Doge's Palace Venice Tour
Skip the line to enter this Venetian palace and its connected prison cells
Skip the line and go behind the scenes to see the best parts of this incredible Venetian Gothic palace. This is where the seat of the powerful Venetian Republic operated. Now, the palace stands a reminder of how law was carried out in Venice.
Tour Details
- Doge's Palace Exterior
- St. Mark's Square
- The Palace Courtyard
- Giant Staircase
- Golden Staircase
- Bridge of Sighs
- Doge's Palace Prison Cells
- Explore Even More!
The Doge's Palace is where the highest-elected magistrates ruled Venice with an iron fist. Go back in time to hear stories of crime, betrayal and the legal system that once kept Venice in check. Inside the Venetian Gothic palace, admire works of art by Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese. See the Golden Staircase, the Bridge of Sighs and even some prison cells. This 2-hour includes:
- English-speaking local tour guide
- Maximum group size of 15
- Comprehensive tour general access rooms
- Skip the line Doge's Palace tickets
Experience Doge's Palace History
Meet your guide outside Doge's Palace. Before skipping the line on your guided tour, admire the building’s exterior and learn about St. Mark’s Square. The Doge's Palace, or Palazzo Ducale in Italiano, is a perfect example of Venetian Gothic architecture. Once home to the Doge when the city was a Republic, the palace sits next to St. Mark's Basilica (the former private place of worship for the Doge).
Doge's Palace Interior
The interior of the Doge's Palace is grand to say the least. Inside you’ll find marble fireplaces, friezes and stucco adorning the walls. Some works of art stand out over the rest and our guide will lead you straight to them. These grand creations include frescoes by Titian and Veronese. Take a look at the Stairs of Gold, which connect the first floor of the palace to the third, where offices were located.
Bridge of Sighs
Doge's Palace not only held the seat of the Venetian Republic - it also connected to a prison via the famous Bridge of Sighs. Linking freedom with incarceration, prisoners walked across this bridge before spending years or even the remainder of their lives behind bars. If that wasn’t enough to sigh about, the small windows carved into the bridge offered convicts their last glance of beautiful Venice. That's plenty to sigh about.
What you get with this tour
See what people are saying
22 total reviews
Leave a reviewAverage customer rating
5.00 / 5 based on 22 total reviews
Doge's Palace
This was an excellent tour. Our guide Roberta was so knowledgeable and friendly. I would not have enjoyed the palace if I had not had all the information about the Palace.
Christy
Great tour by a knowledgeable guide
We went on the Doge's Palace tour with the Roman Guy and it was excellent. The guide was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. The guide was considerate when we fell behind a few times she slowed to tour so we could catch-up..
Phil T
Unexpectedly cool tour
I wasn't quite sure about doing this tour, but my kids really wanted to see it because of the Palace and the prison. I can honestly say, I'm so happy we did it. I learned a lot about Venice's history and seeing the Bridge of Sighs definitely made my 14 year old's day. Thanks!
Tim O.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to meet?
Between the two big columns in St. Mark’s Square (columns of San Marco & San Teodoro) located on the south side of the square, near the canal. A representative will be there holding a sign with our company name on it. Please arrive 15 minutes early to check in.
What to bring?
Comfortable walking shoes.
Q: What should I bring?
A: A sense of curiosity, comfortable shoes, your phone or camera and a water bottle. Don't bring large backpacks or bags.
Q: I have doubts about my mobility. Is this the right tour for me?
A: If you have reduced mobility, we suggest taking a private Doge's Palace tour. The itinerary is much more flexible and easily modified.
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