St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Guided Tour with Gondola Ride
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.4/5
Based on 490 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Guided Tour with Gondola Ride worth booking?
St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Guided Tour with Gondola Ride is a 3-hour experience in Venice, Italy, from $100 per person. It scores 70 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 4.4/5 rating across 490 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 70 / 100
- Rating
- 4.4/5 (490)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- From
- $100 per person
Experience the best of Venice in one seamless tour combining St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and a classic gondola ride. Enjoy reserved entry and explore with an expert guide who brings the city’s history to life. St
What you get
About this experience
Experience the best of Venice in one seamless tour combining St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, and a classic gondola ride. Enjoy reserved entry and explore with an expert guide who brings the city’s history to life. Step inside iconic landmarks, glide through scenic canals, and discover Venice’s magic in a perfectly paced, unforgettable experience.
What's included
Included
- Learn from a knowledgeable English-speaking guide
- Experience Venice’s top landmarks in one seamless itinerary
- Discover the history of Venice at the Doge’s Palace
- Enjoy a 30-minute shared gondola ride through scenic canals
- Explore St. Mark’s Basilica with reserved access and expert guide
Not included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
- Food and beverages
What you'll see and do
Piazza San Marco
Start in the heart of Venice, St. Mark’s Square, where history, architecture, and atmosphere come together.
Pass by without stopping
St. Mark's Basilica
Step inside the Golden Basilica and uncover dazzling mosaics, soaring domes, and centuries of history brought to life by your expert guide.
45 minutes here · Admission included
Walk the halls of power in the Doge’s Palace, where Venice ruled the seas. Cross the Bridge of Sighs and discover the stories behind the Republic’s rise and fall.
90 minutes here · Admission included
Bridge Of Sighs
Pass by the iconic Bridge of Sighs, where prisoners once took their final glimpse of Venice before imprisonment, one of the city’s most hauntingly beautiful landmarks.
Pass by without stopping
Canal Grande
Let Venice unfold from the water as you glide along its charming canals, passing under bridges and beside timeless palaces on a shared gondola (No commentary included during the gondola ride.)
30 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Venice
Meet at Venice City Tour Office, Calle della Rasse 4536 (City Wonders Meeting Point). From St. Mark’s Square, head toward Doge’s Palace, continue past the Bridge of Sighs, then turn left onto Calle de le Rasse. Please arrive 15 minutes before departure.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Returns to the starting point
Options you can book
Private Tour
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes Experience the best of Venice: on a private tour of St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace, followed by a traditional gondola ride through its iconic canals.
Group Tour
Duration: 3 hours Best of Venice: Discover Venice with a guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, and a shared gondola ride, all in just a few hours.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- City Wonders Ltd
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note that entry to St. Mark’s Basilica is subject to a strict dress code. Guests must ensure that their shoulders and knees are covered. Visitors who do not comply with these requirements may be refused entry.
- Only small bags are allowed in St Mark's Basilica
- Due to St. Mark's Basilica security regulations, a PASSPORT OR VALID ID DOCUMENT IS MANDATORY to join this tour. It is your responsibility to ensure you have a valid document with you on tour. Passengers who fail to provide a valid proof of identity will be denied entry.
- Each gondola can host maximum 6 people; the seat aboard cannot be chosen but will be assigned by the gondolier.
- Please note that Gondola tours are not guaranteed in case of bad weather (rain, strong winds, high/low tide). The itinerary of gondola ride may change in the event of wind or bad weather
- The Municipality of Venice has introduced an Access Fee that applies on specific dates. To avoid any inconvenience, we recommend checking the official guidelines and completing the necessary registration through the provided link before your visit. (https://cda.ve.it/en/ Official Link for Registration)
- The official ticket price for St. Mark’s Basilica is €10.00 per person (standard entry)
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 490 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
490 verified traveler reviews for St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Guided Tour with Gondola Ride. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Your guide makes the difference!
The locations are incredible, and will amaze you even without a guide. But our guide Valentina made this amazing place come alive!! I will NEVER visit another historicaly significant site without a CityWonders guide. Our guide clearly loves this city, it's rich history and traditions, and her passion for this place made our experience more than we ever imagined possible. THANK YOU for our memories!
via Tripadvisor
Horrible with cancellations and rebooking
Horrible with cancellations of tours. I had an 11 am tour booked at least a week before we left for vacation, which I had to re-book because of a previous tour cancellation by the provider. They reached out 3 days before, 11 am tour was cancelled, moving to 2 pm. I agreed, I show up after a confirmation email and message. I was told the tour was cancelled. Do yourself a favor a book directly with a tour operator like The Tour Guy or other. The problem is Viator is a second party that organizes trips, but does not have timely response between the person taking the trip and the operators. Hence the several cancellations or last-minute changes. I never write reviews that I had to share this. I tried to cut and paste my emails, but it wouldn’t allow me to.
Response from the operator: Dear Chip_W, Thank you for reaching out and sharing your feedback with us. We are truly sorry for the frustration, inconvenience, and disappointment caused by the changes and cancellation of your tour. We would like to clarify that whenever we need to move a booking or adjust a time, it is because the entry ticket times were officially changed by the venue itself. However, we completely understand how frustrating it is to receive short-notice changes and to arrive for a confirmed tour only to face a cancellation. We deeply apologize for the miscommunication and the impact this had on your vacation, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention.
via Viator
Elena was very...
Elena was very knowledgeable. Lots of walking but places to rest too. The gondola ride was scary the boat kept leaning to the right a lot.
via Viator
Wouldn’t book again, the...
Wouldn’t book again, the tour started late and the guide was very soft spoken and difficult to understand.
Response from the operator: Dear Kristen_M, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We sincerely apologize that your experience did not meet your expectations. We are sorry to hear that the tour started later than scheduled and that you had difficulty hearing and understanding the guide. Clear communication and a well-organized experience are extremely important to us, and we understand how frustrating it can be when these aspects fall short. Your comments have been noted and will be shared with our operations team and the guide involved so that we can address these concerns and improve the experience for future guests. We appreciate your feedback and regret that we were unable to provide the quality of service you expected.
via Viator
First time in Venice
Our guide was wonderful. She was so informative and I can’t imagine doing it without a wonderful tour guide. Highly recommend☺️
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $100 to $750
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 172
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Why this scores 70
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Guided Tour with Gondola Ride: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Venice.
How much does St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Guided Tour with Gondola Ride cost?
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Prices start at $100 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Venice usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Guided Tour with Gondola Ride take?
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Plan for about 3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Venice is not rushed.
Is St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Guided Tour with Gondola Ride worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 70 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.4/5 across 490 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Venice, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Guided Tour with Gondola Ride?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Guided Tour with Gondola Ride suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Guided Tour with Gondola Ride?
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Around 172 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Venice can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Venice and add a light layer if any part of the 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Guided Tour with Gondola Ride start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Venice within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Venice?
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On Outty we rank every Venice experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class with Wine in Venice, Eating Venice Small Group Food & Drinks Tour, Venice Bacaro Food Tour: Eat and Drink like a Venetian. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Venice?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Venice?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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