Add dates

St. Mark's Clocktower

St. Mark's Clocktower: Our most recommended tours and activities

Venice: Morning Walking Tour

1. Venice: Morning Walking Tour

Explore Venice through its narrow calli (alleys) and encounter countless bridges and picturesque squares at the heart of the city's social scene. Follow a professional guide on an unforgettable journey through the history of the "Serenissima" and discover famous sites and hidden gems. Get an animated description of majestic St. Mark’s Basilica in Piazza San Marco, and learn the function of the Doge's Palace. Hear about the ornate St. Mark's Clocktower and the 3 connected buildings of the Procuratie. Then, make your way to the Campo Santa Maria Formosa to see the Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo, where all of the city's doges were buried after the 15th century. Go to the Scuola Grande di San Marco (“Great School of Charity”) to hear about the "Captains of Fortune," and then head back through the San Marco sestiere (district) to see the Teatro Malibran. Stroll down the famous Mercerie, the historic heart of commercial life in the city and now one of the main shopping streets of Venice between the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco.

Venice: 4-Hour City Tour with Doge's Palace & Basilica Visit

2. Venice: 4-Hour City Tour with Doge's Palace & Basilica Visit

After leaving your centrally located meeting point, you will be guided into the residential Castello area, allowing you to discover this part of Venice in all of its elegance. You can expect to see the Santa Maria Formosa Square, one of the largest squares in Venice complete with its church named after its visitation of the Holy Virgin. You will also experience the Saints Giovanni and Paolo Square where you will be able to admire the famous church, the resting place of several Doges, and the equestrian monument of Bartolomeo Colleoni, an Italian mercenary captain. You can also explore the former residence of Marco Polo, probably the most famous Venetian merchant. On your return to Saint Mark’s Square, you will be accompanied inside the Doge’s Palace where you will visit the halls where the Duke (Doge) and his council controlled the fate of the Serene Republic. You will be surrounded by hundreds of artistic masterpieces and discover the political history of Venice and its people. You will be able to admire famous paintings by some of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance, including the world's largest oil painting by Tintoretto. Passing through the famous Bridge of Sighs, you will reach the new prisons. Finally you will visit the interior of St. Mark’s Basilica, once the private chapel of the Doge of Venice, and the only one of its kind in Italy. You will be able to sit down in the church and absorb the atmosphere, whilst listening to your guide who will describe the biblical scenes represented throughout the building. This is the only tour with special authorization to be seated in the central nave inside the Basilica. Your 4-hour combined tour will then conclude outside the Basilica in Saint Mark's Square.  At the end of the tour have the opportunity to visit the Correr Museum with the same ticket.

Ravenna Port: Transfer to Venice with Tour and Gondola Ride

3. Ravenna Port: Transfer to Venice with Tour and Gondola Ride

Take this stress-free transfer with your luggage from Ravenna port on a shore excursion to Venice. Store your luggage and go on a guided tour to admire sights like Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge and St Mark's Basilica. Enjoy an extraordinary gondola ride to round off your experience. Skip crowds and walking by transferring within Venice by boat. Be greeted by your host and hop aboard an air-conditioned vehicle with room for luggage storage. Sit back and relax as you take in views of the Italian countryside on the ride to Venice. Upon arrival, meet your guide and leave your luggage securely locked away on the bus. Transfer from the bus parking area to Piazzale Roma to begin your tour. Stroll across the first bridge of Venice and hop on a beautiful private water boat to get transferred to the St Mark's Square. Along the way, see the main sights of Venice the way they were meant to be seen - from the water. See the central square of Venice, St Marks Piazza. Watch as your guide points out the mosaics adorning the ancient Basilica and its clock tower along with the Campanile (belltower). Admire views of Doge’s Palace, which for over 1000 years, served as the government administrative center of the region. Here you will also experience the world-famous Venice gondola ride, in small groups of maximum 5 people. Next, explore the San Marco Square on your own, or join your guide and head to the lively Rialto market where locals go for fresh fish and produce. Have the opportunity to buy a snack or drink, browse the local delicacies, and go souvenir shopping (at your own expense). Cross the Rialto Bridge and soak in the views of the canal. Learn about the lives of traders and merchants. Afterward, transfer to the luggage storage. Your guide will help you with tips or arrangements to get to your next destination, whether the airport, hotel, or a train station.

Venice: City Pass Including Doge’s Palace & Public Transport

4. Venice: City Pass Including Doge’s Palace & Public Transport

Make your trip to Venice easy with the Venice City Pass. Gain access to all of the city's greatest churches, museums, monuments, and more. Choose from multiple day passes and take the option of an extra public transport ticket as well. Hop on and off around the city, and enter wherever you like. Visit the Byzantine monuments of St. Mark's Square and venture inside the former palace of the dukes, Doge's Palace. Make your way into the Museo Correr, Ca'Rezzonico, Ca'Pesaro, Glass Museum, Natural History Museum, Mocenigo Palace, and many others. Take the challenge to see all 16 churches of the Chorus Curicuit such as Chiesa di Sata Maria del Giglio, Chiesa di Santo Stefano, and Santa Maria dei Miracoli. Save some time at the end of your day and try your luck at the Venice Casino.

Venice: Guided Night Walking Tour & Saint Mark's Basilica

5. Venice: Guided Night Walking Tour & Saint Mark's Basilica

With its awe-inspiring array of domes, arches and turrets, there is no mistaking St. Mark’s basilica. Dominating the piazza of the same name, St. Mark’s stands at the very epicentre of the city. And it looks even more spectacular at night. On our night tour of St. Mark’s, you’ll meet your guide in beautiful St. Mark’s Square, for centuries the spiritual and political centre of Venice - the Doge’s palace also stands silent watch over the piazza. To start our tour, your guide will explain the significance of the square to the history and geography of the city - for good reason Napoleon described the Piazza as the ‘drawing room of Europe,’ and the elegant cafes that line the square, including Caffe Quadri and famous Caffe Florian, have lost none of their old-world charm. During our time in the piazza we’ll learn about some of the other highlights on show here, including the stunning Torre dell’Orologio - a Renaissance clock tower decorated with fabulous sculptures, as well as St. Mark’s Campanile, the soaring 12th-century brick bell tower that is still the tallest building in Venice.

Venice: Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica Terraces Tour

6. Venice: Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica Terraces Tour

Discover the rich history of Venice on a 2-hour guided tour to visit the most prestigious attractions of the city: the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica. See artistic masterpieces and enjoy stunning panoramic views of the city from the basilica’s terrace. After meeting your guide under the Clock Tower in St. Mark’s Square, start your tour with a visit to one of the most breath-taking buildings of Venice: the Doge’s Palace, the residence of the Doge and seat of local magistrates until the fall of the Serenissima, the Venetian Republic. Admire up-close the palace’s many extraordinary masterpieces like the Giants’ and the Golden Staircases and “The Paradise” canvas by the famous painter Jacopo Tintoretto. You will also cross the Bridge of Sighs and tour the New Prisons where, during the Serenissima, criminals were detained. Afterward, your guide will take you to St. Mark’s Museum located inside St. Mark’s Basilica and to the terrace, from where you will have the opportunity to admire St. Mark’s Square from above and take wonderful pictures.

Full Venice Walking Tour: Doge's Palace and St. Mark's

7. Full Venice Walking Tour: Doge's Palace and St. Mark's

Meet your guide on Piazza San Marco for the start of an immersive walking tour. Learn the story of Venice and the Venetian Empire at monuments such as the Doge’s Palace, St. Mark's Clock Tower and the Procuratie, built over the arcades of Piazza San Marco (external views only). Stroll over to Campo Santa Maria Formosa to admire the church of SS. Giovanni e Paolo and its famous Pantheon. Next, go to the Scuola Grande di San Marco, also knowns as the “Great School of Charity” whose members ((Captains of Fortune) included some of the great Italian explorers of the 15th century. Head back to Piazza San Marco to admire the Teatro Malibran, once the "biggest, most beautiful and richest theatre in the city." Walk down the shopping street of Le Mercerie to see the boutiques of top designers in what was once the pulsing heart of the city's commercial life. Along the way, wander the small alleys known as “calli” and discover picturesque squares where Venetians still gather to conduct their everyday social lives. Find hidden gems and learn interesting facts about the "Serenissima" and its everlasting story. Then, skip the long lines to the Doge’s Palace and explore one of the most important symbols of Venice. As the seat of Venetian political power for centuries, the majestic rooms contain hundreds of masterpieces of art that will take your breath away. Next, enter the beautiful Byzantine monument of St. Mark's Basilica and learn about Saint Mark and how his ruins came to rest here. See stunning mosaics of gold and marble inlays, and learn the history of the architectural masterpiece and its priceless treasures. Go to the Treasury to look at a splendid example of religious art, and marvel at the thousands of gems and precious stones of the Pala d’Oro.

Venice: Byzantine Tour and Skip-the-Line St Mark's Basilica

8. Venice: Byzantine Tour and Skip-the-Line St Mark's Basilica

Discover the most important historical places and buildings of Venice on this combined tour. This tour is guided and divided into 2 parts. Your tour starts with a historical introduction of St. Marks’s Square and its architectural delights, allowing you to discover the history of the majestic St. Mark’s Basilica, the illustrious Doge’s Palace, once the seat of the power for the Republic of Venice, and the extraordinary, Renaissance clock tower.  Leaving the square, head to the residential Castello area and explore this part of Venice in all of its elegance, through its labyrinth of narrow alleys known as calli, many bridges, winding canals and wide picturesque squares called campi. Expect to see the Campo Santa Maria Formosa, one of the largest squares in Venice with its church named after its visitation of the Holy Virgin. Visit the Campo San Giovanni and Paolo, the equestrian monument of Bartolomeo Colleoni, the former residence of Marco Polo, and the Malibran Theatre. After returning to Saint Mark's Square, an official guide will provide you with a detailed tour of the Golden Basilica. During the tour, you will be able to sit down in the church and absorb the atmosphere whilst listening to your guide who will describe the biblical scenes represented throughout the building, together with the history and particularities of this ancient basilica.  Afterward, have the chance to add a classic gondola ride. This combined tour concludes outside the basilica in St. Mark's Square.

A Perfect Day in Venice All-Inclusive Private Tour

9. A Perfect Day in Venice All-Inclusive Private Tour

Enjoy an exclusive tour of Venice with a private guide, perfect for those with little time but who still want to make the most of their time in the city. Start on Saint Mark's Square for a perfect view of Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, the private chapel of the dukes of Venice until the 19th century. Get privileged access, and bypass the (often long) lines to enter the grand basilica and enjoy up-close views of the golden mosaics. Take your time to explore the numerous treasures, before proceeding to the terrace for a spectacular panorama over the rooftops of the city. Next, learn about the political life of the Venetian Republic at the Doge’s Palace. Skip the long lines to travel through 7 centuries of history, as you see the palace prisons and court rooms. Your guide will share amazing stories as your walk through the private apartments and reception halls of the palace, including the Hall of the Great Council. Visit the prison where Casanova was once incarcerated, and see the gun room with its impressive collection of historic weapons. Stop on the Bridge of Sighs to see the last view of Venice that prisoners saw before they were locked in their cells. Your guide will then give recommendations for lunch, and after a short break, continue your tour in the labyrinth of small streets that make up the city center. Walk to the covered Rialto Bridge, and discover the house where Marco Polo once lived en route. Go to the Renaissance church of the Campo Santa Maria Formosa, and discover some of the city's hidden piazzas and streets. End your perfect day in Venice with a private gondola ride, and sit back and relax as you glide along the peaceful canals of “La Serenissima.”

Classic Venice: 2-Hour Walking Tour with Basilica Entry

10. Classic Venice: 2-Hour Walking Tour with Basilica Entry

Take a walking tour with a professional private guide to explore one of the most celebrated piazzas in the world. St. Mark’s Square is surrounded on 3 sides by magnificent structures such as the 15th-century Clock Tower, the Procuratie Vecchie, Procuratie Nuove and Ala Napoleonica. On the fourth side stands the outstanding St. Mark’s Basilica, with its Clock Tower rising above the open area known as the Mercerie. Your guide will tell you about the history and architectural styles of the Clock Tower, the Bell Tower, the Correr Museum and the Bridge of Sighs. St. Mark’s Bell Tower is the highest structure in Venice. Originally built in the 9th century, it has been rebuilt several times since. It unexpectedly crashed to the ground in 1902 and was rebuilt following the original design, incorporating the ancient bells. The Bridge of Sighs connects the Palazzo delle Prigioni and Palazzo Ducale, or Doge’s Palace. It is called the Bridge of Sighs because in times past, convicts were forced to enter prison through this bridge. According to the legend when they had their last glimpse of Venice they would let out a sigh. Visit the interior of St. Mark's Basilica to admire its many treasures, including the Pala d’Oro, the statues, amazing glass and carvings.

20 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 2

Other Sightseeing Options in St. Mark's Clocktower

Want to discover all there is to do in St. Mark's Clocktower? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about St. Mark's Clocktower

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 1,050 reviews

Elena was wonderful! It was so nice seeing the from a tour guide who’s ancestors were from Venice, and all of her stories were so much more interesting because they were personal growing up there in Venice. She was so nice and accommodating anything, and everything we needed. We couldn’t have asked for anything better! I would definitely recommend the tour and especially Elena!

Playing was fun and allowed us to learn more about the main interesting sites of Venice and discover less known sites that were interesting as well. The concept is excellent and could be improved, for example the player should be able to tell that the point of interest is not seeable at the moment and be able to continue the game.

Perfect tour - our English speaking guide (Diana?) Was excelleent and struck the perfect balance of providing enough detail yet keeping the pace good. We did the 2 hour version and it was just right. We had two 16 year old with us as well and they enjoyed it too which is the highest testimony!

The guide was very knowledgeable and interesting. If she climbs those steps 2 sometime 3 times a day...hat of to her. We especially loved the going through the Bridge of Sighs and the prison. Well worth the money

Great morning walk. Recommended for all travellers to Venice.