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Guided Tours

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

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 - 3 hr

Open today

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

Guided tour

4.3/5

(2,589)

Victoria Alomar Mercadal

Victoria

Sep 2025
Verified booking
4/5
Good option for an express visit of the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. Our guide Marina gave very good explanations. On the negative side the tour was supposed to have a duration of 3 hours and in the end it was 2 hours, in addition to taking us to a glass factory at the end, which does not appear anywhere and I think it should be indicated because it gave me the feeling that it was an activity to "spend" (the typical activity that they endorse to tourists). It is also indicated that the ticket is also valid for the Correr Museum and at the entrance to the museum we were inconvenienced, after insisting they finally let us in.
Bryan J LeBlanc

Bryan

Oct 2025
Verified booking
4/5
First, the skip-the-line feature is a savior in light of the lines of people waiting to get into both the Bascilica and Doge's palace. The tour allowed the group to get a LOT of information in the shortest amounr of time. Some of our party had previous done self-guided and said it did not compare to the guided tour. The ONLY complaint, the guides (we had one for each attraction) were quick to complete the tour(s) as they had another tour booked immediately afterward. So, the end of each felt a little rushed. However, we asked a lot of questions that were well answered during our tours.
David Andrew Carson

David

Oct 2025
Verified booking
4/5
The tour was good. Marina was knowledgeable and delivered so good info. She did have a bit of a strong Italian accent which was understandable as she was vanetian but it did make understanding her a little tricky at times. However the tour was good and we enjoyed it

    • 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.

    • Upgrade for terrace views at the basilica to see the sprawling Venetian lagoon beneath. Alternatively, take the Secret Itineraries tour at the Palace and walk an exclusive path through interrogation rooms, torture chambers, and Casanova’s legendary prison escape.

  • Doge's Palace

    • Skip-the-line entry

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

    • Access to Bridge of Sighs and New Prisons

    • Secret Itineraries tour (as per option selected)

    • Headsets for groups of 10+ people

    St. Marks Basilica

    • Skip-the-line entry

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

    • Terrace access (as per option selected)

    • Headsets for groups of 10+ people

    Additional access to

    • Correr Museum

    • Marciana Library

    • National Archeological Museum

    • History Gallery of Venice (as per option selected)

    • Hotel transfers

    • Audio guide

    • Guided tours of Correr Museum, Biblioteca Marciana, and Archeological Museum

  • These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

  • 4.3
    2,589 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.

    1.6K
    618
    139
    83
    149
    Guests from United States, France, United Kingdom and over 10 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Bryan J LeBlanc

    Bryan

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    4/5
    First, the skip-the-line feature is a savior in light of the lines of people waiting to get into both the Bascilica and Doge's palace. The tour allowed the group to get a LOT of information in the shortest amounr of time. Some of our party had previous done self-guided and said it did not compare to the guided tour. The ONLY complaint, the guides (we had one for each attraction) were quick to complete the tour(s) as they had another tour booked immediately afterward. So, the end of each felt a little rushed. However, we asked a lot of questions that were well answered during our tours.
    David Andrew Carson

    David

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    4/5
    The tour was good. Marina was knowledgeable and delivered so good info. She did have a bit of a strong Italian accent which was understandable as she was vanetian but it did make understanding her a little tricky at times. However the tour was good and we enjoyed it
    Sean Daniel Wilson

    Sean

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    4/5
    The tour guide Frederica was very knowledgeable, funny, and kept the tour interesting. The only constrictive piece of advice would be that the start time changed twice and there was no clear communication about this.
    Iordanescu Carmen Cristina

    Iordanescu

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Very interesting and competent comments from our guide Eliza. Skipping the queue was clearly an advantage. I highly recommend.
    Fernando Crovetto

    Fernando

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Our guide was very knowledgeable and gave us lots of information, loved it!

  • 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.

    Upgrades: Enhance your visit with terrace access for sweeping lagoon views, or take the Secret Itineraries tour for exclusive entry to hidden offices, interrogation rooms, torture chambers, and the infamous Pozzi and Piombi prisons.

  • The Doge's Palace

    Monday09:00am - 07:00pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Tuesday09:00am - 07:00pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Wednesday09:00am - 07:00pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Thursday09:00am - 07:00pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Friday09:00am - 07:00pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Saturday09:00am - 07:00pmlast entry 06:00pm
    Sunday09:00am - 07:00pmlast entry 06:00pm

    St. Mark's Square

    Monday12:00am - 11:59pm
    Tuesday12:00am - 11:59pm
    Wednesday12:00am - 11:59pm
    Thursday12:00am - 11:59pm
    Friday12:00am - 11:59pm
    Saturday12:00am - 11:59pm
    Sunday12:00am - 11:59pm

    St. Mark's Basilica

    Monday09:30am - 05:15pmlast entry 04:45pm
    Tuesday09:30am - 05:15pmlast entry 04:45pm
    Wednesday09:30am - 05:15pmlast entry 04:45pm
    Thursday09:30am - 05:15pmlast entry 04:45pm
    Friday09:30am - 05:15pmlast entry 04:45pm
    Saturday09:30am - 05:15pmlast entry 04:45pm
    Sunday02:00pm - 05:15pmlast entry 04:45pm

    Correr Museum

    Monday10:00am - 06:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Tuesday10:00am - 06:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Wednesday10:00am - 06:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Thursday10:00am - 06:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Friday10:00am - 06:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Saturday10:00am - 06:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Sunday10:00am - 06:00pmlast entry 05:00pm

  • 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.

    • The Correr Museum, Biblioteca Maricana and Archeological Museum can be enteres within 6 months from the date of booking.

    • 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.

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