Ducal Venice Tour: Skip-the-Line Doge's Palace & Historical Walk

Recommended by 100% of travelers

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Venice, Italy

3 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Skip the long lines at the Doge’s Palace and explore the historic heart of Venice on a 3-hour tour with a local guide. Walk through the neighborhoods of Saint Mark’s and Castello, where you’ll find a series of historic landmarks, and get a guided introduction to the magnificent Doge’s Palace. This 3-hour Venice tour features headsets so you won’t miss a word of the guide’s stories, and includes skip-the-line tickets at the Doge’s Palace.

Explore St. Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace on this Venice combo tour
Admission fees included for an added convenience
Skip-the-line access ensures a speedy entrance to attractions
Tour led by a friendly and informative guide

What's Included

1-hour 30 min external walking tour from St Marks square to Castello area
Pre-reserved tickets for Doge's Palace
Skip the line entrance and guided tour to the Doge's Palace
Live tour commentary provided in English, French, Spanish or German
Professional local guide
Personal audio system and headset for tour commentary
Access to Bridge of Sighs
Access to the Armory
Access to the Correr Museum
Access to the National Archaeological Museum
Access to the monumental rooms of Marciana National Library

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drinks
Secret itineraries

€40.00 per person
The Hidden Treasures of the Doge

€40.00 per person

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

TU.RI.VE. Meeting Point
Calle larga de l'Ascension, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
15 min before in Calle larga de l’Ascension - 30124 (behind the Correr museum on the opposite side of the Saint Marks Basilica). Look for the TURIVE assistant next to the post office San Marco.

End point

Carta Gate
P.za San Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
The tour ends outside the Doge's Palace

Operating hours
.9:00 am

Itinerary

Make your way to Saint Mark’s Square, where you’ll meet a guide at 9am for a 2-hour walking tour through the Saint Mark’s and Castello neighborhoods. Follow narrow lanes into Saint Maria Formosa Square, and continue into Saints Giovanni and Paolo Square, where you’ll find a famous church that’s buried several of Venice’s Doges.

Check out the equestrian statue of the Italian mercenary Captain Bartolomeo Colleoni, and pass the house that once belonged to Marco Polo, who defined exploration and adventure writing for centuries. Walk past the famous Malibran Theatre, then pass through Saint Mark’s Square on your way to the last stop of the day, the Doge’s Palace.

Walk past the lines and straight into the palace, where your guide will share important historical context as you take in the stuccoed halls and masterpiece paintings, including the largest oil painting in the world. Descend into the basement prison to see the cells that once held some of Venice’s most famous criminals, crossing the fully-enclosed Bridge of Sighs with views down into the Rio di Palazzo. This 3-hour tour concludes at the Doge’s Palace.

Piazza San Marco (Pass By)

Casa di Marco Polo

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Basilica Dei Santi Giovanni E Paolo

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Campo Santa Maria Formosa

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Palazzo Ducale

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Museo Correr

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Most travelers can participate
A moderate amount of walking is involve
Check-in is 15 minutes prior to the booked tour start time

Backpacks and large bags are NOT allowed inside the Doge's Palace
This activity operates rain or shine
Children are free until 5 years, from 6 they pay the full ticket (document required)
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
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.6

based on 22 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Great experience

Lisa_M, Jul 2024

Our tour guide did an awesome job explaining the history of Doge's Palace and Venice. We enjoyed every minute of it and we met a lot of great people!

Response from Host, Sep 2024

Dear Lisa, thank you for your kind and honest review. We are grateful you could join us for our tour. We hope to welcome you back again in the future. Sending kind regards, Team Venice Events

Book this tour!!

Krista_P, Mar 2024

Amazing, informative and captivating guide, Ilaria, lead this brilliant walking tour including San Marco square, Basilica, Doge’s Palace and prisons. Book now, you will not regret!!

Gina was an excellent...

Pamela_Z, Oct 2023

Gina was an excellent guide!! She was interesting and lively, clearly well educated in this field!!!

Awesome Venetian guide with vast knowledge of her city

Israel_L, Apr 2023

Gina was an excellent tour guide. Her tour of the city included details of Venice's history and contemporary life of a Venetian. Although St. Marks Basilica was closed, she gave us as much info and context from the outside. The tour of Doge's palace was also very thorough. Overall, her tour was fun, engaging, and interesting. We would definitely book a tour with her again.