St. Mark's, Doge's Palace & Gondola Ride: Venice, Murano, Burano

See Venice's greatest landmarks and lagoon islands without arranging the transport between them

A full-day guided tour of Venice combines timed-entry visits to St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace with a shared gondola ride through the canals, then a private boat trip to Murano and Burano for artisan demonstrations. An expert English-speaking guide leads the morning in the city. A tour leader joins you on the islands. Timed-entry tickets, transport between all stops, and demonstrations are included. Lunch is at your own expense and happens near St. Mark's Square between the morning and afternoon sections.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. St. Mark's Basilica30m · entry included
2. Doge's Palace1h 30m · entry included
3. Murano1h 45m
4. Burano1h 45m

Venice city and lagoon islands tour

• Enter St. Mark’s Basilica with guide
• Tour Doge’s Palace with timed entry
• Take shared gondola ride through canals
• Enjoy quick lunch near St. Mark’s Square
• Board private boat to Murano island
• Watch glassblowing demonstration in Murano
• Free time to explore Murano
• Boat to Burano island
• Watch lacemaking demonstration in Burano
• Free time to explore Burano
• Return by private boat to Venice

The Experience

How do you fit Venice's most famous sites and the lagoon islands into one day without spending half of it figuring out which vaporetto to catch? This tour locks in the sequence and the transport, so the morning unfolds from St. Mark's Basilica through the Doge's Palace and into a 30-minute gondola ride, with your guide explaining the mosaics, the Renaissance halls, the Golden Staircase, and the Bridge of Sighs as you move through them. Timed-entry tickets mean you skip the line at both buildings.

After a lunch break near St. Mark's Square (your choice of restaurant, your cost). You board a private boat reserved for the group and cross the lagoon to Murano. There you watch a glassblowing demonstration in a working studio, then have free time to shop for Murano glass or walk the island streets. The boat then carries you to Burano, where you see a lacemaking demonstration with local artisans before exploring the painted houses and narrow canals on your own. The private boat brings everyone back to Venice, ending near St. Mark's Square.

The full day runs about nine and a half hours from start to finish. Strollers work for infants and small children. Government-issued ID is required to enter St. Mark's Basilica, and the name on your ticket must match your ID. Large backpacks and bags are not allowed inside the basilica or the palace, so pack light.

What’s included

• Timed-entry tickets and guided tours of St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace.
• expert English-speaking guide for the morning in Venice.
• 30-minute shared gondola ride through the canals.
• private round-trip boat to Murano and Burano.
• glassblowing demonstration on Murano.
• lacemaking demonstration on Burano.
• free time to explore both islands and shop.
• free time for lunch near St. Mark's Square (meal at your own expense).

Days and timesMon–Sat · 08:30, 08:45 and 09:00

AgesAges 15+ · 6 to 14 years · Under 6

Meeting point and pickupNo pickup · ends where it startsMeeting point, per the operator: “Please Arrive 15 Minutes Early. Between the two big columns in St. Mark’s Square (columns of San Marco & San Teodoro) located on the south side of the square, n…”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by The Tour Guy

Is this one for you?Book this if you want St. Mark's monuments and lagoon artisan workshops in one day with timed entry included. Skip it if you need to spend extra time at any single stop or choose which islands to visit.

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Top questions

Can children come?

6 to 14 years; under 6.

What exactly do you see inside St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace?

St. Mark's Basilica holds golden mosaics and religious relics that shaped Venice's power as a trading republic. Your guide explains how the art and architecture reflect that history. The Doge's Palace shows you the grand halls where the republic was governed, the Golden Staircase that led to state rooms, and the Bridge of Sighs that connected the palace to the prison.

Is the gondola ride the main event, or just a short break between the two palaces?

The gondola ride is a 30-minute shared sightseeing trip through Venice's canals between St. Mark's Basilica and your lunch break. You pass under historic bridges and along centuries-old buildings with a professional gondolier, but it is not a lengthy exploration of the waterways.

What happens during the glassblowing and lacemaking demonstrations on the islands?

On Murano, you watch artisans at work in a functioning glass studio creating pieces using traditional techniques. Afterward you have free time to shop or walk around. On Burano, you see a lacemaking demonstration with local craftspeople, then explore the island's painted houses and streets on your own before the boat returns you to Venice.

Do I need to arrange my own way to Murano and Burano, or is transport included?

A private boat reserved for the group takes you from Venice to Murano and then to Burano, and brings everyone back to Venice at the end of the day. You do not arrange separate transport to the islands.

When and where do I eat lunch?

Lunch happens near St. Mark's Square between the morning guided section and the afternoon boat trip to the islands. It is at your own expense, and your guide can recommend local restaurants in the area.

What should I know about bringing bags or large items on this tour?

Large backpacks and bags are not allowed inside St. Mark's Basilica or the Doge's Palace, so pack light or leave bulky items at your hotel. Strollers are fine for infants and small children.