Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) Tours
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The powerful Doges ruled the Venetian Empire from the Gothic fantasy palace that is Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) until 1797. The site was one of the first things those arriving in Venice saw as their ships sailed through the lagoon and landed at St Mark's Square, and the doges ruled with an iron fist—justice was often meted out here. Today, the site is one of the most well-known attractions in Italy.
The Basics
The Palace of Doges is a significant historical site in Venice, with many travelers arriving to hear about the strict rule of the Venice Doges from an expert local guide. The site is most often visited on a two- to five-hour Venice tour and can be combined with a stop at St Mark's Basilica, once the private chapel of the Doges. Inside the palace, admire the many paintings by Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese, and climb the narrow staircases to visit the Doge's apartments and the prison cells, as well as the ducal notary. Outside the palace is the Bridge of Sighs and the beautiful columns along the piazzetta.
Things to Know Before You Go
How to Get to the Doge's Palace
The Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) is located next to St. Mark's Church in St. Mark's Square. The site is easily accessible by vaporetto (the public water taxi) on the Grand Canal or on foot.
When to Get There
Summertime is popular in Venice; be prepared for lines and crowds. The palace's hours vary seasonally.
A Haunting History
The Basics
The Palace of Doges is a significant historical site in Venice, with many travelers arriving to hear about the strict rule of the Venice Doges from an expert local guide. The site is most often visited on a two- to five-hour Venice tour and can be combined with a stop at St Mark's Basilica, once the private chapel of the Doges. Inside the palace, admire the many paintings by Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese, and climb the narrow staircases to visit the Doge's apartments and the prison cells, as well as the ducal notary. Outside the palace is the Bridge of Sighs and the beautiful columns along the piazzetta.
The popular Secret Itineraries tour allow visitors, accompanied by a guide, into chambers of the palace not open to the general public. You'll see the secret chancellery where the delicate work of governing was done, the secret archives, the torture room, and the cell from which the famous writer Giacomo Casanova made his escape.
- The palace is best explored on a guided tour for an in-depth historical understanding.
- Booking a St. Mark's museum pass allows access to the three museums in St. Mark's Square.
- The palace is wheelchair accessible, and an audio guide is available for rental.
- The majority of palace tours include Venice hotel pickup and dropoff, although a few tours offer departures from Florence and Milan.
How to Get to the Doge's Palace
The Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) is located next to St. Mark's Church in St. Mark's Square. The site is easily accessible by vaporetto (the public water taxi) on the Grand Canal or on foot.
When to Get There
Summertime is popular in Venice; be prepared for lines and crowds. The palace's hours vary seasonally.
A Haunting History
Death sentences were declared between the 9th and 10th columns outside the palace, while executions were carried out between the freestanding columns in the piazzetta next to the lagoon; even today Venetians won't walk between them. A final chance at life was offered if the accused were able to walk around the edge of the third column on the seaward side of the palace.
Address: San Marco, 1, Venice, Veneto 31024, Italy
Admission: Varies
Admission Tickets (1)
Skip the Line: Doge's Palace Ticket & Guide Book
Well-suited to independent travelers, this do-it-yourself tour of Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Square includes a complimentary guidebook with handy background information on Venice’s most standout attractions. Beat the hours-long entrance lines with skip-the-line access, and tour the museums of San Marco at your own pace. Admission tickets also include entry to the Biblioteca Nazionale, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, and Museo Correr.
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From
$30.73
From
$30.73
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
167 Tours and Activities to Experience Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)
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Skip the Line: Doge's Palace Ticket & Guide Book
Well-suited to independent travelers, this do-it-yourself tour of Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Square includes a complimentary guidebook with handy background information on Venice’s most standout attractions. Beat the hours-long entrance lines with skip-the-line access, and tour the museums of San Marco at your own pace. Admission tickets also include entry to the Biblioteca Nazionale, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, and Museo Correr.
…More
From
$30.73
From
$30.73
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Legendary Venice St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace Group or Private Tour
Delve into Venetian history on this tour that showcases two of the city's most iconic structures and sheds light on the stories behind them both. Enjoy skip-the-line access to both popular attractions. Your first stop is legendary St. Mark's Basilica. Wander around the mosaic-covered interior and Byzantine treasures while a local guide fills you in on how this collection came to be. Then continue to the Doge’s Palace to explore the former political heart of Venice.
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From
$97.10
From
$97.10
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Venice Super-Saver: Doge’s Palace, Walking Tour & Grand Canal Boat Tour
Explore the best of Venice at a 10% discount with this Super Saver combo of three popular tours. Skip the line at the Doge’s Palace, where you can wander through ornate public rooms and across the notorious Bridge of Sighs. You’ll also head to the front of the long queue at St Mark’s Basilica to tour the dazzling interior of this Byzantine masterpiece including Pala d'Oro and enjoy a guided walking tour of Venice’s hidden gems. Finally, cruise down the Grand Canal aboard a motorboat and soak in the majestic passing scenery.
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From
$170.84
Price varies by group size
From
$170.84
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
St Mark's Basilica After-Hours Group or Private Tour with Optional Doge's Palace
See the wonders of Venice's St. Mark's Basilica without the crowds during this after-hours, small-group tour. Learn about the basilica's famed mosaics from your guide and explore the crypt below the church to see where St. Mark's remains are said to lie. Upgrade to see the Doge's Palace after the basilica and wander the former home of the Venetian Republic's government.
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From
$116.76
From
$116.76
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica Tour
Visit two of the most popular attractions in Venice on this guided tour of the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica. Listen to your guide's commentary clearly with provided headsets and avoid hours-long queues with skip-the-line admission tickets. Entrance tickets to the Doge's Palace are also included for a hassle-free tour.
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From
$90.95
From
$90.95
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regular temperature checks for staff
Doge's Palace & Prisons Ticket and Tour
Experience the magnificence and mystery of the Doge’s Palace in Venice with this skip-the-line ticket. Head to the front of the queue with your guide, and then wander through the palace’s ornate public rooms as you learn the history of Venice’s powerful rulers. Admire magnificent interior artwork, including Renaissance masterpieces by painters Tintoretto and Veronese. Explore the palace’s darker side with a visit to the prison quarters and a walk across the notorious Bridge of Sighs.
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From
$84.80
Price varies by group size
From
$84.80
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Venice Super Saver: Skip-the-Line Doge's Palace and St Mark’s Basilica Tours plus Venice Walking Tour
See two of Venice’s most iconic attractions and save 10% when you book them together with this Super Saver. Head to the front of the long queues with skip-the-line access to the famed Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica. Learn the history behind these architectural wonders from your local guide, and explore some of Venice’s lesser-known sights on a walking tour. Complete both tours in the same day with a break in between to spend at your leisure, depending on the operational schedule.
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From
$109.39
Price varies by group size
From
$109.39
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Skip the Line: Doge's Palace Guided Tour in Venice
Skip the line for entrance to one of the most important symbols of Venice, the Doge's Palace, during this 1-hour guided tour. Walk through the impressive structure, once the first sight greeting ships coming in from the lagoon, full of gold staircases and paintings by masters like Tintoretto and Veronese. Admire examples of Byzantine and Oriental architecture as you listen to your guide's commentary on an included headset. Entrance fees included.
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From
$72.43
From
$72.43
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regular temperature checks for staff
Venice Skip the Line Doge’s Palace and St Mark's Private Tour
Experience the grandeur and history of Venice on this private tour of St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. Admire the shimmering mosaics and golden altars of the city’s most famous cathedral, and see masterpieces by Titian and Tintoretto as you wander through the lavish chambers of the Venetian Republic’s one-time rulers. Skip the long lines at both attractions with priority access (from April to October), so you don't waste a minute of precious vacation time.
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From
$202.79
Price varies by group size
From
$202.79
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Venice Must-Sees: St Mark's Basilica & Doge's Palace Fast Track Tour
See two of Venice's top sights in one tour of St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace. Enjoy skip-the-line access to avoid the long lines that typically form outside these important attractions. Marvel at the golden mosaics that adorn the interior of St. Mark's Basilica, one of the finest masterpiece of Byzantine art. Walk through the ornately-decorated halls of the Doge's Palace and imagine life during the Venetian golden age. Immerse yourself in the history of Venice through two of its most important buildings.
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From
$97.10
From
$97.10
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Venice Walking Tour plus Skip the Lines Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica Tours
Enjoy the best of Venice on this guided walking tour plus skip-the-line entry to the Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica. Explore the best that the canal city has to offer, winding your way through narrow alleys, and see Venice's top attractions.
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From
$130.28
From
$130.28
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Gear/equipment sanitized between use
Regular temperature checks for staff
Doge's Palace Privileged Entrance and Guided Tour
Skip the line and leave the modern world behind on a 2-hour guided tour of the Doge’s Palace in Venice. Discover layers of rich history, from 14th-century foundations to a gilded staircase and the picturesque Bridge of Sighs. Step into the world of powerful doges, merchants and explorers, and learn about Venetian culture and traditions through one of the city’s most dramatic landmarks.
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From
$61.90
From
$61.90
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Venice Skip the line Doge's Palace & St Mark's Basilica guided Tour
The Doge’s Palace and Saint Mark’s Basilica are two of Venice’s most beloved destinations, but the two landmarks can have ticket lines to match. See both landmarks with a private guide on a 2-hour tour that includes skip-the-line access, so you can make the most of your time in Venice.
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From
$84.80
From
$84.80
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Group or Private Venice In a Day: Basilica San Marco, Doges Palace & Gondola
First time in Venice? Maximize your time in the city with a full-day itinerary that ticks off all the most memorable attractions. Stroll across the Rialto Bridge and browse the lively Rialto fish market, then hop aboard a traditional gondola for a romantic cruise along the Grand Canal. Next, access St. Mark’s Basilica and gaze down over the city from the cathedral’s rooftop terrace. Finally, enjoy skip-the-line entrance to the grandiose Doge’s Palace. This small-group tour is limited to 15 people ensuring a personalized experience.
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From
$158.55
From
$158.55
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Venice in a Day Tour with St Mark's, Doge's Palace and Gondolas
Discover several Venetian attractions in one itinerary with this full-day tour. Visit St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Rialto Bridge with an art historian guide leading the way. Stroll along Venice’s romantic canals and climb aboard a gondola for a scenic boat ride. After free time for lunch, skip the line for instant access into Doge’s Palace to see Casanova’s prison cell and walk across the Bridge of Sighs.
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From
$137.93
From
$137.93
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
4-Hour Venice Walking tour with Skip the line Doge's Palace & St Mark's Basilica
Saint Marks Basilica and the Doges Palace are two landmarks rarely left off any Venice Itinerary, but their popularity means that visitors often spend more time queuing outside than exploring inside. Visit both on this 4-hour tour, including skip-the-line entrance and a walking tour of romantic Venice.
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From
$121.68
From
$121.68
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Historic Venice: Doge's Palace, Basilica guided tour & gondola ride
Skip the lines at Saint Mark’s Basilica and Doge Palace and opt a shared guided tour instead. Then, enjoy the quintessential Venice experience—a gondola ride through the city’s canals and waterways. Your ticket also includes access to several landmarks surrounding Saint Mark’s Square, as well as access to a mobile app that provides commentary to a walking tour of the city at your own pace.
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From
$109.39
From
$109.39
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Doge's Palace: guided tour & skip the line ticket
Tour the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), the seat of political power in Venice throughout several centuries, with a guide's engaging commentary. Then, wrap up your tour with tickets to three other area museums (Museo Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale and Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana), as well as an optional Murano Island glass factory tour.
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From
$67.60
From
$67.60
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Doge's Palace, Unusual Venice and Gondola Ride Tour
See more of Venice and save money with a 3.5-hour combined tour that includes a guided tour of the Doge's Palace, a walking tour of Venice's hidden gems and a romantic gondola ride. Explore the history of the doges and walk across the Bridge of Sighs. Let a knowledgeable local guide show you the things most visitors miss in the city. Relax on a 30-minute gondola ride to see the unique city from the water.
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From
$126.42
From
$126.42
Venice: Doge's Palace and Piazza San Marco guided tour
Visit the magnificent Doge’s Palace in Venice without having to wait in line on this 2.5-hour walking tour. Enjoy skip-the-line entrance and a guided tour of Doge’s Palace, explore the palaces and museums of St. Mark’s Square at your own pace, then enjoy an optional cruise to visit a glass factory on Murano Island.
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From
$98.32
From
$98.32
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Doge's Palace Tour
Explore one of Venice’s most popular landmarks with this walking tour. An art historian leads the way through Doge’s Palace, a striking example of Venetian gothic architecture. Skip the line with a premium access ticket and learn about the palace’s architecture. See the palatial courtyard and don’t worry about getting lost among the artwork; your guide ensures you won’t miss the highlights.
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From
$67.70
From
$67.70
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
Skip the Line: Best of Venice Private Tour Including San Marco Doges' Palace and Gondola Ride
Get exclusive, skip-the-line access to the very best of Venice on a private, 6-hour walking and gondola tour of the city. Learn about Venetian art and culture as you trace a route from Piazza San Marco to the elaborate Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. Discover the remarkable architecture and history of the Basilica San Marco, and continue through a series of churches, landmarks and picture-perfect highlights. Finish the day in true Venice style with a private gondola ride through the iconic canals of Venice.
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From
$1,122.13
per group
From
$1,122.13
per group
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Skip the line Doge's Palace Guided Walking Tour in Venice
If it’s your first time in Venice, the Doges Palace is probably top of your must-see list, and this tour ensures you make the most of your time. Avoid the queues with skip-the-line entrance, walk across the iconic Bridge of Sighs, marvel at the Golden Staircase, and admire art masterpieces by Tintoretto and Titian.
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From
$67.60
From
$67.60
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Doge's Palace Guided Visit and Secret Venice Walking Tour
See the best of Venice in this 3-hour tour, combining a guided visit to the Doge's Palace with a walking tour of the Rialto neighborhood to find some of Venice's hidden treasures. See the extravagant and historic rooms of the Doge's Palace, including a walk across the Bridge of Sighs. Wander through one of Venice's most atmospheric neighborhoods, home to a busy market and one of the city's top sights.
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From
$90.86
From
$90.86
Venice in one Day combined city tour with Skip the line
If you’re looking to see most of Venice’s well-known sights all in one day, put your trust in this fun combination day tour. This package includes a gondola ride on the Grand Canal, a walking tour of the city, and a boat tour along the city’s most secluded canals. Plus, it gives you a skip-the-line privilege at Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and at St. Mark's Basilica.
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From
$196.22
From
$196.22
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
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