Top 6 Historical Tours in Venice

1.Venice’s Best: Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Gondola & History Gallery

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,478 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $129Our pick

This 3.5-hour Venice tour pairs guided, skip-the-line visits to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace with a shared gondola ride. You’ll also get access to St. Mark’s Square museums and a Venice history VR experience. Groups are capped at 15; the gondola is shared, with seating assigned by the gondolier.

“Valentina is a very knowledgeable guide, and we enjoyed the tour. We felt we had just enough time to take in what we were seeing while learning some cool history. Recommend this tour! The gondola experience was slightly disappointing though. The seating wasn't stabilized and the gondolier was constantly on his phone.”

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2.City Center Historical Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,873 reviews · 1 - 2.5 hours · from $14

Follow a live guide through St. Mark’s Square, narrow calli, Teatro La Fenice and Rialto Bridge, with stories about Venice’s past and a VR visit to historic Piazza San Marco. The guided walk can take about an hour; adding the optional gondola ride extends the outing, with a gap between activities.

“We did this walking tour on New Year’s Day. Valentina was incredibly knowledgable and the tour was really enjoyable. Would highly recommend.”

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3.History and Hidden Gems Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,379 reviews · 2 hours · from $41Top rated

Walk Verona’s Roman and medieval center with local guide Fabio Massimo Rapanà, who was born and raised in the city. In two hours, you’ll see the Arena, Piazza delle Erbe, Piazza dei Signori, the Adige River and Juliet’s balcony, while hearing the stories and architectural details that are easy to miss on your own. Groups are limited to 10, and headsets are provided.

“Fabio was wonderful! He was very entertaining and informative. Would highly recommend the tour and Fabio!!”

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4.Bell Tower & St Mark’s Square History Gallery Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 910 reviews · 1 hour · from $44

Pick up your tickets at the Venice Tours Office, see historical photographs and a short VR presentation about St. Mark’s Square, then ride the elevator to the top of St. Mark’s Bell Tower. From 98 meters up, you can look across the Basilica, the square, the Grand Canal and the lagoon. A host can assist in five languages, but there is no guided tower tour.

“Excellent view. A skip the line ticket wasn’t a large time savings at 10:15am in mid June but maybe it would be on a different day.”

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5.Basilica, Doge’s Palace, History Gallery & Bell Tower Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 586 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $116

Join a small-group guided visit to Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica, with priority entry and a Venice-in-the-past VR introduction. The bell tower is an optional add-on, but choosing it means seeing the basilica from outside only. Guides have included Simonetta, Sara, Matteo, and Lucia, though your guide is not guaranteed.

“Excellent experience and the tour guide was amazing. I would highly recommend this tour for family and friends.”

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6.Natural History Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 312 reviews · 1 day · from $11Best value

Visit Venice’s Natural History Museum at your own pace with this one-day admission ticket. You’ll see dinosaur fossils, a 7-meter Ouranosaurus, a prehistoric crocodile skull, zoological and ethnographic collections, and a 13th-century palazzo on the Grand Canal. Admission costs about $11 per person; a guide is not included.

“For a hot day and having a kid this museum is amazing. You are able to spend around 40-60minutes.”

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