Where better to start your journey than in Piazza San Marco (also known as St. Mark’s Square), considered the heart of Venice? You will start things off by discussing the square's role as Venice’s most renowned public space, and its history as a social and political center. You will then make your way to St. Mark's Basilica, bypassing the crowds with your pre-purchased skip-the-line tickets, heading directly inside to explore the Pala D'Oro and terraces. Your visit to the square will conclude in front of Doge’s Palace where your expert guide will help dissect the building’s unique design.

Upon exiting the square, you will wander through some of Venice’s lesser-known, but equally breathtaking, canal-side alleyways, listening to stories of Venice’s rich history as you admire the unique architecture and landmarks like Campo Santa Maria Formosa. You may also pass by Marco Polo’s reported ancestral home, Corte del Milion, on your way to the beautiful Fondaco dei Tedeschi, and ultimately, the Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge. By the end of the tour, you’ll have an understanding of the layout of the city, the history of the republic, and some practical tips to use during the rest of your stay in Venice.

For a deeper look at some of the most historical sites in Venice, check out our Doge’s Palace Tour.

For more information about Context tours, please visit our FAQs.

Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.

We meet in St. Mark’s Square and end by the Rialto Bridge. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map.

Pre-purchased skip-the-line tickets with access to the Basilica, Pala D'Oro, and the St. Mark's Museum are included in the price of your tour. Your expert guide will have your tickets on the day of your tour.

What are skip-the-line tickets?

For this tour, your tickets are pre-purchased which allows you to directly enter the security line at the Basilica without waiting to purchase tickets. You may still have to wait in a security line or in a line to have your pre-purchased ticket scanned.   

In the afternoon, it is! We can start your tour after 2 pm on Sundays. Earlier than that, the Basilica is closed for mass.

Unfortunately, we have to cap this tour at 9 guests because that is the maximum group size currently allowed inside St. Mark's Basilica.

No; on this tour we focus on discussing the exterior architecture of the palace and stay outside. If you’d like to learn more about the site, consider booking our Doge's Palace Tour: Politics and Justice in Venice.

It does not. To experience the canals with an expert Context guide, book our Venice by Boat: Grand Canal Tour.

 

Yes, it is; St. Mark’s Basilica has a separate entrance that is wheelchair accessible that we may use. Please let us know in advance if this will be necessary, as we will need to communicate with the staff.

Do you reserve headsets for this tour? 

Depending on your group size, we may be required by the venue to order headsets in which case you’ll see a “Headset Fee” added to your order. If you would like to guarantee headsets for your tour regardless of your group size, please email us and we’ll be happy to get them reserved for you.