Venice Tours
Welcome to Venice Small Group Tour: Basilica San Marco & Gondola Ride
4.5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

Welcome to Venice Small Group Tour: Basilica San Marco & Gondola Ride

By Walks of Italy
Recommended by 92% of travelers
92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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A first-timer to Venice, or don’t know where to begin your explorations? Over the course of this small-group tour, experience many of the city’s top highlights: see the Rialto Bridge, visit St. Mark’s Square and pass by St. Mark’s Cathedral, and enjoy a relaxing gondola ride. You also explore areas of the city that many tour groups miss, from the sestiere of Cannaregio to the Rialto Fish Market.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 0-99, max of 20 per group
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Audio guide: English
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Highlights
  • A small-group tour makes for an intimate way to discover the city
  • See many of Venice’s most famous landmarks in a single tour
  • Discover locals-frequented areas of the city many tour groups miss
  • Go on a gondola ride, and enjoy this quintessential Venetian experience

  • Local English-speaking guide
  • Expertly guided walking tour
  • Gondola Ride
  • Headset
  • Skip-the-line ticket to St. Mark's Basilica (2pm tour only)
What's not included
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
  • Guide (during gondola ride)
  • Entry/Admission - Basilica di San Marco

This morning tour begins when you meet your guide at a central meeting point. With only a small group for company, enjoy a personal discovery tour of Venice. Your first stop is the Rialto Bridge: built in the 16th century, it’s the oldest bridge over the Grand Canal, and one of Venice’s most recognizable landmarks. While you’re there, peek into the Rialto Fish Market, and learn about the city’s one-of-a-kind culinary traditions. Next, head to an area of the city many tour groups miss: the district (sestiere) of Cannaregio, home to picturesque, winding streets. Wander by Marco Polo’s House and continue onwards to the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, among other noteworthy sites. The tour continues with a stop at St. Mark’s Square. As you go, learn from your guide about Venice’s past as a medieval powerhouse, and how the city has evolved today. Finally, finish the tour with a lengthy gondola ride along the Grand Canal, as well as the city’s quieter waterways.

Start:
  • Campo S. Giacomo di Rialto, 255, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
    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.
End:
  • St. Mark's Square, Piazza San Marco, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
    In St. Mark's Square.

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 15693P32

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
  • The Rialto Fish Market is closed on Sundays.
  • Entrance to St. Mark's Basilica is included on the 2pm tour only.
  • This tour is in English.
  • This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
  • Large bags, trolleys and backpacks cannot be accommodated on this tour.
  • During times of high tides, flooding, or heavy rain, the gondola ride may be substituted for another experience.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 15693P32

From
$70.60
per adult
Select date and travelers

Similar experiences

Itinerary
  • Campo S. Giacomo di Rialto, 255, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
    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.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
    Pass by
    Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli
    Casa di Marco Polo
  • 4
  • Piazza San Marco, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
    In St. Mark's Square.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
  • Walks of Italy
    4,090
    Venice, Veneto, Italy
    Joined in July 2010
  • Niscars
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Introduction to the City.
    What a great way to start our visit to Venice. Roberta was an excellent guide. She was friendly, answered all our questions and her love of her native city was infectious. She taught us so much about the history and architecture of the city without us really noticing. The pace and length was just right. However long you are spending in this beautiful city, I couldn't recommend this tour highly enough.
    Written February 8, 2025
  • kathleenj658
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great tour of St Marks and the Doge’s palace.
    Our tour guide Barbara was fantastic. She was very pleasant and knowledgeable. We Really enjoyed the tour and would recommend it to others.
    Written February 6, 2025
  • I2174ATstacyb
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Venice in a day tour
    This tour was amazing. Our tour guide, Roberta was so good and informative. She really knew her information and was super kind and personable. She did an excellent job. We thoroughly enjoyed all of the stops and we had time to take a break and eat lunch. We learned so much on this tour, it was perfect for seeing what Venice had to offer in one day!
    Written February 4, 2025
  • elenaiS7237PT
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great experience
    I loved this tour! I learned so much that I ended up taking notes. Roberta C was so knowledgeable and passionate about the city she lives in, and the gondola was so charming. Highly recommend.
    Written February 2, 2025
  • Thomas M
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fabulous Tour, this is a must do!
    Absolutely amazing experience, I had an absolutely fabulous tour guide who was very informative and was able to answer all of my questions. The tour of the Basilica and of the Doge’s Palace was well paced and I learnt so many interesting facts about both as well as great local insider information about Venice! I highly recommend doing this tour if you have any time at all in Venice, it is absolutely a must do!
    Written January 31, 2025
  • gogecko747
    0 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Guided tour of Doges’s Palace and San Marco’s
    Tour was good and included fast access. I would have liked more information and more time to enjoy these magnificent sights. Perhaps a self guided audio tour would have better suited us.
    Written January 27, 2025
  • augustone
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent tour of the basilica, doge and prison.
    Our guide was wonderful and we learned so much about the history of Venice and the basilica. We had a great time. Highly recommend it.
    Written January 26, 2025
  • DerekNat
    0 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Well worth the experience!
    Well worth the experience, our guide was very informative and we were lucky that we had no queues and got to see everything. The only issue was extremely poor sound quality that meant we missed allot of the commentary. They did attempt to fix but always degraded.
    Written January 25, 2025
  • Carrie B
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Popular spots done well
    SUCH a good tour! I have been to Venice many times and seen the palace and the basilica. I thought I knew a lot about them, but I learned SO much. Roberta was an engaging and informative guide. 10/10 would recommend
    Written January 20, 2025
  • Agnieszka D
    0 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Super interesting and pretty concise
    Our guide was Giovanna - super interesting, informatove and able to answer the most weirs questions :) Obviously the Basilica was mindblowing, and the Dogas' Palace as well. It's so worth getti. the 'skip the line' tickets. So many great information and stories. The gondola trip was so so. Pretty short - not sure id ot's not better to just take the gondola yourself for 15 min...
    Written January 7, 2025
  • SarahV633
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing
    Great guide Nico! We've been into many churches while touring but St Marks is amazing and it is so much better with a guide to tell you about some of the significance
    Written January 6, 2025
  • M675DXandreal
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Alessandro T is the best Venice Tour Guide
    Allesandro T, our guide in Venice , was amaaaaaaaazing! knowledgeable, passionate about Venice, enthusiastic, engaging, and all around excellent. I highly recommend Alessandro T as a guide.
    Written January 6, 2025
  • AmilaX
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great tourist city
    The place is amazing with countless alleyways and water ways its easy to get lost. The place comes to alive at sundown and gets crowded. The gondola ride is a must at night!
    Written January 5, 2025
  • Cathleen B
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Alessandro was fantastic!!!!!
    Alessandro was an amazing guide and so knowledgable! We learned how Venetians live and the rich culture of the beautiful city. Alessandro combined his in depth knowledge of Venice and its history with great humor and engagement with the group. He’s a great teacher! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and learned so much. Thanks Alessandro!
    Written January 5, 2025
  • 537ashimr
    0 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very insightful tour into the history of Venice !
    This was an amazing experience ! Our guide Mose was encyclopaedic in his knowledge about the history of the Basilica and Doge’s palace. But he was also very objective in highlighting the unique historical evolution of Venice despite being a Venetian himself. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in understand Venetian history from of the perspective of its two iconic landmarks.
    Written December 31, 2024
See all 4,090 reviews
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles221 reviews
Excellent
177
Very good
27
Average
6
Poor
2
Terrible
9

Nick M
48 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Good walking tour overall. Took exactly 3 hours. Roberta the guide was very informative and did a great job. Being a local that had lived their all her life she clearly knew her stuff . Tour included the local markets, home of Marco Polo and the St Marks Basilica, with line skip (the roof inside is only lit up for 30 mins a day). It was lit up while we we there which was a result. The gondola ride at the end was 30mins long and takes you through a few of the quieter smaller canals as well as the grad canal. The gondolier did ask for payment after the ride but we pointed out that it was part of the tour. Not sure if he was being cheeky or was just uninformed. The only negative is that when booking the price for 3 of us was £180. When going to check out it increased the price to £236 and I cannot see the reason why. Overall would recommend.
Written August 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kyle P
23 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Family
We visited on a Sunday for this tour so much of the city was shut down (fish market, many shops, Basilica San Marco, but still much to see and learn without it. I'd recommend NOT booking on a Sunday to get the full experience however. If that's when works, it's still worth it. The Gondola ride costs as much as the tour if you did it without being on the tour and it's no different. You're in a line with tour groups and non tour groups. The only difference is you may get on it alone. At most you'll be with one other small (2 people) group which is no big deal if you just want the experience and aren't planning a proposal.
Written June 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anne M
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Couples
We did this tour with a small group of 12 and it was excellent. The guide Nico had a vast knowledge of the history of the city which was shared in an informative and relaxed way. I highly recommend this tour as you will get so much more from your trip to Venice after the origins and highlights have been explained. Excellent tour and excellent value!
Written September 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SSR78
Kelowna, Canada4 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Family
I booked this tour in December as a Christmas present for my family on our much anticipated trip to Venice. 1 month before our tour date I was emailed saying they could not get tickets to St Marks Basilica but would take us to the outside of the building and tel us about the history. They offered a 6 euro refund for the inconvenience. An inconvenience? Once in a lifetime trip, and they removed a major component of the Venice visit. To say I am disappointed in an understatement. Be cautious before booking, you may not get the tour you wanted.
Written June 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear SSR78, We are deeply sorry about your recent experience with our Welcome to Venice Small Group Tour. We understand how disappointing it must have been to miss out on such a significant part of your much anticipated trip. We strive to provide the best possible experiences, and we regret that we fell short in this instance. Please know that you always have the option to cancel the entire tour for a full refund if a major component is unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and want to make this right for you. Kindly contact us at feedback@walks.org, and we will assist you with your concerns promptly. Thank you for your understanding. Kind regards, Jhonas. Walks and Devour Tours.
Written June 11, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tourist18025325809
2 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Couples
The tour guide was fantastic, 5 stars, she was very helpful,accomodating. Tour company was not. We actually booked the day before when we had the most free time, allowed 2 hours to return our car at airport, catch a bus & train to island and then had to take a boat to the location that was quite far from the train station. We called to let them know we may be a little late and were hoping to meet up snd their 2nd stop. But they would not give any set itinerary like most tours give. So when we got there 20 min. Late couldnt see them. Spent several phone calls and they did rebook us for the next day, but charged $20 per person for that and wouldn't remove that fee. My suggestion for this company is to give people an idea of the order of events. Venice is s very difficult city to navigate and get to inner city. They could also start the tour closer to the train station
Written October 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Tourist, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found the guide to be fantastic. We strive to provide flexibility for our guests, but please understand that changes and cancellations made within 24 hours of the tour departure time do incur a fee, as we have already committed resources for tickets and arrangements with venues. We appreciate your suggestion regarding a clearer itinerary. Navigating Venice can be challenging, and we will certainly take your feedback into consideration to improve our communication with guests. If you have any further concerns or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to us at feedback@walks.org. Kind regards, Jhonas. Walks & Devour Tours.
Written October 7, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Rachel M
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Couples
We had a great time on this tour! We were sure to schedule on a day that the Rialto fish market would be open and it didnt disappoint. Our guide Nico is local to Venice and gave us thorough detail on the history of Venice and was very interactive with all of our questions. The tour was about 2 hours of walking around Venice and seeing the main attractions, and ended with a 30 minute gondola ride!
Written November 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Erin K
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
We really enjoyed this tour. Mary Therese was very knowledgeable and spoke great English. We walked through the Rialto market, over the Rialto bridge, through St. Mark's Basilica, and saw some nice back streets and courtyards as well. We left the tour feeling knowledgeable about the origins of Venice, the impact of different events in history, and the various types of architecture around the city. The tour ended with a gondola ride, which seemed short but it was enough to get the experience and much cheaper than others in our travel group that hired gondolas from the side of the canal. Overall, would definitely recommend!
Written October 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ernest S
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Family
Our tour with our guide Nico from Walks was SUPERB!!! Despite the occasional gust of wind and constant rain that could’ve ruined many a tour, ours was hardly dampened by this weather. Unfortunate that the gondola experience had to be canceled (and to be reimbursed) but the time was offset by a welcome (and dry) break for a coffee. Communication was very clear (both to find and start the tour and the information relayed along the way). Our guide himself (Nico) was absolutely FANTASTIC! Knowledgeable, passionate about the subject matter (history of Venice), kind, capable (always aware of the full group) and very captivating. Full marks all around. 5 stars and more if possible. Thank you for a fabulous and informative walk through Venice.
Written October 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Inflight
Boynton Beach, FL43 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Our tour of Virginia did a fine job touring us. She was extremely knowledgeable of the city and showed us many architectural landmarks and historical information. I’d recommend this tour to all people interested in understanding the history of Venice and it’s architecture.
Written July 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rachel P
Bradford, UK18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
The tour was really interesting, it began with around an hour of walking around Venice at a leisurely pace, mainly around the Rialto and San Marco area. We had earphones and the guide was very knowledgeable about the history. We then went straight into the Basilica which was impressive and beautiful. After the tour we were taken to the gondolas, the ride lasted around 30-40 minutes and included the grand canal. We were in a gondola with one other couple. The tour lasted 3 hours, their was a toilet stop after the Basilica, there is a charge for public conveniences. I would highly recommend the tour, especially at the start of your trip to Venice as it will help you orientate.
Written September 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

Welcome to Venice Small Group Tour: Basilica San Marco & Gondola Ride provided by Walks of Italy

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