--- title: Venice Deluxe Tour lang: en type: tour city: Venice country: Italy price: 220 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.98 reviews: 825 duration_minutes: 180 duration_max_minutes: 240 languages: [en] free_cancellation: "true" guidekin_pick: Semi private with a walk rank_in_category: 1 of 25 (Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-09-22 data_updated: 2026-10-04 canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/tours/venice-deluxe-tour/ --- # Venice Deluxe Tour **Guidekin's take:** A semi private walk around the St Mark's area with skip the line entry to the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica, plus stops on Venetian architecture, palaces and traditional crafts along the way. Knees and shoulders must be covered, large bags stay outside, and food and tips are not included. 4.98 from 825 reviews at €220 per person. In our comparison: #1 of 25 in Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview Semi-private walking tour of the main attractions in the St. Mark’s area, including skip-the-line entrance to the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica. Other highlights of this informative and entertaining 3-hour tour comprises hidden gems of Venetian architecture as well as insights into the history of Venice, its palaces and churches, and traditional crafts. The itinerary is designed to appeal to visitors looking for an authentic Venetian experience and the undivided attention of the passionate professional guide who is the heart and soul of this tour. ## Before you book - Meeting point: Please be informed that the meeting… - Entry ticket included: skip the ticket desk - Starts 11:15: one departure a day - Food not included: bring or buy your own - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Children from €220: ages 2 to 10 **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €220 per person - Duration: 3h–4h - Rating: 4.98/5 from 825 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: Antonio Barbini - Group: Shared tour - Guide languages: English - Tickets: Admission included - Start times: 11:15 - Booking: Confirmation within 48 hours, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-09-22 ## Reviews 4.98 from 825 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 100% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 821 of 825. - 5 stars: 817 (99%) - 4 stars: 4 (0%) - 3 stars: 3 (0%) - 2 stars: 0 (0%) - 1 star: 1 (0%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise the guide's historical storytelling and personal attention; the tour involves plenty of walking. **Praised:** - Engaging explanations of Venetian history, art and architecture - Personal attention, patient answers and stops tailored to interests - Skipping entrance queues at St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace - Stops for gelato and drinks, plus local restaurant tips **Complaints:** - Several mention plenty of walking between sights Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2025-07-08 to 2026-09-23); last checked 2026-10-04. ## What's included - Professional guide - Guaranteed to skip the long lines - Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica Skip The Line Entrance Fees ## Not included - Food and drinks - Gratuities ## Itinerary 1. **Your guide will illustrate all the major sights in this area that was the cen...** (1h 30m; admission included) - Your guide will illustrate all the major sights in this area that was the center of power in the days of the Venetian Republic, including the Doges' Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. 2. **Palazzo Ducale** (1h; admission included) - The centre of political power and the official residence of the Doge, the spectacular rooms are literally lined with priceless masterpieces. See the halls of power in which the government of the Most Serene Republic convened and visit the notorious Prison in which Casanova... 3. **St. Mark's Basilica** (30m; admission included) - Once the Doge's private chapel, the Basilica is covered in golden mosaics and priceless treasures. The iconic domes of the exterior top a loggia with the famous golden horses. 4. **Rialto** (pass by, no stop) - The oldest bridge over the Grand Canal, still lined with shops as it was in the Middle Ages it affords a breathtaking view of the magnificent palaces lining the canal banks. 5. **Scala Contarini del Bovolo** (pass by, no stop) - The spiral staircase of Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo is one of the hidden gems of Venice, tucked away in a side alley between the Rialto and St. Mark's Square ## Schedule - Runs: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat - Departures: 11:15 - Schedule last checked: 2026-09-22 - 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 Please be informed that the meeting point is in front of the Danieli Hotel just off St. Mark's Square. The hotel is the red Gothic building opposite the San Zaccaria waterbus stop. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJOftg_dexfkcRGAH57blpzDU Ends: back at the meeting point ## Good to know - Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller - Service animals allowed - Public transportation options are available nearby - Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap - Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries - Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health - Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness - Children must be accompanied by an adult - A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements - Large bags and rucksacks are also not allowed inside St Mark's Basilica. - In case of high tides or religious ceremonies preventing access to the interior of the Basilica, an extended tour of the outside of the basilica will be given instead. - The Doge’s Palace may also occasionally be closed to the public due to strikes, exceptional closures, state visits, or other special occasions. In that event, a possible alternative may be the Correr Museum in St. Mark’s Square with the Imperial Rooms and Venetian Collection. Entrance included in the Doge’s Palace ticket. - Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough participants to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund. - The number of admission tickets available for the interior of St. Mark's Basilica is limited and operates on a first-come first-served basis. In the event of no availability, you will be offered an alternative or full refund. - 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 - Access to St. Mark's Basilica now has a 72 hour cutoff time. Late bookings will be offered an alternative - 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. Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to St. Mark’s Basilica. - St Mark's Basilica tickets are priced at €12 per person for tour guides. - Not recommended for travelers with mobility issues ## Compared with other Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #1 of 25** | €220 | 3h–4h | 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 | | [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 #1 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/venice-deluxe-tour/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/?format=md