Byzantine Venice Walking tour & Saint Mark's Basilica
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out
From $64.65
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
Safety measures
2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English and 4 more
Explore our promoted experiences
Operators have paid Viator more to have their experiences featured here
Overview
No visit to Venice is complete without a tour of the awe-inspiring architecture of St Mark’s Square. Escape the crowds and discover highlights of Venetian history with a guided, small-group walking tour. Explore the magnificent Doge’s Palace and photogenic bell tower, and skip the front of the queue to see the dazzling gilded interior of St Mark’s Basilica.
- One-hour small group walking tour of St. Mark's Square
- Enter the backwaters of Venice away from the crowds
- Entry to St. Mark's Basilica
- Personalized small group (maximum 25 people)
- English-speaking guide
Saved to wishlist!
Get an insider’s view of St Mark’s Square and avoid the tourist rush with this informative, 1-hour tour. Your experienced English-speaking guide will lead you in a group of no more than 25 people on a walking tour of Venice’s famed architectural complex.
Skip the long lines at St Mark’s Basilica and step inside its Italo-Byzantine splendor. Walk among the intricate mosaics and murals that decorate every surface of the cathedral, and admire the work of generations of Venetian goldsmiths who created the glittering Pala d’Oro, or golden altar (additional expense).
Gaze up at the iconic clock tower in St Mark’s Square and discover the fascinating history of the Doge’s Palace, Sansovino library and the ornate bell tower crowned by a massive winged lion statue. Your guide will entertain you with tales of legendary Venetian figures including Marco Polo and Casanova. At the end of the tour, you’ll have a great orientation to Venice’s central highlights to help you plan further exploration.
Please note: St Mark’s Basilica is occasionally closed to the public due to flooding or special events.
Skip the long lines at St Mark’s Basilica and step inside its Italo-Byzantine splendor. Walk among the intricate mosaics and murals that decorate every surface of the cathedral, and admire the work of generations of Venetian goldsmiths who created the glittering Pala d’Oro, or golden altar (additional expense).
Gaze up at the iconic clock tower in St Mark’s Square and discover the fascinating history of the Doge’s Palace, Sansovino library and the ornate bell tower crowned by a massive winged lion statue. Your guide will entertain you with tales of legendary Venetian figures including Marco Polo and Casanova. At the end of the tour, you’ll have a great orientation to Venice’s central highlights to help you plan further exploration.
Please note: St Mark’s Basilica is occasionally closed to the public due to flooding or special events.
Itinerary
The tour starts with a historical introduction of St. Marks’s Square, and its architectural delights, allowing you to discover the history of the majestic St. Mark’s Basilica, the illustrious Doge’s Palace, once the seat of the power of the Republic of Venice, and the extraordinary, renaissance clock tower.
Duration: 10 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
Leaving the square, you will be guided into the residential Castello area, allowing you to discover this part of Venice in all of its elegance, through its labyrinth of narrow alleys - “calli”, many bridges, winding canals and wide picturesque squares - “campi”.
You can expect to see campo Santa Maria Formosa, one of the largest squares in Venice with its church, named after its visitation of the Holy Virgin.
Duration: 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
After returning to Saint Mark's Square, an official guide will provide you with a detailed tour of the Golden Basilica, once the private chapel of the Doge of Venice, the only one of its kind in Italy, thanks to the sumptuous golden mosaics and impressive marble inlay flooring. During the tour you will be able to sit down in the church and absorb the atmosphere whilst listening to your guide who will describe the biblical scenes represented throughout the building, together with history and particularities of this ancient Basilica.
The tour includes the visit of the famous Pala d’Oro -an altarpiece made of gold and silver and an exquisite example of Byzantine art with a myriad of gems and precious stones.
This 2 hour and 30 minute combined tour concludes outside the Basilica, in Saint Mark's Square.
Duration: 50 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
Traveler Photos

Reviews
Why you are seeing these recommendations
Compare Similar Experiences
Current

Byzantine Venice Walking tour & Saint Mark's Basilica
2 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$64.65
Why you are seeing these recommendations
Explore Similar Things to Do
City ToursWalking ToursCultural ToursHistorical ToursWalking & Biking ToursCultural & Theme ToursTours & SightseeingVeniceCity Tours - VenetoWalking Tours - VenetoCultural Tours - VenetoHistorical Tours - VenetoCity Tours - TrevisoWalking Tours - TrevisoCultural Tours - TrevisoHistorical Tours - TrevisoCity Tours - PaduaWalking Tours - PaduaCultural Tours - PaduaHistorical Tours - PaduaCategory
Campo Santa Margherita Tours & TicketsMocenigo Palace (Palazzo Mocenigo) Tours & TicketsBovolo Staircase (Scala Contarini del Bovolo) Tours & TicketsScuola Grande di San Rocco Tours & TicketsPeggy Guggenheim Collection (Collezione Peggy Guggenheim) Tours & TicketsChurch of San Zaccaria (Chiesa di San Zaccaria) Tours & TicketsChurch of Santa Maria dei Miracoli (Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli) Tours & TicketsLa Fenice Opera House (Teatro La Fenice) Tours & TicketsSan Marco Chamber Orchestra (Virtuosi di Venezia) Tours & TicketsFrari Church (Basilica dei Frari) Tours & TicketsChurch of Santa Maria Assunta (I Gesuiti) Tours & TicketsVenice Santa Lucia Station (Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia) Tours & TicketsSan Polo Tours & TicketsSt. Mark's Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio) Tours & TicketsDorsoduro Tours & TicketsSan Gallo Theater (Teatro San Gallo) Tours & TicketsVenice Jewish Ghetto (Ghetto di Venezia) Tours & TicketsVenice Lido (Lido di Venezia) Tours & TicketsMazzorbo Tours & TicketsPiombi Tours & Tickets
Why you are seeing these recommendations