Venice Grandeur: St. Mark's Basilica Terrace & Doge's Palace VIP
Delve into Venetian history on a tour showcasing the city's most iconic structures—St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace—as an expert guide sheds light on the stories behind both iconic attractions. Skip the line into the legendary St. Mark's Basilica, where you’ll wander through the mosaic-clad interior and even step onto the balcony overlooking Piazza San Marco—reserved for only a select few! Then, continue to the Doge's Palace and step into the political heart of a powerful empire.
Reviews
Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)
3 stars
5 stars
Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
VancouverLeslie, 11/5/2025 2:48:16 PM
Our tour group was supposed to be a maximum of 20, but our group had 25. Upon meeting our guide, we were told we would be in St. Marks Basilica from 9-10pm, making this a much longer tour than was listed. This tour of both sites gave us access after closing time without the crowds for sure. While the description said “Enjoy a Doge's Palace night tour alone after the doors close to the public”, what was not mentioned is that there were several “Walks” tour groups touring during this time. “We’ll take you right to the heart of Venice’s power and history on our Doge’s Palace night tour, from the Doge’s own lavish apartments to the Hall of the Great Council, where the city’s all-important general assembly made decisions before beautiful paintings by Veronese and Tintoretto”. We toured the Doge’s Palace and while our tour guide was very knowledgeable, she spent way too long describing the artists and art work and not the functioning of the government which is what I had hoped to hear. It was sort of tedious after the first 30 minutes.
Bernie_H, 11/1/2025 5:07:46 PM
Our family of four (two teenage boys) thoroughly enjoyed both attractions. Not having to queue and getting onto the terrace of St. Mark's Basilica was a massive bonus especially with two teenage boys! Our wonderful guide (Laura) was so passionate and knowledgeable and the use of the headphones made it very easy to hear her as there was so much information being passed on. Three hours is plenty to see both attractions and then to finish up going through the Bridge of Sighs was such a magical experience. Would highly recommend this tour!
Mark_R, 10/31/2025 1:08:08 PM
Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, understandable, and personal. The tour was packed with information and history. Having been to Venice once before, I can say that this tour really made all the difference in the world as I now have a much better understanding of the rich history of Venice.
Peter_B, 10/29/2025 6:31:09 AM
A must see tour. We have the first tour in the morning, and the place to ourselves for the first hour. Denise was absolutely fantastic! She was well informed, and we felt like we knew her for years.
Matthew_S, 10/29/2025 2:11:33 AM
Great tour. Learned so much about the history of Venice as well. Small group size allowed us to ask as many questions as we wanted.
Danielle_M, 10/27/2025 3:05:20 PM
What a lovely tour! Iole was an excellent guide. So knowledgeable, organized, and welcoming. Clear meeting instructions and an amazing tour packed full of information. We would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone wanting more out of their visit to beautiful Italy.
Effendy_C, 10/27/2025 3:04:30 PM
Our tour guide Iole is very knowlegeable about St. Mark Basilica and Doge's Palace. She is also very considerate to take care of all of us, to make sure we have fast entry to Doge's Palace, photo-taking opportunities, timely toilet break and short sitting rest so we were all comfortable while following her tour.
Madelaine_J, 10/24/2025 3:16:09 AM
Chiara was quite informed! Great knowledge of the vast history of the Venice. She made the best of bad weather day!
Victoria_P, 10/23/2025 1:37:28 PM
Very informative. Arianna was a wonderful guide. She made sure everyone was comfortable during the tour.
Ken_M, 10/21/2025 4:01:51 AM
This tour hits the two most amazing sites in Venice. A very thorough walk thru and explanation of the history and art descriptions. Nico is a superb guide.
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- 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.
- If access is restricted due to private events inside St. Mark's Basilica and/or Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible. This is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued.
- This tour is non-refundable. 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.
- Due to limited terrace ticket availability, access to the Pala d'Oro (Golden Altar) will be offered on select dates instead. This adjustment ensures you avoid long queues and still enjoy the basilica’s most treasured highlights during peak seasons.
- 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.
Departure point
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks 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.Return details
Delve into Venetian history on a tour showcasing the city's most iconic structures—St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace—as an expert guide sheds light on the stories behind both iconic attractions. Skip the line into the legendary St. Mark's Basilica, where you’ll wander through the mosaic-clad interior and even step onto the balcony overlooking Piazza San Marco—reserved for only a select few! Then, continue to the Doge's Palace and step into the political heart of a powerful empire.Redemption
• Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour start time for check-in. Out of courtesy to other guests, we’re unable to wait for latecomers. No refunds can be provided for late arrivals or no-shows. • 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. • Due to the religious nature of the Basilica, all individuals regardless of gender must cover their shoulders and knees. A scarf or shawl is acceptable. Walks cannot be held responsible for those denied entry. • Photography and filming are prohibited. Large bags and backpacks cannot be accommodated on this 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). • 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 St. Mark's Basilica and/or Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible. This is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued. • Due to limited terrace ticket availability, access to the Pala d'Oro (Golden Altar) will be offered on select dates instead. This adjustment ensures you avoid long queues and still enjoy the basilica’s most treasured highlights during peak seasons.If you cancel within 7 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
168 hours before travel date - 100% refund
Less than 168 hours before travel date - 0% refund