--- title: "Venice Tour: Skip-Line St Mark’s & Gondola Ride" lang: en type: tour city: Venice country: Italy price: 99 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.61 reviews: 527 duration_minutes: 180 languages: [en] rank_in_category: 22 of 25 (Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-10-03 data_updated: 2026-10-04 canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/tours/venice-tour-skip-line-st-mark-s-gondola-ride/ --- # Venice Tour: Skip-Line St Mark’s & Gondola Ride **Guidekin's take:** 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. 4.61 from 527 reviews at €99 per person. In our comparison: #22 of 25 in Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview 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. ## Before you book - Meeting point: Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the… - 5 start times: between 09:30 and 15:00 - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Children from €94: ages 2 to 14 **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €99 per person for the Welcome to Venice option; other options up to €350 - Duration: 3h - Rating: 4.61/5 from 527 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Operator: Walks - Italy & Spain - Group: Shared tour · private option available - Guide languages: English - Start times: 09:30, 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:00 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03 ## Reviews 4.61 from 527 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 91% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 482 of 527. - 5 stars: 424 (80%) - 4 stars: 58 (11%) - 3 stars: 11 (2%) - 2 stars: 8 (2%) - 1 star: 26 (5%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise the guides, quieter streets and gondola ride; some report that the included basilica visit was skipped. **Praised:** - Engaging guides explain Venetian history, architecture and daily life - Routes combine major sights with quieter streets visitors might miss - The gondola ride offers a different view of the city and a welcome finish - Guides adapt the walking pace and allow breaks when needed **Complaints:** - Some enter St Mark's Basilica, while others report the included visit was skipped Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2025-10-08 to 2026-09-28); 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 | |---|---|---|---| | Welcome to Venice | €99 / person | 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 | €350 / person (for 2+ people) | English | Duration: 3 hours With Gondola Ride: Learn the history of Venice, visit famous monuments, see St. Mark’s Basilica, and a gondola ride down the enchanting canals. | ## 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) ## Not included - Gratuities - Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off - Guide (during gondola ride) ## Itinerary 1. **Mercati di Rialto** (30m) - 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... 2. **Continue your walking tour to discover some of the city’s hidden gems** (50m) - 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. 3. **Museo di Palazzo Grimani** (pass by, no stop) - Pause to admire a unique mansion that belonged to a powerful Venetian family. 4. **Libreria Acqua alta** (10m) - 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... 5. **Basilica di San Marco** (30m; admission included) - 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... 6. **Your guide will then leave you to enjoy a 30-minute (approximately) gondola r...** (30m) - 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... ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 09:30, 10:00, 11:00, 14:00, 15:00 - 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 (also known as Campo San Giacometto). Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJE-gXt9uxfkcRjSyeJkS95lk Ends: In St. Mark's Square. ## Good to know - 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. ## Compared with other Doge's Palace & St Mark's Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #22 of 25** | €99 | 3h | 4.61 (527) | shared | | [Venice Deluxe Tour](/italy/venice/tours/venice-deluxe-tour/?format=md) | €220 | 3h | 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 | Ranked #22 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-tour-skip-line-st-mark-s-gondola-ride/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/?format=md