--- title: Venice In a Day St Mark's Doges Palace Gondola Ride and City Tour lang: en type: tour city: Venice country: Italy price: 115 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.8 reviews: 5114 duration_minutes: 240 duration_max_minutes: 360 languages: [en] guidekin_pick: Sights plus gondola? rank_in_category: 8 of 22 (Walking Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-10-03 data_updated: 2026-11-03 canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/tours/venice-in-a-day-st-mark-s-doges-palace-gondola-ride-and-city-tour/ --- # Venice In a Day St Mark's Doges Palace Gondola Ride and City Tour **Guidekin's take:** A first timer's full day: the Rialto fish market and back streets on foot, a gondola on the Grand Canal, then guided entries to St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace with the palace ticket pre reserved. The express tier drops the gondola; bad weather can swap the ride and closures are not refunded. 4.8 from 5114 reviews for 4h–6h. **Sights plus gondola?:** Choose Venice in a Day at €115 per person: both sights with tickets and a shared gondola; English only, closures not refunded. 4.8, 5114 reviews. Trade-off: Express tier excludes the gondola; closures not refunded. (last checked September 22, 2026) In our comparison: #8 of 22 in Walking Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview First time in Venice? Maximize your time in the city with a full-day itinerary that ticks off all the most memorable attractions. Stroll across the Rialto Bridge and browse the lively Rialto fish market, then hop aboard a traditional gondola for a romantic cruise along the Grand Canal. Next, access St. Mark’s Basilica and gaze in awe at the stunning gold mosaics. Finally, enjoy skip-the-line entrance to the grandiose Doge’s Palace. The 8:30am tour is limited to 20 people and includes a lunch break on your own, while the 8:15am tour does not include a lunch break (shorter duration of 4 hours) and a maximum of 25 people in your group. If you're short on time, you can also select our Venice Express Half Day Option at time of booking for a 4-hour expertly guided tour of Venice's highlights including St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace. ## Before you book - Meeting point: Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the… - Entry ticket included: skip the ticket desk - Max 20 people: shared group - 6 start times: between 08:15 and 11:00 - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Children from €107: ages 2 to 14 **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €115 per person for the Venice in a Day option; other options up to €580 - Duration: 4h–6h - Rating: 4.8/5 from 5114 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Operator: Walks - Italy & Spain - Group: Shared, up to 20 travellers · private option available - Guide languages: English - Tickets: Admission included - Start times: 08:15, 08:30, 08:45, 09:30, 10:00, 11:00 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03 ## Reviews 4.8 from 5114 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 95% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 4869 of 5114. - 5 stars: 4516 (88%) - 4 stars: 353 (7%) - 3 stars: 124 (2%) - 2 stars: 37 (1%) - 1 star: 84 (2%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers value the guides and broad coverage of Venice; extensive walking and stair climbing can be tiring. **Praised:** - Knowledgeable guides explain Venice's history and art with humour - A broad introduction to Venice helps visitors get their bearings - Gondola rides provide a relaxing change from the walking - Skipping admission queues at the palace and basilica **Complaints:** - Extensive walking and stair climbing can be tiring - Some find guides clear, while others struggle to understand their English - Earpiece problems make it harder to hear the commentary Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2026-09-22 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 | |---|---|---|---| | Venice in a Day | €115 / person | English | Including GONDOLA Ride: 8:15 AM - 4 hours guided tour Including GONDOLA Ride: 8:30 AM - Extended 6 hours version with lunch break Duration: 6 hours | | Private - Venice in a Day | €580 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Explore Venice from top to bottom in just one day, visit St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace & a picturesque gondola ride Duration: 6 hours | ## What's included - Rialto Fish Market - Gondola Ride (Venice Express Half Day Option excluded) - Local English-speaking guide - Pre-reserved ticket to the Doge's Palace (25€) - New Prisons - Rialto Bridge - Guided Walk of the back streets of Venice - Skip-the-line ticket for St. Mark's Basilica (12€) - Bridge of Sighs - House of Marco Polo ( exterior) ## Not included - Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off - Gratuities ## Itinerary 1. **Ponte di Rialto** (1h 45m; admission included) - Your tour starts at ground level with a guided walking tour of the city's most famous and most interesting sights. See the Rialto Bridge and learn about Venice's food culture at the Rialto Fish Market. Along the way hear tales of famous Venetians like Marco Polo as well as... 2. **Sightseeing & Photo Stop** (pass by, no stop) 3. **Casa di Marco Polo** (pass by, no stop) - Sightseeing & Photo Stop 4. **Canal Grande** (30m; admission included) - As your walking tour ends, take a gondola ride and cruise along the Grand Canal and into the quieter back canals of the city with a maximum of 5 people per vessel. Note: The gondola ride is not included in the Express option. 5. **San Marco** (45m) - Pause for a break. While it's not included in the tour, your guide will share plenty of great recommendations on where to grab a coffee and a snack. Note: No break will be provided if 8:15am Venice In a Day option or Express option selected. 6. **Basilica di San Marco** (1h; admission included) - After a short break for a snack on your own, reconvene at St. Mark's Square. Your tour includes pre-reserved skip-the-line tickets to enter St. Mark's Basilica to explore its stunning history, architecture, and art with your guide. Get up close to the beautiful gold mosaics... 7. **Palazzo Ducale** (2h; admission included) - Then it's on to Venice's other top sight—the Doge's Palace. Skip the line with pre-reserved tickets and enjoy the benefit of having an expert local guide as you navigate council rooms, audience halls, and masterpieces by Veronese and Tintoretto. 8. **Bridge Of Sighs** (pass by, no stop) - Sightseeing & Photo Stop ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 08:15, 08:30, 08:45, 09:30, 10:00, 11:00 - 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 outside the entrance of the Church of San Giacometto at Campo San Giacomo di Rialto 255, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJE-gXt9uxfkcRjSyeJkS95lk Ends: St. Mark's Square ## Good to know - Public transportation options are available nearby - Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness - Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers. - 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. - In case of unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather (heavy rain, strong wind, high tide) conditions that prevent the gondola ride from taking place or any operational or safety reasons beyond our control it may be substituted for another experience, but no refund will be provided. - Due to the religious nature of sites on this tour, all individuals (regardless of gender) must cover their shoulders and knees. It is acceptable to bring extra coverings to put on just before entering a holy site. Walks cannot be responsible for anyone denied entry. - All guests must supply their full name that matches a valid ID at the time of the booking. Should you fail to provide these, your reservation will be canceled. Name changes are not permitted. - Venice Express Option: Gondola is not included. - 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. - 8:30am tour is limited to 20 people and includes a lunch break on your own, while the 8:15am tour does not include a lunch break (shorter duration of 4 hours) and a maximum of 25 people in your group. - 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: This tour offers multiple options. Take a moment to choose the one that best suits your interests. ## Compared with other Walking Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #8 of 22** | €115 | 4h–6h | 4.8 (5114) | shared, max 20 | | [Gondola Ride with Private Walking Tour in Venice](/italy/venice/tours/gondola-ride-with-private-walking-tour-in-venice/?format=md) | €79 | 3h | 4.95 (325) | private | | [Tour of The Real Hidden Venice](/italy/venice/tours/tour-of-the-real-hidden-venice/?format=md) | €39 | 2h | 4.86 (2299) | private | | [Venice: Commissario Brunetti Walking Tour for Donna Leon Fans](/italy/venice/tours/venice-commissario-brunetti-walking-tour-for-donna-leon-fans/?format=md) | €83 | 2h | 4.93 (178) | shared | Ranked #8 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. Full list: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/walking-tours-venice/?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-in-a-day-st-mark-s-doges-palace-gondola-ride-and-city-tour/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/?format=md