Legendary Venice St. Mark's Terrace & Doge's Skip the Line
4.7

Legendary Venice St. Mark's Terrace & Doge's Skip the Line

By Walks of Italy
Recommended by 92% of travellers
92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Guarantee your entry into two of Venice’s star attractions on a skip-the-line tour of Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica of San Marco). Save hours of waiting in line as you bypass queues often in advance of two hours and head straight inside the often sold-out monuments. Inside the legendary St. Mark's Basilica wander the mosaic-clad interior and peek into secret spaces, with exclusive access onto the balcony overlooking Piazza San Marco - reserved for only a chosen few!
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 20 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Guarantee entry to the often sold-out Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica
  • Save hours waiting in line with skip-the-line entry to two top Venice attractions 
  • Enjoy special access to the first-floor terrace of St. Mark's Basilica 
  • Discover hidden details that are often missed when exploring alone

  • Skip-the-line ticket for St. Mark's Basilica
  • Exclusive access to St. Mark's Basilica terraces
  • Pre-reserved ticket to the Doge's Palace
  • Exclusive Early Entry to the Doge's Palace (8 AM only)
  • Local English-speaking guide
  • Headsets when necessary
  • Entry/Admission - Basilica di San Marco
  • Entry/Admission - Doge's Palace
  • Guaranteed to skip the lines
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
  • Lunch

Greet your guide in central Venice and head straight to your first stop, St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica de San Marco) to bypass the long lines often in excess of two hours. Inside your guide reveals hidden details and leads you to the first-floor terrace not usually open to the general public. The next stop is Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale), where skip-the-line tickets allow you to avoid waiting in line once again. Visit the opulent Hall of Great Council, home to frescoes by the likes of Veronese and Tintoretto, and discover the palace’s dark history in the Armory and New Prisons. Your tour culminates with a walk across the Bridge of Sighs, where you bid your guide farewell.

Start:
  • Museo Correr, P.za San Marco, 52, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
    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.
End:
  • St. Mark's Square, Piazza San Marco, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
    Tour ends in St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco).

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 15693P8

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • 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.
  • Tour in English only
  • 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 is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
  • 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.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travellers

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 15693P8

From
£85.36
per adult
Select date and travellers
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Similar experiences

Itinerary
  • P.za San Marco, 52, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
    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.
  • 1
  • 2
    Pass by
    St Mark's Campanile
    Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana
  • 3
    Pass by
    Bridge of Sighs
  • Piazza San Marco, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
    Tour ends in St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco).
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
  • Walks of Italy
    4.7 of 5 bubbles4,127
    Venice, Veneto, Italy
    Joined in July 2010
  • mherrington15
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great tour!
    Great tour to see so much of Venice in a day. Our tour guide, Alessandro, was very knowledgeable of the history of Venice at every stop. Great tour!
    Written 23 March 2025
  • PAWCarol
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Don't be just a 'Tourist'
    Would definitely recommend staying there for at least a week if you really want to see Venice. DO NOT get caught up in all the main tourist places. Take time to walk around sone of the quieter passageways and canals - you will be amazed at some of the lovely, and cheaper, cafes and restaurants you will find. It will also give you more time to explore the outer islands. Murano is easy to get to, about 30/45 mins depending on where you board the waterbus, but the others can take up to and hour. We are going back as we only had a couple of nights there at the end of our cruise and feel we still missed out on so much.
    Written 21 March 2025
  • David P
    0 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Venice in a day
    The guide was very knowledgeable and engaging throughout the day. Although our visit to Venice was quick, it felt as though we saw many of the highlights and gave us good ideas on what to spend more time on our own. The downside was the company’s photo/videographer that was using our tour to shoot a promotion. When I declined to participate, her solution was to stay at the back of the tour away from the guide which made it difficult to see what he was talking about.
    Written 21 March 2025
  • Cynthia L
    0 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Overall a good experience!
    It was good but our time was not managed well. We spent a lot of time or trivial details and felt rushed during main events. Our tour did not include seeing the remains of St. Mark in the Basilica. Overall it was good but for the time and money spent those are improvements that I would have liked to see.
    Written 20 March 2025
  • Z5559THsarahw
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Day
    Great day with guide Nico - who was friendly and well-informed. Fantastic introduction to the city. Thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend.
    Written 19 March 2025
  • Cindy P
    0 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great trip but too short
    Super fun trip but too short! Our guide, Alice, was incredible informative and helpful but the time on each island is woefully short. We really needed at least 30-45 mins more on each island to make the trip worthwhile.
    Written 18 March 2025
  • SonalS155
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very engaging tour!
    This was an amazing tour and totally worth the cost for how you cover all of Venice in a day. Our tour guide, Francesca, made everything come to life with wonderful story telling, helping us visualize the drama of historical facts mixed in with local tales. The history of the Gondolas was fascinating with a relaxing Gondola ride as a break during the morning was perfect. The detailed walk through of every room in the Doge’s palace and the details pointed out with all the architectural intricacies was also very interesting. Francesca especially was super attentive to everybody’s needs while keeping children and older attendees safe and engaged. In general, a wonderful day absorbing the beauty and history of Venice. Only note is to come prepared with good walking shoes. Francesca built in a good amount of breaks but this is a long day of walking. All in all, highly recommend this tour!
    Written 16 March 2025
  • Peterharris32
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Rialto Mercato
    How did Rialto market get started? Well, the two districts San Palo and San Marco made up the original structures of Venice, which should place Rialto back to the 4th century. However, the internet seems to place it in more like the 9th century. “The Roman Empire's transportation network of roads benefitted the small farmers by opening up access to local and regional markets in towns and trade centers”, eventually leading to the creation of Rialto Market.
    Written 12 March 2025
  • Kristen J
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Exploring Venice for the first time
    This is a great way to see Venice for the first time. Our guide Alessandro was great, experienced and if you are in to art and history he is your guy!
    Written 7 March 2025
  • callylestah
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Venice walk tour with Alessandro T
    Alesaandro T was a wonderful guide. We had the most brilliant day. The guide was informative and engaging - lots of humour and we learned so much. The tour was a really good length with opportunities for breaks. The audio connection was really helpful. With a short time in Venice, this was the perfect day. Thank you!
    Written 7 March 2025
  • Maria P
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Tour
    The tour allowed us to see the core of Venice the guide, was very knowledgeable and professional. Great quick tour if you have limited time in Venice.
    Written 7 March 2025
  • jamesu504
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great tour
    The guide very knowledgeable and friendly. Gondola ride was awesome and boat operator told us useful information. Recommend this tour.
    Written 6 March 2025
  • PAHITTHEROAD
    0 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Waste of money
    This trip was supposed to be the highlight of our trip to Venice-instead it was a disaster. I have no trouble walking but the combination of cold, damp temperatures in the prison and many, many steps caused my knee to ache. If you have any knee issues this tour is NOT recommended! I really wanted to see St Marks Basilica but there was a 45 min wait between tours. If there was less time between the tours I probably would have stayed as the second part of the tour had less steps. Maybe at another time of year the tour wouldn’t be so bad, but for us it was a total waste of money!
    Written 1 March 2025
  • jasoncN1617TU
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Basilica + Dodges Palace
    Valentina was our tour guide and she was amazing. She was very passionate and knowledgeable. We would absolutely book another tour with her. The tour was definitely worth it.
    Written 21 February 2025
  • Is1d0ra
    0 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Not for me but for others perfect
    Super educational we had a fantastic tour guide a lady with blonde hair I forgot her name. Im only rating this 3 because me and my mum had to stop the tour from how hot it was. It was way too fast paced for us . We did enjoy the gondola ride and we learned so much. If you are into educational fast paced tours this is the one for you !
    Written 20 February 2025
See all 4,127 reviews
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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4.7
4.7 of 5 bubbles1,887 reviews
Excellent
1,560
Very good
190
Average
51
Poor
24
Terrible
62

Charles W
Swansea, UK9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
If you can, visit all the landmarks within this vicinity! There are some breathtaking sights within all the attractions here, even for those not particularly interested in fine art or architecture.

The queues are not always as long as most people come across however, you are best off booking online for the skip the line tickets so you are in within minutes of arriving!

Inside the palace is a prison walk, and I would highly recommend taking the extended tour which is completely free but keep an eye out for the sign as it is easy to miss.
This tour takes you around the full prison and you cross the Bridge of Sighs twice and offers some fantastic views.
Written 8 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

956olivia
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
Worth the price for the early entrance (see the Doge/Prison prior to regular visitors coming in). I would recommend this tour for people who love history and descriptions of paintings. If I were to visit again, I would likely just buy a skip the line ticket/get there early. While the tour was greatly informative, it was just personally too in depth for my interest level (coming from someone who enjoys art history). I think I would have preferred to wander the Doge/Basilica on my own. But I will give the tour a 5/5 as that is a personal preference and FYI to fellow travelers rather than a reflection on the tour itself.
Written 28 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

smiller303
Wayside, NJ9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Couples
We had a great tour of the Doges Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. Aside from the beauty of the Basilica and the history, our guide Elena made the tour. She was very informative, without droning on and on, very knowledgeable and funny. She kept our attention and made the tour very interesting.
My only suggestion would be to have better signage at the meeting point (there was only a person in a Walks T-shirt) and have that person there 30 minutes before the tour. We, and a few others, got there 30 minutes before and found ourselves wandering around asking business owners for help.
Despite that, I would highly recommend the tour, especially if you can get Elena as your guide!
Written 24 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Frank d
Boca Raton, FL1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
So we booked this guided tour ,Viatour is the Company based in San Francisco ,USA that provides the tour. Booked well in advance , received specific instructions to meet under portico at designated address . We arrived at piazza well in advance at least 90 minutes and about 30 minutes prior to tour commencement 14: 00 hours we moved to front of this specified address , another entire Family was also waiting at this address , (so it seems we have correct location) and after speaking to the family, had exact same information and time etc. The time came and past with no sign of tour guide, there are several tours, other companies, every day so its important to be at the designated spot, which we were awaiting , remained for at least an hour. No emails, No texts, No phone calls , No contact of any kind initiated by the Company, were sent at any time during the day before or after the appointment time. Attempt to call customer service line , other family did so, about 20-30 minutes on phone call without resolution of any kind. The Company, VIATOUR, has refused to REFUND the $200.00+ fee for the tour. It is unlikely that entry tickets were purchased , typically done upon entry . We successfully took other tours while in Italy with few issues , We rarely request or dispute charges, Very disappointed, will file dispute with FTC & BBB ,San Fran ,shortly in America. Followed the meet up instructions to the letter and tour guide was not in designated spot, we did not get to visit the Basilica as the line at this time of day for regular entry was hours long and close to cutoff time. Hope your experience is better,
Written 6 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rover500
Basingstoke, UK127 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
The lady who did our tour was very good and very knowledgeable. I liked the Doge’s palace more than the basilica but both are incredible. It’s great to be inside the Bridge of Sighs and see the cells! Was lovely not to have to queue for tickets either. You will have to pay extra 7€ pp if you want to go on the roof of the Basilica and see the horse statues and take in the view. The church closes at 5:30 and they were still selling tickets until near closing time so we didn’t get very long up there sadly. A most see while in Venice though.
Written 17 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Maggie T
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Family
We took the 9:30-12:30 am tour, easily finding our meeting point at the Musee Correr with its huge hanging sign in the Marco square.

Our tour guide Martina was the best!
As an art major, her knowledge of art and history was enlightening. She spoke English fluently and her Italian accent was sweet and not difficult to understand. She entertained us with wonderful, sad and funny stories of the Venetian history. We loved the tour!

It’s wonderful to learn the context of the paintings and sculptures, the clocks and Saint Marco square with its beautiful basilica and towers and palace. The terrace view was spectacular!

The tour is expensive but worth it if you want to learn and explore what the beautiful city of Venice is all about, rich in history with its amazingly talented and resourceful people!
Written 24 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul
18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
Unfortunately , Bulgari had booked the Doge’s palace the night before our tour which meant that the exclusive access we had booked was cancelled. The news of this did not get through to anyone on tour as we all turned up for it only to find no guide there. When the tour did go ahead 1 ½ hours later, our guide Guiliani was excellent. As we we were one of the first groups into St Mark’s basilica we had excellent access. Even when we got into the Doge’s palace it was not too busy (luckily) we were a bit to have paid for something we didn’t get but Giuliani kept in amused and informed throughout and resumed the day for us. I would not hesitate to recommend this tour but if you are considering the early morning exclusive access, I would suggest checking there are no functions at the Dog’s palace as they will simply cancel the exclusive access the next day and there is nothing the tour company can do about it. If you choose the tour without exclusive access then unless you do it at the height of the season, you will not be disappointed .
Written 19 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Trek594779
8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
My wife and I really enjoyed the tour of the palace and cathedral. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and spoke excellent English as well. The tour was a bit pricey but if you can afford it without too much pain, I would certainly recommend it. The only issue we encountered were the crowds at the church. What would have been a 20 minute tour of the church took at least twice that due to the crowds.
Written 2 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

karen R
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Family
We were advised to buy tickets in advance to avoid big queues, we opted to pay slightly extra for the small group guided tour. We were so glad that we went with this option. We had a fantastic guide called Roberta, she made the tour so interesting, I was completely enthralled by all the fascinating history. I would highly recommend this tour.
Written 27 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

James T
Plymouth, UK37 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Great tour with a great guide! Had some issues checking in - technical glitch meant we weren’t on the list so had 20 minutes wondering and waiting… all sorted in the end!

The guide - Alessandro - was amazing, so much detailed knowledge, picked out small details your wouldn’t see, great English and incredibly knowledgeable.
Written 3 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

Legendary Venice St. Mark's Terrace & Doge's Skip the Line provided by Walks of Italy

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