Top Venice Cultural Tours

Delve into Venetian history on this tour that showcases two of the city's most iconic structures and sheds light on the stories behind them both. Enjoy skip-the-line access to both popular attractions. Your first stop is legendary St. Mark's Basilica. Wander around the mosaic-covered interior and Byzantine treasures while a local guide fills you in on how this collection came to be. Then continue to the Doge’s Palace to explore the former political heart of Venice.

Visit Torcello, Murano, and Burano—three islands in the Venetian Lagoon—on this tour from Venice by motorboat. With a guide, watch glass being blown at a Murano glass factory, see historical cathedrals on Torcello, and admire exquisite handmade lace on Burano. This is a great way to see more than just the central sights of Venice and enjoy a cruise on the water. Select a departure time when booking.

See the wonders of Venice's St. Mark's Basilica without the crowds during this after-hours, small-group tour. Learn about the basilica's famed mosaics from your guide and explore the crypt below the church to see where St. Mark's remains are said to lie. Upgrade to see the Doge's Palace after the basilica and wander the former home of the Venetian Republic's government.

Visit two of the most popular attractions in Venice on this guided tour of the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. Listen to your guide's commentary clearly with provided headsets and avoid hours-long queues with skip-the-line admission tickets. Entrance tickets to the Doge's Palace are also included for a hassle-free tour.

Experience the grandeur and history of Venice on this private tour of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. Admire the shimmering mosaics and golden altars of the city’s most famous cathedral, and see masterpieces by Titian and Tintoretto as you wander through the lavish chambers of the Venetian Republic’s one-time rulers. Skip the long lines at both attractions with priority access (from April to October), so you don't waste a minute of precious vacation time.

Take a course on mask making from a master artisan in Venice, and learn about the history of this ancient tradition. You can choose from a production class or a decoration class, or you can even take both. In the production class, learn how to make your own papier-mâché mask, and in the decoration class, you can paint or use materials to decorate your mask. No matter which option you choose, you get to bring home your creation—just in time for Carnival.

Discover several Venetian attractions in one itinerary with this full-day tour. Visit St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Rialto Bridge with an art historian guide leading the way. Stroll along Venice’s romantic canals and climb aboard a gondola for a scenic boat ride. After free time for lunch, skip the line for instant access into Doge’s Palace to see Casanova’s prison cell and walk across the Bridge of Sighs.

See the Doge's Palace, which served as the center of power in the Venetian Republic, with this skip-the-line 1-hour guided tour. Marvel at the artistic treasures in the palace, including paintings by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese. Walk through ornately-decorated halls and imagine Venice in its so-called Golden Age. Walk across the Bridge of Sighs from the Doge's Palace into the infamous prison, where Casanova was once held. Enjoy personalized attention from a knowledgeable local guide.

Enjoy the best of Venice on this guided walking tour plus skip-the-line entry to the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica. Explore the best that the canal city has to offer, winding your way through narrow alleys, and see Venice's top attractions.

Explore Venice's famous canals on a guided gondola ride through the city. Meander beneath bridges and along quiet, peaceful stretches in a traditional Venetian boat, taking in sights such as the Rialto Bridge and Campo Manin as you go. Join up to five others—along with your expert gondolier—in enjoying one of Venice's most leisurely and original pastimes, and don't miss this chance to experience the Grand Canal from the water.

See two of Venice’s most iconic attractions and save 10% when you book them together with this Super Saver. Head to the front of the long queues with skip-the-line access to the famed Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica. Learn the history behind these architectural wonders from your local guide, and explore some of Venice’s lesser-known sights on a walking tour. Complete both tours in the same day with a break in between to spend at your leisure, depending on the operational schedule.

St. Mark's Basilica is one of Venice’s most visited attractions and this skip-the-line tour ensures you don’t waste any time queuing outside. Enjoy priority access and a 1-hour guided walking tour of the Golden Basilica, followed by an optional cruise to visit a glass factory on Murano Island.

Saint Marks Basilica and the Doges Palace are two landmarks rarely left off any Venice Itinerary, but their popularity means that visitors often spend more time queuing outside than exploring inside. Visit both on this 4-hour tour, including skip-the-line entrance and a walking tour of romantic Venice.

Experience the magnificence and mystery of the Doge’s Palace in Venice with this skip-the-line ticket. Head to the front of the queue with your guide, and then wander through the palace’s ornate public rooms as you learn the history of Venice’s powerful rulers. Admire magnificent interior artwork, including Renaissance masterpieces by painters Tintoretto and Veronese. Explore the palace’s darker side with a visit to the prison quarters and a walk across the notorious Bridge of Sighs.

Discover Venice’s hidden gems on a 2-hour cruise through the city’s secret canals. Watch scenes of daily Venetian life as you glide through the lesser-known neighborhoods of Cannaregio, Dorsoduro and the Jewish Ghetto. A guide will share insight into the city’s history, architecture and local legends. For a grand finale, head out into the wider waters of the Grand Canal and float beneath the iconic Rialto Bridge. Numbers are limited to nine people on this small-group tour for a more intimate experience.

If you’re looking to see most of Venice’s well-known sights all in one day, put your trust in this fun combination day tour. This package includes a walking tour of the city away from the crowded streets into the treasure filled pockets of the Castello area, a skip-the-line privilege at Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and at St. Mark's Basilica and a gondola ride on the Grand Canal and smaller canals.

The Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark’s Basilica are two of Venice’s most beloved destinations, but the two landmarks can have ticket lines to match. See both landmarks with a private guide on a 2-hour tour that includes skip-the-line access, so you can make the most of your time in Venice.

Experience Saint Mark's Basilica after hours on this 1.5-hour evening tour. Look around the chapel with your small group of 15 people, learning about its history and Byzantine architecture without the buzz of a thousand other visitors.

After the sun has set and the tourist crowds have departed, the mysterious side of Venice becomes apparent. Discover the myths and hauntings surrounding the popular city on a 90-minute ghost tour. Follow your guide through deserted squares, down quiet alleyways, and into the past. Learn about local legends, unexplained events, and of course, ghost stories that have been passed down through generations.

Step back in time to the golden age of Italian opera with this guided tour of Venice’s Teatro La Fenice. Learn the history and legends of this decadent Baroque opera house, which was once the heart of Venetian high society and hosted performances by masterful maestros like Verdi, Rossini and Bellini.

See Venice’s tucked-away places as well as don’t-miss monuments on this walking tour. Your guide shares unusual stops not typically found on the tourist path, starting in Dorsoduro, the university district. Learn about the city’s history at sites like the Rialto Bridge and Marco Polo’s home, then meander through Campo San Giovanni e Paolo up to Piazza San Marco. Opt for a small group or upgrade to a private tour. 

Discover the golden mosaics, soaring domes and iconic architecture of St. Mark’s Basilica on a 1-hour guided tour of the cathedral. Learn about the history and culture of Venice through the treasures inside the Byzantine landmark, and hear the story of how St. Mark's body came to rest in the city. See how the unique building combines Eastern and Western architecture, and stand before the stunning Pala d’Oro altar, which glimmers with gold, gems and precious stones.

Get an in-depth look at two of Venice's most popular attractions on this skip-the-line tour of St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace. See glittering mosaics inside the church and lavish rooms once inhabited by rulers of the Venetian Republic. Explore the fascinating history of La Serenissima in one combination tour.

Skip the lines at Saint Mark’s Basilica and Doge Palace and opt a shared guided tour instead. Then, enjoy the quintessential Venice experience—a gondola ride through the city’s canals and waterways. Your ticket also includes access to several landmarks surrounding Saint Mark’s Square, as well as access to a mobile app that provides commentary to a walking tour of the city at your own pace.