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    Palazzo Ducale

    4.5 (142 reviews)
    Open 8:30 am - 7:00 pm

    Palazzo Ducale Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Palazzo Ducale

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    Thaovi T.

    This place is immense and absolutely stunning - from the grand halls to the incredible artwork, every detail blows you away. I especially loved the prison area. It's eerie but fascinating to see where prisoners were held and imagine the stories behind those walls. Crossing the Bridge of Sighs is a must, too.

    Maruko X.

    The Palazzo Ducale is a palace built in Venetian Gothic style, and one of the main landmarks in Venice. The palace was the residence of the Doge of Venice, and the supreme authority of the former Republic of Venice. The massive ceilings are impressive, and the visit to the prisons are interesting too. I recommend spending at least two hours here, or possibly half a day if you'd like checking more thoroughly.

    Zacharias P.

    Everybody says that the Ducal Palace is a must when visiting Venice and in some ways it is. Most people want to say that they were able to see it. But is it worth it? In my opinion, not really. I wasn't overly impressed. Don't get me wrong, architecturally it is a masterpiece and you can get a real sense for the grandeur of the place from the outside. I was hoping that on the inside it would have been set up in the way that it was while the dukes were living there - that you'd be able to see bedrooms furnished, dining rooms, kitchens, throne rooms etc. but it doesn't look anything like that. It's a series of large empty rooms with beautiful frescos but no sense of what it was like as a working palace. It was thoroughly disappointing for that reason. I was more impressed by the Correr across the street. But, I can say that I went and I don't regret it. The line for the toilet is longer than the line to get in! I did like the dungeons.

    Linda T.

    When looking up things to do in Venice, this was one of the top places suggested to visit. Admission wasn't steep, and it's not as crowded. No air conditioning, just lots of fans and open windows. There was so much to view in here and so much history. We didn't follow a tour but still had a great time walking around. There are so many levels of the prisons to walk through. You even walk through the Bridge of Sighs here!

    Fred T.

    Another of the must see items in San Marcos Square. The Doge's (I wonder what one of the most powerfull men in the world at the time of their reign would make of them being a meme crypto currency today?) Palace was at one time the center of powerful empire. Both palace, meeting hall, seat of government, and jail it is quite spread out and I would plan on spending several hours here to even scratch the surface. The highly ornate rooms coupled with the art makes for an interesting comparison to the bleakness of the jail areas. Pretty sure you 100% wanted to be a guest of the former. Aside from that it is a typical palace. We did not go as part of a group rather just me and my son wandering about. I would highly advise getting tickets ahead of your visit as the lines were crazy long most of the times we walked by. Also for me at least it was alot like driving down PCH 1 South of Big Sur, it get a bit repetitive "Oh look yet another ornate room with huge paintings" but still worth a visit. The cafe is covered in a separate review

    Chris L.

    An amazing amazing palace. So much to see and take in. Hires a private tour guide for 4 hours. The PERFECT thing to spend your money on. She knew the history and was an archeology and art history major. The history of the palace and the people is rich with intrigue and stories of resilience. Take a tour, go by yourself. Hire a guide. It really doesn't matter but you must go and enjoy this other worldly place.

    Courtyard
    Lisa S.

    The Doge's Palace was our highlight today. Our ticket also gave us access to 3 other museums. The entry line went quickly and we were inside enjoying the art and learning a bit about the government of Venice. The Doge played a large role in the history of Venice so it's definitely something you should try and see. The art and opulence of the rooms were a stark contrast to the jail nearby. You get to walk the bridge of sighs and imagine what it must have been like for prisoners at that time. Loved the architecture and learning more about the history of Venice.

    The torture chamber (seriously).
    Douglas H.

    As with most of Venice the Doge's palace is very beautiful and not to be missed.  it is very large so please allow yourself several hours to see it.  if you pay extra for the "secret tour" you will get to see parts of the palace that others cannot like the torture chamber and the prison cell were Casanova was kept (and the story of his escape).  in the courtyard you will find a small cafe with adequate meals and a very well kept bathroom. Come la maggior parte di Venezia, il Palazzo Ducale è molto bello e da non perdere.   è molto grande quindi per favore concediti diverse ore per vederlo.   se paghi un extra per il "tour segreto" potrai vedere parti del palazzo che ad altri non piacciono: la camera delle torture e la cella della prigione dove fu tenuto Casanova (e la storia della sua fuga).   nel cortile troverete un piccolo bar con pasti adeguati e un bagno molto ben tenuto.

    Maggie H.

    Do the secret itineraries tour at the Doge's Palace! The 5 stars are all for that. You get to go behind the scenes in the prison where Casanova and other notables were held. You go down secret passageways. Our tour guide spoke English well and she was funny. Sorry-not sorry that I'm not into artwork and you don't get to see the personal side of the Doge's Palace, like the bedrooms, or anything like that.

    Doge Palace
    Carrie M.

    Doge Palace is a must-see attraction in Venice. It is a beautiful palace, but palaces and museums do start blending together especially on a big Europe trip. I recommend buying a timed-entry ticket online in advance. To be honest, the thing I remember the most from this palace was the absurdly long restroom lines. There was a bathroom attendant with a whole cordoned area for the line, which is kind of hilarious.

    Wide angle view of Sala del Maggior Consiglio (Chamber of the Great Council) - Palazzo Ducale
    Michael S.

    Between Basilica di San Marco and the waterfront at Piazza San Marco awaits this stunning, must-see Venetian landmark. It's known as Doge's Palace in English and justifiably hailed as 5 stars by Yelp elite because Palazzo Ducale is the finest palace in one of the world's truly transcendent cities. Study up on Wikipedia, prepare at the visitmuve.it site, and watch some YT vids if you WANT ... or don't ... and just go ... cause Doge's Palace has been awesome since construction began in 1340 ... or when it became a museum 99 years ago (in 1923) ... or whenever Dogecoin came into existence. Palazzo Ducale is still awesome today with everything you'd expect representing the best of Venice on display. The wealth. The power. The art. The huge giant art. The gothic architecture. The lavish style. The prison. The Bridge of Sighs. The courtyard. The history. It's all at Palazzo Ducale. Tips: * Open: 10:00a - 6:00p * Admission: €25 * Discounts for locals, students, & families * Secret Itinerary: €28 * Multi-museum pass: €35 * Audioguide: €5 * Self-guided tours: 1 - 6 hours * Museum cafe: small * Bookstore: a-ok Highlights: * The entrance courtyard & Senator's Courtyard * Museo dell'Opera (famous facade & columns) * La Scala d'Oro (aka the Golden Staircase w/24k gold) * Sala del Senato (the senate chamber) * The Tintorettos (the famous Tintoretto paintings) * Sala degli Scarlatti (men in scarlet room) * Sala dello Scudo (room with the coat of arms) * Sala delle Mappe (room with gigantic maps) * Hall dei Filosofi (Philosophers Hall) * Sala dello Scrigno (The Coffer Room) * Sala del Maggior Consiglio (Hall of the Great Council) * Sale dell'Armeria (Armory museum) * The prisons (Giacomo Casanova escaped from here) * Ponte dei Sospiri (walk inside the Bridge of Sighs) * The special visiting art exhibitions

    Ceiling
    Boon C.

    Doge's Palace is a palace, court, and connected to jail house. This palace residence is a powerful Doge of Venice. He has supreme authority like a king. The person who found guilty will be the resident of next door jail house. The palace is beautiful. It connected bu bridge of sigh to the prison next door. The criminal who found guilty take the last breath walk through the bridge and has a sigh because this is last time they see sunlight through the bridge and sigh. That why call bridge of sigh. The palace has series of arc. It look spectacular outwardly. The welcome stair way is well decorated on the ceilings and side. You may want to paid attention to the ceilings and the floor tile. They are beautiful. The great hall use for party and gathering. The interior courtyard overlooking the St. Mark Basilica. One tip. Buy the combo ticket at Correr Museum. When you come to visit the Doge's Palace is a fast past since you already has the ticket. So visit Correr museum first because the line is shorter.

    Kari C.

    The Doge's Palace is a must see when in Venice. It is at the center of the local history and had a huge presence in the country's history and international platforms also. It's rooms are pleasant, regal and even mysterious. When stepping through the palace doors, you feel as if you've stepped back in time. We stood in line for around 20 minutes and were able to buy our tickets at the door. The line for this is much faster than getting in St. Mark's. There were a few different ticket options. It is best to select the one that gives admission to several museums in Venice. It costs the same price as the regular admission. Interpretation devices run around 5 euro each. They are worth the investment in order to get the most out of your visit. Enjoy.

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    Spectacular work in that era are builder's and artisans. The gold ceilings were amazing.

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    Very cool palace. I recommend checking it out when you're in Venice. There's a lot of cool photo opportunities while you are here too.

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    Palazzo Ducale Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Palazzo Ducale

    The Doge played a large role in the history of Venice so it's definitely something you should try and see.

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    Canal Grande - From Rialto Bridge

    Canal Grande

    4.6(149 reviews)
    0.7 km

    The waterways are the lifeline of Venice and the Canal Grade, or Grand Canal, is the main water way…read morethat connects everything in Venice. If you look at the map of the islands, the Grand Canal connects everything with a graceful S shape. In the medieval and renaissance times, Venice was a major trade area and an essential route for merchant ships bringing spices, silk, and other goods from the east. Our gondolier told us how there weren't bridges until Napoleon came along. Everyone traveled around by boat and the closer to the water the richer they were. Even today, traveling by water is the main method of getting around the city. When we first arrived, we saw movers with a crane on their boat hauling furniture. On our last day there, we even saw ambulance by water. It was also such a treat being able to take a gondola ride as part of our experience in the city. I enjoyed the day to day moments of walking around and exploring the city and taking photos on the Grand Canal. Every scene was so unique and stunning.

    This waterway runs the entire length of the Lagoon of Venice! There is much traffic on the…read morewaterway: water buses, water taxis, gondolas and private boats and amazing to see how they navigate it all. I purchased a 3-Day Water Bus pass and it allowed me to enjoy the beautiful views, massive buildings, Rialto Bridge and exquisite architecture of all the other buildings along the waterway.

    Photos
    Canal Grande - Early morning views

    Early morning views

    Canal Grande - Venice still waking up..

    Venice still waking up..

    Canal Grande - Nothing like it, some of the buildings date to 13-16th century

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    Nothing like it, some of the buildings date to 13-16th century

    Bridge of Sighs - View through the window

    Bridge of Sighs

    4.4(16 reviews)
    0.1 km

    Located in the Doge's Palace complex in Venice, this covered bridge span of white limestone with…read morestone bars covering the windows was constructed in the opening years of the 17th century to link the palace's old prison and courtrooms with a newly constructed jail across the narrow canal.⁣⁣ According to legend, the Bridge of Sighs takes its name from the despairing sighs of prisoners gazing out at the beauty of Venice as they were led away to their dark future of imprisonment. This forms part of the Palazzo's museum route, where visitors like us last Saturday to the museum would reach the bridge after passing through the elegant staterooms and frescoed halls of the Palazzo, before getting to grips with Venice's extensive early-modern armory on the way to the forbidding New Prison. When one reaches the bridge, make sure to peer out through the narrow gaps in the stone window grills to catch a glimpse of the island of San Giorgio Maggiore glittering splendidly in the waters of the Venetian lagoon. The best time to see this bridge is still surprisingly quiet in the mornings, the earlier the better, or at sunset, which we can recommend.

    Such a beautiful and iconic spot in Venice -- definitely worth seeing in person. The bridge itself…read moreis smaller than I expected, but the history and the setting make it really special. Pro tip: for the best photo, walk past the main view area and sit on the left-hand side (when facing the bridge from the front). There's a little spot by the canal where you can relax and snap a perfect shot without the crowds in the background.

    Photos
    Bridge of Sighs - At the window

    At the window

    Bridge of Sighs - So neat!

    So neat!

    Bridge of Sighs - Bridge of Sighs from the Gondola

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    Bridge of Sighs from the Gondola

    Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

    Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

    4.8(16 reviews)
    1.1 km

    Venice's only Gothic church. It is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary. It is simply called "I…read moreFrari" as it was built by the brothers (frati) of the Franciscan order. LOCATION: In the San Polo sestiere but I remember just stumbling onto it while walking the island from my hotel in Dorsoduro to the train station on the opposite side of the island. ADMISSION: €3 Modest dress requested. I'm an atheist but as Christianity was highly influential in shaping European history I visit churches with the intent of understanding the history (and sometimes) art in shaping a region's cultural identity. As the Frari is not in San Marco, Rialto or any other major Venetian landmark I would've easily missed this church if not for Rick Steves' audioguide (http://podcasts.ricksteves.com/walkingtours/FrariChurch.mp3). His reasoning is that offers an opportunity to experience art in-situ (right where it was designed to be seen) as opposed to hanging in a museum. The audioguide explains the major art pieces in detail way better than I ever can. Here's a summary of the major pieces inside the church. - Titian's Assumption of Mary. This is considered to be Titian's magnum opus and his first major commission from a church. It's located behind the main altar. Its depiction of Mary was revolutionary for its time as she is seen as triumphant and depicted in soft and warm colors. - Titian's Madonna of Ca' Pesaro. What's significant is that this broke Renaissance tradition by depicting Mary and Jesus off-center and interacting with the commonfolk. - Giovanni Bellini's Madonna and Child aka the Frari Triptych. - Tombs of Titian and Canova. Titian had his tomb decorated with a relief of his most famous painting. On the other side Canova's cenotaph (Venice's most famous sculptor) is pyramid-shaped and was once meant for Titian, but when the church used the present design his pupils repurposed it for their master instead. It's a cenotaph because he isn't buried here but an urn contains his heart. Once you're done exploring the church the surrounding area is quieter than San Marco or Rialto. It makes for a good lunch/dinner spot and the prices are more reasonable.

    Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (aka Frari Church) was one of my favorite attractions in Venice…read more The church is beautiful, there were no lines to wait in, and the cost was only 3 Euros per person. Frari church has many beautiful Venetian sculptures. The main highlight at this church is Titian's Assumption over the main alter. We downloaded Rick Steves' free audio tour onto to our iPods and it really added to the experience since our knowledge on Venetian art and Frari Church were minimal. You can download the free audio tour at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/italy-audio-tours/id272230438 After you visit the church I recommend checking out the Dorsoduro neighborhood along the Grand Canal and buying a cone of gelato!

    Photos
    Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
    Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari - East front

    East front

    Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

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    Campanile di San Marco

    Campanile di San Marco

    4.9(11 reviews)
    0.1 km

    Campanile di San Marco is the bell tower of St Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy. The current…read morecampanile is a reconstruction completed in 1912. The previous tower collapsed in 1902. It is one of the most recognizable symbols of the city. It's located in Saint Mark's Square where my hotel was located when I visited Venice. The campanile was intended to be a watchtower to sight approaching ships and protect entry into the city. You can see it for miles. If you visit Venice I suggest you go up inside, if it's still allowed. I'm sure the views are amazing. I'm glad I enjoyed being underneath and looking up at this historic landmark. It's a great memory!

    The Campanile di San Marco is the bell tower of nearby Saint Mark's Basilica. It is one of the many…read morethings in St. Marks Square to see and I highly recommend you get your tickets in advance unless waiting in line is your thing. As noted in many reviews the previous tower suffered a collapse in 1902 and was subsequently rebuilt in 1912. The line aside, one of the benefits of its reconstruction is that they were later able to add a elevator to get you to the top which is a nice convenience having walked around most of the day (not to mention 4 stories a day to get to our killer VRBO) The views are spectacular and you basically are treated to a 360 degree view of the city and surrounding lagoons. It also gives a specatcular perspective of the Basilica below. If you do not have a ticket ahead of time my advice it to look at the major attractions and chose the one with the shortest line then go back to the others.

    Photos
    Campanile di San Marco
    Campanile di San Marco
    Campanile di San Marco

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    Scala Contarini - June 23, 2022.

    Scala Contarini

    3.7(7 reviews)
    0.4 km

    A great place to visit to obtain really stunning views of the city. Only 80 steps and 6€ and you…read morewill have hundreds of opportunities to take THE picture. Steeped in history this architectural wonder hits all the notes on what you want in Venice. The eighty monolithic steps, which climb counterclockwise, find their end at the wonderful terrace "Belvedere", from which it is possible to admire the whole City on the lagoon. The Palace, in its century-old history, has been inhabited by several owners. In the nineteenth century, for example, it was turned into a lodging-house by Arnaux Marseille, called "il Maltese", who local rumours suggest had been the inspiration for Corto Maltese, the main character of Hugo Pratt's comics. It was really one of the lodging-house guests, the German astronomer Ernst Wilhelm Tempel, who discovered the C/1859 comet and the Merope Nebula of the Pleiades during one of his sky observation activities. In 1849 the Palace was donated by its last owner to the "Fraterna dei Poveri di San Luca".

    The hidden staircase. After a bit of searching you stumble (ask for directions) across a small…read morelane that leads you down to the hidden staircase. When we were there a couple of years back it was all closed off and we had to take the picture though some barred gates. Even then it was impressive. I think if one day they open it up and you can go inside it would get extra stars. For now though for a impressive building just out of touching distance you can only really give it three. Still worth a look though, if you can find it. Plus it only takes ten mins out your day to grab some great snaps of a staircase that gives you a glimpse into the past.

    Photos
    Scala Contarini - June 23, 2022.

    June 23, 2022.

    Scala Contarini - June 23, 2022.

    June 23, 2022.

    Scala Contarini - June 23, 2022.

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    June 23, 2022.

    Peggy Guggenheim Collection - June 22, 2025.

    Peggy Guggenheim Collection

    4.4(89 reviews)
    0.8 km
    €€

    Just a delightful day & experience. We stayed right nearby, which was a treat in itself, but loved…read moreseeing the entire collection & home. I do think 7 dollars pp for the headset is asking a bit too much following a fairly generous admission fee. If you purchase tickets for after something like 3:30 pm, you can enter at any time after that until last entry, so that was nice. Free small lockers for your jackets. They will not allow or hold luggage, I mention this because we wanted to visit before our Airbnb was ready, but unfortunately did not see that nearby there were luggage storage places. We could have used our wasted waiting time better. While I am not a huge fan of modern art, it was so nice to see the inside & terrace/dock of the estate and learn about her dear daughter, Pegeen, who passed away prematurely. I loved the little story about the statue with the detachable phallus that inevitably needed to be soldered on after being stolen many times. A stunning & tranquil corner of Venice.

    Mega over-crowded! We bought tickets online because it may "sell out". I don't think they would…read moreever sell out-seems packing hundreds of people into very small rooms and hallways was just fine. Large student groups of uninterested kids and bougie aficionados with no self-awareness abound. Not sure if the art or people watching was more insufferable. We spent about 20 min inside before we bailed. Also, 90% of the art looks like what second graders produce and parents would hang on a fridge. Want to see art? Walk thru any of the art galleries with photography and oil paintings for sale-far better plan. Not sure how this gets nearly 5 stars. During the very busy season this place must be even more insane. How about limit the crowds, especially for those with the foresight to pre-purchase tickets to avoid what we experienced.

    Photos
    Peggy Guggenheim Collection - June 22, 2025.

    June 22, 2025.

    Peggy Guggenheim Collection - Take the ordinary and make it dance   
      -E.Hemingway

    Take the ordinary and make it dance -E.Hemingway

    Peggy Guggenheim Collection - Celebrating morning wood

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    Celebrating morning wood

    Palazzo Ducale - museums - Updated May 2026

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