Venice: St. Mark's Basilica Guided Tour & Gondola Ride

Discover the magic of Venice on foot and by water on a combined walking tour and gondola ride. Explore the city center with a local guide, marvel at the gold mosaic ceiling inside St. Mark's Basilica, and then take a ride down the canals on the city's famous mode of transport.

Meet near the Rialto Bridge and learn why it was initially considered a very bad idea to build it. Take a quick look at the Rialto Fish Market to learn about the long fishing history of the city and its famous cuisine. Get a couple of restaurant recommendations from your local guide!

Continue your walking tour to discover some of the city's hidden gems. You'll learn what it is like to live on the island today as you meander through hidden alleyways. Admire a unique mansion that belonged to a powerful Venetian family. See a remarkable statue by Verocchio on the Campo San Giovanni and Paolo, where you will also see a variety of typical Venetian architectural styles. And stop by a quirky bookstore with a stunning canal view and friendly resident cats. Your guide will wait outside, allowing you free time to explore inside on your own.

Your city walk ends in St. Mark's Square, gazing up at the city's famous Basilica. With pre-reserved entry, you'll bypass the often long lines and head inside this extraordinary church. Your expert guide will bring the basilica to life—revealing how its unique blend of eastern and western design came to be, uncovering the dramatic story of how St. Mark's relics arrived in Venice, and helping you appreciate the shimmering gold mosaics that make this place unlike anywhere else in the world.

Your guide will then leave you to enjoy a 30-minute (approximately) gondola ride with a professional gondolier. Limited to only 5 people per gondola, this experience will be both intimate and relaxing. Punt through the quieter canals of Venice as you relax and enjoy the city at its best!