Venice in a Day Private Tour with Doge Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica

Enjoy an exclusive tour of Venice with a private expert guide, and make the most of this incredible city and see all of the highlights.

Begin in Saint Mark's Square for a perfect view of Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, the private chapel of the dukes of Venice until the 19th century. Get privileged access, and bypass the long lines to enter the grand basilica and enjoy up-close views of the golden mosaics. 

Then, learn about the political life of the Venetian Republic at the Doge’s Palace. Skip the long lines to travel through 7 centuries of history, as you see the palace prisons and court rooms. Your guide will share amazing stories as you walk through the private apartments and reception halls of the palace, including the Hall of the Great Council.

Visit the prison where Casanova was once incarcerated, and see the gun room with its impressive collection of historic weapons. Stop on the Bridge of Sighs to see the last view of Venice that prisoners saw before they were locked in their cells.

Your guide will then give recommendations for lunch, and after a short break, continue your tour in the labyrinth of small streets that make up the city center. Walk to the covered Rialto Bridge, and discover the house where Marco Polo once lived. Go to the Renaissance church of the Campo Santa Maria Formosa, and discover some of the city's hidden piazzas and streets.

End your perfect day in Venice with a private gondola ride, and sit back and relax as you glide along the peaceful canals of “La Serenissima.”