Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica skip-the-line guided tour
Overview
Experience the gold and glory of Venice with a 2-hour guided tour of its two most iconic landmarks.
We begin at St. Mark’s Basilica, bypassing the queues with skip-the-line access. Inside this Byzantine masterpiece, you’ll marvel at 8,000 sqm of shimmering gold mosaics and the intricate marble floors, as your guide reveals the history of Venice’s spiritual heart.
Next, we enter the Doge’s Palace, once the seat of Venetian power. Climb the ornate Giants’ and Golden Staircases and walk through grand institutional chambers adorned with masterpieces, including Tintoretto’s Paradise. The tour takes a dramatic turn as you cross the famous Bridge of Sighs, following the path of prisoners into the New Prisons.
A seamless journey from the celestial glow of the Basilica to the political secrets of the Palace, revealing the dual soul of a thousand-year empire.
What's Included
- Guided visit to the Doge’s Palace, including the Bridge of Sighs and the New Prisons
- Access and Guided tour of St Mark's Basilica
- Skip the line entry ticket and guided tour of the Doge’s Palace
- Entry ticket to the Treasure
- Entry ticket to the Pala d’Oro
- Entry ticket and access to the Museum and the Terrace
- Entry ticket to the Piombi
Meeting Location
Calle larga de l'Ascension
30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What To Expect
Book Online
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Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- If you choose the tour departing at 11:45, there will be a break of approximately 45 minutes between the visit to the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica (Doge's Palace 11:45 - 13:00; St. Mark's Basilica 13:45 - 14:45).
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers’ full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the attraction.
- Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to St.Mark’s Basilica.
- In cases of religious ceremonies, exceptionally high tides or other special occasions, access to St. Mark's Basilica may not be permitted.
- To visit St Mark's Basilica it is necessary to dress appropriately (no shorts, vests or tops) and backpacks are not allowed for safety reasons.
- This is a collective tour, which means there might be other participants going on the tour with you.
- Please note that, due to the particular morphological structure of Venice and the logistic problems resulting from it, we cannot guarantee that the whole tour is accessible to people with limited mobility. This means that people with walking difficulties and wheelchair users could not be able to access some parts of the itinerary.
- Please make sure to arrive on time so you don't miss out! We are unfortunately unable to offer refunds or credits for late arrivals or no-shows.
- N certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay +an access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it/en.
- Entrance fees reserved for tour operators and guides: €12.00 for St. Mark’s Basilica.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions (7)
Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica skip-the-line guided tour?
Cancellation Policy
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Activity code: C-13102P91
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Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 1 traveler reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Balloon Tours customers.
Filter by:
- Guided visit to the Doge’s Palace, including the Bridge of Sighs and the New Prisons.
- Access and Guided tour of St Mark's Basilica.
- Skip the line entry ticket and guided tour of the Doge’s Palace.
- Entry ticket to the Treasure.
- Entry ticket to the Pala d’Oro.
- Entry ticket and access to the Museum and the Terrace.
- Entry ticket to the Piombi.
There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..
Apr 2025If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025Accessibility information for the Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica skip-the-line guided tour is as follows:
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica skip-the-line guided tour will be included in your confirmation email from City Balloon Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.
Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.
If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.
Oct 2026What's Included
- Guided visit to the Doge’s Palace, including the Bridge of Sighs and the New Prisons
- Access and Guided tour of St Mark's Basilica
- Skip the line entry ticket and guided tour of the Doge’s Palace
- Entry ticket to the Treasure
- Entry ticket to the Pala d’Oro
- Entry ticket and access to the Museum and the Terrace
- Entry ticket to the Piombi
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- If you choose the tour departing at 11:45, there will be a break of approximately 45 minutes between the visit to the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica (Doge's Palace 11:45 - 13:00; St. Mark's Basilica 13:45 - 14:45).
- Please provide the full names of all travelers when booking. Failure to present a voucher with all travelers’ full names at the ticket office prior to entry may result in denied entry to the attraction.
- Each traveler must present a valid passport or ID document that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to St.Mark’s Basilica.
- In cases of religious ceremonies, exceptionally high tides or other special occasions, access to St. Mark's Basilica may not be permitted.
- To visit St Mark's Basilica it is necessary to dress appropriately (no shorts, vests or tops) and backpacks are not allowed for safety reasons.
- This is a collective tour, which means there might be other participants going on the tour with you.
- Please note that, due to the particular morphological structure of Venice and the logistic problems resulting from it, we cannot guarantee that the whole tour is accessible to people with limited mobility. This means that people with walking difficulties and wheelchair users could not be able to access some parts of the itinerary.
- Please make sure to arrive on time so you don't miss out! We are unfortunately unable to offer refunds or credits for late arrivals or no-shows.
- n certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay +an access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it/en.
- Entrance fees reserved for tour operators and guides: €12.00 for St. Mark’s Basilica.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
