R
Donatella was terrific
The private tour provides an excellent opportunity to ask questions about the palace and history of Venice that bring the place to life.
Venice Doge's Palace & Prisons Tour
+7 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Price from
- $109 / person
- Location
- Venice, Italy
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 · 660 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 15
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Avventure Bellissime
- Meeting point
- Entrance to the Royal Gardens, on the waterfront of St Mark's Square - You'll meet Avventure Bellissime tour coordinator outside the gardens, in front of the wrought iron Gate holding a signwith the name of the tour and Avventure Bellissime logo written on it.
Description
Skip the lines at the iconic Doge’s Palace in Venice and uncover its highlights and secrets on a 2-hour tour. Walk right past the main entrance queues with your knowledgeable guide, and delve into the magnificent palace’s history as you explore its lavish public chambers. See prized Italian Renaissance artwork by Tintoretto and Veronese, and learn about the dark deeds of the city’s former rulers and secret service. Then, wander across the world-famous Bridge of Sighs and end your tour with a visit to the New Prisons.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 18 times a day, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Next available
- Wed, Oct 14
- Adult (ages 13+)
- $109
- Child (ages 7–12)
- $74
- Infant (ages 0–6)
- Free
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Larger groups pay less per person.
Out at sunset: the 3:30 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:07 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Palazzo Ducale
Enjoy a 2 hrs in depht tour of the Doges Palace and visit the famous Prisons.
Scala dei Giganti di Palazzo Ducale
While standing in the courtyard as your guide will introduce you to the Doges Palace architecture and history, see and learn about the Giant Staircase leading up to the Palace and used for formal entrances.
Ponte dei Sospiri
Walk over the famous Bridge of Sighs connecting the Doge's Palace to the Prisons and learn why it was given this name.
Porta Della Carta
Learn about the Main entrance of the Doges Palace, the paper door that links the Doges Palace to St Mark's Basilica.
What's included
Included
Headset to hear the guide clearly when there are more than 8 participants in the group
Local expert English-speaking licensed guide
Skip-the-line tickets to the Doge's Palace
Not included
Gratuities
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.6
660 reviews
How it compares in Venice
- No. 45 by number of reviews among 1,967 tours in Venice
- Starting price $109 is close to the typical $115 for tours of similar length in Venice
Excurgo comparison of 1,967 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- At times, Doges Palace can close without notice. No refunds are available as these events are beyond our control.
- 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
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Venice Doge's Palace & Prisons Tour take?
Venice Doge's Palace & Prisons Tour lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 4 stops.
How much does Venice Doge's Palace & Prisons Tour cost?
Prices start at $109 per person for this Venice experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Venice Doge's Palace & Prisons Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 18 departures a day between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
How much does Venice Doge's Palace & Prisons Tour cost for children?
Children aged 7–12 pay from $74, adults from $109. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Venice Doge's Palace & Prisons Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Entrance to the Royal Gardens, on the waterfront of St Mark's Square - You'll meet Avventure Bellissime tour coordinator outside the gardens, in front of the wrought iron Gate holding a sign. with the name of the tour and Avventure Bellissime logo written on it. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Venice Doge's Palace & Prisons Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 15 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Venice Doge's Palace & Prisons Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 660 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Avventure Bellissime.
Reviews(660)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
A
Worst tour ever!
I have done this tour before and LOVED IT! This time it was a literal waste of time! I was so disappointed that I left the tour midway and left it up to my META glasses to tell me something new. :-( The guide spent so much time on things unrelated to the palace (for instance 40 minutes outside 2 blocks away with a ratty map telling us about the "History of Venice" that the tour we paid for inside the palace felt rushed and disconnected. Her comments about other "groups" were inappropriate and uncalled for, and frankly she spent most of her time telling the group about her love for the UK and chatting with the UK people about the motherland - that 5 of 9 of us left! Annoyed! Her knowledge of the art and history in one of the world's most iconic art collections was very limited and just made every penny we paid a waste of our time and money! It was one of the worst tours I have ever had. If she pops up on your list, pass!
Operator response
Thank you for your comment. I have now spoken directly with Chiara, our guide, who regularly leads this tour as well as many other tours in Venice. According to her report, none of the other guests left the tour early. The shared tour had 7 participants in total, and she advised that the other 6 guests remained until the end, thanked her and said goodbye at the conclusion of the tour. Chiara also explained that one guest appeared to have very specific expectations, mentioning that she had already taken the tour several times and was looking for something more particular as she was in Venice also for filming during the visit. For this reason, my impression is that a private tour with a dedicated guide may have been a better fit in this particular case, as it would have allowed the content, pace and focus of the visit to be tailored entirely around those specific interests. We are sorry that the experience did not meet your expectations, but after speaking with our guide, it appears that your experience was quite different from that of the other participants on the same tour. Kind Regards Monica
A
A must-do
Superb, very interesting tour where you can see magnificent paintings and rooms. The tour of the prisons is perfect because you can see the conditions in which the prisoners were held.
M
A great experience!
Francesca is a fabulous guide and very knowledgeable, and engaged well with the group. We were provided a brief background of Venice, which was very helpful. The knowledge provided helped us understand Venices history. Francesca encouraged questions. A great engaging experience.
K
Excellent guided tour
Our guide was punctual, knowledgeable and tailored the experience to our kids so that they felt included. We learned so many things about Doge Palace and the history of Venice!
J
Doge Discovery
An in-depth tour with Lorenzo exploding with facts, theories & gossip. Doge’s Palace was beyond expectations and finally walking the Bridge of Sighs ✅
S
Doge’s Tour with Alex
Alex was an engaging and knowledgeable tour guide. I wholeheartedly recommend joining him for anything Venice!!!
B
Captivating palace and prison tour
Wonderful private tour experience led by Georgia. Her personable approach coupled with a strong knowledge of Venezia’s history led to a perfect interactive two hour tour
W
Good tour
Very nice and informative guide.
M
Super Engaging Tour of the Doge's Palace
This was a fabulous tour of the Doge's Palace - interesting and engaging the entire time. Our tour guide, Edy, was extremely dynamic and pointed out interesting details about the Palace, the history of Venice, and other facts in a way that kept our rapt attention (including the attention of our 8 and 11 year old, who both loved the guide as well). She is a story-teller and is able to relay the history in a way that made it easy to follow and exciting. This is a must-see site in Venice that was made even better by our fabulous guide - highly recommend!
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from$109
4.6(660) Free cancellation