Absolute Venice - Doge's Palace, St Mark's Basilica & More with Priority Access

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!

Mon-Sat:

Your guided tour includes a visit to the Terrace with copies of the famous horses and to St. Mark's Museum, where objects from the Basilica (including the quadriga of St. Mark's) will come into the picture. The tour starts from the ground floor to see the gold mosaics (the Basilica has 43,000 square feet of mosaic alone!), in a second time the visit continues on the first floor.

Sun:

On feast days and unplanned religious celebrations, the tour foresees the visit with direct access to the Terrace and to St. Mark's Museum situated on the first floor. Due to the Holy Mass taking place on the ground floor, it is possible to admire the mosaics partially from the first floor.

Know before you go

What to bring

• The Basilica follows a strict dress code: Guests must cover knees, arms, and back.
• It is advisable to carry a bottle of water, especially on warmer days.

What's not allowed

• Bags and backpacks are not allowed inside the Basilica for security reasons. You can deposit them at the free deposit kiosk in Calle San Basso.

Additional information

• As it is a shared tour, there are no refunds for no-shows or late arrivals.
• Children between the ages of 0-6 yrs go free.