The Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) on Piazzetta San Marco is the masterpiece of Venetian Gothic architecture and the seat of power of the Venetian Republic for nearly a thousand years.
This guide was updated in June 2026. From 1 January 2026, the standard ticket price rose to €35 (€30 online if booked at least 30 days in advance) — many guides and aggregators still show the old price of €25. Two active alerts apply in 2026: Paolo Veronese’s The Rape of Europe is currently under restoration, with a reproduction in its usual location and the original visible in the Liagò Room; and on Fridays and Saturdays from 1 May to 26 September, the palace stays open until 23:00 (last admission 22:00). You can book through GetYourGuide in advance.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | San Marco 1, 30124 Venice, Italy (entrance: Porta del Frumento, Piazzetta San Marco) |
| Summer hours (1 Apr – 31 Oct) | 09:00–19:00 (last admission 18:00) |
| Winter hours (1 Nov – 31 Mar) | 09:00–18:00 (last admission 17:00) |
| Fri/Sat summer extension (1 May – 26 Sept) | Open until 23:00 (last admission 22:00) |
| Standard ticket (at door) | €35 |
| Standard ticket (online, 30+ days ahead) | €30 |
| Reduced ticket | €15 (children 6–14, students 15–25, over 65, Rolling Venice Card) |
| Under 6 | Free |
| Secret Itineraries tour | €40 standard / €20 reduced |
| Doge’s Hidden Treasures tour | €40 standard / €20 reduced |
| Museum Pass (6 months) | €50 standard / €25 reduced |
| Nearest vaporetto | Line 1: Vallaresso or San Zaccaria; Line 2: Giardinetti |
| Typical visit | 2–3 hours |
Doge’s Palace opening hours
The standard summer season (1 April to 31 October) runs 09:00 to 19:00 with last admission at 18:00. The winter season (1 November to 31 March) closes at 18:00 with last admission at 17:00. Museum closing procedures begin 30 minutes before the indicated closing time.
From 1 May to 26 September 2026, every Friday and Saturday the Doge’s Palace opens until 23:00, with last admission at 22:00 — an extended evening opening not mentioned in most travel guides. Check the Announcements section of the official website before visiting for any additional changes.
Doge’s Palace admission prices
The standard ticket rose from €25 to €35 on 1 January 2026. This is the largest price increase in the MUVE civic museum system in recent years. Booking online at least 30 days ahead brings the price down to €30. Many travel guides and aggregators still show €25 — that price is now out of date.
| Ticket | At door | Online (30+ days ahead) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | €35 | €30 |
| Reduced (children 6–14, students 15–25, over 65) | €15 | €15 |
| Under 6 | Free | Free |
| School groups (Sept–15 Mar) | €5.50 per person | — |
| Secret Itineraries tour | €40 / €20 reduced | — |
| Doge’s Hidden Treasures tour | €40 / €20 reduced | — |
| Museum Pass (6 months, all MUVE museums) | €50 / €25 reduced | — |
The standard ticket is a combined ticket covering the Doge’s Palace, Correr Museum, National Archaeological Museum of Venice, and Monumental Rooms of the Marciana National Library. The MUVE App Audioguide is included in the ticket price. Book through GetYourGuide for a reserved entry slot.
Why visit the Doge’s Palace?
- 🏛️ Tintoretto’s Paradise in the Great Council Chamber: At 22 metres wide and 7 metres tall, the oil painting on the east wall of the Sala del Maggior Consiglio is the largest oil painting in the world. It is visible only from inside the palace.
- 🎟️ Friday and Saturday evening openings until 23:00: From 1 May to 26 September 2026, the extended hours on two nights per week offer a completely different atmosphere — and significantly thinner crowds — compared to daytime visiting.
- 🌿 Veronese’s original Rape of Europe temporarily on display in the Liagò Room: The painting is under restoration; while a reproduction stands in its usual location, the original is unusually visible to visitors in a close, accessible setting during the conservation process.
- 📜 The Bridge of Sighs from the inside: The enclosed stone bridge connecting the palace to the prisons is crossed during the standard visit route — a different experience entirely from the famous exterior view from the canal below.
- 💰 Book 30 days ahead and save €5: The online advance-purchase price (€30) is confirmed on the official site as reserved exclusively for bookings made at least 30 days before the visit date — a specific and worthwhile saving rarely highlighted in travel guides.
How to get to the Doge’s Palace
By vaporetto, the most convenient options are Line 1 to Vallaresso or San Zaccaria stops, and Line 2 to Giardinetti. Lines 4.1 and 5.1 also serve San Zaccaria. From Piazzale Roma or Santa Lucia railway station, take Line 1 (journey approximately 30–35 minutes) or Line 2 (faster, approximately 20 minutes). From the Lido, take Line 1 or Line 5.2 to San Zaccaria.
The public entrance is at the Porta del Frumento on the Piazzetta San Marco, to the right as you face the palace from the water. Pre-booked ticket holders should head to the priority entrance lane.
On foot within Venice, the palace is the largest building on Piazza San Marco — visible from anywhere in the square and a 5-minute walk from the Rialto Bridge across Calle Larga San Marco.
Parking at the Doge’s Palace
Venice’s historic centre has no car access for visitors. Arrive by ferry, vaporetto, or on foot from the Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto terminals where mainland car parks are located. Piazzale Roma is the end point of the road bridge from Mestre; car parks there charge daily rates. From Piazzale Roma, take a vaporetto to reach the palace.
How long to spend at the Doge’s Palace
Allow 2 to 3 hours for the standard visit route through the palace and its connected institutions. The palace alone — Grand Council Chamber, Armory, State Rooms, Bridge of Sighs, and Prisons — takes most visitors around 90 minutes. The combined ticket also grants access to the Correr Museum (approximately 60 minutes) and the Marciana Library (approximately 30 minutes) on the same day; a full combined visit requires 4–5 hours.
The Secret Itineraries tour (€40) lasts approximately 75 minutes and covers administrative spaces not on the standard route, including the torture chamber and the attic. The Doge’s Hidden Treasures tour (€40) covers the restored private chapel of the Doge and takes approximately 60 minutes.
Accessibility at the Doge’s Palace
An elevator is available. The official services page confirms accessibility provisions but the palace’s historic structure means not all areas are step-free. The standard visitor route includes areas with steps and uneven surfaces. Disabled visitors and one companion are admitted free. Large suitcases, trolleys, and bags exceeding 1 linear metre in total dimensions are not permitted; visitors with such luggage will not be allowed in. Medium-sized bags and backpacks must be left at the free cloakroom. A baby pit-stop space is available inside the palace. A dog-sitting service is bookable online via the MUVE website for visitors travelling with pets.
What to see at the Doge’s Palace
The Scala dei Giganti (Staircase of the Giants) is encountered immediately after the courtyard. Sansovino’s colossal statues of Mars and Neptune flank the balustrade; newly elected Doges received their ducal cap on this staircase before the assembled Republic.
The Scala d’Oro (Golden Staircase) connects the courtyard to the state rooms. Covered in white and gold stucco by Alessandro Vittoria, it served as the ceremonial ascent for foreign ambassadors.
The State Rooms — Collegio, Senate, Council of Ten — hold ceilings and walls painted by Veronese and Tintoretto. The Sala del Collegio has Veronese’s ceiling panels almost intact; the Sala del Senato combines Tintoretto with Palma il Giovane.
The Sala del Maggior Consiglio (Great Council Chamber) is the climax. At 54 × 25 metres, it is one of the largest secular rooms in Europe. Tintoretto’s Paradise on the east wall is the largest oil painting in the world. A black-painted void marks where Marin Falier’s portrait was removed after his execution for treason in 1355.
The Bridge of Sighs and the Prisons conclude the standard route. The 1600 bridge connected the palace to the New Prisons across the canal; the view through its latticed windows of the canal below is one of the most photographed in Venice.
The Liagò Room currently displays Veronese’s The Rape of Europe in a conservation context — the original is visible here while a reproduction stands in the Anticollegio. An unusually close viewing of a major work under restoration.
Practical tips for visiting the Doge’s Palace
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| The price is now €35 | The standard ticket rose from €25 to €35 on 1 January 2026. Book online at least 30 days ahead for €30. Many guides still show €25. |
| Evening openings on Fri/Sat in summer | From 1 May to 26 September, the palace is open until 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays (last entry 22:00) — a quieter and atmospherically distinctive alternative to peak daytime visiting. |
| Tickets without a time slot: enter from 12:00 pm only | Holders of tickets without a specific entry time are admitted only from 12:00 pm. Morning entry requires a timed ticket. |
| No large luggage | Bags exceeding 1 linear metre total dimensions (all three sides combined) are not permitted. Leave suitcases and trolleys at your accommodation before visiting. |
| Book in advance | The palace is one of the most visited attractions in Europe. Pre-booking is essential in summer — queues without a reserved ticket can exceed 90 minutes. |
Doge’s Palace FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the ticket price? | €35 at the door; €30 online if booked at least 30 days in advance. Many guides still show €25 — that price has not applied since 31 December 2025. |
| Is the Rape of Europe on display? | The original is under restoration. A reproduction is in its normal location in the Anticollegio; the original is visible during conservation work in the Liagò Room. |
| Can I enter at 09:00 without a timed ticket? | No. Holders of tickets without a specific time slot are admitted only from 12:00 pm. Morning visits require a timed entry ticket. |
| What is the Secret Itineraries tour? | A separate guided tour (€40) covering the palace’s administrative spaces — torture chamber, attic, Casanova’s cell — not on the standard route. Reservation required. |
| Is there an audioguide? | Yes — the MUVE App Audioguide is included free in the ticket price and available on your own smartphone. Physical audioguides are available separately. |
Things to do near the Doge’s Palace
St Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) is directly adjacent — the private chapel of the Doges, and now one of the most important Byzantine churches in the world. General entry to the basilica is free; skip-the-line and premium access tickets are available and strongly recommended.
The Torre dell’Orologio (Clock Tower) on the north side of Piazza San Marco is managed by MUVE and offers guided tours of its interior mechanical workings and the terrace with views over the square. Timed tours of approximately 1 hour; combined tickets with the Doge’s Palace available.
The Correr Museum is included in the standard Doge’s Palace ticket and occupies the south and west wings of Piazza San Marco. It covers the history of Venice, contains a significant painting collection, and provides access to the Marciana National Library’s monumental rooms.
The Rialto Bridge and Rialto Market are around a 15-minute walk north-west along Calle Larga San Marco. The market — fish hall and produce stalls — is at its most active from around 07:00 to 12:00, Monday to Saturday.
Punta della Dogana and Palazzo Grassi are the two major contemporary art venues in Venice, both operated by the Pinault Collection. Punta della Dogana is a 10-minute walk west along the Zattere; Palazzo Grassi is a short vaporetto ride up the Grand Canal to San Samuele.
Similar palaces and museums to visit near Venice
Ca’ Rezzonico – Museum of 18th Century Venice is a MUVE museum on the Grand Canal and one of the grandest Baroque palaces in Venice. It holds period furniture, frescoes by Giambattista Tiepolo, and a recreated 18th-century pharmacy and puppet theatre. Around 20 minutes by vaporetto from San Zaccaria (Line 1 to Ca’ Rezzonico).
Verona‘s Castelvecchio Museum is around 1.5 hours west of Venice by train and occupies the 14th-century Scaligeri castle. The museum holds important Veronese and Mantegna paintings alongside medieval and Renaissance sculpture; the Carlo Scarpa-designed interior is one of the greatest Italian museum renovations of the 20th century.
Palazzo Ducale, Mantua is around 2 hours from Venice by train. The vast ducal palace complex of the Gonzaga family holds significant Mantegna frescoes in the Camera degli Sposi and collections of Renaissance art across multiple buildings.
Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Venice holds the world’s largest collection of Tintoretto paintings — 67 works covering the walls and ceilings of the Sala dell’Albergo, Sala del Capitolo, and ground-floor Hall. It is around 15 minutes on foot from the Doge’s Palace via the Accademia.
More Veneto travel
Other Veneto travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What you need to know before visiting the San Nicolo church in Treviso.
- A guide to Padua for first time visitors – including the Palazzo Bo, Cappella degli Scrovegni and Orto Botanico.
- Exploring Palladian architecture in Vicenza, including the Basilica Palladiana and Teatro Olimpico.
- A guide to Verona for first time visitors – including the Torre dei Lamberti.
- Venice to Verona train times and prices.
