Exclusive Alone in St. Mark’s & Doge’s Palace Tour

Step behind closed doors to experience St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace after all the crowds have gone.

During the day, St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace are packed with visitors, making it difficult to fully appreciate the grandeur of these stunning spaces. That's not the case on this tour. We've worked with both sites to secure VIP access after closing time, giving you ample room to appreciate both of these gems of Venetian art and architecture in relative peace.

Enjoy a Doge's Palace night tour alone after the doors close to the public.

You’ll start your VIP evening at the Doge's Palace just as the doors close, leaving you almost alone to explore with your small group. What the Vatican is to Rome, the Doge's Palace is to Venice. For 700 years, this remarkable palace has been home to not only the Doge (the Duke of Venice), but to Venice’s independent government, courts, and even prisons.

We’ll take you right to the heart of Venice’s power and history on our Doge’s Palace night tour, from the Doge’s own lavish apartments to the Hall of the Great Council, where the city’s all-important general assembly made decisions before beautiful paintings by Veronese and Tintoretto. Learn the secret behind why the painted series of doges is interrupted by a mysterious black veil, and discover what the Doge really did, who he was, and why you might not want the job yourself.

You’ll also get to explore the massive armory, with all the weapons you wouldn’t have wanted to face—and the spooky prisons, where you wouldn’t have wanted to end up! Cap it all off with a stroll through the interior of the Bridge of Sighs, which you’ll learn isn’t quite as romantic as you thought.

Enter St. Mark's Basilica after closing for the most exclusive visit available.

After a short break you’ll continue to St. Mark's Basilica where you’ll get the real treat—and the highlight of our night tour. Meet an official custodian of the Basilica, who will unlock the doors and usher your small group inside. This VIP access is only available to Walks of Italy, so you’ll see the Basilica almost alone!

Enter this stunning space and take a deep breath. You’re seeing the Basilica as few visitors will ever see it—and as only the Doge himself was allowed to see it: empty! There won’t be any crowding, bustling or shouting during your visit. Just the peace and tranquility with which this basilica, one of the world’s most impressive, should be seen.

To take full advantage of our VIP visit, your guide will lead you to the Pala d’Oro, a stunning Byzantine altarpiece covered in over 1,900 gems and usually blocked by a very long line. You'll also have a special visit to the crypt, where our custodian friend will unlock the door for you. Above ground, get up close to the altar, where your guide will tell you the strange story of how the bones of St. Mark came to rest so far from where they originally lay.

And of course, be sure to look up. Night is the best time to admire the basilica’s 43,000 square feet of gold mosaics, shimmering through the dark.

Small groups, local guides & special access provide a truly VIP experience.

Traveling in small groups throughout your tour, you’ll find it easy to hear and engage with your guide—and to ask all the questions you can think of. Listen to tales of swashbuckling merchants who fitted the basilica with stolen jewels and precious stones, how Casanova escaped from the prisons of the Doge’s Palace, and how Venice managed to earn the title of the world’s oldest republic.

On this in-depth, exclusive tour, you won’t just see the two most important sights in Venice; you’ll explore and fully understand them. Handpicked for their knowledge, enthusiasm and friendliness, our local guides are the perfect hosts to help you get the most from your Venetian adventure.

Please note that this description is an example and your experience may vary depending on the season, day of the week, and group size. Regardless of where your tour goes, you always have an excellent experience.