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Legendary Venice Doge's Palace & St. Mark's with Exclusive Access

4.7 · 6,064 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor 93% of star-rated reviews are 4★ or 5★ Venice Operated by Walks - Italy & Spain Skip the line
Duration
2h–3h
Group
Group size varies by option: small group from €89 · private from €325
Guide languages
English, Spanish
Start & pickup
9 start times between 08:00 and 15:00 · No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point
Tickets
Admission included
Booking
Instant confirmation · mobile ticket
Guidekin's take

Skip the line into the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica with a guide in a couple of hours, crossing the Bridge of Sighs and the New Prisons on the way.

Tiers add the basilica terraces or early palace entry; sites can close for high tide or services with no refund, and hotel pickup is not included. 4.71 from 6,064 reviews at €71 per person.

Best for: Both sites with tickets from €71 per person, English only, terraces excluded; choose the terrace tier for balcony access. 4.71, 6,064 reviews. Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours comparison

Trade-off: Closures may replace interiors without a refund.

In our comparison: #11 of 25 in Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (see the comparison).

Editorial check: September 22, 2026How we choose tours →Commissions never affect our verdicts.

Options and prices

5 options from the operator, described in its own words. Prices are the operator's from-prices per adult for a party of two. Click an option to book it on Viator.

OptionWhat the operator saysFrom, per adult
Legendary Venice No TerraceThe page priceEnglishDuration: 2 hours St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's: Discover the Doge’s Palace and then skip the line into St. Mark's Basilica on this express English guided tour.€71
Legendary Venice Spanish TourSpanishDuration: 2 hours Spanish Group Tour(No Terrace): Join this Spanish language tour - explore Doge’s Palace & skip the line into St Mark’s Basilica on this 2-hour tour of Venice€74
Legendary Venice with terracesEnglishDuration: 3 hours Small Group Tour in English: Enjoy Venice’s top attractions—St. Mark’s Basilica w/ terraces, and the Doge’s Palace with an expert guide.€89
Doge's Palace Early EntryEnglishDuration: 3 hours VIP Doge's Palace & Basilica: Enjoy exclusive early entry to Doge's Palace, before the crowds, then explore St. Mark's Basilica and its terraces.€134
Private - Legendary VeniceEnglishDuration: 3 hours Private Tour w/ Terrace: Explore Venice’s top attractions—St. Mark’s Basilica & terraces, and the Doge’s Palace—on a private English guided tour.€325 for 2+ people

Children from €66 (ages 2 to 14). Option texts and prices come from the operator's listing; prices checked on Viator on 3 October 2026.

Included and not included

  • Pre-reserved ticket to the Doge's Palace (25 €)
  • Local English-speaking guide
  • Bell Tower in St. Mark's Square (exterior)
  • New Prisons
  • Marciana Library (exterior)
  • Exclusive access to the balcony of St. Mark's Basilica (if option selected)
  • Spanish Speaking guide (if option selected)
  • Skip-the-line ticket for St. Mark's Basilica (St. Mark's Basilica + Museum 24€)
  • Bridge of Sighs
  • St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)
  • Exclusive Early Entry to the Doge's Palace (if option selected)
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off

Reviews

4.7
6,064 ratings
Viator 3,266 · Tripadvisor 2,798

93% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4★ or 5★: 5,662 of 6,064

Star breakdown of all 6,064 ratings

5 stars
5,161 · 85%
4 stars
501 · 8%
3 stars
145 · 2%
2 stars
72 · 1%
1 star
185 · 3%

What reviewers say

Reviewers praise knowledgeable guides and quiet early palace access; some missed the basilica visit with the group.

Praised

  • Guides explain Venetian history and art clearly
  • Engaging stories and humour keep the commentary interesting
  • Early palace entry offers quieter rooms and fewer queues
  • Considerate guides maintain a relaxed pace and welcome questions

Complaints

  • Crowds inside the palace or basilica on some visits
  • Lots of walking and stairs to navigate
  • Some missed the basilica visit with the group

Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (21 September 2026 to 3 October 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
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets at Correr Museum in Piazza San Marco 52. Your guide will be waiting under the portico just outside the entrance of the museum. · Open in Google Maps
Departure
9 start times between 08:00 and 15:00 daily; scheduled through October 2027 (operator schedule, seats confirmed at checkout)
Return
Tour ends in St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco).
Pickup
No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point
Operator
Walks - Italy & Spain; 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
  • Sites visited during this tour are subject to occasional closures due to holy observances, high tides, and/or flooding. If a site closes, your guide will tour the exterior of the site. If time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour. If the local municipality restricts access due to high tide and there are no walkways available, it is the client’s responsibility to bring appropriate footwear (e.g., boots). For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.

Accessibility

  • Strollers OK
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.

Good to know

  • Children from €66 ages 2 to 14

Cancellation policy

If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

  • 3+ days: Full refund
  • 0-3 days: No refund

Compared with other Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours

TourPriceDurationRatingGroup
This tour · #11 of 25€712h–3h4.71 (6064)varies by option
Venice Deluxe Tour€2203h4.98 (825)shared
Private or Semi Doge's Palace & Saint Mark's Basilica Guided Tour€1992h 30m4.97 (431)private
Venice Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Semi-Private Tour, Max 6 People€1892h 30m4.96 (248)shared

Ranked #11 of 25 in Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €12 to €580, median €103; typical length 3h. 3 of 25 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Compare all 25 Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours

From €71 per adult · Legendary Venice No Terrace