--- title: Private or Semi Doge's Palace & Saint Mark's Basilica Guided Tour lang: en type: tour city: Venice country: Italy price: 199 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.97 reviews: 431 duration_minutes: 150 languages: [de, en, it, fr, es] free_cancellation: "true" guidekin_pick: Semi private or own? rank_in_category: 2 of 25 (Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-10-03 data_updated: 2026-11-03 canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/tours/private-or-semi-doge-s-palace-saint-mark-s-basilica-guided-tour/ --- # Private or Semi Doge's Palace & Saint Mark's Basilica Guided Tour **Guidekin's take:** Your own guide for St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace with skip the line entry to both, covering the great halls, prisons, weapons collection and Bridge of Sighs at your own pace; a semi private tier is also sold. Wheelchair accessible; original photo ID is required at the basilica. 4.97 from 431 reviews at €199 per person. **Semi private or own?:** Semi private, six max, English only, both sites at €199 per person; choose the private tier for your own guide, minimum two. 4.97, 431 reviews. Trade-off: Private tier needs two; original photo ID. (last checked September 22, 2026) In our comparison: #2 of 25 in Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview With this Exclusive Experience you will enjoy a comprehensive and engaging Tour of Venice's two most famous sites, Saint Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace, and all of it in your very own Private Group with your very own Private Guide! Savor the privileges of an intimate and personalized tour, which affords you the possibility of going at your own pace, and asking all the questions you wish! Enjoy Skip-the-line access to one of the world's most famous basilicas and to Venice's most important and historical Palazzo. Highlights include the tens of thousands square feet of Golden Mosaics adorning the interior of the Basilica, the Bridge of Sighs, and the scary prisons of the Doge's Palace, its impressive Gun Room and magnificent Hall of Great Council. ## Before you book - Meeting point: The meeting point is under the winged… - Entry ticket included: skip the ticket desk - Group size varies by option: small group from €199 · private from €285 - 7 start times: between 09:00 and 15:00 - Food not included: bring or buy your own - Wheelchair accessible: operator-marked - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Children from €184: ages 3 to 17 **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €199 per person for the Semi-Private Tour option; other options up to €285 - Duration: 2h 30m - Rating: 4.97/5 from 431 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: LivTours - Group: Group size varies by option: small group from €199 · private from €285 - Guide languages: German, English, Italian, French, Spanish - Tickets: Admission included - Start times: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03 ## Reviews 4.97 from 431 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 99% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 428 of 431. - 5 stars: 424 (98%) - 4 stars: 4 (1%) - 3 stars: 2 (0%) - 2 stars: 1 (0%) - 1 star: 0 (0%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise knowledgeable, attentive guides and a manageable pace; some visits still involve crowded sights. **Praised:** - Detailed explanations of Venetian history, art and architecture, often told with humour - Small groups allow questions and attention to individual interests - A manageable pace that balances explanations, walking and time to look around - Guides keep children and teenagers engaged with stories and tailored attention - Priority entry that helps guests avoid the main queues at the palace and basilica **Complaints:** - Some encounter crowds at the sights, while others describe quieter visits Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2026-04-08 to 2026-10-01); 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 | |---|---|---|---| | Semi-Private Tour | €199 / person | English | Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes: You will enjoy the luxury of a semi-private group of no more than six people allowing you to interact with your expert guide. | | Private Doge's Palace and Saint Mark's Basilica Walking Tour | €285 / person (for 2+ people) | English, Spanish, French, German, Italian | Private Tour: Enjoy the tour with your very own private tour guide. | ## What's included - Private Tour Guide - Exclusive Skip the Line Access to Doge's Palace - Exclusive Skip the Line Access into Saint Mark's Basilica - Admission to Palace Great Halls, Prisons and Weapon Collections and Bridge of Sighs ## Not included - Food and Drink - Gratuities ## Itinerary 1. **Piazza San Marco** (20m) - Your Doge's Palace and Saint Mark's Tour will begin in beautiful Piazza San Marco, where you will meet your Private Tour Guide. Begin your adventure into two of Venice's most famous sites in this most iconic and picture perfect square, learning all about its architecture,... 2. **Basilica di San Marco** (50m; admission included) - Your first official stop will be Saint Mark's Basilica. Enjoy exclusive and privileged skip the (long) line access, and enter straight into what is also known as the Golden Basilica. Here, your Private guide will show you and guide you through the interior of this incredible... 3. **Palazzo Ducale** (50m; admission included) - Exit the Basilica, and continue your tour by enjoying once again exclusive skip the line access to the Doge's Palace, the seat of Venice's government for centuries. You will be amazed by the secret stories your guide shares as you walk through the Doge’s private, luxurious... 4. **Ponte dei Sospiri** (10m) - After seeing the impressive collection of weapons, you will stop at the notorious Bridge of Sighs. Enjoy the view and snap some perfect pictures for your album at home. ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00 - Schedule last checked: 2026-10-03 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point The meeting point is under the winged lion's column in Saint Mark's Square, closest side to the Grand Canal. Your guide will be holding a LivTours sign. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJ56VPqLWxfkcRaklOR5K79ck Ends: back at the meeting point ## Good to know - Wheelchair accessible - Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller - 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 - 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. ## Compared with other Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #2 of 25** | €199 | 2h 30m | 4.97 (431) | varies by option | | [Venice Deluxe Tour](/italy/venice/tours/venice-deluxe-tour/?format=md) | €220 | 3h | 4.98 (825) | shared | | [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 | | [Doge's Palace & Saint Mark's After Hours Small Group Max 6 People](/italy/venice/tours/doge-s-palace-saint-mark-s-after-hours-small-group-max-6-people/?format=md) | €279 | 3h 30m | 4.96 (123) | shared | Ranked #2 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/private-or-semi-doge-s-palace-saint-mark-s-basilica-guided-tour/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/?format=md