

Embark on this exclusive after-hours tour to gain an extraordinary insight into the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica, away from the bustling crowds. With a private guide, immerse yourself in centuries of history and legends, uncovering the secrets of Venice's past. Witness the captivating light show in the basilica, as the golden mosaics flicker to life in the darkness. This once-in-a-lifetime experience will leave you with exceptional memories of Venice and its rich cultural heritage.

Good to Know

To fully enjoy this tour, arrive at the meeting point in St Mark's Square, where your guide will be waiting with a LivTours sign. The tour duration is approximately 270 minutes, allowing ample time to explore both the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica. Remember to bring your camera to capture the mesmerizing lighting effects in the basilica. This tour provides an exclusive opportunity to see normally restricted areas and gain a deeper understanding of Venice's art, history, and spirituality.

Reviews

Previous visitors have raved about the Private Night Tour of Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica, describing it as an unforgettable experience. They praised the knowledgeable guides who brought the history to life and appreciated the exclusive after-hours access to these iconic landmarks. Visitors felt that being able to explore the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica without the usual crowds made the experience truly special. The illuminated mosaics in the basilica left a lasting impression, creating a sense of awe and wonder. Overall, reviewers highly recommend this tour for anyone looking to delve into the rich history and captivating beauty of Venice after dusk.

Reviews

(29)

5 (29)

Shiqiiris

The experience was amazing! We basically had a private tour as there was only me and my husband. We were hiven all the attention and felt confortavle to ask questions. Our tour guide Sabrina was very experienced and friendly. She taught us so much about the Doge Palace and the Cathedral. The after hour experience was incredible as we have never been to a similar tour. The tour agency was very responsible to update us the reporting time changes due to the opening hours changes.

Trek22617552163

Nico was such a wonderful tour guide! He is extremely knowledgeable & taught us so much. Very great & engaging personality. We are so happy to have met Nico & would recommend to our friends. His has an amazing depth of historical knowledge & expertise. Thank you so much Nico & Livtours! Grazie mille!

Sidney_C

Grace or Grazia was a fantastic guide for our night tour of Dodge’s Palace and St Mark’s basilica. We enjoyed our private tour and with very few other groups visiting at the same time we were able to take our time and truly soak in everything without large crowds of people. Grazia was warm and friendly and very knowledgeable about all of the history and made our tour entertaining and fun. I cannot recommend the night tour of St Mark’s Basillica enough, it is the best way to see it! I recommend this tour and especially Grazia to show you these wonders of Venice!

Brad C

Octavia is a marvelous guide who customized our tour based upon what we had previously seen. Wish we had known we’d get a 1.75hr break before after dark portion of the tour. We ate prior to the tour thinking the tour would go from meeting time on through dark. In reality the break was the best time to grab a bite. The highlights of the tour for me were San Marco crypt, and just when the lights were beginning to be turned on inside San Marco.

patriciapN3914OD

Niko was a wonderful tour guide and showed us the beauty and history of Venice throughout the tour of Doge Palace and St Marks. It was so special, grand and informative.

A2196CZbriank

So much detail, Tour guide was exceptionally! Pointed out so many things I would have missed at first glance. Lots of history

Danaylor

Our guide Octavia was fantastic. She shared so many historical facets of the Basilica and Palace and wove the pieces together so we could follow the thread of the church and the different murals Going into the. Church after hours where they turned on the lights was magical. The beauty of the gold glistening throughout the ceiling was breathtaking. Truly enjoyed the tour

Meredith K

Ottavia was very personable and knowledgeable. We had a wonderful and informative tour and learned so much about the art and history of the Doge’s Palace and the Basilica. So many hidden gems. Highly recommend!

Run4kids50

We had such a wonderful experience with Ottavia as our tour guide. She is very knowledgeable and energetic. She made the history of the palace and the Basilica come alive and did an excellent job explaining related elements of each. Also, she prepared us well for the lighting of the Basilica. During the point in the tour when you enter the sanctuary it is almost completely dark and very quiet. She had us sit at the very front of the church and appreciate the darkness before the lights come on. It’s a little hard to explain if you haven’t experienced it but it’s quite spiritual. Our youngest is 11 years old and got a little tired during the tour. Ottavia was understanding and found places for her to sit when appropriate and got her re-engaged. We had one friend of a friend (18yo) with us and he said it was the best experience he’s ever had and the others agreed. LivTour needed to change the start time of the tour of the Doge Palace but promptly text us and communicated the change ahead of time. A once in a lifetime experience!

Q1525UTmaryb

Martina was wonderful! Very warm and knowledgeable. My whole family enjoyed the tour and the fascinating history of Venice.
Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator
2024-03-29 10:06