Every bookable experience in Italy, in one place — compared across GetYourGuide, Headout and Viator, ranked on reviews, booked on their site at their price.
Step into St. Mark's Basilica after the crowds have gone, with exclusive after-hours entry and an expert guide. This intimate small-group tour takes you into areas typically off-limits during the day. Choose the option that includes the Doge's Palace to complete your evening.
Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers
Sites visited during this tour are subject to occasional closures due to holy observances, high tides, and/or flooding
No refund will be provided if high tide prevents certain parts of the tour, but adjustments to the route will be made for client safety and comfort
If access is restricted due to private events inside St. Mark's Basilica and/or Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible. This is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued
All guests must supply their full name that matches a valid ID at the time of the booking. Should you fail to provide these, your reservation will be canceled. Please note that a photo ID is required to visit the St. Mark’s Basilica. Name changes are not permitted
Please note: This tour offers multiple options. Take a moment to choose the one that best suits your interests
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About the team
A snapshot of who will guide your experience
Completed activities
2,300+
Years on GetYourGuide
15+
2,300+ completed activities
15+ years on GetYourGuide
Activities in English
Guide reviews
Marc Donald – Canada
M
September 3, 2025 - Verified booking
Restrictions & safety
Shorts
Baby strollers
Short skirts
Backpacks
Electric wheelchairs
People with mobility impairments
Wheelchair users
Reviews
4.8 out of 5
779 reviews
82% positive across 33 reviews
Guide & staff
Tour content
Setting
Value for money
Timing
Organisation
Alicia – Canada
Sept 2026
5.0
We loved this tour! It is so special to be allowed to visit The Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Bascilica after dark with no crowds and such a wonderful guide. The meeting place was easy to find and very organized. We were lucky to have been given Elena as our guide. She brought the whole experience to life by intertwining all the important information with her own stories and memories as a child, especially visiting the Bascilica with her grandma. We started the tour in the Doge’s Palace where she told us many fascinating historical facts of events that took place there throughout the centuries. We crossed the Bridge of Sighs and toured the jail cells. After a short break we reconvened and continued on into the Bascilica. We were asked to be seated and all the lights were shut off. Then the beautiful ceilings were illuminated one by one and illuminated one by one and it was magical!! We loved that Elena reminded us to take a picture, but to really enjoy with our eyes. Thank you Elena!!
GetYourGuide traveler – United States
Sept 2026
4.0
T
Ken – United States
Sept 2026
5.0
I didn’t think I’d ever meet an angel in church until tonight. ValentinaS, you are an amazing person. What a great experience. You did a fantastic job! Hope our paths cross again, Ken Leith
This tour is well worth the money Our guide Nico was epic and he provided so much great information. Love it!!! I am returning to Venice soon with my sister and will do it again if I can
Couple
Adam – Canada
A
September 15, 2025 - Verified booking
Was very special to be in St. Mark’s with such a small group after hours. The building comes alive under the lights and outside as you marvel at the structure you can even see the stars. Our guide Filipo was so knowledgeable and personable, making the experience that much better.
Nicole – United States
N
October 3, 2025 - Verified booking
It was amazing to be able to view the church at night with small groups!
Karen – United Kingdom
K
October 11, 2025 - Verified booking
Guide was fabulous, knowledgeable and friendly. Do this tour ... extra pennies really worth it ... no bonkers daytime crowds and the bonus is the absolute joy of seeing the basilica lit up to display all its glory ... apparently this does not happen on the day tour. Do this.
Laura – United States
L
October 26, 2025 - Verified booking
Our guide Romy was extremely knowledgeable and shared lots of interesting history about San Marco and Venice itself. Doing the tour in the evening was great as we had the basilica to ourselves. Definitely recommend!
Friend group
Ernst – Portugal
E
November 4, 2025 - Verified booking
Elena was the best guide we could possibly have had. She is very knowledgable and related very well with an (inevitably) quite diverse group of tourists. She put a lot of effort and enthusiasm into the tour and you never got the impression that it was just a day's work.
Travelers say the guides are <strong>knowledgeable, informative</strong> and <strong>engaging.</strong>
R$795
Cancel up to 3 days in advance for a full refund
GetYourGuide traveler – United States
Sept 2026
5.0
Great time. Worth the price!
MICHAEL – United States
Sept 2026
5.0
One of the best tours we had this trip Denise is a gem, she is knowledgeable, entertaining and made the tour fun. She loves her city and she makes you fall in love with it too. St Mark’s after hours is magical. You get too see cathedral come alive with golden glow when the lights are turned on in the beginning of the tour Highly recommend
GetYourGuide traveler – United States
Sept 2026
5.0
Our tour guide was fantastic and very informative. She was a Venice native and was passionate about the history of these two sites. Being an after hours tour, we got to see many parts of the buildings that are not visited during daytime tour hours and no crowds.
Sara – United States
Sept 2026
5.0
Unique opportunity to see at night! Worth the time and cost. Small group, no lines, no crowds. Excellent guide.
Anja – Germany
Aug 2026
5.0
Es war wunderbar soviel über Venedig zu erfahren. Denise hat uns viel erzählt über ihre Stadt.
Tracy – United States
Jul 2026
5.0
Elena was an amazing guide. Her story telling skills brought the buildings to life.
GetYourGuide traveler – United States
Jul 2026
5.0
Excellent tour guide!
GetYourGuide traveler – Belgium
Jul 2026
5.0
Visite guidée très intéressante que nous avons tous appréciée. Le guide a abordé les sujets avec beaucoup d'humour et il était très sympathique.
Pelle – Denmark
Jul 2026
5.0
Absolutely recommendable! Valentina S. was such an inspiring guide and the serenity of the Basilica after hours in the twillight was spirituel and beautiful.
GetYourGuide traveler – United States
Jul 2026
3.0
The guide was very informative and knowledgeable. However there is a whole hour break between Doge & Basilica. Not really 3.5 hr tour. Thought it was overpriced.
GetYourGuide traveler – United States
Jun 2026
5.0
Excellent. Valentina S. Was great.
GetYourGuide traveler – United States
Jun 2026
4.0
Romy was a well informed guide! We learned so much information about Doge’s palace, St Mark’s square and the Basilica. Our family of four enjoyed the Basilica portion of the tour the most. However I felt the price was too high and wouldn’t book it again.
GetYourGuide traveler – United States
Jun 2026
5.0
Great tour! It was almost completely empty other than our group for Doges Palace. The tour guide was amazing and was very knowledgeable. She explained things in an entertaining way so it wasn’t just boring with a bunch of dates. The Basilica had more groups with us but they did a good job keeping us spaced out, it was beautiful seeing it with the lights on. I would definitely recommend this tour.
Andrea – United States
Jun 2026
5.0
It was nice to have a less crowded experience. There were a total of 5 or 6 private tour groups in the building. Each group went to a different section so you were never crowded. The church is beautiful at night. And the square is less crowded and cooler.
Mark – United Kingdom
May 2026
5.0
Tiana was an excellent tour guide. She made the tour interesting and was entertaining. The length of tour was just right.
GetYourGuide traveler – United States
May 2026
5.0
Well worth the price!
GetYourGuide traveler – United States
Mar 2026
5.0
Touring St Mark’s after hours was amazing — hands down our best experience in Italy. Our guide Filippo was very knowledgeable and funny. The basilica itself is absolutely stunning. And visiting after hours without all the crowds was so peaceful and interesting. We loved it.
Adrianna – United States
Mar 2026
5.0
Shannon was so cute and just a delight as a tour guide. She was warm and welcoming. She shared many neat things about doges palace and the basilica. Very knowledgeable about Venice!
Michael – United States
Feb 2026
5.0
Filippo was an excellent guide to the Basilica San Marco. He was both informative and humorous. Filippo's knowledge of both the mosaics and the basilica in general was expansive. We certainly recommend his tour to anyone who wishes to learn more about the Basilica San Marco with an uplifting tone.
Monica – Italy
Nov 2025
5.0
Eccellente sia l’esperienza che l’organizzazione La guida Filippo estremamente professionale e preparato Top Top Top Great Filippo
GetYourGuide traveler – Bermuda
Nov 2025
5.0
Wow! This is an amazing tour. Nothing prepares for the peace of the venues, free of crowds and noise. The guide takes you through a ton of history in an animated story telling. The palace and prisons come alive. The Church is the golden ticket. I’ve never seen so many people’s moths drop in surprise at the treasures you’re about to see! Amazing! It’s the best tour I’ve ever been on.
