Venice Highlights:Doge's Palace,St. Mark's Basilica,Walking Tour
Description
Discover Venice on this unforgettable 4-hour walking tour of its iconic landmarks and hidden gems. Start at St. Mark’s Square, then explore Santa Maria Formosa, Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Marco Polo’s area, and Teatro Malibran. Walk the lively Mercerie to Rialto, Venice’s historic heart. Afterwards, enjoy skip-the-line access to St. Mark’s Basilica with its golden mosaics and the magnificent Doge’s Palace, former seat of Venetian power. This tour blends art, history, and storytelling, offering a rich introduction to Venice. Led by an expert guide, it’s a must for first-time visitors seeking the true soul of the city. You will love this tour for its perfect mix of must-see highlights, hidden corners, and unforgettable stories that bring Venice to life.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Heart of Venice - Begin your journey in the magnificent St. Mark's Square, the city's most famous landmark and the political, religious, and social center of Venice for centuries. Admire the elegant Procuratie, the soaring Bell Tower, the iconic Clock Tower, and the magnificent façade of St. Mark's Basilica while your guide reveals the fascinating stories behind this extraordinary square
Continue through the charming Venetian streets to Campo Santa Maria Formosa, one of the city's oldest and most picturesque squares. Discover the beautiful church designed by the famous Renaissance architect Mauro Codussi and learn about the legends and traditions that have shaped this peaceful corner of Venice.
Reach one of Venice's largest and most impressive squares, home to the magnificent Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, often called the "Pantheon of Venice" because many Venetian Doges are buried here. Admire the impressive monuments, the historic Scuola Grande di San Marco, and hear stories of Venice's powerful rulers and noble families.
Walk through narrow streets rich in history until you reach the area traditionally associated with Marco Polo's House, where the famous explorer is believed to have lived.
Nearby Marco Polo's house, admire the elegant Teatro Malibran, one of Venice's oldest opera houses, and discover its connection to the city's rich artistic and musical heritage.
Follow the lively Mercerie, Venice's historic shopping streets connecting St. Mark's Square with the Rialto district. Stroll among elegant boutiques, artisan shops, and hidden alleyways before arriving in the vibrant Rialto area, the commercial heart of Venice for over a thousand years, famous for its colorful atmosphere and fascinating history.
After the walking tour, skip the line and enter the spectacular St. Mark's Basilica, one of the world's most breathtaking churches. Admire its dazzling golden mosaics, precious marble floors, magnificent Byzantine architecture, and centuries of priceless treasures. Your guide will explain the history, symbolism, and artistic masterpieces that have made this extraordinary basilica the spiritual heart of Venice.
Complete your experience with a guided visit to the magnificent Doge's Palace, the former residence of the Doge and the seat of the Venetian Republic for nearly 1,000 years. Explore its lavish halls decorated with masterpieces by Tintoretto and Veronese, walk through the grand institutional chambers where Venice was governed, and cross the legendary Bridge of Sighs before visiting the historic prisons. Discover how one of the most powerful maritime republics in history ruled an empire that shaped the Mediterranean for centuries.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide
- No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
- Because of security checks, you might experience a line to get inside the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. You will skip the line for non-reserved tickets, but the security check is mandatory.
- Maximum of 25 people on each tour
- 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
- PLEASE PROVIDE THE FULL NAMES OF ALL TRAVELERS WHEN BOOKING. FAILURE TO PRESENT A VOUCHER WITH ALL TRAVELERS' FULL MANES AT THE TICKET OFFICE PRIOR TO ENTRY MAY RESULT IN DENIED ENTRY TO THE ATTRACTION.
- EACH TRAVELER MUST PRESENT A VALID PASSPORT OR ID DOCUMENT THAT MACHES THE NAME PROVIDED AT THE TIME OF BOOKING FOR SUCCESSFUL ENTRY TO ST. MARK'S BASILICA.
- Large bags and bulky backpacks are not permitted inside St. Mark's Basilica. A complimentary luggage deposit service is available nearby before entering the Basilica.
Reviews(13)
The history that was provided was at times overwhelming; not in a bad way. Our guide was very knowledgeable on all aspects of the tour. Alot of walking, wear comfortable shoes. I enjoyed St. Marks the best.
Emily was our guide for the walking tour and she took us to all these places we would never have seen on her own. They were off the beaten path and very beautiful! Denise was our guide for the rest of the tour and she was outstanding in giving excellent information about every little detail and answered every question that I had intelligently! Would go again in a minute!
Our guide was lovely! She was very knowledgeable and engaged with our group. She took time answering questions. Really enjoyed her.
Excellent and another walking tour that is recommended. We have done previously self guided tours and been disappointed however with a tour guide and good ear phones to hear everything and get excellent information. Highly recommend.
We didn't even get to do the tour. The tour operator switched the meeting place and we didn't get notified because we were already in Europe and didn't get the message. Couldn't reach the tour operator because number was changed and couldn't reach Viator either from the confirmation we received.
We did not switched the meeting point We change it at the beginning of March only 6 mounths before your reservation
Great tour. The best way to get detailed information on the sites in downtown Venice! Our guide was very informative who has lived in Venice her entire life!
The tours themselves were very informative and organized. Skip-the-line kept us out of the hot sun. Tour guides were extremely knowledgeable. Need better earbuds.
Hello, You offer this activity on the basis of 3.5 hours. This is not possible in less than four hours if the organization on site is good, which has not been the case! As we had booked Murano by boat from 1pm, it should have stuck BUT: appointment at 9am and departure for the ride at 9.30am. End of the walk around 11am and change of guide for the walk!!! + the dog palace + the basilica. The new guide indicates a duration of 4 hours for this!!! As we had already had the ride commented, we had to abandon the group to visit the palace and basilica alone in order to be on time for Murano at 1pm. SO WE HAVE TWO VISITS COMMENTED FOR NOTHING; WHO WILL REIMBURSE US??
Great tour! Highly recommend to take it while in Venice! Very well organized and planned. The tour guide was very nice and provided a lot of details from history of Venice.
Book on the internet the day before, for the beginning of the morning, not too long queue even during the Christmas holidays... Do not hesitate to pay 5€ for the treasure and especially go up to the stands for the view, paying also, because finally it is not lit to see the mosaics well , and the museum is very interesting with the 4 original bronze horses that are magnificent! the view on San Marco Square is exceptional, you must go up!!
