Sestiere San Marco
Palazzo Ducale
Doge's Palace
Ornate palace where the city's political leader once resided.
San Marco (4-min walk)
palazzoducale.visitmuve.it
+39 041 271 5911
Standard admission is €30. Free entry with the official museum or city passes.
Additional resources
What makes it special
Pink marble columns
Look for the two distinct columns among the elegant white colonnades facing the Piazzetta San Marco: this is where the Doge once made public appearances and pronounced death sentences.
Monumental chambers
If you thought the exterior was breathtaking, wait until you get inside: grand halls adorned with large, stunning paintings by artists such as Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and Bellini.
Chamber of the Great Council
At 53x25 meters (174x82 feet), this chamber is not only the largest and most majestic in the Doge’s Palace, but also one of the largest rooms in Europe.
Armoury
Across four rooms there's a compelling collection of over 2000 beautifully crafted suits of armor, firearms and ceremonial weapons.
Prisons
The Bridge of Sighs links the palace’s prisons to the labyrinthine New Prisons, which remained in use until 1940. It’s striking to imagine the opulent halls of power existing alongside such cramped and oppressive cells.
Your experience here
- Feel the awe inside gilded chambers, their ceilings alive with overwhelming paintings.
- Watch beauty turn to sorrow as you descend into the prisons and cross the haunting Bridge of Sighs.
- The interplay between grandeur and gloom is what makes this experience truly unique.
- Delve even deeper into the palace’s hidden depths with a secret itineraries tour.
Ways to enter the palace
Think the facade is impressive? Just wait until you step inside.
From simple entry tickets to the Venezia Unica city pass, classic group tours to one special experience — here are four ways to access the palace.
Basic entrance ticket
Explore at your own pace with this easy skip-the-line ticket, which also includes same-day access to Museo Correr.
It’s the cheapest way to see the palace.
Official City Pass
When exploring beyond the palace, use the value-packed Venezia Unica city pass for cost-effective, direct entry to both the palace and other top spots.
Classic guided tour
Enhance your visit with expert insights as a guide leads you through the palace’s publicly accessible spaces.
Some tours combine visits to the palace and Basilica di San Marco.
Secret Itineraries tour
Explore rooms otherwise closed to the public - including the torture and inquisition chambers - on this fascinating behind-the-scenes tour.
Once the tour concludes, you can continue exploring the palace as you would with a standard ticket.
Booking in advance is recommended, but with a bit of luck, you might find last-minute availability.
Prison break
Included in the Secret Itineraries tour are the concealed attic chambers where Casanova famously escaped in 1756.
Confined to his own cell, he was allowed occasional walks in the prison garret, where he discovered an iron bar and smuggled it back hidden inside his armchair.
Day after day, he chipped away at the ceiling bit by bit — until he finally made his legendary escape.
Virtual visit
Explore the palace on Google Arts & Culture, from the comfort of your current location.
A total of 120 Doges
The Doge held the highest political position in the Venetian Republic.
The first Doge reigned from 697 and the last was forced to abdicate by Napoleon in 1797.
A hall of equal grandeur
The grand upper hall at Scuola di San Rocco rivals the size of the palace’s largest rooms and echoes its style, with intricate woodwork and overwhelming ceiling paintings.
Tintoretto — one of the palace’s main artists — spent 23 years at the Scuola creating over 50 dramatic religious scenes sure to leave you in awe.
What to see nearby
These top spots are just a short walk from Palazzo Ducale:
super close
Bridge of Sighs
super close
Basilica di San Marco
tops 5 mins
Campanile di San Marco
tops 5 mins
Torre dell'Orologio
tops 5 mins
Museo Correr
tops 5 mins
San Zaccaria
tops 5 mins
Riva degli SchiavoniMore like this
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