How long does a private Venice in a day tour take?

Between four and six hours, depending on the time you choose. Your guide will manage the pace so you get the most out of every stop without feeling rushed.

What happens if the Rialto Fish Market is closed?

The Rialto Fish Market is closed on Mondays. On those days, your guide will adjust the route and walk you through the Rialto neighborhood, including its historic architecture and trading posts.

Do I need to bring ID for St. Mark's Basilica?

Yes. Every guest must provide their first and last name at booking, and bring a valid ID on the day. Security staff at the Basilica require it for entry, and name changes after booking are not permitted.

Is a private guided tour of Venice worth it with children?

It's a great fit for families. Your guide will tailor the pace and content to your group, and the gondola ride tends to be a highlight for younger guests. There is a good amount of walking involved, so comfortable shoes are a must.

Can I request specific stops or change the route on my private Venice in a day tour?

The route covers Venice's must-see landmarks with pre-reserved tickets, so the main stops are fixed. That said, your guide knows the city well and can adjust the walking route between stops based on your interests.

Is this tour accessible for guests with mobility challenges?

Venice has a lot of bridges and uneven surfaces, and many of its historic sites involve stairs. We'd love to help you find an option that works for your needs, so please get in touch at info@takewalks.com and we'll suggest the best fit.

How many people are on this private tour of Venice?

It's your group only, from one to eight guests. Your guide is dedicated to you for the full duration of the tour.

What should I wear to St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace?

St. Mark's Basilica has a strict dress code. Shoulders and knees must be covered, and large bags are not allowed inside. The Doge's Palace is less strict, but we'd recommend dressing respectfully. Venice involves a lot of outdoor walking, so dress for the weather and wear shoes you feel comfortable in.

Is a Venice gondola tour included, or do I pay separately?

The 30-minute gondola ride is included in the price of your private Venice in a day tour. Your gondolier will take you through Venice's quieter back canals, away from the busier Grand Canal traffic.

Private Venice in a day

Mosaics, intrigue, and a gondola through the canals

per tour

Destination

Venice, Italy

Duration

6.5 hours

Tour size

Max 8

Language

English

Overview

Venice has 400 bridges, 150 canals, and over a thousand years of history built on top of itself. This private Venice in a day tour puts a local guide at your side and pre-reserved tickets in your hand, so you see the highlights without retracing your steps.

•Stand beneath 86,000 square feet of gold mosaics inside St. Mark's Basilica, with pre-reserved access
•Cross the Bridge of Sighs inside the Doge's Palace, where Casanova was once imprisoned
•Drift through Venice's quieter canals on a 30-minute private gondola ride
•Trace the Rialto neighborhood's trading history from its medieval fish market to Marco Polo's house
•Hear the stories a local guide tells differently when it's just your group listening

What's included

Skip-the-line access to St. Mark's Basilica
Pre-reserved ticket to the Doge's Palace
30-minute gondola ride
Local English-speaking guide

You will visit

Rialto Bridge
Rialto Fish Market (closed on Mondays)
Fondaco dei Tedeschi (from outside)
House of Marco Polo (from outside)
Church of Miracles (from outside)
Campo San Giovanni e Paolo
Scuola Grande di San Marco (from outside)
Colleoni equestrian monument by Verrocchio
Campo Santa Maria Formosa

Arch of Paradise
Church of San Zulian (from outside)
St. Mark's Basilica
St. Mark's Square
Doge's Palace
Bridge of Sighs
New Prisons
Gondola ride

Get a taste of Private Venice in a day

per tour

Private tour

July 2026

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What to expect

The Rialto neighborhood, where Venice's mercantile story begins

Your tour starts at the Church of San Giacometto in the Rialto, one of Venice's oldest buildings. From here you'll walk through the morning market stalls and past the Rialto Fish Market, where vendors have traded since 1097. Your guide will point out the Fondaco dei Tedeschi, once the city's German trading post, and the house where Marco Polo is said to have lived. These are the streets where Venice built its fortune, and vendors still haul crates of fish off boats at dawn.

Cannaregio and Castello, where the city still belongs to Venetians

From the Rialto, you'll walk into Cannaregio and Castello, two of Venice's six sestieri. You'll pass the Church of Miracles, a Renaissance chapel faced entirely in colored marble, and arrive in Campo San Giovanni e Paolo, where twenty-five doges are buried. Your guide will stop at the Scuola Grande di San Marco and the Colleoni monument, a bronze equestrian statue by Verrocchio that Venetians considered so lifelike they believed it could move. You'll hear Venetian dialect from open windows here, and walk streets narrow enough that neighbors could shake hands across them.

"People always ask about Casanova. I tell them he escaped through the roof in the rain, wearing a silk hat."

Giuliano,

WalksDevour guide

"I've crossed the Rialto Bridge thousands of times, and I still stop and stare when the light hits the Grand Canal in the morning."

Roberta,

WalksDevour guide

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Frequently asked questions

Our guides love answering your questions. Here are some things they'd like you to know before you arrive.

Seize every moment in Venice

$599

Overview

•Stand beneath 86,000 square feet of gold mosaics inside St. Mark's Basilica, with pre-reserved access

•Cross the Bridge of Sighs inside the Doge's Palace, where Casanova was once imprisoned

•Drift through Venice's quieter canals on a 30-minute private gondola ride

•Trace the Rialto neighborhood's trading history from its medieval fish market to Marco Polo's house

•Hear the stories a local guide tells differently when it's just your group listening

What's included

Skip-the-line access to St. Mark's Basilica

Pre-reserved ticket to the Doge's Palace

30-minute gondola ride

Local English-speaking guide