Welcome to Venice: Walking Tour, St. Mark's Basilica & Gondola Ride

Learn the history of Venice on a walking tour, passing famous monuments like St. Mark’s Basilica, and finally enjoy a gondola ride down some of the enchanting canals of the city center. 

A first-timer to Venice, or don’t know where to begin your explorations? Over the course of this tour, experience many of the city’s top highlights: see the Rialto Bridge and St. Mark’s Square on a guided city walk (please note: Entrance to St. Mark's Basilica is included on the 2pm tour only.) Plus enjoy a relaxing gondola ride and explore areas of the city that many tour groups miss, from the sestiere of Cannaregio to the Rialto Fish Market. 

Please note: Entrance to St. Mark's Basilica is included on the 2pm tour only.

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 Basilica from St. Mark's Square, 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 to the sestiere (district) of Cannaregio, home to some of the city’s hidden gems. Discover the house where Marco Polo once lived, and go to the unique Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli. 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. Meander through hidden alleyways, and hear tales of the city’s past.    Learn what it is like to live on the island today as you walk to St. Mark’s Square and gaze up at the city's famous Basilica. You'll be captivated as your guide explains how Venice built a mercantile empire that once spanned the entire Mediterranean. If you booked the 2pm tour, you will have skip-the-line access to St. Mark's Basilica and explore its stunning history, architecture, and art with your guide. (Please note: Entrance to St. Mark's Basilica is included on the 2pm tour only.)    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!