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Welcome to Venice Small Group Tour: Basilica San Marco & Gondola Ride

4.5 (310)

Venice, IT

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Welcome to Venice Small Group Tour: Basilica San Marco & Gondola Ride! Experience the enchanting city of Venice like never before on this small-group tour. From historic landmarks like the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark's Basilica to hidden gems in the Cannaregio district, this tour will take you on a journey through the heart of Venice. Learn about the city's rich history, indulge in delicious cuisine, and explore off-the-beaten-path alleyways. And the highlight of the tour? A relaxing gondola ride through the picturesque canals of Venice. With only five people per gondola, this intimate experience will allow you to truly immerse yourself in the beauty of the city. Don't miss out on this unforgettable adventure in Venice. Book your spot now!

About this experience

Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
Admission Included
3 hours
Suitable for 1-12 Participants
Private Tour, Small Group Tour
& Audio GuidedGuided Experience

Highlights

Explore hidden gems in Cannaregio district
Visit the iconic Basilica di San Marco
Enjoy a relaxing gondola ride in Venice's canals
Learn about Venice's rich history and architecture
Get recommendations for local restaurants at Rialto Fish Market

Included

Gondola ride
Local english-speaking guide
Headset
Expertly guided walking tour

Not included

Gratuities
Hotel pick-up/drop-off
Guide (during gondola ride)
Ticket to st. mark's basilica

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More about this experience

Introduction

Welcome to Venice Small Group Tour: Basilica San Marco & Gondola Ride! Embark on an unforgettable journey through the enchanting city of Venice, where history and beauty come alive at every turn. This small-group tour is the perfect way to explore the highlights of this iconic city and discover its hidden gems. From the bustling Rialto Bridge to the majestic St. Mark's Basilica, you'll experience the best of Venice in just a few hours.

What to expect?

During this 180-minute tour, you can expect to be immersed in the rich history and culture of Venice. Your adventure begins at the central fountain of Campo San Giacomo di Rialto, where your knowledgeable guide will be waiting to lead you on an exploration of the city's most captivating sights. From the vibrant Rialto Fish Market to the charming district of Cannaregio, each step reveals a new layer of Venetian charm. You'll also have the chance to marvel at the breathtaking mosaics inside St. Mark's Basilica and experience the quintessential Venice experience - a gondola ride through the quiet canals.

Who is this for?

This tour is perfect for first-timers to Venice or anyone looking to discover the city's highlights in a short amount of time. Whether you're a history buff, an architecture enthusiast, or simply seeking a unique and memorable experience, this tour is designed for all ages and interests. The small-group setting ensures a personalized and intimate experience, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the beauty and history of Venice.

Why book this?

There are many reasons why you should book this Venice Small Group Tour. Firstly, having a knowledgeable guide by your side will make your experience even more enriching. They will provide you with fascinating insights and stories about the city's past that you won't find in a guidebook. Additionally, this tour takes you to places that many other tours overlook, allowing you to discover hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path locations. Finally, the highlight of this tour is undoubtedly the gondola ride, where you'll have the opportunity to relax and soak in the magical ambiance of Venice from the water.

Good to know

It's important to note that this tour lasts for 180 minutes, so be prepared for a moderate amount of walking. Comfortable shoes and clothing are recommended. The tour also includes a gondola ride, limited to only 5 people per gondola, ensuring an intimate and enjoyable experience. Please keep in mind that entrance to St. Mark's Basilica may have certain dress code requirements. Make sure to check the local regulations before your visit to ensure a smooth experience.

Reviews

Customers who have experienced this tour rave about the knowledgeable guides who bring Venice's history to life. They especially appreciate visiting less crowded areas and seeing the city from a unique perspective during the gondola ride. Many reviewers highlight the value of having a small group tour, as it allows for a more personalized and immersive experience. Overall, feedback is overwhelmingly positive, with visitors lauding the tour as a must-do when in Venice.

About this product

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

End point

Your Itinerary

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!

Cannaregio

Continue to the sestiere (district) of Cannaregio, home to some of the city’s hidden gems. Discover the house where Marco Polo once lived, and go to the unique Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli. 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. Meander through hidden alleyways, and hear tales of the city’s past.

Basilica di San Marco

Learn what it is like to live on the island today as you walk to St. Mark’s Square. Look inside St. Mark’s Basilica for a better understanding of how Venice built a mercantile empire that once spanned the entire Mediterranean. Gaze at exquisite mosaics and other treasures inside and hear how the city begged, borrowed and stole to grow from a tiny island to one of the biggest powers in the medieval world.

Admission Included

Bacino Orseolo

Your guide will then leave you to enjoy a 30-minute (approximately) gondola ride with a professional gondolier. Limited to only 5 people per gondola, this experience will be both intimate and relaxing. Punt through the quieter canals of Venice as you relax and enjoy the city at its best!

Additional information

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
During times of high tides, flooding, or heavy rain, the gondola ride may be substituted for another experience.
The Rialto Fish Market is closed on Sundays.
Our group tour utilizes multiple areas that are not wheelchair accessible. Those with wheelchairs should contact us so we can arrange your visit.
Walks / Devour complies with all local government regulations. Please refer to local government guidelines for the most up-to-date information.

Reviews

(310)

4.5 (310)

Melissa_H

Our experience with this tour was absolutely terrible, and I strongly advise others to avoid it. Here are the key reasons for my dissatisfaction: Inconsiderate and Rude Guide: Our guide, Alessandro, was shockingly rude and completely inconsiderate, particularly to the older members of the group. His pace was so fast that even those of us in our late 20s and early 30s struggled to keep up. The older participants were often left behind, some to the point of sitting out parts of the tour. Malfunctioning Audio Devices: Several people, including members of my group, received audio devices that did not work. When we informed Alessandro, he dismissively stated, "It is not my fault I am not responsible," leaving many of us unable to hear anything. No Photo Opportunities: Alessandro refused to stop for photos. When a family politely asked for a photo in front of a church, he rudely remarked, "Well these people do not care about what is here and what I am saying," and continued his monologue without pause. This was extremely disrespectful and unprofessional. Unplanned and Inaccessible Detour: The tour included a random stop at a glass factory that was not on the itinerary and was not accessible for those with mobility issues. This detour was clearly not planned with the needs of all participants in mind. Personal Agendas Over Tour Quality: Alessandro seemed more interested in walking past shops owned by his "friends" rather than providing a meaningful and informative tour. We spent more time being directed towards these shops than actually learning about the sights of Venice. Yet we weren't given time to shop either, he told us to go back on our own time. Overall, this tour was a complete waste of time and money. We learned very little about Venice, and the guide's attitude and actions made the experience highly unpleasant. I regret booking this tour and would not recommend it to anyone. The only nice thing was ending with a gondola ride. Rating: 1/5 Details: Date of Tour: June 1, 2024 Confirmation #: 1504029921 Booking Reference #: 1118463497

B273WAsarahh

We loved this introduction to Venice. Our guide made us laugh and kept us entertained. We learned so much about the original Venetians and how Venice has changed over the years. Everything we saw was neat and I highly recommend this tour. It is also nice that the gondola tour is set up for you and you don’t have to worry about that.

Todd_H

Had a limited amount of time in Venice and wanted to make the most of it. This was definitely a great choice. The walking tour was about 3 hours through a lot of small streets and more well known areas with a very knowledgeable local guide. Learned some architectural and historical info that would have been otherwise overlooked and lost. It culminated with a gondola ride...that was about 30 minutes. Each party on the tour got their own gondola. This was really tranquil and slow. Nice way to end day along small water ways off the beaten path. Thank you Grazia for being such a great guide and host in Venice.

Paul_O

Nicole was a great guide and fun to be with. Very informative and kept a good pace of moving things along but not so fast the group got scattered. The gondola ride will be a forever memorable experience.

Ailene_G

Our guide Mose was excellent! It waa a worthwhile walking tour - full of interesting information. The tour included interesting points of interests.

SSR78

I booked this tour in December as a Christmas present for my family on our much anticipated trip to Venice. 1 month before our tour date I was emailed saying they could not get tickets to St Marks Basilica but would take us to the outside of the building and tel us about the history. They offered a 6 euro refund for the inconvenience. An inconvenience? Once in a lifetime trip, and they removed a major component of the Venice visit. To say I am disappointed in an understatement. Be cautious before booking, you may not get the tour you wanted.

Madelyn_M

As we joined the group, I was questioning if my 20 and 21 year olds would appreciate this three hour walking tour (as we were already a bit tired), and the answer was YES! This was the highlight of our trip to Venice. The guide, Alessandro, was so passionate about Venice, it was as if we had our own private historian to share his love of the city. He was also absolutely hilarious, even though he wasn't trying to be. He took us to spots we wouldn't have seen on our own and provided interesting details, along with recommendations on what restaurants and shops to visit, and those to avoid! The cathedral part of the tour wasn't available but we saw a glass blowing demonstration instead, and it ended with an absolutely stunning gondola ride. This was an absolutely incredible experience start to finish.

David_B

The Gondola ride and St Marks were wonderful. The rating is because of the way you get to the only things worthwhile on the tour. Our guide seemed to just be killing time with boring talk about Venice. When we did get to anything good such as the old bridge we were rushed away to get to the bathroom spot. We did get 10 minutes on the fish market and 10 minutes on Marco Polo standing outside a restaurant. Would not recommend save your money and book your own gondola ride and walk to St Mark's on your own.

Yanjing_Z

Elena was excellent, so funny and knowledgable and made the experience very special. My 11 years old daughter and I thoroughly enjoy it.

Raymond_G

Touring the town and learning about its history plus gondola was amazing. Our guide, Emanuel, was raised in Venice and shared his love and pride of his beautiful city.

Collected by Evendo & our supplier partners

2024-06-15 11:52