--- title: Legendary Venice Doge's Palace & St. Mark's with Exclusive Access lang: en type: tour city: Venice country: Italy price: 71 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.71 reviews: 6064 duration_minutes: 120 duration_max_minutes: 180 languages: [en, es] guidekin_pick: With the terraces? rank_in_category: 11 of 25 (Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-10-03 data_updated: 2026-10-04 canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/tours/legendary-venice-doge-s-palace-st-mark-s-with-exclusive-access/ --- # Legendary Venice Doge's Palace & St. Mark's with Exclusive Access **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 6064 reviews at €71 per person. **With the terraces?:** Both sites with tickets from €71 per person, English only, terraces excluded; choose the terrace tier for balcony access. 4.71, 6064 reviews. Trade-off: Closures may replace interiors without a refund. (last checked September 22, 2026) In our comparison: #11 of 25 in Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview With skip-the-line tickets and an expert guide, you’ll explore Venice’s top two landmarks, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, in just two unforgettable hours. Wander the gilded council rooms in the Doge's Palace, cross the Bridge of Sighs, uncover enthralling stories of power and politics, and marvel at the golden mosaic ceiling in St. Mark's Basilica. Note: If you select the Private Legendary Venice option (max 6 people) or Legendary Venice with Terraces option at time of booking, you’ll have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to admire beautiful views from the balcony over St. Mark's Square. These options have a tour duration of 3 hours. ## Before you book - Meeting point: Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the… - Entry ticket included: skip the ticket desk - Group size varies by option: small group from €89 · private from €325 - 9 start times: between 08:00 and 15:00 - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Children from €66: ages 2 to 14 **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €71 per person for the Legendary Venice No Terrace option; other options up to €325 - Duration: 2h–3h - Rating: 4.71/5 from 6064 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Operator: Walks - Italy & Spain - Group: Group size varies by option: small group from €89 · private from €325 - Guide languages: English, Spanish - Tickets: Admission included - Start times: 9 start times between 08:00 and 15:00 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03 ## Reviews 4.71 from 6064 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 93% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 5662 of 6064. - 5 stars: 5161 (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 (2026-09-21 to 2026-10-03); last checked 2026-10-04. ## Tour options Prices are the operator's current list price for two travellers (whole euros); options sold only to bigger parties say so; pick the option on the booking page. | Option | Price | Guide languages | Details | |---|---|---|---| | Legendary Venice No Terrace | €71 / person | English | Duration: 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. | | Legendary Venice Spanish Tour | €74 / person | Spanish | Duration: 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 | | Legendary Venice with terraces | €89 / person | English | Duration: 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. | | Doge's Palace Early Entry | €134 / person | English | Duration: 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. | | Private - Legendary Venice | €325 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Duration: 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. | ## What's 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) ## Not included - Gratuities - Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off ## Itinerary 1. **Piazza San Marco** (10m) - Begin in the world-famous St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) and take a moment to appreciate the breathtaking space laid out in front of you. Your guide will lay the foundation for your experience, setting the scene of centuries of Venetian history under the famed arched... 2. **Palazzo Ducale** (1h 30m; admission included) - Start your day at Palazzo Ducale, or Doge's Palace, home to the doge, or duke, of Venice and his seat of government. As your guide leads you through its grand chambers and council rooms, they'll point out paintings by renowned Venetian masters such as Veronese and Tintoretto.... 3. **Basilica di San Marco** (30m; admission included) - It's a short walk next door to St. Mark's Basilica, Venice's most important church. Skip the long lines and marvel at a breathtaking blend of Eastern and Western architecture, specifically the magnificent shimmering golden mosaic ceiling. As you tour the basilica, your guide... ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 9 start times between 08:00 and 15:00 - Schedule last checked: 2026-10-03 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund. ## Meeting point 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. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJ1a1MDdexfkcR2H65Jv-LxhI Ends: Tour ends in St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco). ## Good to know - Public transportation options are available nearby - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers. - 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. - No refund will be provided if high tide prevents certain parts of the tour, but adjustments to the route will be made for client safety and comfort. - If access is restricted due to private events inside St. Mark's Basilica and/or Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible. This is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued. - St. Mark’s Basilica can be subject to closures due to particular liturgical celebrations, especially during major religious holidays such as Easter or Christmas. In the event that the Basilica is closed, explanations will be provided from the outside. - Please note that a photo ID is required to visit the St. Marks Basilica. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument. - Please note: This tour offers multiple options. Take a moment to choose the one that best suits your interests. ## Compared with other Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #11 of 25** | €71 | 2h–3h | 4.71 (6064) | varies by option | | [Venice Deluxe Tour](/italy/venice/tours/venice-deluxe-tour/?format=md) | €220 | 3h | 4.98 (825) | shared | | [Private or Semi Doge's Palace & Saint Mark's Basilica Guided Tour](/italy/venice/tours/private-or-semi-doge-s-palace-saint-mark-s-basilica-guided-tour/?format=md) | €199 | 2h 30m | 4.97 (431) | private | | [Venice Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Semi-Private Tour, Max 6 People](/italy/venice/tours/venice-doge-s-palace-st-mark-s-semi-private-tour-max-6-people/?format=md) | €189 | 2h 30m | 4.96 (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. Full list: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/doge-palace-st-marks-tours/?format=md ## More in Venice - All Venice tours: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/tours/legendary-venice-doge-s-palace-st-mark-s-with-exclusive-access/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/?format=md