Venice: Doge's Palace Priority Entry & Bell Tower

The Bridge of Sighs and Doge's Palace Without the Queue

You skip the main entry queue and go straight into Doge's Palace, cross the Bridge of Sighs to the prisons, then explore the Correr Museum's paintings and royal rooms: all with one ticket. Add the Bell Tower to see the whole city from 98 meters up. The handy guidebook lets you set your own rhythm, and you're done before the evening crowds arrive.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Doge's Palace2h · entry included
2. St. Mark's Squarepassing by
3. Correr Museum30m
4. St. Mark’s Bell Tower30m

Visit Doge's Palace and Surroundings

• Collect tickets at Venice Tours office
• Skip line and enter Doge's Palace
• Explore halls, rooms, and Bridge of Sighs
• Visit old Venetian prisons
• Walk around Piazza San Marco
• Visit Museo Correr and royal rooms

The experience

The line to enter Palazzo Ducale wraps around Piazza San Marco most days, and you'll lose an hour just standing there. This ticket gets you past it. You collect your priority entrance at the Venice Tours office on Calle de le Rasse: a two-minute walk from St. Mark's Square, past the Bridge of Sighs toward the waterfront, and then you're straight into the rooms where the Doge actually governed. The halls are decorated by Tiepolo and Tiziano, and the scale of them hits different when you're not exhausted from queuing.

Once inside the Doge's Palace, you cross the Bridge of Sighs itself to reach the old Venetian prisons below. The same cells where Casanova was held. The bridge is narrow, the stone is worn, and you can feel the weight of centuries in the way light falls through the small windows. After that, the same ticket opens the Correr Museum, which sits in the Procuratie buildings facing the square. It's not a separate line. You just walk across. Inside you'll find paintings, coins, sculptures, and the restored rooms Napoleon used and Empress Sissi occupied. The kind of detail that makes the city's history concrete instead of abstract.

If you add the Bell Tower option, an elevator takes you 98 meters up in seconds. You step out onto a platform and the entire lagoon spreads below you: the domes of the Basilica, the red roofs, the water threading between islands. It's the only vantage point in Venice where the whole thing makes geographic sense. The palace opens at 9am and closes at 6pm, with last entry at 5pm, so you can time your visit to avoid the afternoon crush. Bags aren't allowed inside, there's free deposit, and the guidebook comes in your language, so you can move at your own pace instead of following a group.

What’s included

• Your ticket includes priority entrance to Doge's Palace, access to the Bridge of Sighs and old Venetian prisons, entry to the Correr Museum with its paintings and royal rooms (including Napoleon's ballroom and Empress Sissi's boudoir), a handy guidebook in your language, and a city map.
• If you select the Bell Tower option, you also get priority entry and an elevator ride to the 98-meter viewing platform.
• An audioguide and a VR experience of Venice's past are available as add-ons.

Options for this experience

3 options

Doge's Palace Ticket30 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 16:45An audioguide can be used inside the Doge's Palace

Doge's Palace ticket and guidebook7 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 16:00

Doge's Palace and Bell Tower ticketGuide in English or French · 10:00 and 14:00Lasts 2 hours. Doge's Palace and Bell Tower: includes a priority entry ticket and guidebook for Doge's Palace, plus a priority entry ticket for the Bell Tower.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day30 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 16:45

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Youth (6 to 14 years) · Child (under 6): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by CITY TOURS CO. LTD

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs, and Correr Museum without losing an hour to the entry queue. The priority ticket is what makes that possible in a single morning or afternoon.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 14 years); Child (under 6): free.

Do I need to book a specific time slot?

No. The priority ticket lets you enter anytime between 9am and 5pm on the day you choose, without a fixed appointment.

Can I bring a backpack into Doge's Palace?

No. Bags, sacks, and knapsacks aren't allowed inside, but there's free deposit storage at the entrance.

Is the Bell Tower included or extra?

It's optional. You can add it when you book. The elevator takes about a minute to reach the top at 98 meters.

Do I need to provide my name in advance?

Yes. New regulations require the full names of all visitors to St. Mark's Bell Tower and Basilica, not just the lead traveler. Provide them when you book or at collection.

How long does the whole visit take?

Most people spend 2–3 hours in the Doge's Palace and Correr Museum combined. Add 30 minutes if you go up the Bell Tower.

Is there a city access fee?

Yes, if you're visiting Venice for the day from outside the city. A €5 fee applies on certain dates. Check when you book.

What's included in the guidebook?

A handy guide in your chosen language with history, curiosities, and details about the palaces to help you customize your route.

Can I visit the Basilica with this ticket?

No. This ticket covers the Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs, prisons, Correr Museum, and optionally the Bell Tower. St. Mark's Basilica requires a separate ticket.