Doge’s Palace guided tour 2024: All tips & info

Doge’s Palace – guided tour | The Palazzo Ducale is undoubtedly one of the most important buildings in the historic centre of Venice. The seat of the Doge and various governmental, judicial and administrative bodies of the former Republic of Venice is one of the most visited sights in Europe.

Visiting this monumental palace is unavoidable for the Venice traveler. Among the many possible entrance tickets for this symbol of the greatness and power of the Maritime Republic of Venice, you can also book a guided tour. For those who are satisfied with the visit without a guided tour, it is of course possible to book only the single ticket for the entrance.

✅ Tip: The guided tour is a bit more expensive than regular admission, but the added value is considerable. You will learn a lot of things that might otherwise be overheard or overlooked. All about the history and architecture of this impressive sight. The Doge’s Palace is a masterpiece of Gothic art. In the palace and the adjacent museums, you will learn all about the architecture and construction of that time. The imposing Doge’s Palace is the symbol of Venice.

Prices for the Doge’s Palace guided tour

Here are the corresponding admission prices:

Ticket prices may be subject to change. The current offer of the provider counts. The tours are often booked out quickly.

You can also order tickets for a visit to the Doge’s Palace without queuing and with guided tours in English or another language from this ticket provider.

For whom is a Doge’s Palace guided tour interesting?

Visitors who are in a hurry, want to see a lot as soon as possible and do not have time to prepare. Also interesting here are the combination tickets described below. All with a guided tour.

For those who want to be sure that the tour is conducted in English.

If you want to know nooks and crannies of this refined building, which are not in any guidebook and only an expert guide knows. Also you will learn many curiosities and unusual details.

Direct and fast access to the Doge’s Palace. Only available with the booking of an online ticket.

What do I get on the tour?

✓ Organised tour with English speaking tour guide. Tour of the magnificent halls with their extraordinary Renaissance works of art. Magnificent rooms with masterpieces by famous artists of the time.

✓ Entrance to the Doge’s Palace without queue.

✓ Guided tour of the interior of the palace, crossing the Bridge of Sighs and visiting the Venetian prisons.

✓ Entrance to the Museo Correr, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale and the monumental halls of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana. Here there are many artefacts and documents worth seeing from the time of mediaeval Venice. All the museums are located in St. Mark’s Square.

If you also want to visit the dungeon ‘Piombi’, with the most famous inmate of his time, Giacomo Casanova, you must also book the Casanovas prison tour. The ticket includes only the access without waiting time to the palace prison, without access to the Doge’s Palace.

How long does the guided tour of the Doge’s Palace last?

The guided tour lasts 60-75 minutes. After that, an unlimited stay in this extraordinary building is possible until the closure of the Doge’s Palace.

When is the Doge’s Palace open?

Here is an overview of the most important opening hours:

In principle, the Doge’s Palace is open all year round. On December 25 and January 01 there are variable opening hours or the Doge’s Palace is closed in rare exceptional cases. If necessary, please check on site. On some holidays there are also extended admission hours until 21:00.

For all other important information on opening hours, access and waiting times to the museums in St. Mark’s Square, including the Doge’s Palace, see my separate article Doge’s Palace Opening Hours.

Information about the Doge’s Palace and the guided tour

All further details about these tours can be found on the pages of the already above mentioned providers Tiqets or GetYourGuide.

More important information about visiting the Doge’s Palace can be found on these pages of my blog at:

Doge’s Palace: Overview
Doge’s Palace: Admission Fees
Doge’s Palace: Opening Times

What is the best way to get to the Doge’s Palace?

✓ Adresse: Doge’s Palace, Piazza San Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia VE

✓ The stop for public transport is San Marco-San Zaccaria. Here stop the important lines 1, 2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, as well as some others

✓ The exact meeting point for the start of the tour is on the page of the respective provider

Guided tour of the Doge’s Palace with combined ticket

On the famous St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica are among the absolute top sights. To avoid queues in front of both attractions, it is also possible to book combination tickets. Bookings include a two to two and a half hour guided tour in English with a professional guide.

Here are some interesting suggestions of corresponding tickets:

There is much to see and do in Venice. If you prefer an excursion to the islands of the lagoon or to the Lido during the day, you can also book guided tours of the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica with early entry on certain dates. It starts at 8:30 am also with this operator with different dates – Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica in the morning. Here you escape the crowds and can enjoy the sightseeing in peace.

This also applies to the Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica evening tour. Departure is at about 18:00 after the respective closures. 

As in all my articles, I generally point out the urgent purchase of online tickets in advance. This is especially true for the visit, with or without a guided tour, of the Doge’s Palace. Despite the crowds at the entrance, if you book a guided tour, you will be directly inside the palace and begin your tour. There are only a limited number of tickets for these tours, so it is advisable to book the tickets well in advance.