Castles · Tour
Basilica, Palace, and the Correr Museum Your Ticket Also Opens
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VeniceThree hours in a small group, with the tickets already booked, covering St Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace without standing in either queue. The guide is local, and what you get from them is the version of Venetian history that does not fit in a guidebook: how the city was built, how it was governed, and what the buildings were actually for. The detail worth knowing is on the ticket. Admission to the Doge's Palace also covers the Correr Museum on St Mark's Square, and you can use it after the tour ends or, depending on your departure time, the following morning. Most people never find that out and leave it unused.
What's included
- Expert local guide with insider's knowledge
- 3-hour walking tour at a relaxed pace
- Tickets for the Correr Museum
- Admission to National Archeological Museum and Biblioteca Marciana
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- Pre-reserved tickets for Doge's Palace
- Small group tour for a more personalized experience
- Pre-reserved tickets for St. Mark's basilica
Itinerary
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P.zt San Marco, Venezia
Meet in St Mark's Square near the waterfront, by the two large columns. The guide stands under the one with the winged lion on top, holding a sign that says Walks In Europe.
Venice
A three-hour guided walk through the main sights of Venice. It covers the two buildings nobody skips, the Doge's Palace and the Basilica of St Mark, with the tickets pre-booked for both.
Piazza San Marco
Meet the guide in St Mark's Square, and start with how the Floating City came to exist at all. The square is the most important public space in Venice, and the guide covers what it has meant historically, socially and politically. The Clock Tower and the marble lions both have their part in the history of the place.
Basilica di San Marco
Then into the Basilica of St Mark on the pre-booked tickets. The size of it registers first, then the golden mosaics. The guide covers the design of the building, which is called the Church of Gold, and how it functioned as a statement of Venetian wealth and power. The Horses of St Mark's have a story of their own, and they are among the finest things of their kind in Europe. There is room for questions along the way, which is the point of a guided walk rather than an audio guide.
Palazzo Ducale
Then the Doge's Palace, at an unhurried pace, straight in on the pre-booked tickets. The Gothic architecture is the argument: it was built to show the authority and the wealth of the Doges who ruled from it. The 14th-century sculptors who worked on it are worth asking about, and the view across the lagoon from inside is one most visitors miss.
Learn why the New Prisons were built
Why the New Prisons were built, and what the Bridge of Sighs actually was. Casanova's life in Venice, which is a stranger story than the version that gets told.
Museo Correr
Your Doge's Palace ticket also admits you to the Correr Museum on St Mark's Square. The building was originally designed as a residence for Napoleon and later became the Venetian residence of the King of Italy. Normally you visit the Correr after the tour has finished. Depending on the departure time you book, the ticket may be valid the next morning instead.
P.zt San Marco, Venezia
Not included
- Guided Tour of Correr Museum, National Archeological Museum, and Biblioteca Marciana
- Transportation to/from the meeting point
Good to know
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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.
- 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.
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- Acqua Alta (high tide) in Venice can cause delays in entering the Basilica.
- Sites visited during this tour are subject to occasional closures due to holy observances, high tides, and flooding. If a site closes, your guide will tour the exterior of the site. If time permits, you will be contacted before your tour. For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.
- Basilica is a holy place, both men and women must wear clothing that covers the belly, shoulders and knees.
- Religious authorities may decide to suspend skip-the-line priority because of the high number of visitors. We are only allowed to stay inside the Basilica for 20 minutes.
- In case of denied access, you will be provided with entrance tickets to visit the Basilica on your own at the assigned time.
- If you take the 2:00 PM tour, the Correr Museum will be closed before your tour finishes. Therefore, you will have Correr tickets for the next day
- Please note that carrying any type of weapon or sharp objects, such as a knife, is not allowed for this tour.
- Do not bring large bags or luggage. These items are not allowed, and there is no place to leave them, so you will be denied entry.
- Clients must arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start of the tour. This is due to the timed entry of the tickets.
- Please be advised that it is not possible to join the tour after it has commenced.
- Direct ticket costs for the included attractions are as follows: Doge’s Palace (€27.00) and St. Mark’s Basilica (€12.00).
- Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
- Up to 15 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Guiding available in: de, en.
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