Venice Doge’s Palace & Basilica: The Legacy of the Roman Empire™

Duration2h - 4h

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish, Italian, French, Spanish

Group sizeUp to 20 travelers

Overview

What is this tour about?
Guided tour of the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica from an ambassador’s perspective. Follow the ceremonial route once reserved for foreign envoys and discover how Venice proudly claimed its Eastern Roman legacy.

Who are you during the visit?
You are not just a visitor, but an ambassador, sharing the viewpoint of those who once represented empires before the Doge.

What will you see?
St. Mark’s Basilica with its golden mosaics, the Doge’s Palace halls of power, and the prisons with the Bridge of Sighs.

How does the experience begin?
With a short VR introduction showing St. Mark’s Square through the centuries.

Can I upgrade the experience?
Yes. Add a gondola ride and experience Venice as ambassadors once did, arriving by water.

Doge's Palace and Basilica: The Legacy of the Roman Empire™ © Venice Tours S.r.l. Licensed to City Tours Co. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Options

Classic Basilica & doge Tour

Classic Guided Tour
Duration: 2 hours

Classic Basilica,Doge,Gondola

Classic Guided Tour
Duration: 3 hours

Premium Basilica,Doge,Gondola

Premium Guided Tour
Duration: 4 hours

Classic Basilica & Doge Tour

Classic Guided Tour
Duration: 2 hours

Premium Basilica & Doge Tour

Premium Guided Tour
Duration: 3 hours

What's included

Guided Tour to Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica
Optional Gondola Experience™ (20-min intro with the Gondola Gallery and VR & 30-min gondola ride)
Access to Museums in Saint Mark's Square (Correr & Archeological Museums and Marciana Library)
History Gallery VR Experience of St. Mark's Square in the past
Priority Ticket to Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica

Hotel pickup & Drop Off
Food & Drinks
Access to St. Mark's Basilica Pala d'Oro, Terrace, and Museum
Guided tour of Correr and National Archeological Museums, and Marciana Library

What to expect

Piazza San Marco
10m

Learning about the past of this charming city while walking along the historical streets of Venice!

Walk through the Piazza San Marco with a qualified and experienced guide in order to learn Venetian history before the viewing of the main monuments in this area, including the Basilica San Marco, Palazzo Ducale, Bell Tower, Clock Tower and Procuratie. You will admire Campo Santa Maria Formosa, Campo SS. Giovanni e Paolo (the “Pantheon” of Venice), the Great School of Charity before viewing Marco Polo’s House and the Malibran Theatre. Visit the stunning Rialto Bridge with its traditional market.

Coming back to San Marco through the main shopping area known as Mercerie!
Palazzo Ducale
1h 15m · Admission ticket included

The Palazzo Ducale has been for centuries the seat of the Venetian political power. In its splendid rooms, plastered and immersed in hundreds of painting masterpieces, the Duke and his Council controlled the fate for thousand-years in the old Republic. You’ll live it together with a guide who will show you the halls of power, plunging you into a very special historical context: the European Middle Ages. You’ll be surprised by the details of the gold staircase and of the realism of the scenes depicted by many artists who have decorated this building.
Ponte dei Sospiri
Pass by

Relive the anguish of the prisoners crossing the famous Bridge of Sighs, and entering the Venetian prisons, famous for hosting Giacomo Casanova.
Basilica di San Marco
1h · Admission ticket included

Follow a tour guide through St. Mark's Basilica, one of the most majestic cathedrals in the world. Learning about byzantine art and its religious background while taking a glimpse at the gold mosaics and marble floors.

After the visit of the Basilica you will have the opportunity to visit a Glass Factory close to Saint Mark’s Square where you can see a Glass Craftsman at work. Please note this is a free of charge optional tour of approximately 20 minutes and it is not a part of the tour.
Museo Correr
Pass by

You may visit by yourself the other magnificent palaces around St. Mark’s Square as known as Procuratie. You will discover the Venetian way of life, Venetian paintings, library, coinage, sculpture. You will go back directly to the secrets of Venetian Empire and you will visit the area built by Napoleon and the rooms restored for Sissi Empress Austria
Canal Grande
1h · Admission ticket included

Upgrade your experience with a gondola ride experience on the Grand Canal and smaller romantic canals.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

From St. Mark’s Square, face the Basilica and turn right towards the Doge’s Palace. Continue past the Bridge of Sighs to Riva degli Schiavoni (the waterfront promenade). Walk for 2 minutes, then turn left into Calle de le Rasse. The Venice Tours Office is at number 4536;

End point

From St. Mark’s Square, face the Basilica and turn right towards the Doge’s Palace. Continue past the Bridge of Sighs to Riva degli Schiavoni (the waterfront promenade). Walk for 2 minutes, then turn left into Calle de le Rasse. The Venice Tours Office is at number 4536;

Additional information

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
A valid ID document is mandatory for security checks at the entrance to the Basilica.
For security reasons, large bags and luggage are not permitted inside St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, or on the gondola.
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.
Tour does not operate in case of exceptional high tide or in case of unexpected religious functions (in these cases it can be postponed the days after otherwise it will be refunded)
For the visit of the Basilica suitable clothing is required (no shorts)
This tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not suitable for guests with walking disabilities.
In case of exceptionally high tide or extremely bad weather, parts of the tour may be canceled or rescheduled. If this occurs, an alternative tour or a new date may be offered.
Access to the Basilica may be restricted during religious services.
Each gondola accommodates a maximum of 5 passengers.
Seating is assigned by the gondolier to ensure proper weight balance.
The official St. Mark's Basilica ticket price is €12.00 per person (standard) or €24.00 with terrace access; the remaining part of the price covers assistance at the meeting point, accompanied entry with a certified guide or host, access to the Venice Gallery with a dedicated VR experience, the use of an audio guide or radio system with earphones and sales costs.
Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers’ full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the attraction.

Cancellation policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

Reviews

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