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St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace Guided Tour with Gondola Ride

4.6 · 1,341 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor 91% of star-rated reviews are 4★ or 5★ Venice Operated by The Tour Guy Free cancellation · up to 24 hours before Likely to sell out
Duration
3h 30m
Group
Group size varies by option: max 25 from €102 · max 12 from €171
Guide languages
English
Start & pickup
09:00, 09:30, 13:30, 14:00, 15:30 · No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point
Tickets
Admission included
Booking
Instant confirmation · mobile ticket
Guidekin's take

Timed entry tickets and guided visits of St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace, then a shared gondola ride to finish.

Knees and shoulders must be covered and the name on the ticket must match your ID; semi private and full day tiers exist, and food is not included. 4.63 from 1,341 reviews for 3h 30m.

In our comparison: #21 of 25 in Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (see the comparison).

How we choose tours →Commissions never affect our verdicts.

Options and prices

3 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. Guide languages on every option: English.

OptionWhat the operator saysFrom, per adult
Group Half-Day TourThe page priceSt. Mark's, Doge's & Gondola: Includes a small-group guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, and a shared gondola ride. Max 25 guests Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes€102
Group Full Day TourIncludes: St. Mark's, Doge's Palace, a 30-minute gondola ride, and a walking tour to Rialto Bridge Duration: 6 hours€153
Semi-Private Half-Day TourSt. Mark's, Doge's & Gondola: Includes a small-group guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, and a shared gondola ride. Max 12 Guests Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes€171

Children from €67 (ages 0 to 5). Option texts and prices come from the operator's listing; prices checked on Viator on 3 October 2026.

Included and not included

  • Timed entry ticket and guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica (valued at €12 per person)
  • Expert English-speaking guide
  • Timed entry ticket and guided tour of Doge’s Palace
  • 30-minute gondola ride (max 5 people shared experience)
  • Food and drinks
  • Guide tips

Reviews

4.6
1,341 ratings
Viator 1,018 · Tripadvisor 323

91% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4★ or 5★: 1,224 of 1,341

Star breakdown of all 1,341 ratings

5 stars
1,072 · 80%
4 stars
152 · 11%
3 stars
51 · 4%
2 stars
20 · 1%
1 star
46 · 3%

What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the guides' storytelling and enjoy the gondola finish; the walking, standing and stairs can be demanding

Praised

  • Knowledgeable guides who explain Venetian history with humour and stories
  • Guides who explain the meaning and history behind the artwork
  • Well organised visits combining the basilica and palace
  • Patient guides who accommodate tired travellers and mobility needs
  • A relaxing gondola ride to finish the sightseeing

Complaints

  • Extensive walking, stairs and standing can be difficult for travellers with limited mobility
  • Some find guides clear, while others struggle with unclear speech or poor audio
  • Heavy crowds at the basilica and palace

Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (28 August 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 Early. Between the two big columns in St. Mark’s Square (columns of San Marco and San Teodoro) located on the south side of the square, near the canal. Your guide will be holding a sign. · Open in Google Maps
Departure
09:00, 09:30, 13:30, 14:00, 15:30 daily; scheduled through November 2027 (operator schedule, seats confirmed at checkout)
Return
This activity ends back at the meeting point
Pickup
No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point
Operator
The Tour Guy; booking and payment are completed on Viator

Itinerary

About this tour, from the operator

This tour pairs Venice’s two most important landmarks with a 30-minute shared gondola ride. Use timed entry tickets to enter St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace with an expert guide. Learn fascinating details as you explore, from the basilica’s mosaics to the palace’s political history and prison passages. Finally, board a shared gondola, for a classic and memorable Venetian experience.

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

  • Food not included bring or buy your own
  • Children from €67 ages 0 to 5

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 Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours

TourPriceDurationRatingGroup
This tour · #21 of 25€1033h 30m4.63 (1341)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 #21 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 €103 per adult · Group Half-Day Tour