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Venice Tour: Skip-Line St Mark’s & Gondola Ride

4.6 Great 524 reviews
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3h
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English
Instant confirmation Live guide

Ratings & Reviews

4.6
524 reviews
5
421
4
58
3
11
2
8
1
26
Ratings collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor

Overview

Guidekin summary

A first visit walk past the Rialto Bridge, the fish market and a well known bookshop before skip the line entry to St Mark's Basilica, ending with a gondola ride the guide does not join; tiers without the gondola or fully private exist. The fish market is closed on Sundays and large bags are not allowed. 4.6 from 524 reviews at €99 per person.

From the guide

A first-timer to Venice, or don’t know where to begin your explorations? Over the course of this tour, experience many of the city’s top highlights. See the Rialto Bridge, fish market, historic mansions, and a quirky bookshop on a city walk before admiring the shimmering gold mosaics inside St. Mark’s Basilica. Plus enjoy a relaxing gondola ride and explore areas of the city that many tour groups miss. If you're short on time or want an introduction to Venice in just 2.5 hours, select the Welcome to Venice Express option at time of booking. Note: This option does not include a gondola ride.

Tour options

The operator sells this tour in 2 versions. Prices are the operator's current list for two travellers; the calendar shows the exact figure for your date and party.

Welcome to Venice

from €99 / person
Guide: English

Duration: 3 hours: Learn the history of Venice on a walking tour, skip-the-line access to St. Mark’s Basilica, and enjoy a gondola ride.

Private - Welcome to Venice

from €350 / person (for 2+ people)
Guide: English

Duration: 3 hours

What this option includes

With Gondola Ride: Learn the history of Venice, visit famous monuments, see St. Mark’s Basilica, and a gondola ride down the enchanting canals.

Compared with other Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours

TourPriceDurationRatingGroup
This tour · #22 of 26€993h4.6 (524)shared
Venice Deluxe Tour€2203h4.98 (825)shared
Private or Semi Doge's Palace & Saint Mark's Basilica Guided Tour€1992h 30m4.97 (421)private
Venice Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Semi-Private Tour, Max 6 People€1892h 30m4.96 (237)shared

Ranked #22 of 26 in Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €12 to €580, median €105; typical length 3h. 3 of 26 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Compare all 26 Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours

Schedule & Availability

Runs daily
Departures: 09:30, 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:00
Scheduled through June 2027

This tour runs daily, departing at 09:30, 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:00. Scheduled through June 2027. These are the operator’s scheduled departures, not a live seat count: availability is confirmed at checkout. Schedule last checked September 25, 2026.

What's Included

Famous local bookstore
Rialto Fish Market
Local English-speaking guide
Skip-the-line access to St. Mark's Basilica (12€)
Rialto Bridge
Expertly guided walking tour
Palazzo Grimani (exterior)
Gondola Ride (if option selected)
St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)

What's Not Included

Gratuities
Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Guide (during gondola ride)

Itinerary

Mercati di Rialto Stop 1
Meet near the Rialto Bridge and learn why it was initially considered a very bad idea to build it. Take a quick look at the Rialto Fish Market to learn about the long fishing history of the city and its famous cuisine. Get a couple of restaurant recommendations from your local guide!
30 min
Continue your walking tour to discover some of the city’s hidden gems Stop 2
You'll learn what it is like to live on the island today as you meander through hidden alleyways. See a remarkable statue by Verocchio on the Campo San Giovanni and Paolo, where you will also see a variety of typical Venetian architectural styles.
50 min
Museo di Palazzo Grimani Stop 3
Pause to admire a unique mansion that belonged to a powerful Venetian family.
Pass by
Libreria Acqua alta Stop 4
You'll learn what it is like to live on the island today as you meander through hidden alleyways, stopping along the way at a quirky Venetian bookstore with a stunning canal view and friendly resident cats. Your guide will wait outside, allowing you few minutes inside to explore on your own.
10 min
Basilica di San Marco Stop 5
With pre-reserved entry, you’ll bypass the often long lines and head inside this extraordinary church. Your expert guide will bring the basilica to life—revealing how its unique blend of eastern and western design came to be, uncovering the dramatic story of how St. Mark’s relics arrived in Venice, and helping you appreciate the shimmering gold mosaics that make this place unlike anywhere else in the world.
30 min
Admission included
Your guide will then leave you to enjoy a 30-minute (approximately) gondola r... Stop 6
Your guide will then leave you to enjoy a 30-minute (approximately) gondola ride with a professional gondolier. Limited to only 5 people per gondola, this experience will be both intimate and relaxing. Punt through the quieter canals of Venice as you relax and enjoy the city at its best! Note: the Welcome to Venice Express option does not include a gondola ride.
30 min

Departure & Return

Start 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 (also known as Campo San Giacometto).

End point

In St. Mark's Square.

Additional Information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
  • The Rialto Fish Market is closed on Sundays.
  • This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
  • Large bags, trolleys and backpacks cannot be accommodated on this tour.
  • During times of high tides, flooding, or heavy rain, the gondola ride may be substituted for another experience.
  • The full names of all participants must be provided at the time of booking and must match the names on the ID/Passport. Name changes are not permitted.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 3 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel within 3 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

3+ daysFull refund
0-3 daysNo refund
From € 99 / person