The Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) was the seat of the Venetian Republic for centuries: a pink-and-white Gothic palace on St. Mark’s Square with vast council halls painted by Tintoretto and Veronese, the doge’s apartments, the armoury and, across the Bridge of Sighs, the prisons. It is visited with the Musei di Piazza San Marco ticket, which as of October 2026 costs €35, or €30 bought online more than 30 days ahead, and also covers the Museo Correr. It is open every day, 9:00–19:00 until 31 October and 9:00–18:00 from 1 November, with last entry an hour before closing.
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Tickets and tours for Doge's Palace
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Why the Doge’s Palace matters
For about a thousand years Venice was an independent republic ruled by an elected doge and a web of councils designed so that no one family could seize power. This palace was where all of it happened: the doge lived here, the Great Council of up to 2,000 nobles met here, judges sat here, and prisoners waited in cells under the roof and beside the canal. The building you see today took shape mostly in the 14th and 15th centuries, with its famous open arcades that make a massive building look as if it floats. After fires in the 1570s, the greatest Venetian painters were hired to redecorate the halls, turning the palace into a celebration of the Republic’s power.
What you’ll see
- The courtyard and the Giants’ Staircase: where new doges were crowned, guarded by Sansovino’s statues of Mars and Neptune.
- The Golden Staircase and the doge’s apartments: gilded stucco ceilings leading up to the private rooms of the head of state.
- The Hall of the Great Council: one of the largest rooms in Europe, with Tintoretto’s enormous Paradise on the end wall and the portraits of 76 doges around the frieze (one is painted over with a black veil: Marino Faliero, beheaded for treason in 1355).
- The Armoury: swords, crossbows and suits of armour from the Republic’s arsenal.
- The Bridge of Sighs and the prisons: the enclosed bridge over the canal to the New Prisons, named for the prisoners’ last look at the lagoon through its stone windows.
- The Secret Itineraries: a guided tour of the hidden offices, the torture chamber and the Piombi, the cells under the lead roof where Casanova was held before his escape in 1756.
Tickets and how to visit
Prices and rules from the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia, as of October 2026:
- Musei di Piazza San Marco (€35, or €30 online more than 30 days ahead): one entry to the Doge’s Palace and to the Museo Correr, National Archaeological Museum and monumental rooms of the Marciana Library. The ticket is valid for three months from purchase, and the MUVE audio guide app is included.
- Reduced (€15): ages 6–14, students aged 15–25, over-65s, and holders of the Rolling Venice or ISIC card.
- Free: under-6s, visitors with a disability and one companion, and residents of the municipality of Venice.
- Secret Itineraries (€40, €20 reduced): a 75-minute guided tour in groups of up to 25, with English tours at 10:00, 11:30 and 13:00; the ticket also includes the standard museum visit. Book ahead by phone or email (it sells out). Children under 6 are not admitted, latecomers by 15 minutes lose their place, and it is not suitable for anyone with limited mobility, vertigo or claustrophobia.
- The Doge’s Hidden Treasures (€40, €20 reduced): a smaller guided tour, up to 10 people, with English tours at 11:00 and 16:00.
- Booking: standard entry needs no time slot, but buying online ahead saves queuing and, more than 30 days out, €5. Buy on the official MUVE site.
- Hours: daily 9:00–19:00 from 1 April to 31 October (last entry 18:00); 9:00–18:00 from 1 November to 31 March (last entry 17:00).
- Bags: suitcases, trolleys and bulky bags are not allowed; medium bags, backpacks and umbrellas go in the free cloakroom.
- Entrance: the Porta del Frumento, on the waterfront side facing the lagoon (Piazzetta San Marco).
How long to allow and when to go
Allow two to three hours for the palace, plus an hour if you continue into the Museo Correr on the same ticket. The palace is busiest from late morning, when the basilica crowd spills over; come at 9:00 or after 15:00. If you book the Secret Itineraries, take an early tour and visit the rest of the palace straight afterwards.
Accessibility
Visitors with a disability and one companion enter free. Much of the palace is accessible by a lift, with a staff member to accompany you, and there are accessible toilets on the ground floor; the prisons, the armoury and the Bridge of Sighs have steps and are not accessible.
Getting there
The palace stands between St. Mark’s Square and the lagoon. Vaporetto lines 1 and 2 stop at San Marco and San Zaccaria, a few steps away; from the station, line 1 takes about 45 minutes along the Grand Canal.
Combine it with
St. Mark’s Basilica is right next door: book the basilica’s first slot, then cross to the palace. Plan your days with our Venice travel guide, explore the lagoon with our boat trips guide, and see our city sightseeing guide.
Doge’s Palace FAQ
How much is the Doge’s Palace ticket in 2026?
The Musei di Piazza San Marco ticket, which includes the Doge’s Palace and the Museo Correr, costs €35, or €30 bought online more than 30 days ahead, and €15 reduced, as of October 2026.
Do I need to book the Doge’s Palace in advance?
Not for standard entry, which has no time slot. Booking online saves the ticket queue, and buying more than 30 days ahead saves €5. The Secret Itineraries tour must be booked.
Is the Secret Itineraries tour worth it?
Yes, if you want to see the hidden side of the Republic: the secret offices, the torture chamber and Casanova’s cell under the roof. It costs €40, lasts about 75 minutes and includes the standard palace visit.
Can you walk across the Bridge of Sighs?
Yes. The route through the Doge’s Palace crosses the Bridge of Sighs to the prisons, so every ticket holder walks over it, looking out through its small stone windows.
How long does the Doge’s Palace take?
About two to three hours for the palace, longer if you add the Museo Correr and the other museums included in the same ticket.
Can I bring a backpack into the Doge’s Palace?
Not into the rooms. Backpacks, medium bags and umbrellas must go in the free cloakroom, and suitcases and trolleys are not allowed at all.