The 5 Venice History Tours to Book First

1.Venice’s Best: Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Gondola & History Gallery

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,478 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $129Our pick

This 3.5-hour Venice tour pairs guided visits to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace with a shared gondola ride and a Venice history VR experience. Guides such as Lucia, Valentina, Giada, and Alexander have led highly praised visits. Expect a group of up to 15, assigned gondola seating, security checks, and some walking.

“The use of the ear phones was not positive. Our guide did not always speak into her Microphone and it made it difficult to hear/ understand what she was telling us.”

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2.City Center Historical Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,873 reviews · 1 - 2.5 hours · from $14Best value

Explore Venice with a live guide through St. Mark’s Square, Rialto Bridge, narrow calli, hidden squares, and Teatro La Fenice. The tour adds a short VR trip through old Venice, with an optional gondola ride afterward. Guides speak English, French, German, Italian, or Spanish, and private or small-group options are available.

“Very good. Lots of information. Covered a larger area than I expected to, but saw many alleys, squares etc which were not full of tourists (like us!). We also stopped for a drink at a small bar and I tried a few cichetta - that was unexpected. A word to prospective customers - if you have any mobility problems, or can only walk slowly, this is not for you. Although the pace wasn't fast, one couple could not keep up and dropped out. The guide explained that she was on a tight schedule, and there would be others waiting at the office for the next tour, so she could not…”

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3.The History of St. Mark’s Basilica Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 986 reviews · 15 - 45 minutes · from $34

Enter St. Mark’s Basilica with a host escort and priority access, then explore at your own pace with a phone audio guide. Choose basic entry, the museum and terrace, the Pala d’Oro, or the full package. Guides such as Daniela and Lila may explain the ground floor before you continue independently.

“The history of the basillica, views from the terrace, the beautiful Pala d’ora, our guide was knowledgeable and informative🤩”

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4.Bell Tower & St Mark’s Square History Gallery Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 910 reviews · 1 hour · from $44

You collect your ticket near St. Mark’s Square, watch a short VR presentation about Venice, then ride an elevator 98 meters up the Campanile. From the top, you’ll see St. Mark’s Basilica, the lagoon, the Grand Canal, and Venice’s red rooftops. There is no guided tour, but staff provide the tickets and basic assistance in several languages.

“Most amazing views of Venice from the top, the only thing you need to know is that you have to go to the shop to pick up your tickets before going to the bell tower your get the guide codes are not what gets you in to the tower. So make sure you make extra time to pop along to the shop before the tower and give the VR experience before you go up. The staff of the company are so kind and friendly and happy to help with anything you need.”

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5.Basilica, Doge’s Palace, History Gallery & Bell Tower Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 586 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $116Top rated

Explore Doge’s Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, and St. Mark’s Basilica with a certified English-speaking guide in a group of up to 15. Add the bell tower for elevator access and wide views over Venice, but note that this option replaces the Basilica interior visit with an outside visit.

“Our tour was well organized the information online was helpful and precise. We had no difficulty finding the meeting place and it started on time. Our guide Helena was SUPERB!!! She was very knowledgeable, organized and responsive to our questions.”

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