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

4.9 · 130 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor 98% of star-rated reviews are 4★ or 5★ Venice Operated by LivTours Free cancellation · up to 24 hours before
Duration
4h 30m
Group
Private tour, your party only
Guide languages
Portuguese, English, Italian, French, Spanish
Start & pickup
09:00, 10:00 · No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point
Tickets
Admission included
Booking
Instant confirmation · mobile ticket
Guidekin's take

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 130 reviews.

In our comparison: #4 of 22 in Walking Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (see the comparison).

How we choose tours →Commissions never affect our verdicts.

Price and inclusions

One price for every traveller: €450 per adult.

Included and not 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
  • Food and drinks
  • Gratuities (optional)

Children from €199 (ages 3 to 17). Option texts and prices come from the operator's listing; prices checked on Viator on 3 October 2026.

Reviews

4.9
130 ratings
Tripadvisor 93 · Viator 37

98% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4★ or 5★: 128 of 130

Star breakdown of all 130 ratings

5 stars
124 · 95%
4 stars
4 · 3%
3 stars
2 · 2%
2 stars
0 · 0%
1 star
0 · 0%

What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the guides' knowledge and flexibility; some felt rushed during parts of the experience.

Praised

  • Clear explanations of Venice's history, art and culture
  • Tours tailored to travellers' interests and family needs
  • Guides who keep children and teenagers engaged
  • Skipping entry queues at the main sights
  • Gondola rides enjoyed as a way to finish the tour

Complaints

  • Some praised the relaxed pace while others felt rushed during parts of the experience
  • A few felt the experience fell short of expectations for the cost

Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (6 April 2024 to 29 September 2026). Refreshed as new reviews arrive; last checked 4 October 2026.

Latest reviews

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Ratings collected from Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.

Meeting point and route

Meeting point

Where
In front of Chiesa di San Giacomo in Campo San Giacomo di Rialto. Your guide will be holding a LivTours sign. · Open in Google Maps
Departure
09:00, 10:00, daily except Sun; scheduled through September 2027 (operator schedule, seats confirmed at checkout)
Pickup
No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point
Operator
LivTours; booking and payment are completed on Viator

Itinerary

About this tour, from the operator

Walking, children and accessibility

The operator's own notes, grouped by topic. Nothing here is added by Guidekin.

Walking and health

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Accessibility

  • Public transportation options are available nearby

Good to know

  • Min. 2 to book not for solo travellers
  • Food not included bring or buy your own
  • Children from €199 ages 3 to 17

Cancellation policy

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

  • 1+ days: Full refund
  • 0-1 days: No refund

Compared with other Walking Tours

TourPriceDurationRatingGroup
This tour · #4 of 22€4504h 30m4.94 (130)private
Gondola Ride with Private Walking Tour in Venice€793h4.95 (325)private
Tour of The Real Hidden Venice€392h4.86 (2299)private
Venice: Commissario Brunetti Walking Tour for Donna Leon Fans€832h4.93 (178)shared

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

From €450 per adult