Doge’s Palace Tours: Which Tour is Right for You?

One of Venice’s premier sights, the Doge’s Palace (aka Palazzo Ducale) was at the heart of Venetian politics for centuries. Its glories include stunning Italian Gothic design, splendid interiors, historic prisons, and the Bridge of Sighs. It’s a must-see for travelers to Venice, and there are lots of visit options. Here’s how to choose the best Doge’s Palace tours for couples, families, groups, and photographers.

Doge’s Palace tours for couples

With its winding canals, elegant gondolas, and cobbled pathways, Venice lays a good claim to being the world’s most romantic city.

The Gothic splendor of Palazzo Ducale, or Doge’s Palace, provides a magnificent backdrop to any budding romance. A guided Doge’s Palace tour is the ideal way for couples to see this magnificent building, and skip-the-line entrance is a must-have – there are few things more passion-killing than queueing.

Your expert live guide will share the secrets of this history-filled place. Bursting with fairy-tale opulence, it’s one of the prettiest palaces in the city.

Your ticket also includes entry to the Archaeological Museum with its Greek and Roman sculptures. You can see the Empress Elizabeth of Austria’s extravagant Imperial Apartments at the Musee Correr, too.

Doge’s Palace tours for families

Venice is not just beautiful; it’s also surprisingly family-friendly. The central area is compact and walkable. A gondola trip is exciting for children (and adults) of all ages and the Doge’s Palace is full of enthralling stories and dark secrets.

For a family-friendly tour of Venice, choose The Best of Venice: Doge’s Palace & Gondola Tour. You’ll enjoy skip-the-line entry to the Doge’s Palace, including its museum. Highlights for children include the Armory with over 2,000 exhibits including armor, crossbows, and canons. Look out for the devil’s chest, a fiendish device that fires four hidden pistols when opened (which thankfully isn’t a lot these days!).

The prisons are another family favorite of all the Doge’s Palace tours. Older children love imagining the prisoners and their evil deeds. The tragic past of The Bridge of Sighs is sure to grab their attention, too.

This exclusive tour makes a great addition to the Palazzo Ducale and includes a 30-minute gondola ride, the perfect opportunity to experience this ancient Venetian mode of transport.

To make family days out easier for everyone, remember to take frequent breaks and check in with how everyone’s feeling. You can change your itinerary as you go, especially if little legs are tiring.

Tour Palazzo Ducale in a group

The key to a hassle-free, enjoyable group trip is having a varied itinerary. Make sure you see the top attractions but spare some time for hidden treasures too.

Best way to start your group break in Venice? Take in the top sights on a guided tour. That way, you’ll have a shared experience to start your holiday, and later you can break off into smaller groups if something takes your fancy.

Choose a guided Doge’s palace tour that combines St. Mark’s Basilica with the Doge’s Palace for the best introduction to La Serenissima. The five-domed Gothic St. Mark’s is one of the city’s most famous sights. Learn about its transformation from the Doge’s chapel to Venice’s cathedral, and see the intricate Venetian craftsmanship in its fine decoration and artworks.

Doge’s Palace tours for photographers

Venice is a photographer’s dream. Grand architecture, elaborate design, and watery landscapes offer picturesque views at every turn. There can be few better-looking holiday destinations.

Start your Venetian photography experience with fast-track entry to the Doge’s Palace. Experiment with shots of this iconic space. Take your time, soak in the beauty and you’ll soon find your own angles.

Once you’ve found your photography feet at Palazzo Ducale, walk the smaller streets of the city. Follow your curiosity into the quieter corners. Find lesser-snapped spots, hone in on interesting details, and don’t be afraid to capture images of everyday Venetian life (but always ask permission before taking photos of people). 

Make sure your pictures of Venice span the iconic and the prosaic; contrasts are often striking. And don’t forget to capture small items, ancient and modern, in homes, streets, and museums. The design and detail of these smaller pieces can be breathtaking when captured in close-up.

How to get to Doge’s Palace

You’ll find the Doge’s Palace in the heart of Venice, in Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square). Facing the Doge’s Palace, the entrance is at the right-hand side at the Porta Del Frumento, by the facade facing the waterfront. 

Venice is easily reached by train or plane. Venice Marco Polo airport is a few miles from the center and has plentiful European connections. There’s also a handful of long-haul destinations. Treviso, served by fewer airlines, is 19km away.

Venezia Santa Lucia railway station has high-speed connections to all of Italy’s major cities including Milan, Turin, Padua, Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples. There are also direct connections to Vienna, Geneva, and Munich. For a truly indulgent journey, take the Venice-Simplon Orient Express.

Venezia Santa Lucia is the terminal station and best placed for Venice’s tourist attractions. Don’t get off your train at Venezia Mestre or Venezia Porto Maghera unless you’re staying there.

From the main railway station in Venice, a brisk 45-minute walk will take you to St. Mark’s Square.

For a waterborne arrival, take a public waterbus, known as a Vaporetto. From Venezia Santa Lucia railway station (or Piazzale Roma), take Line 1 to the Vallaresso or San Zaccaria stop, Line 2 to the Giardinetti stop, or Line 5.1 or 4.1 to the San Zaccaria stop. You can buy tickets on board, but it’s easiest to get them online beforehand.

Planned your visit? Here’s all you need to know about Doge’s Palace in Venice.