The Doge's Palace used to be the principal residence of the Doge of Venice, the leader of the former Venetian Republic.

Built in a Gothic style in the 12th century, this palace gracefully stands out among the other city's buildings. The palace was not only used as the main residence for the Doge, but also as a seat for the government and had courtrooms and jails.

After the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797, the palace has been occupied by different administrative offices. In the 19th century, the Italian government finally decided to renovate the building and officially made it into a public museum in 1923.

The palace has been rebuilt, restored and extended multiple times throughout history, making it now a masterpiece of the Gothic architecture, a symbol of Venice and a must-see for visitors.

Here's all you need to know Doge's Palace, one of the best attractions of Venice.

How much do Doge's Palace tickets cost?

To visit the Doge's Palace, you have to buy the St. Mark's Square Museums ticket that includes an entry for:

• Doge's Palace
• Museo Correr
• Museo Archeologico Nazionale
• Monumental Rooms of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana

The full price for this ticket is €42.90. Online tickets include the benefit to skip the line and enter directly.

You can also buy a Doge's Palace's "Secret Itineraries" ticket, that offers access to several rooms where the Doge used to have secret meetings. The ticket costs €30.

Also, it is possible to get a reduced price for both tickets. The reduced price applies to children aged from 6 to 14, students from 15 to 25, people over 65, families with two adults and at least one child, holders of the Venice Rolling Card or the ISIC (International Student Identity Card).

The price for a reduced ticket is €13 for the Doge's Palace standard ticket and €15 for the "Secret Itineraries" ticket.

It is required to bring an ID to get a reduced ticket.

Free admission is possible for children aged from 0 to 5, disabled people and their helper, holders of the Art Pass Venice Foundation and of the Art Pass Fondazione Venetian Heritage.

Are guided tours of Doge's Palace worth it?

Yes, totally. A guided tour offers you multiple advantages so you can fully enjoy your Doge's Palace visit.

You'll be accompanied by an expert, who will inform you about the palace's history and construction and answer all the questions that you may have during your visit. You can choose between:

• Private tours
• Group tours

This way, you will be sure to get all your questions answered and see everything there is to see!

Are there any combined tickets available?

Yes! Combined tickets are a perfect option if you're looking for a full experience in the city of Love.

Choose a combo of the two most visited attractions, the Doge's and St. Mark Basilica, and enjoy a complete tour of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces of Venice.

What are the opening hours?

The opening hours change depending on the period of the year, as listed below:

• From 1st of April to 31st of October: Sundays to Thursdays, 8:30 am to 9:00 pm - Last admission 6:30 pm.
• From 1st of November to 31st of March: 8:30 am to 7:00 pm - Last admission 6:30 pm.

What will you see inside the Doge's Palace?

It is possible to visit the interior of the palace and see several rooms:

The rooms of the most influential politicians of the Venice Republic (Sale Istituzionali).

For example, you can visit the Chamber of the Great Council (Sala del Maggior Consiglio), the room where the most prominent Venetian families had meetings and made their decisions about the Republic.

There is also the residence of the Doge (Appartamento del Doge), where you'll see the rooms where the leader used to live, paintings and a shrine.

The armory rooms (L'armeria), where most of the weapons (swords, crossbows and etc) were stored.

The courtrooms (Sala del Magistrato alle Leggi), where you'll see a triptych of Hieronymus Bosch.

The secret rooms (Stanze segrete), where interrogations and torturing of the prisoners happened.

The New Prisons (Prigioni Nuove), a building connected with the palace through the Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri), where the jails were built.

Which other attractions can be visited in Venice?

• La Fenice Theatre
• Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo
• Prisons Palace

Travel tips

• If you want to visit the New Prisons, make sure to visit the Doge's Palace early: the visits of the new jails end at 6:30 pm.
• You will have to walk and stand up a lot in the museum, so make sure to bring comfortable shoes and avoid bringing heavy bags.
• If you choose a combined ticket for Doge's Palace and St. Mark Basilica, don't forget to wear modest clothes for the basilica, as it is a holy place.
• Book your tickets online for more chance to get your preferred date and time. Online tickets give you the benefit to skip the line and avoid queueing for a long time.