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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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Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Guided tour

4.0/5

(487)

Elena Brenner

Elena

Sep 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Our guided tour of the Doge's Palace was a real highlight! Our guide (woman) was not only very well informed, but also had a lot of passion and humor. It was particularly nice that she also answered questions and always had an open ear. Thanks to her, we discovered many details that would have been easy to overlook on our own. Absolutely recommendable - we couldn't have wished for a better guide!
Oliver Brauns

Oliver

Aug 2025
Verified booking
4/5
That the tour didn't start at the Doge's Palace but already above St. Mark's Square with a lot of background knowledge. The process from the meeting point and organization to the entrance at the various points. Very understandable and expert explanations.
Cathie Clarke

Cathie

Jun 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Phillipo was a terrific guide and we learnt lots from him about Venice and its history. It was great in a smaller group and to be in the palace with not too many other people. Going from the bottom prisons through to all the levels of government was a great way to understand the system
    • 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.

    • Explore Museo Correr, the Archaeological Museum, and Biblioteca Marciana at your own pace.

    • 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.

    • 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 the Correr Museum, Biblioteca Marciana, and Archeological Museum

    • Hotel transfers

    • Guided tours of the Correr Museum, Biblioteca Marciana, and Archeological Museum

  • These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

  • 4
    487 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.

    250
    112
    43
    34
    48
    Guests from United States, France, United Kingdom and over 10 countries have loved this experience

    What our guests say

    Irene Langhart

    Irene

    Nov 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Very authentic tour guide, with a lot of positive energy, lots of interesting and comprehensive information. Thank you Denise!
    Kirk Figueirado

    Kirk

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    3/5
    While every effort was taken to focus on the Doges zDespite the thorough effort put into the Doge's Palace tour, the prison segment felt like a rushed formality. The guide was highly knowledgeable, delivering clear and engaging explanations throughout. However, if the prison tour is included, why wasn’t the full experience shown? I expected to see more, like torture tools or additional historical context, but it only covered the Bridge of Sighs and a few cell;a brief overview at best. A guided tour is highly recommended for the Doge's Palace to fully appreciate its history and grandeur. Book in advance through the official website for a seamless experience.
    NADALIN PHILIPPE

    Nadalin

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    The guide's explanations were clear and very interesting, giving us a better understanding of the history of the Palace and life in Venice. We were lucky to be only 4.
    Richard Guillaume

    Richard

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    5/5
    Barbara was an extraordinary guide. Her explainations were very interesting. We highly recommand its tour.
    María del Mar San José Benito

    María

    Oct 2025
    Verified booking
    4/5
    The tour and Marina, our guide who made it a fantastic experience.
  • 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.

  • The Doge's Palace

    Monday09:00am - 06:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Tuesday09:00am - 06:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Wednesday09:00am - 06:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Thursday09:00am - 06:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Friday09:00am - 06:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Saturday09:00am - 06:00pmlast entry 05:00pm
    Sunday09:00am - 06:00pmlast entry 05:00pm

    St. Mark's Square

    Monday12:00am - 11:59pm
    Tuesday12:00am - 11:59pm
    Wednesday12:00am - 11:59pm
    Thursday12:00am - 11:59pm
    Friday12:00am - 11:59pm
    Saturday12:00am - 11:59pm
    Sunday12:00am - 11:59pm
  • 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.

    • The Corrrer Museum, Archeological Museum and Biblioteca Marciana can be visited within 6 months from the date of purchasing tickets.

    • 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.

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