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Venice Highlights & Gondola ride
Venice Shore Excursions - Venice Highlights & Gondola ride
 

This private Venice shore excursion pairs a Grand Canal cruise with a walking tour into the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, then closes with a gondola ride through the city's smaller canals. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Venice and its Lagoon, St. Mark's Square is the heart of the visit. Licensed English speaking guide included. 5.5 hours.

5.5 hours (private)
private excursion
licensed guide
english speaking expert
all group sizes
sedan to full size coach
››
port or hotel
pick up either location
  • Pick up from your Hotel or the Port of Venice
  • Private English Speaking Licensed Guide
  • One Way Grand Canal Cruise in Private Water Taxi
  • Walking Tour of St. Mark's Area
  • Private Gondola Ride
  • Included Visits - St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Prisons
Read Full Tour Description





Tour Number: IVENI-02


Group Size (Prices in USD)*: 		2 People - $1190 Per Person
3 People - $840 Per Person
4 People - $650 Per Person
5 People - $538 Per Person
6 People - $502 Per Person
7 People - $450 Per Person
8 People - $404 Per Person



Port / City*:

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Pick Up Time*:

Pick Up Location*:

Name of Ship or Hotel*:

TOUR DESCRIPTION
 

Venice Highlights, St. Mark's & Gondola Ride Shore Excursion from Venice

This highlights of Venice cruise excursion includes a private cruise along Venice's Grand Canal, and a two hour walking tour to visit the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. After free time for lunch, you close the day with a gondola ride.

Your licensed guide meets you at the Venice cruise terminal and leads you to your private water taxi waiting nearby. Once on board you cruise the full length of Venice's most famous street, the Grand Canal, flanked along its entire length by buildings from the 12th to 17th centuries. Your guide points out landmarks such as the Rialto Bridge and the grand houses built by Venice's wealthiest families.

The cruise ends at St. Mark's Square, the civic and religious center of Venice since the 9th century. St. Mark's Basilica was originally built in 829 AD to house the remains of the city's patron saint. Its five domes and gold mosaic interior reflect Byzantine influence brought back by Venetian traders and earned it the nickname Chiesa d'Oro, the Church of Gold.

The Doge's Palace stands beside the Basilica and was the seat of Venetian government for over 700 years. Construction on the current Gothic building began in 1173, incorporating walls and towers from an earlier fortress dating to 810. The Doge, elected for life, ruled alongside councils including the powerful Council of Ten, and the palace also held the courts, the armory, and the prisons. In 1340 an addition brought the Great Council Room, notable for its unsupported ceiling spanning the full width of the building.

The Bridge of Sighs was built in 1614 to connect the Doge's Palace to the new prison building. Fully enclosed, the bridge holds two separate corridors running side by side. Its name comes from the Romantic period and refers to the sighs of prisoners taking a last look at freedom as they crossed from the courtroom to their cell.

After free time for lunch on your own, you close the tour with a gondola ride. Your gondolier will single-handedly power the boat through Venice's smaller canals and under its footbridges, a tradition that has changed little since the Renaissance.

What's Included

Included

  • Pick up from your Hotel or the Port of Venice
  • Private English Speaking Licensed Guide
  • One Way Grand Canal Cruise in Private Water Taxi
  • Walking Tour of St. Mark's Area
  • Private Gondola Ride
  • Included Visits - St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Prisons

Not Included

  • Meals and beverages
  • Gratuities (optional, at your discretion)
  • Personal shopping

Tour Timing

All times are approximate and will vary based on your group's pace and interests.

  • 1
    15 Minutes
    Meet guide and walk to private water taxi
  • 2
    1 Hour
    Private Grand Canal cruise
  • 3
    2 Hours
    Venice walking tour
  • 4
    1 Hour and 30 Minutes
    Free time for lunch
  • 5
    Gondola Ride- 40 Minutes

Good to Know

Mobility
If you have mobility concerns or require special assistance, please contact us when booking and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Walking
This tour includes a walking portion over cobblestone streets. Comfortable, supportive shoes are strongly recommended.
Dress Code
Some sites on this tour require that shoulders and knees be covered. We recommend wearing or bringing a light layer to avoid being turned away at the entrance.
Customizable
This tour can be adjusted to fit your group’s pace and interests. If you’d like to spend more time at a particular site or add a stop, contact us when you inquire.
Larger Groups
For groups that need a minibus or full coach, contact us for a custom quote. We accommodate groups of any size.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica interior visits included?
Yes, both interior visits are included, along with the Bridge of Sighs and the former prisons.
What should I wear inside St. Mark's Basilica?
Covered shoulders and knees are required, with no bare feet or exposed midriffs, and large bags are not permitted inside.
Does this tour include a ride on a gondola?
Yes - a gondola ride through Venice's characteristic side canals is included in this tour after free time for lunch.
What is the cancellation policy for Venice tours?
Cancel a Venice tour 15 or more days out and you're refunded, minus a $50 administration fee. Inside 14 days of the tour date, cancellations become non-refundable. One exception: if your ship simply doesn't call at Venice because of weather, mechanical issues, or political unrest, you'll get a full refund less the $50 fee. All cancellation requests need to be submitted in writing by email.
Where do we meet our driver or guide in Venice?
Cruise Ship: Once you disembark at Venice, head to the terminal's main public exit. If there's a terminal building, walk through the arrivals area to the public pickup zone outside -- cruise staff can point you the right way. No terminal building means your driver will already be waiting dockside as you disembark. Don't see your contact right away? Stay near your exit point and call the local dispatch number from your confirmation. Hotel: Look for your driver or guide right outside the main entrance or in the lobby -- they'll be holding a sign with your group name. Airport: Once you've collected your luggage and cleared customs, head into the arrivals hall -- your driver or guide will be there holding a sign with your group name.
Are entrance fees included in Venice tours, and are they refundable?
Entrance fees are included wherever it's noted on the Venice tour page. Keep in mind some venues require timed, skip-the-line tickets that become non-refundable the moment they're purchased. We'll flag any non-refundable entrance fees for you at booking.
Can we customize the itinerary on our Venice shore excursion?
Flexibility is one of the real perks of a private Venice tour. Mention any must-see sight to your driver or guide at pickup, and they'll do their best to work it in. Traffic and time constraints can occasionally limit how much we can change, but your guide will always try to keep things personal.

Also Available:

›Postcards of Venice - for a 3-hour private tour
›Highlights of Venice - if you would like to visit St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Prisons
›Best of Venice with Gondola ride - if you would like to visit St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Prisons

Our Back-to-Ship Guarantee

Every excursion returning 1.5 hours before departure is covered. If we are late, we cover your costs to reach the next port. More info ›

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Shore Trip Timing is approximate based on your interests & traffic
  • Meet guide and walk to private water taxi - 15 Minutes
  • Private Grand Canal cruise - 1 Hour
  • Venice walking tour - 2 Hours
  • Free time for lunch - 1 Hour and 30 Minutes
  • Gondola Ride- 40 Minutes

Average Rating: Average Rating: 5 of 5 5 of 5 Total Reviews: 31 Write a review »

  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Venice Sunday, July 26, 2026
Reviewer: Louise R from Rocky River OH  
Our trip was fabulous. Our flights were on time, the weather was great and the sites so amazing! Our tours and guides were excellent. I dont have their names handy but all were extremely knowledgeable and we loved their passion for their countries. Should we venture back to Europe we will definitely contact you again. I will surely recommend your company to anyone traveling in Europe.

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  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Venice Sunday, June 14, 2026
Reviewer: Mei Ying L from Tampa, FL  
We were 2 and a half hours late in arriving at the airport where we were to be picked up for a 4 hour excursion which was scheduled to end by 2pm but the tour operator allowed for an extension of the tour till 3pm without extra charge. We had good guides clean and fairly new vehicles. Itineraries were interesting and flexible.

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  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Venice Friday, June 12, 2026
Reviewer: Reggie M from Roaring Spring, PA  
Excellent service provided with clean and efficient vehicles. The driver was very professional, and got us to our destination in a timely manner. The water taxi driver found us, even though we were a block from the meeting place. You could tell that the company cared for their customers, and provided an excellent service and experience.

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  2 of 2 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Venice Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Reviewer: Bob S from Vestavia, AL  
Ken Diaz the Group Reservation Manager of Private Shore Trips organized an amazing set of tourstransportation events for our group of 42 friends and family in MULTIPLE countries! Yes Italy, Greece & Turkey!! Or tour guides provided excellent connections with the entire group and gave a dissertation on the history of each location we visited. We had teachers in our group and they were impressed with the tour guides that says a lot!

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  0 of 0 people found this review helpful:
 
5 of 5 Review Location- Venice Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Reviewer: Susan P from Irvine, CA  
We just got back yesterday and I am very glad to bring the good news that all the tours have been a wonderful success!!! The buses were very comfortable and the tour guides have been great and considerate of our senior citizens. We all applauded the end of every tour and We have all been recommending Private Shore Trips web site to all the people we met on the ship. You know that recommendation and word of praises are good advertisements for your business. Well surely get in touch with you when the need arises. Again, a million thanks for what you did for us that made our vacation a truly enjoyable one. Also, we got lucky with good weather.

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