Venice Evening Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica Guided Tour - After-Hours Pala d'Oro Visit

See the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica
quietly in the evening after closing

This guided tour meets at the entrance of the Correr Museum in Piazza San Marco and visits the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica in turn. It runs in the evening after regular visitors have left, so the sites are relatively quiet, and takes about 3.5 hours. The tour ends in Piazza San Marco.

Explore the lavish rooms and council halls of the Doge's Palace

Inside the Doge's Palace, you hear about the center of power of the Venetian Republic. You see the lavish rooms where its rulers lived and the Great Council Hall, which has frescoes painted by Veronese and Tintoretto.

You also hear the stories behind the artworks, such as why one doge is covered with a black veil in a series of paintings, and how doges were elected and what they did. You pass the huge armory and the prisons too.

Walk inside the Bridge of Sighs

Inside the palace, you cross the Bridge of Sighs and hear why it is less romantic than you might think. The route continues to the New Prisons, so you learn about the history of both the bridge and the prison.

Admire the golden mosaics of St. Mark's Basilica after closing

After a short break, you move to St. Mark's Basilica. Once the crowds have left for the day, the basilica's custodian opens the doors and you step inside to see the gilded decoration. You can also see the jeweled Pala d'Oro altarpiece up close.

You visit the crypt said to hold the remains of St. Mark, and enjoy the mosaics in the soft evening light while your guide talks about Venetian art and history.

※ Sites may close because of religious ceremonies, high tide or flooding, and entry may be restricted during private events.
※ If high tide makes part of the tour impossible, the route will be adjusted.
※ Shoulders and knees must be covered to enter the basilica.