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Venice Gondola Ride, St Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Tour

Skip the line Instant confirmation E-Voucher

Activity Schedule

  • When does it run?

    Daily Except Sunday

  • Duration

    2.5 hours

  • Start time

    Doge's Palace + Basilica: 10:45am 

    Gondola ride (30 min): 3pm (All year) or 5:15pm (High season)

  • Meeting Point

    Make your way to Calle larga de l’Ascension 1256 - 30124 San Marco next to the post office. Look for the yellow sign "Meeting point" on the wooden kiosk.

  • Ending Point

    Doge's Palace 

Key Highlights

  • Embark on a classic gondola ride and follow it up with visits to two of Venice’s most famous sites
  • Pre-book your gondola to avoid in destination hassles
  • Take in the magnificent views of the palazzos from the gondola
  • Enjoy 30 minutes Classic gondola ride along the Grand Canal and smaller canals
  • Marvel at the fabulous treasures and learn about politics and scandals in old-time Venice
  • Enjoy a 2-hour walking tour of St. Mark’s Square, inside the Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace
  • Smartphone voucher accepted - no need to print!

Overview

Enjoy an epic Venice tour that combines a classic gondola ride and skip-the-line, guided visits to two of the main Venice attractions – St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.

The basic itinerary: 

  • Doge's Palace & Basilica departure at 10:45 am
  • From 1pm to 3pm approx 2 hours free time
  • Gondola ride departure at 5:15pm (only in high season) & 3pm ( All year)

Join an English speaking guide who will take you on a walking tour. Take in the buildings in the square before stepping inside the Doge's Palace "Palazzo Ducale", a magnificent combination of Byzantine, Gothic and Renaissance architecture, the centre of the Venetian Empire and the seat of the Venetian Government. The Doge’s Palace was once the residence of the Doge, the Chief Magistrate and leader of the Venetian Republic. Skip the line and explore the lavish chambers including the magnificent Golden Staircase, the world’s largest oil painting, ‘Paradise’, the prison from where the adventurer and womanizer Giacomo Casanova made a brilliant escape, and the renowned Bridge of Sighs!

Rush past the long queues and enjoy fast track entry to the greatest of Venice’s monuments, the St. Mark’s Basilica and save your greatest admiration for its most precious possession – the eye-popping Pala d'Oro, an exquisite altar screen made from hundreds of pieces of enamel stuck onto gold leaf and enriched precious gems.

Hear about the different roles played by the Doge and his counsellors and learn about the history of the Venetian legends as you make your way through the eerie, narrow passageways towards the prison cells.

Enjoy some leisurely time and explore on your own before your gondola ride.

Be transported back in time as your gondolier propels you along and feel part of an ancient Venetian tradition as you experience Venice the way the locals did for more than a thousand years.

Sit back and take in the views as you pass by the romantic façades. See the gondolier skillfully steer the gondola through the intricate waterways while you get involved in their friendly banter. As you glide along the Grand Canal, look up at the glorious palazzos above you.

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions

  • Guided Tour of Doge's Palace
  • Guided Tour on the first floor of the Saint Mark's Basilica
  • 30 minutes’ shared gondola ride 
  • Skip-the-Line entrance to the Saint Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace
  • Admission fees
  • Live tour commentary in English, Italian, German, French, Spanish
  • Audio headset for tour commentary

Exclusions

  • Upper floor of St Mark’s Basilica
  • Secret itineraries of Doge's Palace
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pick up and drop off
  • Food and Drink

Please note

Voucher information: No need to print! If you are travelling with a smartphone or a tablet you can present the voucher on your device for this activity.

Print or show your voucher twice, once for the walking tour in the morning and once for the gondola in the afternoon.

Please call the local activity operator at least 24 hours prior to the start of the tour to confirm the departure details.

This tour in gondola is not guided. Shared gondola with max. 5 people per gondola;

Backpacks are not allowed inside the Basilica and Doge's Palace.

As we would visit a place of worship, please dress appropriately and ensure that your shoulders and knees must be covered inside the Basilica.

On very few occasions Saint Mark's Basilica may be closed due to religious ceremonies, public holidays, private events or high water and we are not always informed in advance.

At the end of the tour, keep your Doge's Palace ticket to visit: Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Saint Mark's square.

Customer Reviews

  • sharon noble

    Good value for money easy to book

  • Angela Wong

    The excursions itself was good but missing information of starting time.

  • Lynsey Flores
    Our Tour Guide was Wonderful!

    Great experience and would recommend it to anyone!...

    United States

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