See Venice’s top sights in just a four hours with a guided walking tour, a gondola ride, and skip-the-line access to the Doge’s Palace with an expert guide.
Venice Express Day Tour: Gondola & Doge's Palace
Summary Description
Highlights
- See Venice's top sights in a short amount of time.
- Enjoy a gondola ride through Venice’s scenic canals.
- Skip the line to the Doge’s Palace.
- Explore the Rialto Market and Rialto Bridge.
- Discover Venice’s history with an expert guide.
Description
Experience the best of Venice in record time with this expertly crafted express tour. Designed for travelers with limited time, this tour ensures you see Venice’s most famous landmarks with ease. Start at the iconic Rialto Market and Bridge, where you’ll learn about Venice’s history and local life. Then relax on a traditional gondola ride through the city’s scenic canals to check a quintessential Venetian experience off your bucket list. Admire St. Mark’s Basilica from the outside, and then skip the line and delve into the history of Venetian politics and power at the Doge’s Palace. Wander through its opulent halls, explore the prisons, and cross the Bridge of Sighs—all while uncovering the city's fascinating untold stories.
Begin near the Rialto Bridge, one of Venice’s most iconic sights. Make your way through the lively Rialto Market, where locals shop for fresh seafood and produce, and learn about the city’s maritime heritage from your expert guide. You’ll uncover stories of how Venice rose from the lagoon to become a global power.
Next, you'll glide through Venice’s canals on a gondola ride. Hop aboard and take in the beauty of Venice from the water. Your gondolier will navigate quiet canals to give you a serene and unforgettable perspective of this enchanting city.
After you disembark from the gondola, you'll pause in St. Mark's Square to admire Venice's most famous church from the outside. Your guide will point out the breathtaking Byzantine architecture and share its connection to the city’s religious and artistic heritage.
Finish your tour with a visit to the Doge’s Palace. You'll once again skip the line to wander through its luxurious halls, cross the haunting Bridge of Sighs, and explore the palace’s darker side in its historic prisons. There's no better place to discover fascinating insights into Venetian politics and power.
Included / Excluded
- Pre-reserved Doge's Palace ticket
- 30-minute gondola ride
- Local English-speaking guide
- Hotel Pick-up/Drop-off
- Gratuities
Start / End Locations
Start Location: Campo S. Giacomo di Rialto, 255, Campo S. Giacomo di Rialto, 255, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
Start Location Notes: Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets outside the entrance of the Church of San Giacometto at Campo San Giacomo di Rialto 255, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy.
Start Location Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EYDAEs1cjsucHcXx9
End Location: Città Metropolitana di Venezia, St. Mark's Square, Venezia, IT
Commentary
Guide : English
Important Information
Know Before You Book
- This tour is in English.
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- In case of unforeseen circumstances such as bad weather (heavy rain, strong wind, high tide) conditions that prevent the gondola ride from taking place or any operational or safety reasons beyond our control it may be substituted for another experience, but no refund will be provided.
- No refund will be provided if high tide prevents certain parts of the tour, but adjustments to the route will be made for client safety and comfort.
- If access is restricted due to private events inside Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible. This is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued.
- Walks and Devour comply with all local government regulations. Please refer to local government guidelines for the most up to date information.
- Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour start time for check-in. Out of courtesy to other guests, we’re unable to wait for latecomers. No refunds can be provided for late arrivals or no-shows.
- Sites visited on this tour occasionally close due to holy days, high tides, and/or flooding. If the local municipality restricts access due to high tide and there are no walkways available, it is the client’s responsibility to bring appropriate footwear (e.g., boots). The guide will modify the itinerary to include alternate dry paths whenever possible.
- Large bags and backpacks cannot be accommodated on this tour.
- No refund will be provided if high tide prevents certain parts of the tour, but adjustments to the route will be made for client safety and comfort.
- If access is restricted due to private events inside Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible. This is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued.
- Appropriate footwear recommended.
- Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
Cancellation
Cancellation Cutoff: 24 hours
Cancellation Notes: Cancellations received greater than 24 hours prior to tour commencement are fully refundable. Cancellations received within 24 hours of tour commencement are nonrefundable. Amendment requests are subject to availability and price changes. Late arrivals and no shows are nonrefundable. This is applicable to any tour participant that fails to arrive, or arrives after tour departure.
Points of interest
- Ponte di Rialto, 30125 Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy
- Mercato di Rialto, Calle Prima de la Donzella, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy
- Canal Grande, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy
- Piazza San Marco, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy
- Doge's Palace, P.za San Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Terms and Conditions
Before you travel, please read the "Know Before You Go" section for essential information, requirements, and possible disruptions regarding your tour.
Additional Information
Ticket age ranges:
- Adult (15+)
- Child (2-14)
- Infant (0-1)
Redemption Information
Tickets will be held at the box office
About operator:
Walks (takewalks.com, walksofitaly.com) began over a decade ago (2008, to be exact) in Rome, Italy. We quickly became the premier walking tour company in 7 countries - Italy, Spain, France, the UK, Greece, and Portugal. Our US cities include San Francisco, NYC, Boston, Chicago, and New Orleans.
In 2021, we joined The Hornblower Group (cityexperiences.com) expanding our reach and working alongside this powerhouse travel brand.
Our tour products vary but predominantly we #takewalks, exploring the world by foot - we believe, the best way to get into the heart of a city and its incredible people. From introductory strolls to food tours, day trips, cooking classes, and below the surface, in-depth tours, we have our hand in everything a traveler could want. Oh, and we also like to give our clients exclusive access to the biggest attractions in the world...
Despite the big changes in our brand over the years, our focus has remained simple - to relentlessly create tours with the client experience at the forefront and anchored upon the dedicated, intelligent, and above all, passionate local guides who want to share their cities with you.
Our tour products vary but predominantly we #takewalks, exploring the world by foot - we believe, the best way to get into the heart of a city and its incredible people. From introductory strolls to food tours, day trips, cooking classes, and below the surface, in-depth tours, we have our hand in everything a traveler could want. Oh, and we also like to give our clients exclusive access to the biggest attractions in the world...
Despite the big changes in our brand over the years, our focus has remained simple - to relentlessly create tours with the client experience at the forefront and anchored upon the dedicated, intelligent, and above all, passionate local guides who want to share their cities with you.
Basic Information
- Duration: 4 hours
- Trip difficulty: Easy
- Max Group Size: 20
- Category: Tours & Sightseeing
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