St. Mark's Square in Venice - Find the best St. Mark's Square Tours in Venice - Withlocals
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Uncover the best of St. Mark's Square the local Way
The best stories aren’t found in guidebooks. Skip the crowds and unlock the hidden gems of St. Mark's Square with a private, personalized experience led by a local.
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Real People. Real Stories. Really Good Travel.
Top 3 things to do to explore St. Mark's Square
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Reviews from guests about our tours and locals
5.0
Exceptional History Tour
"We thoroughly enjoyed our three hours with Alessandro as we began our trip to Venice. He is a passionate historian and teacher. His energy and pace were perfect. We gained a great appreciation of Venetian history, culture, and values, and we appreciated that he knew exactly where to spend extra time to tell stories and ask questions, when to keep walking, and also when to stop for an espresso. He was engaging and deeply knowledgeable. We would highly recommend touring with Alessandro!"
CatherineAbout local AlessandroVenice, February 24, 2026
5.0
Great guide!
"Wonderful time spent touring St Marks Basílica and Doges Palace with Roko. Very knowledgeable, friendly guide. We learned a lot. Generous with information on lunch and dinner options. Great guy! Highly recommend."
"Nicoletta was a fantastic guide. She was incredibly knowledgeable and flexible. She answered questions about other paintings not on our stop, gave recommendations for seeing other sites and was a pleasure to be with!"
"We are a family of four with two boys ages 12 and 9 and one son has Down Syndrome. We all loved this tour, and we've seen many cathedrals and have taken many tours throughout Europe. The way Denise weaved the story of Doge's Palace and St. Mark's kept my boys interested and I loved how she kept engaging my son with DS in the stories, he needs that! We learned a number of interesting facts and stories related to the history of the Venetians and the cathedral was absolutely stunning. Just book the tour (!!) you won't be disappointed."
Welcome to the drawing room of Europe! St. Mark's Square is the beating heart of Venice, a place of immense beauty and history. Imagine the stories these stones could tell. Let a local guide share them with you.
A Brief History of St. Mark's Square
Originally a small area in front of the first St. Mark's Basilica, the square was expanded in 1177. For centuries, St. Mark's Square was the center of Venetian civic, religious, and political life.
Culture and Grandeur at St. Mark's Square
St. Mark's Square is a cultural jewel, dominated by St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace. Its architecture tells the story of Venice's power and wealth, a breathtaking open-air museum.
Venetian Coffee on St. Mark's Square
The square hosts some of Italy's oldest cafes, like Caffè Florian. Indulge in the local habit of enjoying an espresso while listening to a live orchestra, a truly timeless experience on St. Mark's Square.
Casanova's Escape from St. Mark's Square
The famous adventurer Giacomo Casanova was imprisoned in the Doge's Palace. He made a legendary escape in 1756, crossing the rooftops of St. Mark's Square to freedom, a tale forever tied to the piazza.
Secrets of St. Mark's Square Columns
Did you know the two large columns at the entrance to St. Mark's Square from the water mark the official gateway to the city? Public executions were once held between them, a chilling historical fact.
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Your Private St. Mark's Square Tour Awaits
Don't just see St. Mark's Square, truly experience it! With a private local guide, you'll skip the long lines, discover hidden gems, and hear stories you won't find in guidebooks. Your personalized adventure in Venice is just a click away. Book your tour now!
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The Best of Venice: San Marco Highlights & Gondola Ride
1639 reviews
3 hours | City highlight tours | Venice
Discover Venice’s most iconic landmarks in San Marco — from the majestic basilica to the stunning Doge’s Palace. With a local by your side, this experience goes beyond the postcards, blending must-sees with hidden gems and a classic gondola ride to top it off!
Doge's Palace and St. Mark's square Family friendly tour, Fun and treasure hunt
152 reviews
2 hours | city highlight tours | Venice
You and your family get to travel back through time and history, discovering symbols and secrets and solving many mysteries during an exciting treasure hunt in the majestic Doge's Palace! No need to wait in line as your host can pre-buy a skip the line ticket for you and your little ones!
Experience Venice at its most magical: quiet, calm, and bathed in golden morning light. This peaceful sunrise walk takes you through the city’s most iconic spots—before the crowds arrive.
"We only had a half day to visit and explore the majestic city of Venice, and Lucia was absolutely up to the challenge. She guided us through the traditional attractions with a thorough explanation of the history and culture, and organized our tour with plenty of time to take us into the quiet heart of Venice. We wandered through small neighborhoods to see daily life as the residents live it, with a variety of canals, squares, houses, shops and cafes. Our three-hour tour felt so much longer. She also arranged a ride with our gondolier and personally escorted us on to the gondola to ensure our experience was seamless. "
"We loved our tour with Nicoletta! She was really flexible with us, even when we called asking for last minute changes to accommodate one member of the group who was sick. Even though we weren't able to make big changes so last minute, her attitude was really caring and easy to work with. I don't live far from Venice and have been many times so Nicoletta created a tour that showed me areas I hadn't yet visited and plenty of facts I had previously missed. It was interesting for me and my mom, who has only visited once before. She also gave us great advice to use during the rest of our stay. I'd highly recommend Nicoletta for your tour!"
KathrynAbout local NicolettaVenice, October 6, 2025
5.0
Great 2nd tour with Elisabetta
"My wife and I had a walking tour with Elisabetta some years ago, so when she had the good fortune to visit Venice with three of her girlfriends, she was delighted to book a personal guided tour of St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace with her. It was such a treat and Elisabetta kindly offered to split the tour into two halves, with a lunch break in the middle. My wife and I are looking forward to our next Venetian vacation, and we plan to book another guided tour that will show us some of the places that we don’t yet know.
Many thx, Elisabetta!"
AnnemarieAbout local ElisabettaVenice, October 6, 2025
5.0
Tour with Rocco!
"Hello, we booked a private tour with Rocco to visit the cathedral and the palace. We had a wonderful 3 hours with him! He is so knowledgeable and kept us engaged and interested the entire time. It is like taking a tour from a art and history phd....he is full of stories and history and very passionate about Venice. Thank you so much Rocco we learned so much from you and we had a wonderful time together! "
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