Venice: Doge's Palace Guided Tour With Tickets & Optional Gondola
Visit the iconic Doge's Palace in Venice on a small group guided tour. Head in faster with pre-reserved tickets and bypass the lines. Delve into Venetian history on a tour that showcases the highlights of the city. See the opulent apartments and the Hall of the Great Council at Doge's Palace. Take a walk over the Bridge of Sighs and see the Old Prisons. Choose to include an optional 30-minute gondola ride along the Grand Canal. Discover the charming canals and picturesque spots of Venice by traditional gondola.
Options
English Group Tour & Gondola
Group Tour with Gondola Ride: Choose this option for a 30-minute gondola ride along the Grand Canal.
What's included in Venice: Doge's Palace Guided Tour With Tickets & Optional Gondola
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Piazza San Marco
Meet your expert guide at the famous St. Mark’s Square and start getting to know the city and its origins. See the most renowned public space in the city and, learn about its historical, social, and political importance. Learn about the Clock Tower and the Marble Lions which are all part of St Mark’s history.
Doge's Palace
Follow your guide at a relaxed pace to visit the Doge’s Palace with pre-reserved tickets straight into this opulent palazzo. Bypass the long lines to explore the political heart of an Empire. Learn about the supreme authority and wealth of the ruling Venetian Doges in the Gothic architecture of the palace. Ask about the talented 14th-century sculptors that worked on the palace and enjoy stunning views across the Lagoon as you explore this world-famous landmark.
Continue to the Old Prison that was part of the Doge’s Palace, learn why the New Prisons were built, and understand the significance of the Bridge of Sighs, another highlight of Venice. Listen to the extraordinary story of the famous Casanova and his life in Venice. Leave your guide with enough knowledge to enjoy the rest of your stay in Venice on your own.
Inclusions
- Skip the line tickets for Doge's Palace
- Expert local guides for insider knowledge
- Admission to Correr Museum, National Archeological Museum, and Biblioteca Marciana
- 30-minute Grand Canal gondola ride (if option selected)
- 2 hours guided tour at a relaxed pace
- Transport to the meeting spot
- Guided Tour of the Correr Museum
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Acqua Alta ( High Tide ) in Venice can cause delays in entering the Doge's Palace and the palace authority may decide to suspend skip-the-line priority, especially around the months of October, November, and December.
- Please note that if you take the 14:00 (2 pm) tour, Correr Museum will be closed before your tour finishes. Therefore, you will have Correr tickets for the next day.
- Please note that carrying any type of weapon or sharp objects, such as a knife, is not allowed for this tour.
- On certain dates, most travelers staying outside of Venice who are planning to visit for the day will be required to pay a €5 access fee. For further details (including exemptions) and to learn what days this fee is applicable, please visit: https://cda.ve.it
- Clients must arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start of the tour. This is due to the timed entry of the tickets.
- Tickets are timed and expire within 5 to 10 minutes.
- Please be advised that it is not possible to join the tour after it has commenced.
- If you choose the optional gondola ride, at the end of the Doge’s Palace tour, our guide will lead you to the pier for the gondola experience.
- There can be a maximum of 5 people on each gondola. If your group is bigger, you will be in separate gondolas.
- Sites visited during this tour are subject to occasional closures due to holy observances, high tides, and flooding. If a site closes, your guide will tour the exterior of the site. If time permits, you will be contacted before your tour. For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.
- Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting / End Points
- We meet in Saint Mark’s Square near the waterfront by the two large columns. Our guide will be under the one with the winged lion on top. Your guide will have a signboard that says, “Walks In Europe.”
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
Please locate your guide at the meeting spot. They will have your actual pre-reserved tickets for the Palace. Do not bring large bags or luggage. These items are not allowed and there is no place to leave them so you will be denied entry.