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St. Mark's Square & Venice Highlights Shore ExcursionThis Venice shore trip covers the highlights of the city in the shortest amount of time, without a gondola ride. It's a perfect option if you only have a short time available or prefer to spend your time inside the landmarks rather than on the water. Your licensed guide meets you at the Venice cruise terminal and leads you to your private water taxi waiting nearby. You cruise the full length of the Grand Canal, past palaces built from the 12th to 17th centuries, before arriving at St. Mark's Square. Piazza San Marco has been the civic heart of Venice for over a thousand years. Napoleon reportedly called it the finest drawing room in Europe when he took the city in 1797. The square is framed by the Procuratie buildings, the Campanile bell tower, which was rebuilt after collapsing in 1902, and the twin columns of the Piazzetta marking the traditional entrance to the city from the water. Inside St. Mark's Basilica, built in 829 AD to house the relics of the city's patron saint, you'll see its Byzantine gold mosaics up close, a style that earned the church its nickname, the Church of Gold. From there your guide leads you into the Doge's Palace, the seat of Venetian government from 1173 onward, which incorporates walls from an earlier 810 fortress and the Great Council Room added in 1340. Your tour finishes at the Bridge of Sighs, built in 1614 to connect the palace to the prison building, its name drawn from the last glimpse of freedom prisoners caught as they crossed it on the way to their cell. Please note - Please Note: This tour ends in St. Mark's Square where you can enjoy free time and return to the pier on your own. Most cruise lines offer shuttles from St. Mark's Square to their ships, otherwise there are water buses available. If you want a private water taxi to take you back to the pier immediately following this tour, please contact us for a quote.
What's IncludedIncluded- Pick up from your Hotel or the Port of Venice
- Private English Speaking Licensed Guide
- One Way Grand Canal Cruise
- Private Water Taxi
- Included Visits - St. Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs and the Prisons
- Please Note: This tour ends in St. Mark's Square where you can enjoy free time and return to the pier on your own. Most cruise lines offer shuttles from St. Mark's Square to their ships, otherwise there are water buses available. If you want a private water taxi to take you back to the pier immediately following this tour, please contact us for a quote.
Not Included- Meals and beverages
- Gratuities (optional, at your discretion)
- Personal shopping
Tour TimingAll 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 2.5 Hours Venice Walking Tour
Most Popular Tours from Venice Tours Tours & ExcursionsFrequently Asked QuestionsHow much walking is involved without the gondola ride?
This is a walking and boat tour, roughly 2.5 hours of walking on cobblestone streets and bridge steps after the Grand Canal cruise. No wheelchair access is available.
Can I add a gondola ride to this tour?
This specific tour does not include one, but Postcards of Venice and Venice Highlights & Gondola ride both include a private gondola ride if you'd prefer that version.
What is the significance of the Bridge of Sighs?
It was built in 1614 to link the Doge's Palace courtrooms to the prison. Its name comes from the Romantic period, referring to the sighs of prisoners glimpsing freedom for the last time as they crossed it. Can I get a refund if I cancel my Venice tour? Give us 15+ days' notice on a Venice cancellation and we'll refund everything except a $50 admin 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. How do I find my driver when I arrive in Venice? Cruise Ship: After leaving the ship at Venice, make your way to the main public exit of the terminal. Where a terminal building exists, pass through the arrivals area to the outside pickup area -- cruise staff can direct you. If there's no terminal building, your driver waits dockside. If you can't spot your contact immediately, stay put near your exit and call the local dispatch number in 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. Do I need to pay separately for admission tickets on my Venice tour? Wherever the Venice tour page indicates it, admission is already built into the price. 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 add a stop to our Venice tour that isn't on the standard itinerary? A private Venice tour is built to flex around what you want to see. 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: ›Venice Highlights & Gondola ride - Venice shore excursion from Venice cruise port - private guided tour including a Grand Canal cruise, exterior visits to the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, and a gondola ride through the canals with a licensed English-speaking guide. ›Postcards of Venice - Venice shore excursion from Venice cruise port - private guided highlights tour including a Grand Canal cruise, a gondola ride, and a walking tour of St. Mark's Square and Basilica with a licensed English-speaking guide. 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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Review Location- Venice 
