See all the top sights of Venice with this exclusive, semi-private tour, limited to only 10 people or less per group. With commentary tailored by an expert, English-speaking guide to suit your group, you’ll learn more about Venice in just a few hours than many visitors do on an entire trip. And with such small group sizes, your guide will have more time to answer questions and tailor the pace of the tour to suit you.
We’ll head straight for the main attraction, to be sure that you have plenty of time to take it all in. St. Mark’s Basilica took 800 years to build with relics and monuments inside bought (or stolen) from all over Europe and Asia. Even St. Mark’s remains eventually ended up here (albeit through dubious means) when Crusaders stole them from Egypt. The queues here can be long but no worries, we have Skip the Line Access! Your guide will take you inside this cavernous space for an extended tour, pointing out mosaics that date all the way back to the 11th century and beautiful artworks. Then it’s up to the second floor for some stolen time inside this busy basilica. The terraces of St. Mark’s Basilica are worth a visit in their own right, not to mention the incredible views they offer over bustling Piazza San Marco below.
After our tour of St. Mark’s Basilica and Piazza San Marco, we’ll set out on a walking tour past some of the best-known sights of Venice, along with some unlikely favorites. We spent a lot of hours traversing the city, trying to get the right balance of major landmarks and picturesque corners and discovered that much of the joy of visiting Venice is in the journey, walking from one spot to another through quiet residential streets and along canals. Our Venice walking tour will take you on such a journey - visiting Marco Polo’s house to hear about the Venetian son who went to sea one day and came back with stories of China; Campo SS Giovanni Paolo with its mix of architecture from so many ages; and the famous Bridge of Sighs. As you move from one spot to another, your guide will entertain you with stories of Venice, from informative tales about how the city has stayed afloat so long, to the whispers of scandal that make Venice such a captivating city. They’ll also point out features and buildings that you may never have noticed on your own.
A visit to the Rialto Bridge, an incredible marble structure that cost Venice a small fortune to build but was certainly worth every penny, is a highlight of this journey, and here our walking part ends. Now it is time to take a seat on the water taxi, and enjoy the beauty of the city. Our tour continues with a cruise on the Grand Canal, the city’s main waterway which snakes its way past no less than 50 palaces, six churches, four bridges and two open-air markets. Although many visitors opt to travel the Grand Canal by gondola, this wide and hectic waterway is much better suited to the water taxis we use, which allow us to move quickly and easily along the canal without losing the intimacy of a smaller vessel.
Ticket Information
Tour Availability: From April till October, every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Meeting Time: Please be at meeting point at least 15min before departure time.
Departure Time: 14.30pm Pick up times and drop off times are approximate and subject to change. Client will need to contact resort office at least 24hrs prior to departure to reconfirm.
Duration: 3hrs ( includes 1 hour water taxi ride) approx.
Meeting Point: Next to Ponte della Paglia, the bridge with the view of the Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs), in front of the Doge's Palace, facing the lagoon.
Additional Information: Tour not suitable for passengers with mobility problems, Please do not bring large bags, tripods, non-collapsible umbrellas, or backpacks on this tour. They are not permitted in St. Mark’s Basilica and must be checked into the luggage storage area off-site. You may miss a portion of the tour for this procedure, Photography is permitted throughout most of the tour; however, photography is prohibited in St. Mark’s Basilica, Entrance into religious sites requires a strict dress code. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. City Wonders cannot be held responsible for refused entry due to improper dress, This service ends at the Rialto Bridge.
Inclusions:
- Expert English-speaking guide
- Groups of only 10 people or less*
- One hour cruise of the Grand Canal in a water-taxi (groups limited to 10 people, no guide)
- Skip the Line Access to St. Mark’s Basilica Entrance Ticket to the terraces of St. Mark’s Basilica
- Headsets when appropriate, so you can always hear your guide
Exclusions:
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Gratuities
When you’ve Booked: You’ll receive an initial confirmation from us immediately. We will then send your booking details to the supplier within 48 hours to request confirmation. Once they confirm that your requested date and ticket is available, we will email your confirmation which will include the local operator’s contact details and any relevant information.