Venice: Private Tour with Doge's Palace, St. Mark's, Gondola

Discover the best of Venice on a private tour and see all the major highlights. Discover Saint Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace, and the canals by gondola.

Enjoy an exclusive tour of Venice with a private guide, perfect for those with little time but who still want to make the most of their time in the city. Start on 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 (often long) lines to enter the grand basilica and enjoy up-close views of the golden mosaics. Take your time to explore the numerous treasures. Next, 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 your 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 en route. 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.”