Doge's Palace, St Mark's Square, Venice

Doge’s Palace

Venice, Italy

The Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) is one of the main landmarks in Venice

Take a tour around the facsinating palace of the Doges of Venice

About the Doge’s Palace

The Palazzo Ducale was the residence of the Doge of Venice who was the supreme authority of the former Republic of Venice.

This Palace of the Doges was the heart of the political life and public administration in Venice. It’s where all the important decsions were made.

The original Doge’s Palace was built in the 9th century. As Venice’s influence grew, it was transformed into a powerful symbol of the power it had.

Inside these walls were powerful judicial courts like the Council of Ten where justice, for better or worse, was dispensed.

The Doge’s Palace is divided up into a number of areas: Courtyard, Museo dell’Opera, Doge’s apartments, Institutional chambers, Old Prison, Bridge of Sighs and the New Prisons.

Google Maps Location

Visiting the Doge’s Palace

Useful Information

Location/Waterbus

Vaporetto Line 1, Line 2 (for other service use the interactive vaporetto map)

Buy vaporetto waterbus tickets | View timetables, routes & maps

Waterbus stop: San Marco (Vallaresso)/ San Marco Giardinetti /San Marco – San Zaccaria

Tickets & Information

Tours & Tickets: Entry is from €25.00 (booked in advance). Guided tours can offer you skip-the-line tickets and more information.

Doge’s Palace Reserved Entry Ticket

Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs & Prisons Guided Tour

Skip the line: Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica Tour

Opening Hours

From 01 April – 31 Oct: 9am– 7pm
From 01 Nov – 31 March: 9am – 6pm

What to See in the Doge’s Palace

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Foscari Arch and Scala dei Giganti

The main entrance leads directly into the Scala dei Giganti or Stairs of the Giants through the Foscari Arch.

The arch and staircase were designed by Antonio Rizzo during the late 15th century. The stairs lead up to the state apartmentsand it is here where the Doges were crowned (and where one was beheaded!),.

On each side of the staircase are two statues, one of Mars and one of Neptune. These symbolised the power of Venice by land and sea. They were designed by Tuscan artist, Jacopo Sansovino.

Image: Benh LIEU SONG, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Scala D’Oro (Stairs of Gold)

Designed by Sansovino during the 16th century. The stairs are painted in 24 carat gold. The stairs are lined in oil paintings and sculpted figures creating an impressive regal entrance.

The stair’s emblems generally show the power of Venice.

From the stairs you have two views: one across the Doge’s Palace courtyard and the second across the canal that the Bridge of Sighs crosses.

Image: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sala del Collegio (Cabinet Room)

This is where the Doge had meetings with important visitors. An impressive room with paintings by Veronese and Tintoretto including one showing victory over the Turks during the battle of Lepanto. Other rooms on this floor also have their own art and sculptures worth seeing.

Sala del Maggior Cinsiglio

Sala del Maggior Cinsiglio (Hall of the Great Council). This is the great hall where the Great Council would meet. It was destroyed by fire in 1577 but rebuilt (with lavish details) between 1578 and 1594. The guilded ceiling and panels depict the glories of the Venetian Republic by Tintoretto, Veronese and more.

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Bridge Of Sighs

The Doge’s apartments, Bridge of Sighs and prisons are worth seeing – especially crossing the Bridge of Sighs.

This picture shows the prisoners’ view from the Bridge of Sighs as they made their way to the prison cells.

For more information about the Bridge of Sighs and how to view it, see our Bridge of Sighs page.

Image: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Admission to the Doge’s Palace

Admission to the Doge’s Palace costs from €25.00 (booked in advance). There are many options in buying tickets. However, to make the most of your time, a guided tour is recommended.

Skip the line tours, private tours and the after hours tours can often be a great way to avoid waiting a long time to enter the Doge’s Palace while giving you access to parts you may not otherwise be able to view (see below or the tours and tickets page).

Highest rated guided tours include: Secret Itineraries of Doge’s Palace VIP Tour and the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Private Tour