VENICE, VENETO
italy
41.90451 12.45976

Venice
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About Venice

Venice, Italy, is a unique city built on over 100 islands connected by canals, famous for its romantic waterways, iconic gondolas, Renaissance and Gothic architecture (like St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace), and art-filled palaces, serving as a living museum and major tourist destination in the Veneto region.

[ DOGE'S PALACE ]
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After Hours PRIVATE EXPERIENCE

Type

Pricing

Starting from 480€ p/p
minimum 2 participants

GROUP
LANGUAGE

YOUR GROUP ONLY

ENGLISH

DURATION

2hrs

Doge’s Palace

Experience

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Tour Overview

Once the residence of the elected Doge and the political heart of the Venetian Republic, the palace was the center of the Serenissima’s authority and remains a testament to Venice’s wealth, ambition, and cultural legacy.

You will walk through the richly decorated private apartments of the Doge and the grand institutional rooms, including the Senate Chamber and the Great Council Hall, adorned with masterpieces by Tintoretto, Veronese, Tiziano, and Sansovino.

Crossing the legendary Bridge of Sighs, you will look back toward the city from the perspective of those once condemned by the Republic, before continuing on a return path rarely experienced by visitors.

The visit concludes in the open courtyard, where you can admire the elegant loggia and the imposing Giant’s Staircase by Sansovino, offering a final, unforgettable view of one of Venice’s most iconic settings.

Enjoy an extraordinary private evening inside one of Venice’s greatest symbols of power and beauty. This exclusive visit offers the rare chance to explore the Doge’s Palace in complete tranquility, free from crowds, allowing you to fully appreciate its architecture, art, and atmosphere.

[ Doge’s Palace and St Marks Basilica ]
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Doge’s Palace and St Marks Basilica

Experience

PRIVATE EXPERIENCE

Type

Pricing

Starting from €510 for the first 2 participants
€ 95 any additional adult
€ 65 U18yrs

GROUP
LANGUAGE

YOUR GROUP ONLY

ENGLISH

For any other languages contact us
via the form

DURATION

2h 30min

Contact Us

Tour Overview

You will then enter the Doge’s Palace, the seat of power of the Venetian Republic. Originally a 9th-century fortress, the palace evolved into a masterpiece of architecture and art, featuring works by Sansovino, Tiziano, Tintoretto, and Veronese.

Inside, you will visit the Golden Staircase, the Doge’s apartments, and the grand institutional chambers, including the Great Council Hall, home to Tintoretto’s monumental painting Paradise. 

Crossing the legendary Bridge of Sighs, you will explore the historic prisons before returning to the palace courtyard to admire Sansovino’s impressive Giant’s Staircase.The tour continues with skip-the-line access to St Mark’s Basilica, where you will marvel at its extraordinary interior, adorned with over 8,000 square meters of gold mosaics.

Highlights include the magnificent Pala d’Oro and the terrace overlooking Piazza San Marco, offering breathtaking views and a close look at the famous bronze horses.

Private Tour of the Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s BasilicaThis private guided tour offers a comprehensive introduction to the heart of Venice. The experience begins in Piazza San Marco, often described as “the finest drawing room in Europe,” where you will admire the square’s iconic landmarks, including the Campanile, the Clock Tower, and the historic Venetian cafés.

[ DETAILS ]

What to Expect

Venetian Grandeur

With City Lights Tours, Doge’s Palace becomes more than a stop on your itinerary — it’s the heartbeat of Venice’s remarkable past. We’ll lead you past the lines and through the grand Gothic façade into opulent council chambers, glittering frescoes, and majestic halls where the Doges once ruled, revealing the political power and artistic brilliance that shaped the Serenissima. From the Golden Staircase to the Bridge of Sighs and the echoing corridors of the old prisons, every room tells a story of intrigue, ambition, and the everyday pulse of a republic that lasted for centuries. A local guide brings these tales to life, intertwining fact and legend so you feel Venice’s soul with every step.

A World of Light and Detail

At St. Mark’s Basilica, our experience is designed to move beyond snapshots and crowds into the heart of Byzantine splendor and spiritual artistry. With skip-the-line access, we’ll walk you beneath soaring domes and through mosaics of shimmering gold that have inspired awe for generations, explaining the sacred symbolism and architectural mastery behind every arch and tessera. You’ll also have the chance to explore the museum and terrace — including the famed horses of St. Mark — gaining perspectives most visitors miss. With context, stories, and an expert guide at your side, you don’t just see St. Mark’s — you understand why it stands as the spiritual and artistic crown of Venice’s Piazza San Marco.

[ FAQ ]

Common Questions

  • The price covers:

    • Entrance tickets

    • Reservation fees

    • A professional licensed guide

    • Headsets (for groups larger than 5 people)

    • The full itinerary as described in the tour program

  • Customers should be at the meeting point 15 minutes prior to the departure time. If you will be late, please contact our customer care team at City Lights Tours at the telephone number found on your confirmation voucher and we will do our best to accommodate you; however, it may not be possible for you to join the tour. Late arrivals are not eligible for refunds.

    Please note that if you do not arrive on time for your tour, it cannot be rescheduled. This is because the tickets are time-sensitive and valid only for the specific date and hour booked.

  • We suggest booking your Experience at your earliest convenience. Due to popular demand, it is possible that the Experience will be fully booked if left too late. 

  • We accept online payments from most major credit and debit card providers including Visa Credit, Visa Debit, Maestro, MasterCard, and American Express.

  • You should receive your email confirmation, including your tour voucher, after you make your booking online. In most cases this happens almost instantly.

  • If your payment didn’t go through, it may be due to your credit card not passing our payment gateway security check. For a credit card to be accepted, it needs to have 3D security verification enabled.

    If your card has been declined for the reason mentioned above, please contact us directly at info@citylightstours.com or through our online forms and we will assist you in completing the booking process.

  • If you did not receive an email confirmation when making your booking, please check your spam folder first. If it's not there, contact our customer care team at info@citylightstours.com, and we will be happy to investigate and reissue your tour voucher if necessary.

  • Please contact City Lights Tours customer care team at info@citylightstours.com before making your booking, and we will advise you on accessibility, as well as any potential restrictions at the sites you wish to visit. Note that a wheelchair-friendly itinerary is available and must be booked specifically for such needs.

  • If you wish to cancel your booking, please contact our customer care team at info@citylightstours.com. Cancellations will be issued in accordance with our Cancellation Policy, which can be found on our Terms & Conditions page.

  • You can reschedule or change your tour providing that you give us enough notice. Changes to bookings are subject to our Terms & Conditions.

  • We are happy to accommodate additional guests subject to availability. Please contact our customer care team at City Lights Tours with the details.

  • Our staff at the meeting point will be dressed in branded clothing, with CityLights logos on it.

  • The Vatican and Colosseum tours entail extensive walking, including navigating staircases and uneven surfaces.

  • If you join a group experience, the guide will have a microphone connected to the headsets provided to all customers. We always ensure high-quality headsets for our experiences. However, please note that inside the Vatican, the audio equipment is provided by the Vatican (Whisper), and the quality of the headsets may vary.

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With a trend of 'questionable' operators in the tourism industry and a growing number of tour companies claiming to be 'experts' in the field but failing to deliver on promises made, it can be a breath of fresh air to find someone who truly values the customer's experience.  

City Lights Tours is genuine. We have been trading for many years and have provided first class tours for hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Eternal City. We have invested in our office in Rome to ensure customers have a point of reference and management staff on hand for any eventuality.

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[ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ]

Borgo Vittorio 85a 00193 Roma, Italy
+39 351 737 8623

info@citylightstours.com

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