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Venice must-see: Doge's Palace, Golden Basilica and St.Mark's area-Guided tour

3.2 (12)
Venice, IT
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Venice must-see: Doge's Palace, Golden Basilica and St.Mark's area-Guided tour

3.2 (12)
Venice, IT
Share
Experience the magic of Venice with this captivating half-day guided tour. Begin your journey in the iconic Piazza San Marco, where you'll walk along historical streets and discover the fascinating history of Venice. Marvel at the beauty of the Basilica San Marco, Palazzo Ducale, and the Rialto Bridge with its traditional market. Step inside the magnificent Doge's Palace and explore its decorated halls of power, the Golden Staircase, and famous artworks by Tiepolo. Cross the infamous Bridge of Sighs and visit the old prisons where only Casanova managed to escape. The highlight of the tour is the breathtaking St. Mark's Basilica, where you can enter and admire its golden mosaics and intricate architecture. Immerse yourself in the history and secrets of Venice with this unforgettable guided tour.

About this experience

  • Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
  • Admission Included
  • 3 hours 30 minutes
  • Suitable for 1-15 Participants
  • Small Group Tour
  • Guided Experience & Audio Guided
  • Mobile audio guide with commentary for a self-guided tour of the 5 districts of Venice
  • Skip the line entrace to Doge's Palace and Basilica of Saint Mark
  • Entrace to the San Marco Museum and the Basilica Terrace
  • Ticket valid to visit by yourself the Palaces in St. Mark's Square
  • Guided walking tour of Piazza San Marco and Venice city
  • Guided tour of Doge's Palace and St. Mark Basilica
  • Acces to the Bridge of Sighs and the Piombi Prisons.
  • Hotel pickup

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More about this experience

Introduction

The Venice must-see: Doge's Palace, Golden Basilica, and St. Mark's area guided tour is your gateway to discovering the rich history and beauty of Venice. Immerse yourself in the heart of this enchanting city as you embark on a half-day journey through its iconic landmarks. This guided tour will take you on a captivating exploration of Piazza San Marco, where you'll gain valuable insights into the city's main highlights. From there, you'll venture to Rialto Bridge, passing by charming spots like Campo Santa Maria Formosa and Basilica of S. Giovanni and Paolo.

What to expect?

Get ready to be captivated by the grandeur of Venice as you step inside the magnificent Doge's Palace. Marvel at its fine decorated halls of power, the Golden Staircase, and the masterful artworks of Tiepolo. Cross the infamous Bridge of Sighs, renowned for its haunting history, and experience the old prisons where only the legendary Casanova managed to escape. The highlight of the tour is undoubtedly the breathtaking St. Mark's Basilica. Explore its secrets, immerse yourself in its history, and be awe-struck by the golden mosaics that adorn its stunning domes.

Who is this for?

This guided tour is for anyone who wants to uncover the hidden gems and historical significance of Venice. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a culture lover, or simply a curious traveler, this experience is designed for you. It caters to individuals and groups, ensuring an inclusive and immersive journey for all. Embark on this adventure with friends, family, or even solo, and let the beauty of Venice leave a lasting impression on you.

Why book this?

By booking this guided tour, you'll gain exclusive access to the wealth of knowledge and expertise of your guide. They will unveil the captivating stories and legends behind each landmark, allowing you to fully appreciate the architectural marvels and historical significance of Venice. From the famed Piazza San Marco to the awe-inspiring Basilica di San Marco, every step of the tour promises to be a fascinating experience. Plus, with the convenience of an audio guide, you'll have the freedom to explore over 200 Venice highlights at your own pace.

Good to know

Before embarking on this tour, make sure to be at the meeting point, a brown wooden newsstand with a yellow sign that reads "MEETING POINT," located at Calle Larga de l'Ascension, St. Mark's Square, in front of the Post Office, 15 minutes before the departure time. The total duration of the tour is approximately 210 minutes, with each step offering unique insights into Venice's history and culture. Additionally, you'll enjoy the opportunity to visit a Glass Factory near Saint Mark's Square, where you can witness the skillful craftsmanship of Venetian glassblowers.

Reviews

Those who have embarked on this guided tour praise the knowledgeable and engaging guides who expertly bring Venice's history to life. Visitors are delighted by the chance to see the mesmerizing golden mosaics inside St. Mark's Basilica, with many considering it a true highlight of the experience. The exploration of Doge's Palace, including the Bridge of Sighs and the old prisons, has left a lasting impression on travelers, appreciating the depth of the historical context provided by the guides. Overall, the Venice must-see guided tour has been lauded as an essential and unforgettable experience for anyone visiting the magical city of Venice.

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

Learning about the past of this charming city while walking along the historical streets of Venice! Walk through the Piazza San Marco with a qualified and experienced guide in order to learn Venetian history before the viewing of the main monuments in this area, including the Basilica San Marco, Palazzo Ducale, Bell Tower, Clock Tower and Procuratie. You will admire Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Campo SS. Giovanni e Paolo (the “Pantheon” of Venice), the Great School of Charity before viewing Marco Polo’s House and the Malibran Theatre. Visit the stunning Rialto Bridge with its traditional market. Coming back to San Marco through the main shopping area known as Mercerie!

Doge's Palace

The Palazzo Ducale has been for centuries the seat of the Venetian political power. In its splendid rooms, plastered and immersed in hundreds of painting masterpieces, the Duke and his Council controlled the fate for thousand-years in the old Republic. You’ll live it together with a guide who will show you the halls of power, plunging you into a very special historical context: the European Middle Ages. You’ll be surprised by the details of the gold staircase and of the realism of the scenes depicted by many artists who have decorated this building.

Admission Included

Ponte dei Sospiri

(Pass by)

Relive the anguish of the prisoners crossing the famous Bridge of Sighs, and entering the Venetian prisons, famous for hosting Giacomo Casanova.

Basilica di San Marco

Follow a tour guide through St. Mark's Basilica, one of the most majestic cathedrals in the world. Learning about byzantine art and its religious background while taking a glimpse at the gold mosaics and marble floors. After the visit of the Basilica you will have the opportunity to visit a Glass Factory close to Saint Mark’s Square where you can see a Glass Craftsman at work. Please note this is a free of charge optional tour of approximately 20 minutes and it is not a part of the tour.

Admission Included

Museo Correr

(Pass by)

You may visit by yourself the other magnificent palaces around St. Mark’s Square as known as Procuratie. You will discover the Venetian way of life, Venetian paintings, library, coinage, sculpture. You will go back directly to the secrets of Venetian Empire and you will visit the area built by Napoleon and the rooms restored for Sissi Empress Austria

Reviews

(12)

3.2 (12)

Nishaan_N

Don’t waste your time or money on this tour. WORST experience ever. We had only 1 day in Venice and it was completely wasted. We booked a tour that clearly stated group of 10 or less. When we arrived we realised that there were 22 people. When we questioned the tour operator he was rude and dismissive. The headsets were not working trying to resolve this took over half an hour. Most importantly the guide could not speak English properly so we couldn’t understand a word. 5 minutes into the tour we left. We walked forever to find Venice tours offices. There we explained the issues and they were just as unhelpful. We had to call Viator and hold 3 times while in their office. We confirmed with Venice tours and Viator that we shall be refunded and we proceeded to buy our own tickets to see the one attraction that we had time to visit. Despite not going for the tour and not using any of the tour operators tickets and cancelling because we were lied to about the group size and the tour guide being fluent in English we still haven’t received a refund.

Rose_C

The tour was supposed to be 3 1/2 hours and they sent us for lunch in the middle. We didn’t get to see the dome and they didn’t offer a refund.

Kavita_K

Tour didn't start on time. Golden Basilica was closed on the day I booked by trip. The operators could have informed us by SMS or emails it's closed on that day,I could have arranged for something else than. But they never informed until we started the tour. Disappointed.

Anthony_D

This was our fourth of five tours booked through Viator and the only experience that did not meet expectations. Despite paying for it, we were not permitted to tour the inside of the Basilica. Before we started the walking tour, I informed our tour guide, Max, that my husband is disabled and struggles with long periods of walking and to please be cognizant of how far behind we would be. On every other tour, the guides would periodically wait for us to catch up. Not only did Max not keep track of who was with him, he did not care and we became lost in Venice in the pouring rain. We had to ask several people for help in order to find our way back. We finally made it back to the piazza a half hour before the tour resumed with the Doge Palace. We returned our headsets to Max and told him we were done with him. It was such a bad experience, that we refused to continue on to the Doge Palace. He did not even offer an apology. We will be seeking a refund

Vikram_A

We had a mixed experience. St Marks Basilica was closed during our visit. Despite the tour company knowing in advance we were not given an option to cancel or reschedule. Furthermore after the tour started we were told we had to take a “break” and then return to complete the Doge Palace portion. They also extended the walking tour without giving any sense of how long it would be. Given we had elderly family members and young children (plus rain!) we may have opted to do something else / shorter. In the positive, the tour guide was extremely knowledgeable even though his style was a bit pedantic.

530devinz

It was informative and we are glad we did it. I would recommend for your first trip to Venice. It wasn’t as engaging as some of the tours we have done elsewhere.

elizabethrE9484GX

We really enjoyed our guide who was very knowledgeable and entertaining. Walking through the narrow streets of Venice was fascinating, and seeing the extravagant beauty of St. Mark's Cathedral was awe-inspiring. Would highly recommend.

nik4nt

My 2 adult children and I took this tour, as our time was limited, and boy did it deliver! Excellent overview of Venice, all the highlights! A lot of walking, but a gondola ride and lunch break in the middle makes it work. And got to see and hear about areas in the city that we wouldn’t ordinarily have been able to see. The very best part was our guide Mosè. He was the greatest tour guide ever! He gave us just the right amount of history and interesting facts, but the best part was his enthusiasm and storytelling ability that just made it so wonderful. We really enjoyed this tour!

Ana_g

It was very expensive even skip the lines, at this time it is not worth to pay all this when is not included the bell's tower and St Marcos is not included the museum or top floor 😑 The guide it didn't speak enough English to explain things and the group was huge, for this prizes I was expecting max 10 people and we where at least 20. At this time where there is not a lot of tourists is better visit on your own the church and pay ticket to the Doges's Palace.... And the time only 2 hours cuz I miss the tour city and instead to find me where was the guide cuz I'm sure they could call them and wait 5 min I could do it but the leave us only there waiting 2 hours more

Deanna L

I am glad we booked a tour for this. We were able to go right in and the guide gave an amazing history and explanation of why things were set up like they were. Beautiful architecture. We would not have gotten as much out of our visit without a guided tour. No flash in some areas, so make sure your camera can compensate.
Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator
2024-04-26 10:32
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    Sorry, this date is sold out We recommend you try another date or try another product if your dates aren’t flexible.