--- title: "Venice's Best: Basilica, Doge's Palace, Gondola & History Gallery" lang: en type: tour city: Venice country: Italy price: 99 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.7 reviews: 3475 duration_minutes: 210 languages: [en, fr, es] free_cancellation: "true" guidekin_pick: Bundle with free cancellation rank_in_category: 18 of 22 (Walking Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-10-03 data_updated: 2026-10-12 canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/tours/venice-s-best-basilica-doge-s-palace-gondola-history-gallery/ --- # Venice's Best: Basilica, Doge's Palace, Gondola & History Gallery **Guidekin's take:** Guided visits of the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica with skip the line tickets, a pass for the Correr Museum, a history gallery with a VR film and a shared gondola ride. The museums are entered without a guide, the basilica needs ID and covered shoulders, and the gondola seats are shared. 4.7 from 3475 reviews for 3h 30m. In our comparison: #18 of 22 in Walking Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview Discover the enchanting history and art of Venice in this immersive 3-hour experience! Join an expert guide as you explore the stunning Doge’s Palace and the magnificent Saint Mark’s Basilica located in the heart of Piazza San Marco. Marvel at the artwork and dive into the rich history of the Venetian Republic. You’ll also stroll across the iconic Bridge of Sighs, a symbol of romance and intrigue! Next, indulge in a romantic gondola ride through the Grand Canal and its charming waterways. As you glide along, take in Venice's must-see highlights, including the famed Fenice Opera House, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and the stunning Santa Maria della Salute Church, among others. Finally, immerse yourself in a unique virtual reality experience as you float over the serene waters of the Grand Canal at sunset, witnessing centuries of history unfold. You’ll also get an insider’s view of the craftsmanship behind Venice's iconic gondolas with a close-up look at a detailed model. ## Before you book - Meeting point: From St. - Entry ticket included: skip the ticket desk - 9 start times: between 09:15 and 14:30 - Food not included: bring or buy your own - Children from €99: ages 6 to 14 **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €99 per person for the Premium English Tour +Gondola option; other options up to €139 - Duration: 3h 30m - Rating: 4.7/5 from 3475 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Likely to sell out - Operator: CITY TOURS CO. LTD - Group: Shared tour - Guide languages: English, French, Spanish - Tickets: Admission included - Start times: 9 start times between 09:15 and 14:30 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03 ## Reviews 4.7 from 3475 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 93% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 3225 of 3475. - 5 stars: 2875 (83%) - 4 stars: 350 (10%) - 3 stars: 129 (4%) - 2 stars: 46 (1%) - 1 star: 75 (2%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers value the historical context and gondola ride; audio problems can make the commentary hard to follow. **Praised:** - Guides add historical and artistic context to the palace and basilica - Friendly guides answer questions with patience and enthusiasm - Gondola rides are a highlight for many travellers - Priority entry helps avoid long admission queues **Complaints:** - Poor headset sound, loose earpieces and audio failures obscure the commentary - Some find guides clear, while others struggle to understand their English - Confusing directions to the meeting point and the separate gondola office - Some find the pace comfortable, while others feel rushed through the basilica Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2026-09-05 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 | |---|---|---|---| | Premium English Tour +Gondola | €99 / person | English | English Guided Tour: Enjoy a classic English-guided tour of the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, followed by a gondola ride. | | Classic Tour+Gondola Ride-Spa | €139 / person | Spanish | Spanish Guided Tour: Enjoy a classic Spanish-guided tour of the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, followed by a gondola ride. | | Classic Tour+Gondola Ride - Fr | €139 / person | French | French Guided Tour: Enjoy a classic French-guided tour of the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, followed by a gondola ride. | ## What's included - Shared 30-minute gondola ride - Guided tour of the Doge's Palace and Saint Mark's Basilica - Skip-the-line ticket to St. Mark's Basilica - Access to Museums in Saint Mark's Square (Correr Museum, Archeological Museum, and Marciana Library) - Skip-the-line ticket to Doge's Palace - History Gallery: a unique Vr experience of Venice in the past - 20-minute gondola introductory experience ## Not included - Hotel pick-up - Food and drinks - Guided tour of Museo Correr, Museo Nazionale Archologico, and Biblioteca Marciana ## Itinerary 1. **Piazza San Marco** (pass by, no stop) - St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco) is the heart of Venice and one of the most iconic squares in the world. Surrounded by historic landmarks like St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the Campanile, it’s a stunning open space that reflects the grandeur of the Venetian... 2. **Basilica di San Marco** (45m; admission included) - Then, you will enjoy an amazing guided tour to the historical and famous Golden Basilica. You will admire stunning gold mosaics and marble inlays of the floors, sitting comfortably while our guide will show you the represented biblical scenes, the history and the... 3. **Palazzo Ducale** (1h 30m; admission included) - A guided tour in the Doge’s Palace the old seat of the Venetian political power. In his splendid rooms, immersed in hundreds of masterpieces of painting, the Doge and his Council controlled the ancient Republic of Venice. A professional guide will escort you in the halls of... 4. **Canal Grande** (50m; admission included) - Enjoy a charming gondola ride through the most romantic waterways, passing under small bridges and along part of the Grand Canal! During your pleasant gondola ride you will admire the Mozart House, the famous La Fenice Theatre, Rio (Canal) “De le Ostreghe” and part of the... ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 9 start times between 09:15 and 14:30 - 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 From St. Mark’s Square, face the Basilica and turn right towards the Doge’s Palace. Continue past the Bridge of Sighs to Riva degli Schiavoni (the waterfront promenade). Walk for 2 minutes, then turn left into Calle de le Rasse. The Venice Tours Office is at number 4536. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJq4WRru2xfkcRd5NVFrIGP4c Ends: back at the meeting point ## Good to know - Public transportation options are available nearby - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - The official St. Mark's Basilica ticket price is €12.00 per person (standard) or €24.00 with terrace access; the remaining part of the price covers assistance at the meeting point, accompanied entry with a certified guide or host, access to the Venice Gallery with a dedicated VR experience, the use of an audio guide or radio system with earphones and sales costs. - A valid ID document is mandatory for security checks at the entrance to the Basilica. - Each gondola can host maximum 5 people; the seat aboard cannot be chosen but will be assigned by the gondolier depending of guests weight. - The gondola ride does not operate in case of exceptionally bad weather, high/low tide or local gondoliers strike (in these cases it can be postponed the days after otherwise it will be refunded) - The itinerary of gondola ride may change in the event of wind or bad weather - For the visit of the Basilica suitable clothing is required (no shorts) - 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 - Tour does not operate in case of exceptional high tide or in case of unplanned religious functions (in these cases it can be postponed to the day after otherwise it will be refunded) - Due to the security reason, luggage and bags are not allowed inside the Basilica and Doge Palace - 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. - Please note: The St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace visit is followed by the gondola ride. Depending on the schedule, there may be a break between these two parts of the experience. ## Compared with other Walking Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #18 of 22** | €99 | 3h 30m | 4.7 (3475) | shared | | [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 #18 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-s-best-basilica-doge-s-palace-gondola-history-gallery/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/?format=md