How to Buy Tickets for the Doge’s Palace in Venice

Venice is one of the most popular destinations on any Italy itinerary, and with its absolutely unique charm, it’s easy to see why. Visitors to the city are spoiled by countless amazing attractions that can quickly fill several days in Venice, and one not to miss is the incredible Doge’s Palace in Piazza San Marco. This magnificent gothic palace is full of grand halls and iconic spots like the Bridge of Sighs, making it a must-visit.

If you’re planning a trip to the Doge’s Palace, it’s best to plan ahead and organize how you’ll get your Doge’s Palace tickets. That’s why we’ve put together this guide on how to buy Doge’s Palace tickets, with detailed options and our best tips for making the most of this historic and memorable monument.

Quick tip – How to buy Doge’s Palace tickets: Unless you enjoy spending your holidays in long lines, we highly recommend you book skip-the-line tickets for the Doge’s Palace in advance here or join a guided tour of the Doge’s Palace. Of the two, the guided tour is our top pick: you’ll see the palace’s golden staircase, lavish rooms, and its impressive art collection in a carefully curated itinerary led by an expert guide.

The Best Ways to Get Doge’s Palace Tickets

Given its huge popularity, there are several ways to get Doge’s Palace tickets. Where you buy your Doge’s Palace tickets depends on your personal preferences, your budget, and how organized you are. Don’t worry—we’ll walk you through every option, explaining why we recommend skip-the-line tickets for the Doge’s Palace, so you can choose the best solution for your trip.

1. Wait in line in person (not recommended)

It’s no surprise that the worst way to buy Doge’s Palace tickets is to queue up on arrival. Ticket lines often last an hour, and can even exceed two hours during peak season. That’s precious time lost in Venice, and queuing in the sun can be especially hard. Also, if you want to book the Secret Itineraries Tour, same-day purchase is a bad idea due to limited availability.

2. Book Online

Booking your Doge’s Palace tickets online in advance is a much smarter way to maximize your time in Venice. Not only will you secure skip-the-line entry to the Doge’s Palace, saving valuable time, but you can also choose the exact time for your visit, letting you plan your sightseeing around it.

Tickets can be reserved via the official Doge’s Palace website. However, the site isn’t the most user-friendly, and tickets bought here are non-refundable—a problem if your plans change.

That’s why we recommend you book your tickets using this link, offering easy booking with free cancellation up to 24 hours before your visit. While slightly pricier, these tickets include helpful extras like guides and maps to enhance your visit.

3. Book a Guided Tour (recommended)

Travelers who want to truly experience this magnificent landmark will find a guided tour the best way to discover the Doge’s Palace. While it’s possible to book special tours like the Secret Itineraries and Hidden Treasures Tours via the official site, these focus on certain rooms rather than offering a complete visit.

Fortunately, you can join a regular palace tour with a live guide by booking here, providing skip-the-line entry and a guided Doge’s Palace visit. You can also combine tours to both the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica using this link. Note: St. Mark’s Basilica itself doesn’t require an entry ticket—the cost covers your guide.

4. Buy the Venice City Pass

If you plan on visiting several attractions in Venice, consider purchasing the Venice City Pass. Like city passes in other top destinations, it grants access to various Venice attractions and offers savings over buying single tickets. The pass includes all sites covered in a regular palace ticket, selected churches, the Querini Stampalia Foundation, and options for public transport.

Essential Visitor Information for the Doge’s Palace

Doge’s Palace Opening Hours

The Doge’s Palace is open daily. Opening times vary seasonally and may be reduced during holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s.

In low season, until February 13, the palace opens from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. From February 14, it opens from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Last entry is one hour before closing.

Occasionally, the palace offers extended hours for exclusive evening visits. During these dates, you can enter between 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm to explore the Doge’s Palace after hours.

Best Time to Visit the Doge’s Palace

Since the Doge’s Palace is one of Venice’s most visited landmarks, it can get crowded at certain times. However, you can easily avoid the peak crowds if you know when to go.

Naturally, winter’s low tourist season is when the palace is quietest. Still, October and April on either side of winter also offer manageable visitor numbers, making both great months to visit the palace.

Weekdays are generally less busy than weekends in Venice, when more Italians are likely to visit for a short break. As for the best time of day, early mornings or late afternoons are ideal. Arriving early lets you beat the cruise passengers and day-trippers, while crowds thin out later in the day.

How to Get to the Doge’s Palace

Getting around Venice isn’t always straightforward, so it’s helpful to know your options for reaching the Doge’s Palace. Since there are no conventional public transport routes, your choices are relatively simple.

The Doge’s Palace sits in the San Marco quarter, a central part of Venice near other highlights—meaning walking is often the quickest or easiest option.

If you’re coming from other areas or islands, the vaporetto (water bus) could be your best bet. From Santa Lucia Train Station or Piazzale Roma parking, head to the Vallaresso and San Zaccaria stops on Lines 1, 2, 4.1, 5.1, and 5.2 along the Grand Canal. You can also ride Line 2 to the new San Marco Giardinetti stop next to Vallaresso.

How Do Doge’s Palace Tickets Work?

Doge’s Palace ticketing is simple—there’s essentially one main ticket for tourists.

The general admission ticket (Musei di Piazza San Marco) grants entry to the Doge’s Palace and several other sites in the square, including the Correr Museum, Archaeological Museum, and the Monumental Rooms of the Marciana National Library. Other tickets may be available for special visits, events or temporary exhibitions, as regular tickets do not cover extras.

When booking Doge’s Palace tickets online, you’ll pick a specific day and time for your visit. Once booked, you’ll receive a voucher to print and bring with you. You’ll then exchange this voucher for your tickets at the ticket counter.

How Much Do Doge’s Palace Tickets Cost?

Ticket prices for the Doge’s Palace vary depending on where you buy them and whether you book a tour. For simplicity, here are the official prices listed on the palace’s website.

The standard admission ticket costs €25 for adults and €13 for reduced tickets. Eligible for the reduced rate are children aged 6-14, students ages 15-25, and seniors over 65. Some visitors are entitled to free entry, including children under 5, Venetian citizens and residents, people with disabilities, and one carer each.

Audio guides cost an additional €5 per person.

Hotels Near the Doge’s Palace

If you want to make the most of your time in Venice, staying as close as possible to the Doge’s Palace is a good idea. Thanks to its San Marco location, there’s a wide selection of local accommodation options. Nearby districts like San Polo and Castello are also worth considering for easy access. To save you time, here are our recommended places to stay for every budget.

You can’t ask for a more romantic and extravagant stay than the Baglioni Hotel Luna. This five-star hotel is just off Piazza San Marco and features lavish rooms and suites, a private dock, café, and restaurant.

Abatea Guest House balances comfort and price. This beautiful, family-friendly hotel is just 100 meters from Piazza San Marco—ideal for sightseeing—and offers spacious rooms with all basic amenities.

Affordable accommodation is hard to find in Venice, especially near Piazza San Marco. The closest budget-friendly choice is Domus Ciliota, a budget hotel at the western end of San Marco, about a 10-minute walk from the square. Set in a former Augustinian monastery, it has a great location and plenty of character for the price. If that’s still outside your range, visit our booking site for more options.

Current Exhibitions at the Doge’s Palace

Throughout the year, the Doge’s Palace hosts special exhibitions focusing on different aspects of the palace’s history and art.

Security Procedures at the Doge’s Palace

All visitors must undergo a security check to enter the palace, so it’s helpful to follow the rules for a quick and easy process. Bags and backpacks must be left in the cloakroom, where lines can get long—so bring only essentials. Anyone wearing face coverings must show identification to enter.

Visiting the Doge’s Palace with a Disability

The Doge’s Palace is committed to accessibility and inclusivity for all guests. The palace offers various services, such as staff knowledgeable in sign language and multisensory tours for visitors with visual impairments.

The standard palace route has been designed to be barrier-free and fully accessible to those with mobility needs and to wheelchair users. Unfortunately, accessibility does not extend to the Secret Itineraries, prisons, or armory areas.

What to Know About the Doge’s Palace in Venice

What is the Doge’s Palace?

The Doge’s Palace is a historic palace in Venice renowned for its gothic architecture. It was once the seat of government and the residence of the Doge of Venice.

When was the Doge’s Palace built?

The oldest wing of the Doge’s Palace was built in 1340, with additional wings constructed during the 15th and 16th centuries.

How old is the Doge’s Palace?

Doge Angelo Partecipazio decided to build the Doge’s Palace on its current site in 810, but the structure as we see it today dates from 1340.

Who built the Doge’s Palace?

Doge Bartolomeo Gradenigo oversaw construction of the palace’s lagoon-facing wing, with later sections added by his successors.

Why was the Doge’s Palace built?

The original palace on the Rialto Islands was built when the Doge moved the seat of government from Malamocco. The current palace was constructed to accommodate the growing size of legislative assemblies.

Where is the Doge’s Palace located?

The Doge’s Palace is located in Piazza San Marco, the central San Marco district of Venice.