Private Walking Tour with St Mark’s & Gondola Ride in Venice

This LivTours private walking tour with St Mark’s & Gondola Ride is the perfect way to experience Venice! You will meet your private local guide in the picturesque Campo San Giacometto square. Then you will set off on foot to admire the area, including the famous Rialto Bridge, the vibrant Rialto food market, and St Mark’s Basilica. Your guide will lead you to the best vantage points for once in a lifetime photos as you make your way through the narrow streets and a million bridges, all while sharing the history and captivating anecdotes of Venice.

Admire the beautiful exterior of St. Mark’s, and you will see why it got its nickname of the Golden Basilica. Take in the thousands of gold tiled mosaics that surround you and be captivated by the history and culture of this church that datesback to the 9th century.

You will end your tour with a private gondola ride in the most romantic city in Europe.

• Gain an understanding of the intricate history of Venice with a private guide!
• Enjoy exclusive skip-the-line access to St. Mark’s Basilica on your private tour
• Travel in style on your luxurious private gondola ride through picturesque canals
• Explore the maze of narrow streets and bridges with your local expert guide
• Admire the thousands of mosaics in St Mark’s Basilica, nicknamed the Basilica of gold

Your St Mark’s and gondola tour starts in the lovely square of Campo San Giacometto which is right next to the famous Ponte Rialto and the Grand Canal. The church in the square, San Giacomo di Rialto is said to be the oldest in Venice with a construction date of 421 AD. This neighborhood is a bustling shopping quarter with a lively market located near the Grand Canal that fills up with locals buying fish and fresh vegetables.

Your private tour continues on foot as your local guide shares the history of the unique architecture and leads you to the perfect place to admire the famous Rialto Bridge. The bridge was initially built in 1250 completely from wood and its unusual shape allows tall boats to sail below it. This is especially necessary since it is located right next to the market to allow for cargo boats to bring in the daily produce, fish, meat, and cheeses.

Continuing through the maze of Venice’s small alleyways, you will reach the square of Campo Santa Maria Formosa where you can admire 11 bridges and at least seven architectural Venetian masterpieces. Among these is the Palazzo Querini Stampalia, the former home of the Querini family, and now home to the Querini Museum.

In the 15th century, Venice experienced its golden age and the square of Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo was an important focal point of the time. You will stop while your guide tells you its history. As your tour continues, you will arrive at the breathtaking St. Mark’s Square where you can admire the exterior of the unique Doge’s Palace facade next to the Grand Canal, before you enter the beautiful St. Mark’s Basilica. Your tour would not be complete without entering this elegant 9th-century church filled with sparkling gold mosaics, imposing bronze horse statues, and marble-laden floors.

Your tour ends on a high as you glide along the narrow picturesque canals in your private gondola. Say goodbye to your guide before enjoying this half-hour private cruise through the stunning city on water.

• Campo San Giacometto
• Grand Canal
• Rialto Bridge
• Rialto food market*
• Campo Santa Maria Formosa
• Palazzo Querini Stampalia (from outside)
• Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo
• St Marks square
• Skip the line into St. Mark’s Basilica
• Private gondola ride

• Please note that tour starting times are subject to change based on ticket availability
• Offered in: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. Please specify under “Additional notes” if you wish to book the tour in a language other than English.
• Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter.
  
• Please note the Rialto market is closed on Sunday

When you book a LivTours Private Tour or Experience, you are guaranteed a dedicated, expert guide that allows you the flexibility to start your tour at a time which is convenient for you, making planning easy. Our private tours ensure that you will get a tailored experience to meet all your needs so we go at your pace, perfect for families with younger children, elderly, or individuals with accessibility needs. Please be advised that all private tours begin at a base price starting at two people*. Prices are inclusive of entry tickets where applicable. *Some Ferrari private experiences are inclusive of one person only.

Make your experience even more unique by upgrading your LivTours experience. Please note: add-ons are non refundable.

By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here.