Your Travel Guide to Plan Your Visit to the Doge’s Palace
The magnificent Gothic palace was once home to the Doge of Venice and is now a museum boasting Venice’s rich history, ornate architecture, and inspiring art. Enjoy breathtaking views from the medieval fortress, where every nook and corner tells a story. With the right information and tools, you can plan the perfect Doge’s Palace tour.
Doge’s Palace Tour | Visitor Information at a Glance
- Location: Piazza San Marco, 1, 30124 Venice, Italy
- Opening hours: Daily from 9 AM to 6 PM (last admission at 5 PM)
- Highlights: The Doge's Apartments, the Grand Council Hall, the Bridge of Sighs, the Armoury, and the Prisons
- Guided tours: Available in several languages, including English, Italian, French, German, and Spanish. Audio guides are also available.
- Accessibility: The Doge's Palace is wheelchair accessible and has lifts to all levels.
- Tips: Purchase skip-the-line Doge's Palace tickets in advance to avoid long queues, wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking involved, and bring a camera to capture the stunning architecture and art on display.
What are the Doge's Palace Opening Hours?
Doge’s Palace is open to visitors every day of the week.
The opening timings till 31st March, 2023, Friday:
9 AM - 6 PM
Last Admission: 5 PM
The opening timings from 1st April, 2023, Saturday:
9 AM - 7 PM
Last Admission: 6 PM
Note: The hours may vary on Christmas and New Year’s eve.
Detailed Doge's Palace Opening HoursWhere is Doge’s Palace Located?
Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale in Italian) nestles in Venice's heart, northern Italy, specifically in the Piazza San Marco, which is the central public square of the city. The palace is at the eastern end of the Piazza, adjacent to the famous St. Mark's Basilica.
Address: P.za San Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy. Find on Map
Nearest Landmark: St. Mark’s Basilica (180 m)
Nearest Airport: Venice Airport (About 1 hour away)
How to Get to Doge’s Palace?
By Vaporetto (Water Bus): Take Vaporetto Line 1 or 2 to the "San Zaccaria" stop. The palace is just a few minutes walk from the station.
Alternatively, if you take Line 2 from Santa Lucia, Piazzale Roma, or Lido di Venezia stations, you can get out at Giardinetti stop.
By Boat: A more comfortable and luxurious way is a water taxi directly to the palace. It's a slightly more expensive option, but it offers a unique and enjoyable experience.
By Car: Park your car at one of the parking garages in Venice, such as the Tronchetto Parking Garage or the Garage San Marco, and make your way to the palace on foot or by water taxi.
Reaching Doge's PalaceBook Tickets to the Doge's palace
Know Before You Go
The entrance to Doge's Palace on the Piazzetta San Marco opens onto St. Mark's Square. The entrance is on the side of the palace that faces the lagoon, and it is marked by a large portico with arches.
The main entrance to Doge's Palace, lovingly referred to as the Porta del Frumento or Porta della Carta, is a massive gothic archway adorning the eastern side of the palace facing St. Mark's Square. The entrance is delicately decorated with highly detailed sculptures, and reliefs.
- Restrooms: Properly maintained restrooms are available throughout the palace.
- Gift shop: Get unique and charming souvenirs, books, and other mementos.
- Cafe: Grab a coffee or a snack on your break from the tour.
- Audio guides: Available for rent in multiple languages, including English, to help visitors explore the palace at their own pace.
- Guided tours: Experts walking you through the history and significance of every sculpture, artifact, and corner.
- Baby Pit-Stops: A dedicated room to relax, breastfeed or change the babies.
- Storage Facilities: A secure cloakroom is available at the entrance so visitors can store their luggage and belongings and roam carefree.
- Free Wi-Fi: The palace offers free Wi-Fi to visitors.
- Wheelchair Accessibility: The palace is wheelchair accessible, with ramps and elevators in place. Wheelchairs are also available for rent at the entrance. However, due to the historic nature of the building, there may be some areas like the prisons and the armory, that are not accessible.
- Audio Guides: The palace offers audio guides and information in multiple languages, including English, to accommodate visitors with hearing and vision impairments.
- Engaging Experience: There are also tactile models and replicas of some of the palace's artworks and sculptures that visitors can touch and feel to enhance their experience.
- Caffe Chioggia: Located at a short walk from Doge’s Palace, the Caffe Chioggia is a great stop to dine while enjoying some good music and great vibes.
- Bar Mio: Sit, sip, and chill at the buzzing Bar Mio, just 500 m away from the Doge’s Palace.
- Pasticceria Da Bonifacio: Make sure to stop by Da Bonifacio if you’re a coffee person. Located just 220 m away from the palace.
- Al Chianti: The lovely restaurant has been serving some of Venice’s best pizzas over the years. Al Chianti is 290 m away from the Doge’s Palace
- No food or drinks allowed inside the palace.
- Smoking is prohibited inside the palace.
- Visitors should not touch the exhibits or artwork on display.
- Photography is allowed but without flash, tripods or selfie sticks.
- Large bags or luggage are not allowed inside the palace and must be stored in the cloakroom.
- Visitors are required to follow the designated route and not stray from it.
- No pets are allowed inside the palace, except for guide dogs for the visually impaired.
- Dress modestly and respectfully, avoiding revealing clothing.
- Be respectful of other visitors and keep noise levels to a minimum.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Doge's Palace
Visitors are required to pay an admission fee to enter the Doge's Palace.
You can book tickets to visit the Doge's Palace online.
The standard Doge’s Palace ticket price starts from 25-30 Euros
The best time to visit the Doge's Palace is during the shoulder season, which falls between April and May or September and October.
Yes, you can visit the Doge's Palace in a group.
Yes, you can visit the Doge's Palace with the kids.
Yes, Doge's Palace is wheelchair-friendly except for some areas like the prisons and the armory. You can check in advance for access to these restricted areas.
Yes, there’s a cafe inside the Doge’s Palace where you can buy snacks and beverages.
It usually takes around 2 hours to visit Doge’s palace. However, the time may vary as per your itinerary.