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Venice in A Day: St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace & Gondola Ride

4.6 · 732 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
6h
Group
Shared, up to 12 travellers
Guide languages
English
Start & pickup
09:30 · No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point
Tickets
Admission included
Booking
Instant confirmation · mobile ticket
Guidekin's take

Built for a first visit: timed guided entries to St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace, a walk over the Rialto into calmer districts and a shared gondola ride, with free time for lunch at your own cost.

A semi private tier exists; names must match photo ID at the basilica and shoulders and knees must be covered. 4.64 from 732 reviews at €99 per person.

In our comparison: #21 of 22 in Walking Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (see the comparison).

How we choose tours →Commissions never affect our verdicts.

Options and prices

2 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
Venice in A Day: St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace & Gondola RideThe page price€98
Semi Private Venice in a DaySemi Private: Max 12 guests Duration: 6 hours Included: Guided tour of St. Marks Basilica and Doge's Palace with tickets, walking tour of Rialto Bridge, shared gondola ride.€196

Children from €93 (ages 0 to 5). Option texts and prices come from the operator's listing; prices checked on Viator on 26 September 2026.

Included and not included

  • Timed-entry ticket and guided tour of Doge’s Palace
  • Timed-entry ticket and guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica (€12)
  • Walking tour of Rialto Bridge and Venice’s quieter areas
  • Expert English-speaking guide
  • 30-minute shared gondola ride
  • Free time for lunch
  • Lunch
  • Guide tips

Reviews

4.6
732 ratings
Viator 521 · Tripadvisor 211

91% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4★ or 5★: 668 of 732

Star breakdown of all 732 ratings

5 stars
601 · 82%
4 stars
67 · 9%
3 stars
26 · 4%
2 stars
11 · 2%
1 star
27 · 4%

What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the guides and coverage of the main sights, but some find the earpieces uncomfortable or hard to hear.

Praised

  • Engaging guides explaining Venetian history, artwork and architecture
  • An overview of the main sights that reviewers find useful for a first visit
  • The gondola ride as a welcome addition to the walking tour
  • Attentive guides who answer questions and keep the group together

Complaints

  • Some hear the guide clearly, while others struggle with earpieces that slip off or deliver poor audio
  • The walking and standing can be tiring, particularly in hot weather
  • Some enjoy the gondola ride, while others say gondoliers mostly talk to other drivers
  • Confusion over where to rejoin the group after the lunch break

Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (17 April 2026 to 2 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. Your guide will meet you between the two big columns in St. Mark’s Square (columns of San Marco & San Teodoro) located on the south side of the square, near the canal. A representative will be there holding a sign with ''The Tour Guy'' on it. · Open in Google Maps
Departure
09:30, daily except Sun; scheduled through December 2027 (operator schedule, seats confirmed at checkout)
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

Walking, children and accessibility

The operator's own notes, grouped by topic. Nothing here is added by Guidekin.

Walking and health

  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Accessibility

  • Strollers OK
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any walking impairments that require special assistance on our group tours. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages.

Good to know

  • Food included Free time for lunch
  • Children from €93 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 Walking Tours

TourPriceDurationRatingGroup
This tour · #21 of 22€996h4.64 (732)shared, max 12
Gondola Ride with Private Walking Tour in Venice€793h4.95 (325)private
Tour of The Real Hidden Venice€392h4.86 (2299)private
Venice: Commissario Brunetti Walking Tour for Donna Leon Fans€832h4.93 (178)shared

Ranked #21 of 22 in Walking Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €14 to €450, median €90; typical length 2h 30m. 9 of 22 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Compare all 22 Walking Tours

From €99 per adult · Venice in A Day: St Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace & Gondola Ride