Venice Walking City Tour and Gondola Ride, Italy

Starting in St. Mark's square, this walking tour will whisk you away from the crowded streets into the treasure-filled corners of the Castello area. This combined tour is perfect for couples as after the walking tour, you will also enjoy a 30-minute gondola ride.

Highlights:

• Hidden campi and churches in the less crowded area behind San Marco
• A gondola ride along the Grand Canal and the minor canals
• Saint Mark's square

Includes:

• A guide
• 30-minute shared gondola ride
• Personal audio system and headset for tour commentary

Not included:

• Entrance fees to museums or attractions
• A guide during the gondola ride
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Food and drinks

You will have an experienced guide as you navigate the mysterious squares, winding canals, and ancient structures. After you have completed this walk, you will be able to take in the sights of the city while riding in a gondola along the water. The tour begins with a historical introduction to St. Mark's Square and its architectural delights, which allows you to discover the stories of the majestic St. Mark's Basilica, the illustrious Doge's Palace, which was once the seat of power of the Republic of Venice, and the extraordinary, Renaissance clock tower.

As you leave the square, your guide will lead you into the residential Castello area, where you will see the beauty of this part of Venice through its maze of narrow streets (called "calli"), many bridges, winding canals, and large, beautiful squares (called "campi").

Explore the cemetery of Santa Maria Formosa and the cemetery of San Giovanni and Paolo with its basilica, which is the location where the doges of Venice are buried. A stop at the Malibran theater and the former residence of Marco Polo, who was most likely the best-known Venetian merchant of all time, is also included on the itinerary.

Throughout the tour, our local guide will provide you with historical facts, point out architectural places of interest, and share fascinating anecdotes about how Venice has developed throughout the ages and how Venetians live today.

You will return to Saint Mark's Square at the end of your walking tour. En route, you will go through the Mercerie, a shopping street connecting Rialto and San Marco. A guide will take you to Campo San Moisè, the staging area for the well-known mode of transportation in Venice, the gondola. On this ship, you can relax and enjoy the thrill of going through the Grand Canal and the smaller canals. Admire Venice from this great vantage point, see its beautiful architecture, and glide under the city's bridges to find secret entrances to elegant palaces and hidden corners!