St Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace with Secret Passages Access

4.7 (374 reviews) Venice, Italy
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Duration3h
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 20 travelers
Skip the linePriority entrance

Overview

A visit to Venice wouldn’t be the same without delving into its long and fascinating history as the world’s oldest republic. Go beyond the traditional route, stepping behind the scenes of the Doge’s Palace to explore the secret archives, offices, torture chambers, and the palace attic, home to top-security prison cells, including that of the famed Casanova! Finish next door at St. Mark's Basilica, combining a visit to Venice's top landmarks in one seamless tour.

Options

Private Doge’s Palace Tour

Secret Passages Special Access: Visit St. Mark's Basilica, hidden chambers & Casanova’s cell on a private Doge’s Palace tour reserved just for your group

VIP Secret Itineraries Doges Palace Tour

With St. Mark's Basilica: Small group of maximum 20 pax with Special access.

What's included

  • Torture chamber
  • Hall of the Great Council
  • Skip-the-line access to St. Mark's Basilica (12€)
  • Special access to the Doge’s Palace Secret itineraries
  • New Prisons
  • Expert Walks of Italy tour guide
  • Secret archives
  • St. Mark's Basilica
  • Bridge of Sighs
  • Skip-the-line Doge's Palace tickets
  • Casanova’s prison cell
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off

What to expect

  1. Palazzo Ducale
    2h 30m · Admission ticket included
    With your guide, a Venetian art expert and historian, enjoy skip-the-line access to the Doge's Palace and make a beeline for backstage. After a guard opens a special door, enter the hidden side of the palace to see the prison cell where Casanova was held, hear the unlikely tale of his escape, and visit the archives to learn how secrets were kept. See hidden council rooms to learn of the system of checks and balances that made Venice the world's oldest republic and enter the best general access areas such as huge audience rooms, ballrooms with incredible paintings by Veronese and Tintoretto, and the private apartments of the Duke of Venice. You even cross the famed Bridge of Sighs to see the New Prisons on this small-group tour.
  2. St. Mark's Basilica
    30m · Admission ticket included
    Your last highlight of the tour will a guided tour of Venice's most important church, St. Mark's Basilica. Admire the east-meets-west architecture and hear how most of the basilica's prized possessions ended up here by less than honest means.

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
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Due to Doge's Palace regulations, children under the age of 6 are not permitted inside the secret itineraries and therefore cannot take this tour.
  • Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
  • 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.
  • If access is restricted due to private events inside the Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible. This is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued.
  • This tour is not suitable for people who are claustrophobic.
  • This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
  • Guests should be prepared for a moderate level of physical activity, including standing for extended periods and climbing stairs, which may not be suitable for travelers with certain health conditions or mobility limitations.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Reviews

4.7 (374)
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€109.00 per person
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Operated by Walks - Italy & Spain · Booked through Viator
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