Welcome to Venice: Walking Tour, St. Mark's Basilica & Gondola Ride
3 hours
Max 18
Why take this tour?
Highlights
- Explore a real residential neighborhood in Venice, and familiarize yourself with its history and everyday life.
- Immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere of St. Mark's Square and step inside to admire its Basilica.
- Enjoy a 30-minute gondola ride through the city's canals.
- Discover Venice's secrets and hidden gems, from former palaces to quirky bookstores, that are authentically Venetian.
- Learn what it's really like to live in the Floating City from a local guide, getting tips on where to eat and how to avoid crowds.
- Sites Visited
- St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)
- St. Mark's Basilica
- Gondola ride
- Rialto Bridge
- Rialto Fish Market
- Famous local bookstore
- Palazzo Grimani (exterior)
- Tour Includes
- Local English-speaking guide
- Expertly guided walking tour
- Skip-the-line access to St. Mark's Basilica (12€)
- Gondola Ride
- Headset
Take some time to explore Venice from a local's point of view
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Verified Customer reviews
Verified ratings
4.8 /5
based on 5 Walks’ customer ratingsOverall rating
4.8 /5
5 reviewsRating summary by category
Latest reviews
Excellent
With only a short time to spend in Venice this tour was a great way to make sure we made the most of our time. Well organised and very interesting, our tour guide was very knowledgeable, loved the gondola ride at the end too.
Viator customer · Gillian · Oct 24, 2025 Excellent
Very informative and Filp (Philip) was great and very knowledgeable. The gondola was nice. The prefect amount of thine.
Viator customer · Mechelle · Oct 17, 2025 Excellent
This tour exceeded our expectations! Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, polite, and professional. We would gladly tour with her again.
Viator customer · Robert · Oct 14, 2025 Excellent
Wonderful experience guide was very knowledgeable group was small and the whisper earpieces made it easy to hear but not have to stay close to the guide and gave you the freedom to look around
Tripadvisor customer · Krista · Oct 12, 2025 Great
This walking tour was a wonderful way to get an overview of Venice’s key historical spots. Our guide did a great job describing the different points of interest and providing background information on each site we visited. The gondola ride was the highlight of the tour for me — it’s such a classic Venetian experience and a beautiful way to see the city from the water. If you’re looking for a tour that gives you a solid introduction to Venice and a chance to experience a gondola ride without planning it separately, this is a great choice.
Viator customer · Erayna · Oct 11, 2025
Reviews from our guests
Welcome to Venice: Walking Tour, St. Mark's Basilica & Gondola Ride
of Walks customers highly recommend this tour to friends or family Source: Walks Customers' Post-Tour Net Promoter Score Survey
Verified rating
4.8 /5
based on 5 Walks’ customer ratingsTotal guest reviews
:
355
guest reviews
Excellent 304
Great 51
Good 0
Average 0
Poor 0
Latest reviews
Excellent
With only a short time to spend in Venice this tour was a great way to make sure we made the most of our time. Well organised and very interesting, our tour guide was very knowledgeable, loved the gondola ride at the end too.
Viator customer · Gillian · Oct 24, 2025 Excellent
Very informative and Filp (Philip) was great and very knowledgeable. The gondola was nice. The prefect amount of thine.
Viator customer · Mechelle · Oct 17, 2025 Excellent
This tour exceeded our expectations! Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, polite, and professional. We would gladly tour with her again.
Viator customer · Robert · Oct 14, 2025 Excellent
Wonderful experience guide was very knowledgeable group was small and the whisper earpieces made it easy to hear but not have to stay close to the guide and gave you the freedom to look around
Tripadvisor customer · Krista · Oct 12, 2025 Great
This walking tour was a wonderful way to get an overview of Venice’s key historical spots. Our guide did a great job describing the different points of interest and providing background information on each site we visited. The gondola ride was the highlight of the tour for me — it’s such a classic Venetian experience and a beautiful way to see the city from the water. If you’re looking for a tour that gives you a solid introduction to Venice and a chance to experience a gondola ride without planning it separately, this is a great choice.
Viator customer · Erayna · Oct 11, 2025 Excellent
Antonella was our guide. She was very funny and entertaining and I definitely recommend doing this tour! The gondola ride and the end was nice I just wish it was longer!
Tripadvisor customer · Emily · Oct 10, 2025 Great
Roberta was an excellent tour guide! She is a great storyteller and is passionate about Venice. She gave great insights and made the three hours most enjoyable!
Viator customer · James · Oct 08, 2025 Excellent
Fast pace but lots of information shared about this beautiful city. Alex was a wonderful guide. Loved the gondola ride through the canals. Excellent tour!!
Viator customer · Michelle · Oct 03, 2025 Excellent
Sara M was amazing!!! Best tour guide we have had using Viator for day trips in Italy while we are visiting all of the different cities. Great tour, highly recommended. Only suggestion is skip the Gondola included ride and book separately. It was like an assembly like ride and not as enjoyable
Viator customer · Nicole · Sep 25, 2025 Great
Good guide. Pleasant and well informed. The ad made it seem that a tour of the Basilica was included. I found that misleading.
Tripadvisor customer · Rick · Sep 25, 2025FAQs
Is this tour wheelchair accessible?
No. Unfortunately, due to site restrictions we cannot accommodate wheelchairs on this tour. Guests should be prepared for a moderate level of physical activity, including standing for extended periods and climbing stairs, which may not be suitable for travelers with certain health conditions or mobility limitations.
Does this tour always visit the Rialto Market?
The Rialto Market is closed on Mondays. If you take the tour on a Monday we will still visit Rialto but you won't see as much activity around the market.
Does my guide accompany me on the gondola ride?
No. During your gondola ride you will be alone with maximum 5 other people and your Venetian gondoliere. This experience is much better as quiet time. Just sit back, relax and soak up the beauty of the city's canals.
What if the weather is bad (rain, snow, hail, etc.) on the day of my tour?
Our tours run rain or shine so please dress for the elements. We also ask you to please remember hats and sunscreen if you are taking this tour in the summer as it might be very hot.
Can I take a gondola ride if I use a wheelchair?
No. Unfortunately, gondolas are not wheelchair accessbile.
Do I need to bring my passport/ID with me?
Yes! All guests (including children) must bring a government-issued ID/passport on the day of their tour. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument. The full names of all participants are required at the time of booking and must match the names on their ID/passport. Name changes are not permitted.
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