Venice City Center Guided Walking Tour
2.5
hour
guided
Walking Tours
Group Size
Max 8
Tour Duration
2.5 Hours
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Free Cancellation up to 24 hrs
Highlights generally include
• St. Mark's Square & Bell Tower (Exterior) - Begin your tour in Venice's most famous piazza and admire St. Mark's Campanile, the towering red-brick bell tower that dominates the city's skyline.
• St. Mark's Basilica & Golden Mosaics - Step inside Venice's most magnificent church and marvel at the dazzling golden mosaics covering over 8,000 square meters.
• The Bronze Horses of St. Mark's Basilica - See the legendary bronze horses, taken from Constantinople's Hippodrome during the Fourth Crusade, now proudly displayed above the basilica's entrance.
• The Bridge of Sighs - Cross this elegant limestone bridge, once the last view of Venice for prisoners condemned in the Doge's Palace. Named by Lord Byron, this enclosed passageway links the palace to the prison.
• Doge's Palace & Renaissance Masterpieces - Wander through the opulent chambers of the Doge's Palace, where Venice's rulers held court in splendor. Marvel at Tintoretto's Paradise, one of the largest oil paintings in the world, and admire the grand ceilings, lavish frescoes, and imposing council chambers.
Embark on a 2.5-hour private tour of Venice's most iconic landmarks: St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace.
Enjoy skip-the-line access to the Basilica, where over 8,000 square meters of golden mosaics illuminate its breathtaking Byzantine interior. From the terrace, take in panoramic views of St. Mark's Square, the former political and commercial heart of the Venetian Republic. Continue to the Doge's Palace, the former seat of Venetian power. Walk through its lavish chambers, adorned with masterpieces by Tintoretto and Veronese.
Climb the Golden Staircase and marvel at the Grand Council Chamber, where opulent paintings and remarkable architecture reflect Venice's wealth and ambition. As you cross the Bridge of Sighs, hear tales of the rulers who shaped Venice's destiny and reflect on the prisoners who glimpsed their city one last time before facing their fate. Led by an expert guide, this immersive tour unveils Venice's history, art, and intrigue, offering a deeper appreciation of its enduring grandeur.
• PRIVATE MUSEUM TOUR (with Reserved Entry Tickets to ST MARK'S BASILICA and the DOGE'S PALACE Included)
• PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE
• DURATION 2.5 HOURS
• ALL ENTRANCE FEES (with Reserved Entry Included!)
Mary was fantastic. Her knowledge and descriptions were very detailed. Her knowledge of the history of Benice taught me a few new details I did not know. Small private tour turned out to just 4 on the tour.
06 June 2025
Great tour guide was very knowledgeable really enjoyed the palace.St marks was amazing the detail in the ceiling art were extraordinary
12 June 2025
Mary was fun and knowledgeable. She took her time to answer all of our questions and was very easy to follow. I would highly recommend a tour by her.
17 June 2025
Rainy day in Venice did not damper our semi-private tour and great experience of St Mark’s basilica and DOGE palace semi-private tour provided by Marialaura of Babylon tours! The detailed information offered about the monuments, the city’s history was perfect! We got up to the terrace for a beautiful view of St Mark’s square and the Grand Canal! We all enjoyed this tour very much! Small group, well organized and knowledgeable guide! Highly recommended!
20 June 2025
Ketty was an amazing guide. So friendly and sweet. I wish we could have her for every tour we take. She was so incredibly knowledgeable and made the tour fun. She interacted a lot with our daughter and asked her questions which was so great. Excellent tour for the price. Would highly recommend.
26 June 2025
We recently booked a tour of Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica. Our guide, Ketty, was exceptional in every way. Her expertise and love of Venice’s culture and history were evident as she shared her knowledge and navigated us effortlessly along the tour. She shared so many stories of history and of her many trips to study the sculptures, mosaics, and stories painted on the walls. Ketty’s knowledge and passion did not go unnoticed. She was able to answer every question we had and pointed out small details we would have missed if we tried to navigate this on our...
12 July 2025
The guide was friendly, very knowledgable, prompt, and communicated and confirmed the meeting time and place.
25 July 2025
Marialaura was our guide , great tour was perfect amount of time for tour. Even gave us recommendations for places to eat which are off the beaten path.
10 August 2025
Mary is by far the most excellent tour guide. We took 14 tours in seven days and she was the best. Her commentary kept high school students, college students, and a middle school history teacher (all my grandkids) completely engrossed and enamored of the tour.
10 August 2025
Our guide Marialaura was excellent. She was very knowledgeable and made the tour very interesting. She took her time, answered our questions and never once rushed us. The tour was just the right amount of time and very informative. Definitely would recommend her!
13 September 2025
Excellent tour, very knowledgeable guide who was very helpful in covering a lot of material in relatively short amount of time. The skip-the-line feature was very handy as even in the off season on a rainy day there were long lines.
26 March 2025
If you don't want very big groups, a guide with a flag on a pole and commentary via audio headset, choose Babylon. The semi-private / small group tours are personal and an excellent value. The guides are very knowledgeable and informative and easy to understand. Maria Laura was very friendly and helpful, sharing restaurant recommendations after the tour. We participated in the walking tour of the city (just 2 people total in the group) and the St. Mark's Basilica tour (7 people total in the group.) Excellent experience.
30 April 2025
The tour was incredibly well done and we so appreciated Marialaura for guiding us with warmth and expertise. After ward, Marialaura gave us recommendations for local restaurants, which were fantastic! Great job, and thank you - we'll be back.
01 May 2025
Federico did an excellent job telling us the history of the region and explaining the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica. The Basilica is absolutely stunning. We would request Federico again as a guide and recommend him to others.
07 May 2025
Excellent Tour guide. Excellent tour. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Venice. It's worth every penny.
12 May 2025
Our guide Marialaura was exceptional. Her knowledge and passion in speaking about St. Mark's & The Doge's Palace held our attention like we were listening to a storybook. She managed to describe history in detail and keep it interesting. Her sweet personality made us feel like friends. My husband & I have an Italian last name that no one can pronounce in the States. She took a sml video with me saying it in 'real' Italian so I could post on social media. She also spoke to (& taught) us a lot about our heritage. After our tour, she made...
16 May 2025
We had an amazing time discovering St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, Daniela knew all the tricks! Would recommend.
16 June 2025
This tour was an absolute highlight, and our guide, Marialaura, was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable and provided us with an amazing experience of both St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace. It was a small group tour, so we didn't even need earpieces. She ensured that the six of us could hear her everywhere we went. Skipping the lines is totally worth it and made the trip that much more enjoyable. Thank you, Marialaura, for a wonderful tour.
24 June 2025
Marialaura was an excellent guide! Very knowledgeable and engaging, she made the tour interesting. We would recommend this tour
02 August 2025
MariaLaura gave an outstanding tour of Saint Mark’s and Doja’s Palace. Her extensive knowledge and easy conversation made it just outstanding tour to take. We look forward to working with her again when we come that way.
29 August 2025