Quick answer: There is no Doge’s-Palace-only ticket: the official St Mark’s Square Museums ticket (€35 at the door, €30 online if bought 30+ days ahead; €15 reduced) covers the palace plus the Museo Correr, the Archaeological Museum and the Marciana Library rooms. If you will visit three or more civic museums (Ca’ Rezzonico, the Glass Museum on Murano, Ca’ Pesaro…) in six months, the Museum Pass (€50) is better value. The Secret Itineraries tour (€40, €20 reduced) — Casanova’s cell, the torture chamber, the Council of Ten’s offices under the roof — is the single best upgrade in Venice and includes the museums ticket, so it costs only €5–10 more than plain entry. Third-party guided tours ($45–100) make sense when Secret Itineraries is sold out or when you want the palace and basilica together with skip-the-line entry.
Related: Doge’s Palace Tours: Standard Ticket or Secret Itineraries Guided Tour?
Doge’s Palace Options Compared
| Option | Price | Includes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Mark’s Square Museums ticket | €35 door / €30 online 30+ days ahead | Doge’s Palace + Correr + Archaeological + Marciana rooms | Most visitors |
| Reduced (6–14, students 15–25, 65+) | €15 | Same | Eligible with ID |
| Museum Pass (6 months) | €50 / €25 reduced | One entry to each of 12 civic museums | 3+ civic museums |
| Secret Itineraries tour | €40 / €20 reduced | 75-min guided tour of hidden rooms + full museums ticket | Best value upgrade |
| Doge’s Hidden Treasures tour | €40 / €20 reduced | Alternative guided route + museums ticket | Second visit |
| Third-party skip-the-line ticket | ~€35–45 | Reserved entry | Same-week booking |
| Guided tour: palace (+ basilica) | ~$45–100 | Ticket(s) + guide, priority entrance | Sold-out official tours, combos |
Official prices from visitmuve.it (checked September 2026). Open 9:00–19:00 April–October (last entry 18:00) and 9:00–18:00 November–March; on Fridays and Saturdays from 1 May to 26 September 2026 the palace stays open until 23:00 (last entry 22:00). Under-6s, Venetian residents and ICOM members enter free.
Top-Rated Doge’s Palace Tours & Tickets
The Museums Ticket: Buy Early Online
Booking online at least 30 days ahead saves €5 per adult and secures a timed slot; closer to the date the online price matches the door price. The ticket includes three other museums on the square — the Correr is worth an hour for its Napoleonic rooms and views — so plan half a day. The palace itself takes two hours: the Golden Staircase, the Great Council Chamber with Tintoretto’s Paradise, the Bridge of Sighs and the prisons.
Secret Itineraries: Why It Is the One to Book
A 75-minute guided walk through the parts the standard route skips — the Doge’s private offices, the torture room, the attic prisons (the Piombi) where Casanova was held and from which he escaped, and the roof timbers over the Great Council Chamber. It runs in English at set times, groups are small, it includes the full museums ticket, and it sells out days to weeks ahead. At €40 it is €5–10 more than plain entry. Book it on the official site the moment your dates are fixed; if it is gone, third-party operators (above) sometimes hold places.
| Tour | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Legendary Venice Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s with Exclusive Access | $82 | ★ 4.7 (6,023 reviews) |
| Venice In a Day St Mark’s Doges Palace Gondola Ride and City Tour | $133 | ★ 4.8 (4,993 reviews) |
| Venice’s Best: Basilica, Doge’s Palace, Gondola & History Gallery | $115 | ★ 4.7 (3,421 reviews) |
| Skip-the-Line: Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica Fully Guided Tour | $103 | ★ 4.5 (2,474 reviews) |
| Venice: St Mark’s Basilica After-Hours Tour with Optional Doge’s Palace | $150 | ★ 4.7 (1,574 reviews) |
| St. Mark’s, Doge’s Palace & Gondola Ride with Murano and Burano | $209 | ★ 4.6 (1,070 reviews) |
Museum Pass Maths
€50 versus €35 for the square ticket: add Ca’ Rezzonico (€12) and the Murano Glass Museum (€12) and you are ahead, with six months to use it. For a two-day visit focused on the square, the standard ticket is enough.
Summer Evenings
Friday and Saturday late openings until 23:00 (May–September 2026) are the palace at its emptiest and coolest, and the courtyard at dusk is a Venetian memory. If your dates allow, book an 20:00 slot and see the basilica earlier in the day.
Practical Tips
Enter via the Porta del Frumento on the lagoon side. Large bags to the cloakroom. Combine with the Basilica next door but buy that separately — see St Mark’s Basilica tickets compared. Bring ID for reduced tickets. Related: how far ahead to book, and our Venice hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a Doge’s Palace ticket in 2026?
The St Mark’s Square Museums ticket (the only palace entry) is €35 at the door or €30 online when bought 30+ days ahead; €15 reduced. It includes the Museo Correr, the Archaeological Museum and the Marciana Library rooms.
Is the Secret Itineraries tour worth it?
Yes — for €40 (€20 reduced) you get a 75-minute guided tour of the hidden rooms including Casanova’s prison, plus the full museums ticket. Book early; it sells out.
Is the Museum Pass worth it?
If you will visit three or more Venice civic museums within six months, yes (€50). Otherwise buy the €35/€30 square ticket.
Do I need to book Doge’s Palace in advance?
Recommended: online booking 30+ days ahead is €5 cheaper and gives a timed slot; Secret Itineraries sells out days to weeks ahead.
Is the Doge’s Palace open at night?
On Fridays and Saturdays from 1 May to 26 September 2026 it stays open until 23:00, last entry 22:00.
Does the Doge’s Palace ticket include St Mark’s Basilica?
No. The basilica has its own tickets and is run separately.
Kratos Review is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Prices and policies were checked on 28 September 2026 and can change.
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