Guided Tours

St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Name: St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Start: 2026-04-18T09:30:00
End: 2026-04-18T11:00:00
Location: Venice

Interior of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, showcasing ornate mosaics and architecture.

Tourists sitting outside St Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy.

St. Mark's Basilica interior with ornate columns and statues, Venice, Italy.

Tourists exploring St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice with a guidebook.

Duration

1 hr 30 min - 2 hr

Open today

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Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Guided tour

4.3/5

(2,703)

Vieille C

Group

Verified booking

4 days ago

A rich, fast-paced, and efficient tour led by Savina, who passionately shares the history of her city in excellent French. Incredible monuments. A wonderful experience (the basilica, the Doge’s Palace with the Bridge of Sighs, and a bonus visit to a glassworks with a demonstration). Highly recommended.

Laura A

Couple

Verified booking

3 days ago

Despite the change in schedule, the guided tour was very enjoyable. The Ducal Palace and the basilica were stunning. Our guide, Savina, was very knowledgeable and friendly. She was the real highlight.

Noel V

Group

Verified booking

Last week

The best part of the tour was our guide, Estela, who was absolutely delightful and a true professional throughout. Obviously, the monuments were also spectacular, although we couldn’t go inside the Basilica and could only see it from the outside (priests being priests, I suppose—not only do they charge to see a WORLD HERITAGE SITE, but they also have the audacity to decide whether groups get in or not, even after we’ve paid...) However, there was a minor hiccup during the tour—on the agency’s part, not the guide’s—regarding the codes for the included visits. Instead of giving us the correct code, they handed each visitor four pages of barcodes, and we had no idea what they were, which sites they were for, or anything at all. In fact, they didn’t work at the Ducal Palace, and the ONLY reason we were able to visit it was thanks to Estela’s intervention. Even so, they did work at the Correr Museum... That’s why I gave it four stars (for not being able to enter the Basilica and for the mess with the codes), but three of them are for Estela and her wonderful work.

Lola Q

Group

Verified booking

Mar 2026

We had a wonderful experience on this tour. The guide spoke very clear, easy-to-understand English and her voice was always audible, even in crowded areas. She was extremely knowledgeable about Venetian history and shared many interesting stories and details that we would never have learned on our own. What made the tour especially enjoyable was how engaging she was. She asked questions throughout the tour, which made it interactive and fun rather than just listening to a lecture. Her passion and pride for Venetian history really came through and made the experience much more meaningful. Overall, this was an informative, well-organized, and enjoyable tour. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to truly understand the history and culture of Venice.

Fernandez E

Group

Verified booking

Mar 2026

We took a guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace. It's best to have a good guide explain these kinds of visits so you can learn about the origin, history, and meaning of everything you see. As for the Bridge of Sighs, it's not a big deal. You walk across it inside, and there's nothing special about it except for the origin of its name.

Darren M

Group

Verified booking

Mar 2026

Our guide, Grace, was knowledgeable, thoughtful, philosophical and humorous. I had considered visiting St. Mark's without a guide, but in the end, she was indispensable.

Breeze past the queues and slip straight into Venice’s two most iconic landmarks without the wait.

With your guide as storyteller and curator, uncover hidden symbols, political intrigues, and legends that bring each room alive.

Walk through gilded chambers and frescoed halls where doges once ruled, then cross the Bridge of Sighs into the shadowy prisons.

Step into St. Mark’s Basilica, where 8,000 sq. m. of golden mosaics shimmer like starlight and marble floors echo centuries of worship.

Doge's Palace

Skip-the-line entry

Expert English, Italian, German, Spanish, French, or Portuguese-speaking guide

Access to Bridge of Sighs and New Prisons

Headsets for groups of 10+ people

St. Marks Basilica

Skip-the-line entry

Expert English, Italian, German, Spanish, or French-speaking guide

Headsets for groups of 10+ people

Hotel transfers

Audio guide

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

2,703 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from United States, Spain, France and over 27 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Noel V
Group
Verified booking
Last week
The best part of the tour was our guide, Estela, who was absolutely delightful and a true professional throughout. Obviously, the monuments were also spectacular, although we couldn’t go inside the Basilica and could only see it from the outside (priests being priests, I suppose—not only do they charge to see a WORLD HERITAGE SITE, but they also have the audacity to decide whether groups get in or not, even after we’ve paid...) However, there was a minor hiccup during the tour—on the agency’s part, not the guide’s—regarding the codes for the included visits. Instead of giving us the correct code, they handed each visitor four pages of barcodes, and we had no idea what they were, which sites they were for, or anything at all. In fact, they didn’t work at the Ducal Palace, and the ONLY reason we were able to visit it was thanks to Estela’s intervention. Even so, they did work at the Correr Museum... That’s why I gave it four stars (for not being able to enter the Basilica and for the mess with the codes), but three of them are for Estela and her wonderful work.
Vieille C
Group
Verified booking
4 days ago
A rich, fast-paced, and efficient tour led by Savina, who passionately shares the history of her city in excellent French. Incredible monuments. A wonderful experience (the basilica, the Doge’s Palace with the Bridge of Sighs, and a bonus visit to a glassworks with a demonstration). Highly recommended.
Laura A
Couple
Verified booking
3 days ago
Despite the change in schedule, the guided tour was very enjoyable. The Ducal Palace and the basilica were stunning. Our guide, Savina, was very knowledgeable and friendly. She was the real highlight.
Glen A
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
Had a tour of St Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace booked but ended up with Doge's Palace and a 15 minute tour of a Glass Factory ( which was essentially a shop) very disappointed
Dennis V
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
Guide was great, very informative and helpful. I would highly recommend this tour for the tour of both Saint Marks and Doge Palace.

Skip the lines and explore Venice’s political and spiritual heart with an expert guide who brings the city’s two greatest landmarks alive.

Getting started

Meet your guide at the starting point mentioned on your voucher. Show your ticket and ID for a quick security check. Enjoy fast-track access with minimal waiting time.

What to expect

Doge’s Palace

The former seat of Venetian power, it's famed for grand halls, Gothic façades, and dramatic prisons.

Features

Stand beneath Tintoretto’s Il Paradiso in the Grand Council Hall.

See Veronese’s Apotheosis of Venice in gilded chambers.

Cross the Bridge of Sighs into the stark palace prisons.

Your guide shares stories of political intrigue and Venetian power.

St. Mark’s Basilica

Venice’s “Church of Gold,” this basilica is celebrated for its glittering mosaics and Byzantine heritage.

Features

Admire 8,000 sq. m. of golden mosaics across domes and arches.

Discover relics of St. Mark and their journey to Venice.

Walk on marble floors and see treasures from the Byzantine world.

Learn how faith and wealth shaped the city’s most iconic church.

The Doge's Palace

Monday	9:00am - 7:00pm	last entry 6:00pm
Tuesday	9:00am - 7:00pm	last entry 6:00pm
Wednesday	9:00am - 7:00pm	last entry 6:00pm
Thursday	9:00am - 7:00pm	last entry 6:00pm
Friday	9:00am - 7:00pm	last entry 6:00pm
Saturday	9:00am - 7:00pm	last entry 6:00pm
Sunday	9:00am - 7:00pm	last entry 6:00pm

St. Mark's Square

Monday	12:00am - 11:59pm
Tuesday	12:00am - 11:59pm
Wednesday	12:00am - 11:59pm
Thursday	12:00am - 11:59pm
Friday	12:00am - 11:59pm
Saturday	12:00am - 11:59pm
Sunday	12:00am - 11:59pm

St. Mark's Basilica

Monday	9:30am - 5:15pm	last entry 4:45pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 5:15pm	last entry 4:45pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 5:15pm	last entry 4:45pm
Thursday	9:30am - 5:15pm	last entry 4:45pm
Friday	9:30am - 5:15pm	last entry 4:45pm
Saturday	9:30am - 5:15pm	last entry 4:45pm
Sunday	2:00pm - 5:15pm	last entry 4:45pm

Correr Museum

Monday	10:00am - 6:00pm	last entry 5:00pm
Tuesday	10:00am - 6:00pm	last entry 5:00pm
Wednesday	10:00am - 6:00pm	last entry 5:00pm
Thursday	10:00am - 6:00pm	last entry 5:00pm
Friday	10:00am - 6:00pm	last entry 5:00pm
Saturday	10:00am - 6:00pm	last entry 5:00pm
Sunday	10:00am - 6:00pm	last entry 5:00pm

What to bring

Valid ID matching the name on the ticket and the voucher received in email to the meeting point.

What's not allowed

Flash/tripod/commercial photography at the Doge's Palace

Photography at St. Marks Basilica is forbidden

Accessibility

Both venues are wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible, although the Secret Itineraries tour at the Doge's Palace is not suitable for wheelchair users

A ramp is available at the Porta del Fiori (Door of Flowers) entrance on the left-hand side of the basilica.

Additional information

All guests must wear clothing that covers their shoulders and knees to enter the basilica.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.