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Best of Venice Private Tour: St. Mark's Doge Palace Gondola Ride

4.9 Excellent 128 reviews
|
4h 30m
|
Portuguese, English, Italian, French, Spanish
Free cancellation · up to 24 hours before Private tour Instant confirmation Live guide

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
128 reviews
5
122
4
4
3
2
2
0
1
0
Ratings collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor

Overview

Guidekin summary

A private day with an expert guide that strings together skip the line entry to St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace, the prisons, the Bridge of Sighs and a gondola ride. Knees and shoulders covered and an original photo ID for the basilica, no photos inside, food and tips extra; the order can follow your wishes. 4.94 from 128 reviews.

From the guide

Enjoy an exclusive tour of Venice with a private expert guide, and make the most of this incredible city and see all of the highlights. Begin in Saint Mark's Square for a perfect view of Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, the private chapel of the dukes of Venice until the 19th century. Get privileged access, and skip the long lines to enter the grand basilica and enjoy up-close views of the golden mosaics. Then skip the lines to the Doge's Palace to travel through 7 centuries of history as you see the palace prisons and court rooms, and stop on the Bridge of Sighs to see the last view of Venice that prisoners saw before they were locked in their cells. Your guide will then give recommendations for lunch, and after a short break continue your tour. Walk to the covered Rialto Bridge and discover the house where Marco Polo once lived. Go to the Renaissance church of the Campo Santa Maria Formosa, where you will end your perfect day true Venetian style in a private gondola ride

Compared with other Walking Tours

TourPriceDurationRatingGroup
This tour · #4 of 22€4504h 30m4.94 (128)private
Gondola Ride with Private Walking Tour in Venice€793h4.95 (325)private
Venice: Commissario Brunetti Walking Tour for Donna Leon Fans€832h4.93 (178)shared
Tour of The Real Hidden Venice€392h4.85 (2274)private

Ranked #4 of 22 in Walking Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €14 to €450, median €90; typical length 2h 30m. 9 of 22 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Compare all 22 Walking Tours

Schedule & Availability

Runs every day except Sun
Departures: 09:00, 10:00
Scheduled through September 2027

This tour runs every day except Sun, departing at 09:00, 10:00. Scheduled through September 2027. These are the operator’s scheduled departures, not a live seat count: availability is confirmed at checkout. Schedule last checked September 25, 2026.

What's Included

Skip the line tickets to St Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace
Doges Prison
Hall of the Great Council
Private Expert Local Guide
Marco Polo’s house
Campo Santa Maria Formosa
Bridge of Sighs
30 minute private gondola ride
Rialto bridge

What's Not Included

Food and drinks
Gratuities (optional)

Itinerary

Piazza San Marco Stop 1
Your experience of Venice begins in the iconic St Mark's square where you will also meet your guide.
15 min
Basilica di San Marco Stop 2
Next, skip the long lines and enter this beautiful and ornate basilica as your guide provides you with anecdotes of its history. An original, valid photo ID is required for entry to St. Mark's Basilica. Photocopies are not accepted.
1h
Admission included
Palazzo Ducale Stop 3
Next make your way to the Doge's Palace again with VIP entry, the political center of Venice. Your expert guide will share the secrets of the private hidden apartments, and you will see impressive halls such as the Hall of Great Council. The tour takes a more sinister turn as you visit the prison, as well as an extensive private weapons collection. Upon exiting, you will stop at the notorious Bridge of Sighs. After this visit, your guide will provide you with some great recommendations to stop to eat and have refreshments before continuing on your tour. The rest of the day will be spent on foot exploring the narrow winding streets to unexpected squares and bridges. Visit the Rialto bridge and see Marco Polo's house before stopping in Campo Santa Maria Formosa for your private gondola ride.
2h 30m
Admission included
Campo Santa Maria Formosa Stop 4
Your guide will escort you to your very own private gondola ride - the best way to complete a day in Venice! They will ensure you will have everything you need before embarking on a relaxing journey through the canals on your gondola.
30 min
Admission included

Departure & Return

Start point

In front of Chiesa di San Giacomo in Campo San Giacomo di Rialto. Your guide will be holding a LivTours sign.

Additional Information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • 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
  • Offered in: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. Please specify under “Additional notes” if you wish to book the tour in a language other than English.
  • Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter.
  • There is no photography allowed in St Marks basilica.
  • The itinerary described above is a suggested order of the various experiences. These may vary according to your personal requests or preferred starting time.
  • An original, valid photo ID is required for entry to St. Mark's Basilica. Photocopies are not accepted.
  • Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers’ full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the attraction.
  • The ticket includes a cost to enter St. Mark’s Basilica valued at 30 EUR per person.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

1+ daysFull refund
0-1 daysNo refund
From € 450 / person