Guided Tours

Doge's Palace Skip-The-Line Guided Tour

Visitors admiring ornate ceiling and artwork during Doge Palace guided tour in Venice.

Visitors inside the ornate hall of Doge's Palace, Venice, with detailed ceiling frescoes.

Tour group inside Doge's Palace viewing ornate frescoes and wood paneling.

Gondola ride near Bridge of Sighs on a canal in Venice, Italy.

Duration

1 hr 15 min - 1 hr 30 min

Open today

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Guided tour

4.0/5(519)

Tania K

Family

Verified booking

Last week

We had the most amazing guide, Marina, who was so knowledgeable and fun! The palace was beautiful and had a very interesting history that Marina brought to life with her story-telling.

Laurie R

Group

Verified booking

3 days ago

We found the whole experience very confusing. We misunderstood the instructions and went to Doges Palace. They sent us to the ticket store 5-8 minutes away. We arrived at ticket store and were told to go back to Doges Palace because we were late. We ran back to Doges Palace and were met by a very arrogant man who was the company's person at the Doge. He scolded us for being late and told us he could not give us listening devices, so stay close to the tour guide. After much discussion, we received listening devices. Then to top it off, the tour guide was a half hour late. So much adieu about nothing!!! The guide was wonderful and knowledgeable however the way we wre treated before the tour was anything but helpful and professional.

Véronique G

Couple

Verified booking

Apr 2026

The guided tour was great; the Doge's Palace is magnificent, but if it hadn't been for the guide's explanations, we would have missed out on a lot. The walk across the Bridge of Sighs and the tour of the prisons were the perfect finishing touches to the visit. And the guide had a great sense of humor, which is always a plus!!

Skip the lines and explore the Doge’s Palace with a guide in your chosen language (English, French, Spanish, German, or Italian).

Hear gripping stories of the Council of Ten, Venice’s feared secret police.

Walk through gilded halls, then cross the Bridge of Sighs into shadowy prisons.

Choose the Mysteries Tour for chilling tales of hidden rooms, or the Secret Itineraries Tour to actually step into old prisons, torture chambers, and council rooms. You can also take an evening small-group tour for a more personalized experience.

Skip-the-line entry to Doge's Palace

Expert guide in French, Italian, Spanish, German, or English (as per option selected)

Access to Bridge of Sighs and New Prisons

Access to stories and narration of the mysteries and conspiracies of the palace (as per option selected)

Access to the exclusive locations in the Secret Itineraries tour like the old prisons (Pozzi and Piombi), torture chamber, secret archives, council rooms, etc. (as per option selected)

Access to Casanova's prison with an English guided tour (s per option selected)

Semi-private evening tour of Doge's Palace with max. 6 guests (as per option selected)

Hotel transfers

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

519 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from United States, United Kingdom, France and over 16 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Laurie R
Group
Verified booking
3 days ago
We found the whole experience very confusing. We misunderstood the instructions and went to Doges Palace. They sent us to the ticket store 5-8 minutes away. We arrived at ticket store and were told to go back to Doges Palace because we were late. We ran back to Doges Palace and were met by a very arrogant man who was the company's person at the Doge. He scolded us for being late and told us he could not give us listening devices, so stay close to the tour guide. After much discussion, we received listening devices. Then to top it off, the tour guide was a half hour late. So much adieu about nothing!!! The guide was wonderful and knowledgeable however the way we wre treated before the tour was anything but helpful and professional.
Maria T
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
At first, we had a hard time finding the place where we were supposed to meet the guide and pick up our tickets. I think that’s an important point, because we went to the Ducal Palace and were told that wasn’t where we were supposed to pick up our tickets. Once we got past that hurdle, the tour and the explanation were very interesting and enjoyable.
Tania K
Family
Verified booking
Last week
We had the most amazing guide, Marina, who was so knowledgeable and fun! The palace was beautiful and had a very interesting history that Marina brought to life with her story-telling.
Anthony S
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
Our lady guide was excellent, took care of us in a crowded area and gave lots of information in an entertaining manner.
Paola H
Couple
Verified booking
3 days ago
The tour guide was excellent in Spanish.

Unlock Venice’s history with skip-the-line access and an expert guide who brings power, art, and intrigue alive in every chamber.

Getting Started

Meet your guide at the designated entrance. Show your ticket and ID to breeze past queues and enter the palace efficiently.

What to Expect

Doge’s Palace – Venice’s former seat of government, famed for its ornate frescoes, secret chambers, and dramatic prisons.

Features

Walk through the Grand Council Hall, where doges met beneath stunning frescoes by Tintoretto and Veronese.

Ascend the golden “Scala d’Oro” and marvel at the ceremonial grandeur.

Cross the legendary Bridge of Sighs and glimpse the grim prisons that once housed political prisoners like Casanova.

Visit the Chamber of the Council of Ten and uncover stories hidden in Venice’s judicial heart.

Explore the Armory and admire centuries-old weapons, armour, and symbols of Venice’s strength.

Upgrades: Opt for the Secret Itineraries Tour to gain access to Casanova’s prison cell, the Torture Chamber, Pozzi & Piombi prisons, and hidden government offices. If you want to hear just the tales of political intrigue and the various conspiracies surrounding the Doge, take the Mysteries tour. Want to travel in a small group? Take the evening semi-private tour.

What's not allowed

Backpacks and luggage

Flash photography, tripods, selfie sticks, and any type of commercial photography

Accessibility

Please note that the Secret Itineraries, Prisons and Armory are not accessible by wheelchair and pram/stroller.

Ramps and elevators are available at the venue for easy access.

Additional information

Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on the Secret Itineraries tour.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.