Venice Tour from Ravenna: Rialto Bridge & Doge's Palace

Seven hours in Venice: from the Giudecca Canal to Piazza San Marco with a certified guide

A full-day shore excursion from Ravenna cruise port to Venice with certified guide services, modern transportation, and a boat ride through the Giudecca Canal. The itinerary covers the Rialto Bridge, the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Doge's Palace, and free time in Piazza San Marco. Pickup and return to your ship are guaranteed on schedule. The guide joins you in Venice, not during the 2 to 2.5 hour transfer from Ravenna.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Venice Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo20m
2. Rialto Bridge20m
3. Doge's Palace20m
4. St. Mark's Square1h

Full-day Venice shore excursion

• Greet at Ravenna cruise terminal
• Drive 2-2.5 hours to Venice
• Meet certified Venetian guide
• Boat ride on Giudecca Canal
• Walk in Sestiere Castello district
• Visit Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo
• See Rialto Bridge and market
• Tour Doge's Palace
• Explore Piazza San Marco
• Return to ship in Ravenna

The experience

Seven hours gives you time to move through Venice without rushing. You're picked up at the cruise terminal in Ravenna and driven through the Italian countryside for about 2 to 2.5 hours, then met by a certified guide in Venice who knows the city's history and can point out details most visitors miss. The day is built around four main stops, with free time in between to wander or sit down.

The boat ride through the Giudecca Canal is the opening move. You see Venice arrive from the water before you step into it. From there, the guide takes you through the Sestiere Castello district to the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, a Gothic structure that locals call San Zanipolo. You'll cross the Rialto Bridge, the oldest and most famous one in the city, and walk through the Rialto Market, which has operated for over 700 years and sells fresh produce, fish, and local specialties. Vendors often offer samples. Then comes Doge's Palace, which served as both the government seat and military command center for more than a thousand years. The final stop is Piazza San Marco, where you have leisure time to explore at your own pace, sit at a café, or book an optional gondola ride if you want it.

The tour is timed to get you back to your ship on schedule. Modern air-conditioned transportation handles the transfer both ways, and the operator has twenty years of experience coordinating shore excursions with cruise departures. The itinerary can shift depending on crowds, traffic, or other conditions, but the main sites stay the same. Note that your guide meets you in Venice. The driver handles the ride from Ravenna.

What’s included

• Modern air-conditioned transportation from Ravenna cruise terminal to Venice and back.
• certified guide services in Venice.
• boat ride through the Giudecca Canal.
• visits to the Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Rialto Bridge and Market, Doge's Palace, and Piazza San Marco.
• leisure time in the heart of the city.
• 24-hour risk-free cancellation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 09:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (3 to 15 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by European Essentials

Is this one for you?You have seven hours in Venice with a guide leading you through the main sites, then free time to explore on your own pace. Choose this if you're arriving by cruise and want the logistics handled so you can focus on the city itself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 15 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the drive from Ravenna to Venice?

The transfer takes about 2 to 2.5 hours each way by modern air-conditioned coach through the Italian countryside.

What is the Rialto Bridge and why is it famous?

The Rialto Bridge is the oldest and most famous bridge in Venice, spanning the Grand Canal in the heart of the city. It has been a landmark for centuries and is surrounded by the Rialto Market, a centuries-old hub of Venetian commerce.

Do I get free time to explore on my own?

Yes, you have leisure time in Piazza San Marco, the main public square in Venice, where you can walk around, sit at a café, or arrange an optional gondola ride if you wish.

Will my guide be with me the entire time?

Your certified guide joins you in Venice and leads the tour through the main sites. The guide does not accompany you during the transfer from Ravenna to Venice.

What happens if I'm worried about getting back to my ship on time?

The operator guarantees a timely return to your ship and has twenty years of experience coordinating shore excursions with cruise schedules. You can check your email the day before for your exact pickup time.