Doge’s Palace Tickets: Prices, Tips & What to See Inside

What is the Doge’s Palace?

The Doge’s Palace stands on St. Mark’s Square and was the seat of government of the Republic of Venice from the 13th to the 18th century.

Back then, Venice wasn’t just a city in Italy — it was an independent state with colonies throughout the Mediterranean.

The Doge was the head of state, hence the name “Doge’s Palace.”

Here’s some of what you’ll find inside:

• the enormous Hall of the Great Council (54 meters long!)
• the Bridge of Sighs (you can only cross it from the Doge’s Palace)
• the New Prison
• an armory
• secret passages with a glimpse into the Well Dungeons and Lead Chambers, from which Casanova once escaped.

The palace is one of the most important attractions in Venice and visiting it is absolutely essential.

That said, the tour takes at least 1.5 hours. If you’re only in Venice for one day, you might be better off just admiring it from the outside.

Doge’s Palace Tickets: Options and Prices

We mainly recommend two Doge’s Palace tickets:

1. the basic ticket for the standard tour (get the ticket)
2. the basic ticket with the Secret Passages Tour (get the ticket)

Your Doge’s Palace ticket also always includes entry to three additional museums:

• the Museo Correr, Venice’s city museum,
• the Archaeological Museum,
• and the National Library.

All three are also on St. Mark’s Square, so you can easily walk over after visiting the palace.

Note: Your Doge’s Palace ticket is only valid for one day. If you want to hit all three museums too, start early in the morning.

We strongly recommend buying tickets online — they always come with fast-track entry. Buy on-site and you should always expect to wait in line.

The Basic Ticket for the Doge's Palace

The basic ticket costs 35 euros.

With it, you explore all the major parts of the palace at your own pace, including the Bridge of Sighs and the New Prison.

Note: The Lead Chambers and the Pozzi (Well Dungeons) are not included with the basic ticket. Those can only be seen on the Secret Passages Tour.

Get the basic Doge’s Palace ticket with fast-track entry

The Doge's Palace Ticket with Secret Passages

Our top pick is the Doge’s Palace ticket that includes the secret passages.

The secret passages aren’t suitable for large crowds, so the palace runs several guided tours daily in English.

It costs only 5 euros more than the basic ticket, and you get to see some truly fascinating corners of the palace.

Think: the Lead Chambers under the roof, the torture chamber, and the infamous Pozzi — the Well Dungeons beneath the palace.

After the guided portion, you can explore the regular route on your own.

The Museo Correr, the Archaeological Museum, and the National Library are also included, by the way.

Get the Doge’s Palace ticket with Secret Passages Tour

Here’s an overview of all Doge’s Palace tickets:

Visiting the Doge’s Palace with a Venice City Pass

If you’re planning to visit other museums or landmarks in Venice alongside the Doge’s Palace, a Venice City Pass could save you some money.

There are four passes that include Doge’s Palace entrance:

• Venice Digital Pass: Doge’s Palace admission + St. Mark’s Basilica + a gondola ride.
• Venice City Pass: Lets you visit as many highlights as you like.
• Get Your Guide City Card: Doge’s Palace admission + 11 additional museums.
• St. Mark’s Square Pass: Doge’s Palace + St. Mark’s Campanile + St. Mark’s Basilica with terraces.

Which pass makes the most sense for you really depends on your itinerary. We’ve put together a detailed Venice City Pass comparison to help you figure it out.

Inside the Doge’s Palace: What Is There to See?

Because Venice was enormously wealthy and powerful in the 16th century, the Doge’s Palace had to reflect the wealth of the Republic.

And it really delivers: the interior is packed with splendor, and the most celebrated artists of the era contributed to its design.

Here’s everything you’ll get to see inside:

Courtyard

The courtyard is the first thing you see when you walk through the entrance. Several staircases and gateways lead off from here, including the Scala dei Giganti — the Giants’ Staircase.

This was once considered the official entrance to the palace, and only high-ranking state officials were allowed to climb it.

The courtyard itself, on the other hand, was freely accessible to the public.

Museo dell'Opera

The museum is on the ground floor and consists of six rooms displaying original reliefs, columns, and sculptures from the palace.

Unless you have a real passion for sculpture, it’s not the most gripping part of the visit.

That said, it’s included in all tickets, and a quick walk-through doesn’t hurt.

Doge's Private Apartments

The Doge was the head of state in the Republic of Venice and held the position for life — meaning he also lived here.

The rooms are spread across the first and second floors and total ten halls: some for private life, others for public duties.

Unsurprisingly, the Doge’s apartments were anything but modest: walls and ceilings are covered with coats of arms, paintings, enormous fireplaces, and gilded stucco.

The halls are frequently used for temporary exhibitions. You can check what’s currently on at the palace’s official website.

Hall of the Great Council

The Hall of the Great Council is by far the largest hall in the palace. At 54 meters in length, it takes up an entire wing.

Through the enormous windows you can look out over the courtyard on one side and the sea on the other.

This is where Venice’s Great Council gathered — around 1,000 nobles — to elect the Doge and diplomats and to pass new laws. In total, up to 2,000 people could be seated here.

At the far end of the hall, covering the entire wall, is the incredibly detailed oil painting “Paradise” by Jacopo Tintoretto, Venice’s most celebrated painter. At over 22 meters wide, it’s the second-largest oil painting in the world.

Armory

The armory is one of the most popular sections of the palace. It consists of four rooms displaying around 2,000 original weapons, trophies, and war relics.

You’ll also find traps, torture instruments, and objects confiscated from enemies — including lanterns from Turkish warships.

Bridge of Sighs

Another standout of visiting the Doge’s Palace is the Bridge of Sighs. It connects the palace to the New Prison, built for traitors and state prisoners.

Crossing it is a fixed part of the tour: you walk across and explore the prison cells on the other side.

Why is it called the Bridge of Sighs? Because you could hear the sighs of the condemned through the stone lattice windows as they were escorted from the palace to the prison.

New Prison

The New Prison is connected to the Doge’s Palace via the Bridge of Sighs.

It was built in the 16th century to improve conditions for prisoners — up until then, those convicted were held in the notorious Lead Chambers and Well Dungeons inside the palace itself.

The building has three floors and a small courtyard, all of which you can explore. It’s part of the standard tour.

Lead Chambers and Well Dungeons

The Doge’s Palace has several prison areas: the Pozzi (Well Dungeons) in the basement, and the Lead Chambers under the roof.

The Pozzi were particularly brutal: inmates endured near-total lack of ventilation, complete darkness, and extreme humidity. During floods, prisoners even drowned.

The Lead Chambers are best known for one famous inmate: Giacomo Casanova. He pulled off a spectacular escape from here, which he later described in his memoirs written in Paris.

Why Lead Chambers? The roof was made of lead — meaning unbearably hot cells in summer and freezing cold ones in winter.

The Lead Chambers and Well Dungeons can only be visited on the Doge’s Palace Secret Passages Tour — they are not part of the standard tour.

Guided Tours of the Doge’s Palace

A guided tour means you’ll learn so much more about the Doges and the significance of the halls and artworks — it’s really worth considering.

We can recommend these tours for their great value:

Secret Passages Tour with Lead Chambers and Well Dungeons + self-guided tour

Two-hour guided tour of the Doge’s Palace

Combined tour of the Doge’s Palace + St. Mark’s Basilica with terrace access

Tips for Visiting the Doge’s Palace

Here are a few practical pointers to make the most of your visit:

• Definitely buy your Doge’s Palace tickets online. Plenty of visitors buy on-site and end up in long lines. With an online ticket, you simply walk straight in.
• Plan for about two hours for your visit.
• If you’re not joining a guided tour, rent an audio guide. It costs 5 euros and you’ll need to leave your ID as a deposit. Without one, the halls are only half as interesting.
• Book an early morning slot — it won’t be as crowded. The palace opens at 9 AM.
• Even with an online ticket, there may be short waits due to security checks. But these move much faster than the line for the ticket counter.

FAQ: Doge’s Palace Tickets & Admission