Skip The Line: Guided Tour of St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace + The Royal Palaces
Explore two of Venice's most iconic attractions with priority access; St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace. With a professional guide to accompany you, delve into their histories with gripping tales and facts as narrated throughout your tour. You will also be able to access several museums and benefit from a free glass blowing demonstration by a master craftsman!
Highlights
- Waltz into the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica with your priority access tickets, allowing you to skip the infamous queues.
- Enjoy a guided tour with our exemplary guide narrating interesting facts, important fragments of history and gripping tales.
- Explore other museums around St Mark's square( Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana) with the same ticket.
- Benefit from a free optional coupon to witness the famous Venetian glassblowing technique during a 20-minute demonstration near St. Mark's Square.
Your Experience
Plunge Into the Political History of Venice at the Doge's Palace
With this tour, you will get to visit two of the most emblematic attractions of Venice; St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace with priority access and a tour guide. The Doge's Palace is located in St Mark's Square and is one of the most fascinating and culturally rich monuments in Venice. Having been the seat of political and administrative power of the Venice Republic from its birth to its end, the Palazzo Ducale is a statement to the splendor of Venice. While you are here, devout all your attention to your guide as the halls and corridors of this building carry stories that will enthrall you no bound.
Explore the Opulent St. Mark's Basilica
After the palace, walk into Venice’s most majestic cathedral; St Mark’s Basilica. Lay your eyes on masterpieces of Byzantine art, colorful marble installations and shimmering gold mosaic art. Squinting your eyes when you enter the Basilica is only natural, thanks to the shimmering mosaics made with 24-carat gold leaves fused onto the back of the glass to exhibit divine light. Your tour guide is likely to conduct a session wherein you sit comfortably in a certain part of the church and he explains the biblical importance and peculiarities of this ancient basilica. Watch out for tales you may never have heard of before!
Enjoy Added Benefits Like Museum Access and a Glassblowing Demonstration
After the Basilica, you will have the opportunity to do the optional tour the Glass Craftsman Demonstration visiting a Glass Factory very close to Saint Mark’s square. Please follow the instruction that our staff will provide to you locally. This optional demonstration lasts for 20 minutes but could take longer than the scheduled time and we do not recommend participating if you have other reservations scheduled on the same day. This ticket also gives you access to a few other places of importance (Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana) around St Mark’s Square which you can set out to explore on your own. Note: All Museums restrict entry one hour before closing time.
This tour, great for Venice first-timers, is the best way to get the most out of your time and money. For only 55 EUR, you will get to visit several attractions and gain priority access to two of Venice's most iconic attractions, along with well-versed guides to accompany you.
Inclusions
- Shared guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica.
- Shared guided tour of Doge's Palace.
- Audio receiver devices in case of groups over 10 people.
- Skip the line ticket to the Doge’s Palace, Basilica and Pala d’Oro.
- Entrance ticket to Royal Palace now Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale.
- Glass Craftsman demonstration close to Saint Mark’s Square.
Know Before You Go
Important Information
- This tour will not be operational in case of exceptionally high tide or in case of religious functions (in both these cases the visit can be postponed or a refund will be provided).
- This is not a private tour and is to be shared with other guests not belonging to the same part.
- If there is a high turnout or for reasons of high tide or security problems, the waiting time to access St. Mark’s Basilica may be slightly longer than expected. In such cases, please do line up and respect the instructions provided by the guide.
Timings
The tour departs at 10:45 AM and lasts for 2 hours, not counting the complimentary glass demonstration. Please report to the meeting point at least 15 minutes before the departure time.
Guide Languages
Until October 31st, 2018, from Monday to Saturday:
- English, German, Spanish and French every day.
- Italian only on Saturday.
From November 2nd, 2018 to March 31st, 2019, from Monday to Saturday:
- English: Every day.
- German: Monday and Friday.
- French: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
- Spanish: Wednesday and Saturday.
Blackout Dates
This tour does not operate on the following dates:
- Sunday, August 15th
- November 1st
- December 8th and 25th
- January 1st and 6th
- February 24th
- Days of unplanned religious celebration or in case of exceptionally high tides.
Getting There
Arriving by Public Vaporetto
If you are taking line #1 and get off at “San Marco Vallaresso”. If you are taking line #2 and get off at “San Marco Giardinetti”. After you alight, walk to Saint Mark’s Square. Once here, look for the Bell Tower and cross the adjacent Basilica. You will find our assistant waiting for you with a signboard reading TOUR under the Clock Tower.
Arriving by Private Watertaxi
Ask the driver to take you to the “Todaro” landing stage. Once you alight, walk to Saint Mark’s Square. Once here, look for the Bell Tower and cross the adjacent Basilica. You will find our assistant waiting for you with a signboard reading TOUR under the Clock Tower.
Arriving on Foot
The Clock Tower is located in Saint Mark’s Square. Once by the Bell Tower, go straight on leaving the Basilica on your right and you will find the assistant waiting for you with the signboard TOUR under the Clock Tower.
Dress Code
The Basilica is a place of worship, hence, appropriate clothing is recommended (shorts and tank tops will not be allowed). Comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended.
Storage Facilities
For security reasons suitcases, backpacks or large bags are not allowed inside the Basilica and inside the Doges’ Palace. Prior to your visit, you must deposit them at the Ateneo San Basso (St. Mark’s Square- Calle san Basso). The storage service is free of charge, but please allow sufficient time for you to do so!
Accessibility
This tour is not wheelchair accessible.
Restrictions
Photography and filming are prohibited inside the Basilica.
Super Flexible Cancellation policy
You may cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Strongly recommend buying tickets from the Headout app, we got a sweet deal for our next purchase. Also, Venice you're a beaut
I was a little disappointed about the whole tour guiding thing, because I wanted to spend a little more time at the Doge's Palace
When in Venice, you must visit the two main monuments, St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace
My Tickets
You will receive your mobile voucher via email. There is no need to print the ticket. Once you reach St Mark's Square look for the Clock Tower near the exchange office ( white building with blue clock facade). You will find our assistant here with a signboard reading "TOUR". You may display your voucher on your mobile phone with valid photo ID.
St. Mark's Square Clock Tower, Piazza San Marco, Venezia
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