The Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) stands on St Mark's Square, between the Basilica and the lagoon. For almost a thousand years it was the heart of the Republic of Venice: the residence of the Doge, the seat of the Great Council, the law courts and the prisons.
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Visit the palace independently, from its grand rooms to the Bridge of Sighs. Some entry tickets also include the Correr Museum, Archaeological Museum and Marciana Library.
Our tip: Doge's Palace Fast Track Entry for the palace and St Mark’s Square museums in one ticket. Fast-track entry does not bypass security checks.
Discover the stories behind the doges’ rooms and artworks with a guide. Combined tours also visit St Mark’s Basilica: check the itinerary and guide language before booking.
Our tip: Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica: Priority Guided Tour for a guided visit to both landmarks. Choose your tour language and check the meeting point on the offer.
Visit Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica with a combo, or add the Campanile with the St Mark’s Square Pass. The Venice Museums Pass also covers Ca’ Rezzonico, Ca’ Pesaro and the Murano Glass Museum.
Our tip: Doge's Palace & St. Mark's Basilica Fast-Track Combo if the palace and basilica are your priorities. Compare individual prices and check each visit’s reservation rules.
Everything you need to know before you arrive.
The Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale) stands on St Mark's Square, between the Basilica and the lagoon. For almost a thousand years it was the heart of the Republic of Venice: the residence of the Doge, the seat of the Great Council, the law courts and the prisons.
The building we see today is mainly 14th–15th century Venetian Gothic, with its pink-and-white marble façade and open arcades. Inside you walk through the Golden Staircase, the Chamber of the Great Council with Tintoretto's huge Paradise, and rooms painted by Veronese and Titian.
The Bridge of Sighs links the palace to the New Prisons across the canal; prisoners crossed it on their way to the cells. Since 1923 the palace has been a museum, part of the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia, and it is one of the most visited sights in Italy.
Daily 09:00 - 18:00
Piazza San Marco 1
17:00 daily
Elevators available
Allowed without flash
Vaporetto: San Zaccaria
Essential details for a smooth visit to Palazzo Ducale.
The first structure on this site was a 9th-century fortified castle, built to protect the Doge following the move of the government from Malamocco to Rialto. This early Byzantine stronghold featured thick walls and corner towers. By the mid-14th century, the Republic’s growing wealth demanded a more prestigious seat. Construction began on the southern wing facing the lagoon, introducing the distinctive Venetian Gothic style. This phase moved away from defensive architecture toward the open, airy loggias you see today. The Palace became the ultimate symbol of the Serenissima’s maritime dominance, functioning as the residence of the Doge, the seat of government, and the court of justice for the entire Venetian empire.
Key facts about Venice's seat of power.
Opened as a museum
Width of Tintoretto’s Paradiso
Piazza San Marco Address
Avg. Secret Itinerary duration
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