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VeniceCulture & history

Our most recommended Venice Culture & history

Venice: Doge's Palace Reserved Entry Ticket

1. Venice: Doge's Palace Reserved Entry Ticket

Skip the ticket line to Doge's Palace in Venice, a historic landmark that served as the seat of Venetian political power for centuries, with this reserved entry ticket. Admire its Gothic architecture. Also get entry to the Museo Correr, National Archeological Museum, and Marciana Library. Enter the Doge's Palace to explore the seat of a 1000-year republic and travel back in time to the Middle Ages. Relive the anguish of the prisoners as they crossed the Bridge of Sighs. Admire the palace's impressive structure and ornamentation, from its 14th and 15th-century original foundations to the significant Renaissance and opulent Mannerist adjunctions. Marvel at the rich details of the magnificent gold staircase and spectacular works of art. Also, enjoy entry to the Museo Correr on St. Mark's Square, a building that was originally designed as a residence for Napoleon, and later became the Venetian residence of the King of Italy.

Venice: Doge's Palace Skip-the-Line Tour with Prisons

2. Venice: Doge's Palace Skip-the-Line Tour with Prisons

The Palazzo Ducale, or "Doge’s Palace," represented  the seat of Venetian political power for centuries. With this 1-hour tour you will get entry to the splendid rooms, ornately outfitted in hundreds of masterpieces of art, where the Duke and his council controlled the fate of a 1,000-year-old republic. Listen and learn as the palace comes to life in the company of an expert guide, who will show you the halls of power, plunging into a very particular historical context – the European Middle Ages. Be surprised by the rich details of the gold staircase and by the remarkable realism of the scenes created by the many artists who decorated the building. Relive the anguish of the prisoners crossing the famous Bridge of Sighs, and enter the Venetian prisons, famous for hosting Giacomo Casanova, among many others.

Skip the Line: St. Mark's Basilica Guided Tour

3. Skip the Line: St. Mark's Basilica Guided Tour

Together with a tour guide arranged in agreement with the Curia di Venezia, you can take a full tour of the Golden Basilica, once the private chapel of the Doges of Venice, and the only one of its kind in Italy, thanks to the beautiful gold mosaics and marble inlay flooring. Listen to your expert guide describe the biblical scenes represented and the history and particularities of this ancient basilica. Admire the Treasure and the terrace with its wonderful view of St. Mark's Square

Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica with Terrace Access Tour

4. Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica with Terrace Access Tour

Delve deep into Venice’s history with a 3-hour guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge's Palace, either as a private tour or shared group experience. Take in two of the city’s most important landmarks while discovering the history of the one-time mercantile capital of the Mediterranean.  Start by exploring St. Mark's Square with your guide before heading into the cathedral. From the first-floor terrace you’ll be able to admire views across the lagoon and see the famous bronze horses up close. Hear how they traveled all the way to Paris and back in Napoleon’s time. St. Mark's Basilica sometimes closes to visitors without warning. If this happens, visit the Church of San Zaccaria or the Correr Museum instead, depending on availability. Take a tour of the beautifully ornate 15th-century church and its flooded crypt or learn about the art and history of Venice. Next, you’ll use the priority entrance to reach Doge's Palace, formerly the residence of the leader of the Republic of Venice. Enjoy visiting the Chamber of the Great Council and courtrooms among other things. Highlights include frescoes by Tintoretto and the Giants’ Staircase.  After this, cross the infamous Bridge of Sighs that links to the New Prisons. Learn how the bridge got its name and the purpose for its construction in the 17th century as you take in the amazing views of the canals. At the end of your tour, feel free to stay and explore the Doge’s Palace with tips from your guide.

Venice: Highlights Tour, St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace

5. Venice: Highlights Tour, St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace

Experience the best of Venice on a small group guided tour that visits two of the city's most iconic landmarks, the Basilica of St. Mark and the Doge's Palace. Skip the long queues with pre-reserved tickets included and enjoy the splendor of these Venetian treasures at your own pace. Start your tour at St. Mark's Square. Admire the Clock Tower and Marble Lions before entering the Basilica with your guide. Marvel at the golden mosaics and opulent design, and learn how it is a symbol of Venetian power and wealth. Next, explore the Doge's Palace, a Gothic masterpiece that was once the seat of the Venetian government. Learn about the life of the ruling Venetian Doges and the 14th-century sculptors who worked on the palace.  Enjoy stunning views across the lagoon as you stroll through this world-famous landmark. Learn about the extraordinary story of Casanova and the significance of the Bridge of Sighs, as well as the Old and New Prisons. Once your tour concludes, continue your exploration of Venetian history and culture with your included entry to the Correr Museum, National Archeological Museum, and Biblioteca Marciana.

Venice: St. Mark’s Basilica with Terrace & Doge’s Palace

6. Venice: St. Mark’s Basilica with Terrace & Doge’s Palace

Combine the top two sights in Venice on one extraordinary tour led by a local guide. With pre-reserved tickets and skip-the-line access, head straight into St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace for a guided experience. Select the 8 AM tour to enjoy exclusive early entry to the Doge's Palace and have the door opened exclusively for your group an hour before the general public arrives. First, step inside Venice's most important church—St. Mark's Basilica—and gain a full appreciation for its east-meets-west architecture and breathtaking gold mosaics. In the company of a local guide, get up close with some of the basilica’s greatest treasures, such as the millennia-old Quadriga of four gold horses. Have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to admire beautiful views from the balcony over St. Mark's Square. At every step of the way, you’ll hear the fascinating story of how most of the basilica's prized possessions ended up here by less-than-honest means. The second stop on your itinerary is no less beautiful. The Palazzo Ducale, or Doge's Palace, was home to the doge, or duke, of Venice and his seat of government. Skip the long line with pre-reserved tickets and walk straight inside to explore huge council chambers, incredible audience rooms, and a stunning ballroom with larger-than-life works by renowned Venetian masters such as Veronese and Tintoretto. Hear the intriguing history of this building that housed the world's oldest republic—as well as its fascinating government and even an incarcerated Casanova. To finish your morning of discovery, walk in the footsteps of many a less-fortunate Venetian from centuries past. Head over the Bridge of Sighs from the inside and into the grim New Prisons—a stark yet fascinating contrast to the opulent halls and galleries that lie within the palace just across the narrow canal.

Venice: Jewish Ghetto Walking Tour and Synagogue Tour Option

7. Venice: Jewish Ghetto Walking Tour and Synagogue Tour Option

Take a leisurely stroll in a small group to see landmarks to deepen your understanding of Venice's Jewish history. Choose to enhance your experience by joining the Synagogues tour organized by the Jewish Museum. Begin your Jewish Ghetto tour in the Cannaregio district, a fascinating residential area in the city's northern part. Walk past artisan workshops, galleries, shops, and delis, best explored at a relaxed pace. Next, cross the bridge into Campo del Ghetto Nuovo (New Ghetto Square), which was founded as a fortified island in 1516. Learn about the confinement of Venetian Jews to the island and how it became densely populated. Then, learn from your guide as they point out to one of the most significant highlights of the tour: a series of bas-reliefs in the Campo del Ghetto Nuovo – a sight that most visitors to Venice never see. Next, discover how Napoleon's decision to tear down the gates of the Jewish Ghetto gave Jews the right to live anywhere in Venice. Visit a hub of Jewish culture with bakeries, restaurants, and handicraft stores. Finally, in the second half of the tour, you can choose to include the Synagogues tour. Although the Museum itself is under restoration and closed for visits, you can still visit the Levantine Synagogue and the Spanish Synagogues with their dedicated guides.

Venice: Four Seasons Concert Ticket at Vivaldi Church

8. Venice: Four Seasons Concert Ticket at Vivaldi Church

Delight your ears with a performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons by the "I Virtuosi Italiani" ensemble in the church of Santa Maria della Visitazione in Venice. Experience the emotion of listening to Vivaldi's music in the places where it was composed. it's sound, it's musical notes, it's the art of a great Baroque composer, but above all it's the energy of this place, Vivaldi's Church. It was here that Antonio Vivaldi spent forty years of his life and composed his magnificent works.  Enjoy inspired performances of the Four Seasons where in the music you can sense the reaping of the wheat, the grape harvest, the summer storms, the snow falling in winter, the warm fall colors, and the bright blossoming of flowers in springtime. Watch talented musicians play in the church where masters like Francesco Gasparini and Antonio Vivaldi trained the Daughters of the Choro to become virtuoso musicians that were renowned for their art all over Europe.

Venice: St. Mark's Basilica Fast-Track Entry and Audio Guide

9. Venice: St. Mark's Basilica Fast-Track Entry and Audio Guide

Save time during your visit to Venice with a skip-the-line ticket to the popular St. Mark’s Basilica. Admire the hundreds of golden mosaics in the Basilica and learn details about the byzantine art inside with your audio guide. Download your audio guide to your mobile device and head to St. Mark’s Basilica to begin your tour. Breeze past the long lines and put in your headphones. Explore the five-domes and an array of artworks. Hear legends and stories surrounding this church which has stood for almost a 1,000 years.  Witness the dazzling effect of the 43,000 square feet of mosaics in the church. Take in the stunning marble inlay work on the floors. Soak up the atmosphere in the building that dominates St. Mark’s Square. 

Venice Doge's Palace & St Mark's Basilica Skip-the-Line Tour

10. Venice Doge's Palace & St Mark's Basilica Skip-the-Line Tour

Set off on a guided walking tour of St. Mark’s Square, the Doge's Palace, and St Mark's Basilica with skip-the-line entry. Meet your guide at St. Mark’s Square and head for Doge's Palace, the extraordinary palace that served as the seat of Venetian political power for centuries. Enter the splendid rooms, with hundreds of painted masterpieces. Explore where the Duke and his Council controlled the fate of a 1,000-year republic and admire the details of the medieval gold staircase. See the famous Bridge of Sighs. Enter the notorious Venetian prison that held Giacomo Casanova. Visit St Mark’s Basilica and enjoy a guided tour of this Byzantine masterpiece, with its beautiful gold mosaics and marble floor inlays. See the treasure and the terrace of the Basilica of St.Mark's

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What people are saying about Venice

Overall rating

4.3 / 5

based on 15,659 reviews

Had to queue for two hours outside and too crowded inside.

Sadly our general admission ticket was for a Sunday but this was the only opportunity to attend. I have always wanted to visit Versailles but the two hour queue up meandering up and down the pavement in the hot sun was very unpleasant and by the time we entered I had lost interest. Once inside the queues continued and people were squashed against each other, and with the very warm conditions made it even more unpleasant. Too crowded, too hot and not the 'wow' factor palace that I had read so much about. Some of the palace was not even accessible, even more disappointing. There were a few moments of enjoyment, but only a few. I appreciate that it's a very popular tourist attraction and it's the summer season for tourism but I won't return.

Great tour! Seeing more of Venice rather than just the usual - the glass making part seemed more like a one stop to make money in the gift shop but Murano was beautiful and Torcello was delightful, such stunning places filled with life and character

Great experience, my guide Francesca was very informative and helpful and you could tell she had a real appreciation and love for the city and the things she was showing us, very worth it

This was a very nice concert, excellent musicians, combined with great sound within st Vidal church. A must do we can only recommend if you are in Venise !

Must do! Our guide was fantastic. She made the tour fun and easy to understand !