Private Venice Tour: Doge’s Palace Early Entry & Basilica Terrace

Venice, Italy
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Duration3h
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TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Beat the crowds on a private early-morning tour of Venice’s most iconic landmarks. Enter Doge’s Palace at 8 am, one hour before general admission, with your own local guide, then visit St. Mark’s Basilica and its terraces for spectacular views over St. Mark’s Square and the Venetian Lagoon.

What's included

  • Exclusive early access to the Doge’s Palace
  • A private local English-speaking guide
  • St Marks Basilica Terrace and Museum
  • Skip-the-line ticket to St. Mark’s Basilica
  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
  • Gratuities

What to expect

  1. 15m
    Meet the personal guide for your private group at 8am in St. Mark's Square, before the crowds that fill it by midday have arrived. Your guide introduces the history of Venice's political and religious center, setting up the story of the two buildings you're about to enter.
  2. 1h 15m · Admission ticket included
    Step into the Doge's Palace on a specially secured early access, before the museum opens to the general public. Walk through the Hall of the Great Council, home to Tintoretto's largest painting, and the Doge's Apartments, hearing the history of Venetian politics, power struggles, and scandal along the way.
  3. St. Mark's Basilica
    1h · Admission ticket included
    Skip the line into St. Mark's Basilica, where your guide explains the Byzantine architecture, the golden mosaics overhead, and the basilica's connection to St. Mark himself. Climb to the upper level and step onto the balcony for views over St. Mark's Square, Doge's Palace, and the Venetian Lagoon.
  4. 30m · Admission ticket included
    Cross the Bridge of Sighs into the New Prisons, the cells that held the Venetian Republic's convicted. Small, windowless, and carved directly into the palace's stone foundations, they're a world away from the gilded halls you just walked through.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a yellow WalksDevour sign. This tour meets at Correr Museum in Piazza San Marco 52. Your guide will be waiting under the portico just outside the entrance of the museum.

End point

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.
  • Due to the religious nature of St. Mark's Basilica, all individuals regardless of gender must cover their shoulders and knees. You can bring extra covering (scarves, etc) to put on just before entering St. Mark's. Walks cannot be held responsible for those denied entry.
  • Sites visited during this tour are subject to occasional closures due to holy observances, high tides, and/or flooding. If a site closes, your guide will tour the exterior of the site. If time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour. If the local municipality restricts access due to high tide and there are no walkways available, it is the client’s responsibility to bring appropriate footwear (e.g., boots). For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.
  • No refund will be provided if high tide prevents certain parts of the tour, but adjustments to the route will be made for client safety and comfort.
  • All guests must supply their full name that matches a valid ID at the time of the booking. Should you fail to provide these, your reservation will be canceled. 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.

Cancellation policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
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€400.00 per person
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Operated by Walks - Italy & Spain · Booked through Viator
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