Visit the Palais des Doges in Venice: tickets, prices, schedules

Traveling to Venice? Direction la Place Saint-Marc to visit the Doges Palace, the most famous of the nickname "Sérénissime"!

A place full of history, the Palace of the Doges of Venice sits as a symbol in the heart of the Italian city. Highly located in St. Mark’s Square, he first held a residential role before releasing the legislative, executive and judicial power. Today, its singularity is surprising and especially fascinated.

So what to see and do at the nickname Ducal Palace? From its history to its superb architecture, to the galleries and other large rooms it hosts, discover everything you need to know to visit the Doges Palace, the strong face of the Serenissime.

History of the Doges Palace

He was born somewhere between the Xe and the 11th century for a strategic purpose, by the sea. Venetian Gothic masterpiece from its earliest age, the Palais des Doges saw the day as a fortress (high ramparts and four towers) before making new skin under the hands of the doge Sebastiano Ziani who in the 12th century transformed it into a palace with the help of the architect and sculptor Filippo Calendario . A gigantic project that, beyond bringing a new breath to the place, gave it this particularity that attracts curiosity still today. And for cause, the palace rests on melèze trunks covered by a base, the lightest part of the building is located at the bottom, while the most imposing one is at the top: a funny balance that rises for many of the miracle! Inside, apartments (designed for the Doges), meeting rooms and other gathering rooms support this unique character that makes all the fame of the palace. For nearly a century, the Doges’ palace took shape through the expansions to reach the Basilica of St. Mark, welcoming new elements such as the Door of the Charter.

As he knows his times of glory, the Doge Palace is the victim of several fires throughout the sixteenth century. The most pestilent of the palace is the largest wing of the palace, as well as its masterpieces (including those signed Titien and Giovanni Bellini). The restorations then follow, the beauties also: Scala dei Giganti is entitled to a second life with the installation of its symbolic treasure, the Crucifixion of Tintoretto. Suddenly more modern, the Doge's palace begins a Renaissance enema that runs through time and through its eras... In the 17th century, it was arranged to accommodate prisoners (especially via the Prigioni Nuove and the Ponte dei Sospiri) as the famous Casanova before sheltering offices after the fall of the Republic of Venice.

Today and since the 20th century, the Doge’s Palace has been renamed the Ducal Palace, the most beautiful museums in Venice. In addition to his undeniable charism and the treasures he has preserved, he especially tells Venice, the Venetian government and the 120 Doges who since its walls have led the destiny of the city for nearly 1,000 years.

What to see and do at the Doge Palace?

From its interior dressed in Verona marble, to its works of art, through its columns, capitals and sculptures, the Doge Palace promises a true experience for all those who come to visit it. Some visit it by thirst for culture and history, while others simply admire it for its architectural propensity. Depending on the type of tour chosen -autonomous or guided - , visit the Doges Palace is not a predefined course. So what to see and do at the Doge Palace? Here are some ideas for visits.

Outside

• colonnade which supports the construction of parts and others of the dock and the Piazetta
• ♪ capital and their bas-reliefs to amazing characters
• ♪ walls white and red marble plated
• entrance door (della Carta) and its statues
• large inner courtyard, bronze wells and clock
• L’Gentlemen's staircase (or Gold Stair – Scala d’Oro)

Inside

• Saint-Marc library (old Grand Council room), paintings, portraits of Doges, and ceiling
• The Archaeological Museum (armury) located in a former apartment of the Doges
• La salle della bussola where is the Bocca di Leone, an opening in the shape of a lion head by which secret denunciations were slipped
• Council of Ten
• Pregadi room
• The rooms of theAnti-Collège and College
• The palace cellars, its prisons (Pozzi) and The Plombs
• The Pont des Soupirs leading to prisons

The Secret Routes

There is a visit not like another at the Doge Palace, that of secret routes. Special and exclusive, this visit offers to dive into the most secret and obscure corners of the palace , inaccessible to group and classic visits. On the programme, dark cells Prisons, Torture or Chamber of the Supplice where the interrogations, Piombi (below the roof of the palace) where Casanova or the attic and other secret pieces were captured.

Attention, however, although very popular, the secret routes are children under 6 years of age and include a path punctuated with narrow corridors and rather steep staircases.

How do I go to the Doges Palace in Venice?

Located in the heart of Venice, the Doge Palace is located on the Place Saint-Marc (Piazza San Marco). It is here that you can also enjoy the Basilica of Saint Mark, or the Campanile of Venice.

To access the Palais des Doges, two options are available to you:

- On foot : rendezvous au Piazza San Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia - Vaporetto (public panel): San Zaccaria o San Marco (lines 1, 2, 41, 42, 51, 52, N and LN)

How to visit the Doges Palace?

This is the most common question when it comes to visiting the Doges Palace: how to visit it in good conditions? Like any other museum, there are different options to visit the palace. If all offer more or less different alternatives, they allow you first of all to book your visit upstream so avoid the unpleasant surprises once on site.

As to what is included in the visit, it often varies depending on the selected ticket. In general, however, all provide access to combined routes including the most popular points of the palace and its nearby museums such as Museo Correr and its temporary exhibitions, the exterior of the palace, the Escalier d’Or, the archaeological museum but also the largest halls and most beautiful works of the palace like the Biblioteca Marciana .

• The Venice Museum Pass

Regardless of the period of the year chosen for your stay, it is important to know that the Doge Palace does not defuse! The waiting is long enough so it is recommended to book your ticket in advance, especially by opting for the Venice Museum Pass which - in addition to avoiding long queues - gives you access to 11 other Venetian museums to discover during your stay and also allow you to take the bus & vaporetto unlimited throughout the pass.

• Guided tour in group

Often, group guided tours of the Doge Palace include a guided tour of the city. Often driven by an expert guide, they allow you to discover the museum and the city from a more informed and local perspective. A good option if you want to enjoy your visit to know the history of the Doge Palace!

• The skipper ticket

As its name suggests, the cut-file ticket avoids long queues once on site. Your reserved entrance, you go directly to the visit of the palace. However, the skip-the-line ticket does not include a guided tour of the Doges Palace.

Good to know. : Some tickets even include a gondola tower, in addition to the combined visit of the Doge Palace and other nearby museums.

Schedules & Prices of the Doge Palace

HORARI

• From 1 April to 31 October : 08:30 – 19:00 (last admission: one hour before the closure of the palace)
• From 1 November to 31 March: 08:30 – 17:30 (last admission: one hour before the closure of the palace)
• Closed on January 1 and December 25

Good to know. : there are night visits to the palace. These are on Fridays and Saturday evenings, from spring to late summer, up to 23 (last admission at 22h).

RATES

We talk to you above, the ticket price varies depending on the route options or the type of visit chosen. Here are the fares of the most popular tickets to visit the Doges Palace in Venice.

The skipper ticket

• Adults : 20€
• Children 6 to 14 / Students up to 26 / + 65 years old: : 13€
• Under 5 years : free admission

Venice Museum Pass

• Adults : 27€
• Children 6 to 14 / Students up to 26 / + 65 years : 20,50€