St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace: After-closing Entry + Guided Tour

About St. Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace: After-closing Entry + Guided Tour

This is a guided evening tour of two of Venice's most significant historic sites, the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica, beginning as the Doge's Palace closes to the general public. The tour runs for three and a half hours and is led by a guide whose commentary covers the political history of the Venetian Republic, the art that decorated its seat of power, and the architecture of its cathedral. Guests meet at the winged lion statue in St. Mark's Square, one of the most recognisable assembly points in the city.

The Doge's Palace served as the centre of Venetian government for centuries, housing the courts, the council chambers, and the state prison. St. Mark's Basilica, consecrated in 1094, was the doge's private chapel before becoming the city's cathedral, and its interior is covered in Byzantine mosaics accumulated over several hundred years.

What to expect

The tour begins inside the Doge's Palace once daytime visitors have left, giving the group access to the rulers' private apartments, the Hall of the Great Council with its frescoes by Veronese and Tintoretto, the palace armoury, and the prison cells below. Guests walk the Bridge of Sighs from the inside, the enclosed limestone bridge connecting the palace to the prison. The guide explains the role of the doge, including the tradition of the doge veiled in black, and how the ruling families consolidated power within the Republic. After a short break, the group enters St. Mark's Basilica after closing, when the building is free of daytime crowds. Entry to both sites is included with skip-the-line access, and each guest receives a headset to hear the guide clearly throughout.

The Doge's Palace and getting there

The Doge's Palace stands on the waterfront of St. Mark's Square, constructed in its current Gothic form from the fourteenth century onwards and expanded repeatedly through the sixteenth century. The starting point is P.za San Marco 52, a short walk from the San Zaccaria vaporetto stop. For more options in the area, see the Doge's Palace schedule or browse the wider range of Venice attractions available across the city.