doge's palace private tour

Private Doge’s Palace Tour with Exclusive Access to Secret Rooms

What to expect

On LivTour’s Private Doge’s Palace Secret Rooms Tour you will have a chance to admire, firsthand, the most important church in Venice, the imposingly beautiful Saint Mark’s Basilica. Dive into this grand basilica that is covered in golden mosaics with LivTours exclusive access you will bypass the (often long) line. A local Venetian saying states that once you have heard the stories about the Basilica, you will know the stories of the city.

But not all the tour is spent in the Basilica, your expert guide will also lead you through the Doge’s Palace.  This beautiful building set on the edge of the Grand Canal is home to some of the most ornately decorated rooms and has been home to 120 Doges – powerful local rulers of Venice.  In addition to the beautiful rooms, you will also explore behind the scenes as your LivTours guide takes you to the secret rooms with exclusive access where you will hear stories of Venice’s dark past.

Come and let your private LivTours tour guide amaze you with stories through its history!

Why book this tour

• Gain access to the secret rooms of the Doge’s Palace with your private guide
• Admire the frescos and lavious decorations of the Doge's Palace with VIP access
• Visit St. Mark's Basilica, the Golden Basilica, and revel in the intricate mosaics
• Learn about the dark side of Venice’s past with your guide’s intriguing commentary
• Walk through the Bridge of Sighs while admiring the views of the Grand Canal

Exclusive private Tours and Experiences. Also offered in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swedish and Russian

Our prices always include tickets and reservations fees (no waiting in lines!)

Our tour guides and staff are selected experts and speak perfect English

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Eco-sustainable tourism, designed to respect and support local culture, art and traditions

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Read more about your Private Doge's Palace Secret Rooms Tour

On your LivTours Private Doge’s Palace Secret Rooms Tour you will start by visiting the impressively beautiful Saint Mark’s Basilica with exclusive VIP access.  Once inside you will easily understand the basilica’s nickname, “Baslilica d’Oro”, (Basilica of gold)! Dating back to the 9th century, Saint Mark’s Basilica has played a key role in the history of Venice. Cleverly connected to the Doge’s Palace and was once the Doge’s private chapel.

Slip through to the connected residence of the powerful rulers of Venice, the Doge’s Palace, known in Italy as il Palazzo Ducale. LivTour’s privileged access means you will skip the lines, making the most of every minute of your private tour. For over 700 years, this impressive palace has housed 120 powerful Doges, as well as the government offices, prison cells and the court. You will be mesmerized by the stories your guide will share with you as you stroll through the Doge’s private, ornate apartments and impressive halls with their enormous paintings and frescoes. Walking through the corridors with your private LivTours guide you will appreciate the whole gamut of Venice’s history, not only the romantic and polished side, but this tour also takes you behind the scenes, allowing you to learn about the fear the Palazzo Ducale used to represent.

Leaving other visitors behind, your private tour continues upstairs in the secret corridors and chambers.   These areas are restricted to groups no bigger than 25 people. In this secret part of the palace you will visit the cell of Casanova, the famous romantic writer who once was kept here for months before his successful escape, despite the high security of the prison. Wondering how he did it? Your private LivTours guide will give you all the answers. These horrifying stories do not end there, as you will then enter the torture chambers and the secret archives. You will have a chance to visit the Doge’s gun room with an impressive collection of weapons, as well as a stop at the notorious Bridge of Sighs.  Admire the view and hear the story about how this passageway got its name.

This Tour Includes

• Skip-the-line access to Doge's Palace
• Doge's Palace Highlights Tour
• Secret Rooms and Armories
• Prison and Bridge of Sighs
• St Mark's Square
• St Mark's Basilica with skip-the-line

Know before you go

• During the low season (November 3-March 31) it is not possible to reserve tickets to Saint Mark’s Basilica and we can not skip the line. Due to the low number of visitors there are normally no lines during this period.
• Children 6 years old and younger can not participate in this tour due to the nature of the secret passageways.
• Large backpacks are not permitted

Our Sustainable Tourism Promise

LivTours’ group size of max 6 participants is and always has been based on sustainable travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry.   LivTours is committed to providing travelers with truly sustainable tours with the lowest possible environmental impact, all while supporting the local industries and people of each unique destination. To learn more about how you can actively support sustainable tourism  and how LivTours is contributing, click here .

About our Private tours

When you book a LivTours Private Tour or Experience , you are guaranteed a dedicated, expert guide that allows you the flexibility to start your tour at a time which is convenient for you, making planning easy. Our private tours ensure that you will get a tailored experience to meet all your needs so we go at your pace, perfect for families with younger children, elderly, or individuals with accessibility needs. Please be advised that all private tours begin at a base price starting at two people* . Prices are inclusive of entry tickets where applicable.  *Some Ferrari private experiences are inclusive of one person only.

Additional options

Make your experience even more unique by upgrading your LivTours experience. Please note: add-ons are non refundable.

Doge's Palace Secret rooms in Venice

This was my first experience with LivItaly, and it was fantastic! I checked out their website after reading their great reviews on Trip Advisor. We wanted to tour the Doge Palace’s “Secret rooms” which is offered only as a private tour. For two persons, the private tour is pricey....but it was worth every penny!!!! One advantage to LivItaly is that you can check the calendar for availability and book their tours directly on their website. They are also very responsive to inquiries that can be placed via their website. We wanted a later start time, and they easily accommodated us. Pamela was our guide. She was on time, very professional, and also very entertaining! She had lots of interesting historical facts and anecdotes to share with us, and we learned all about the great escape by Casanova. She was fabulous! Truly amazing! My husband even commented “She really knows her stuff!” The tour included a visit to St Marc's Basilica in addition to the tour of the Doge’s Palace and its Secret Rooms. There are not a lot of other tours that include the Secret Rooms at the Doge, and I could not find one with less than 29 persons. For this reason, we decided to do a private tour, and I am so happy that we decided to take this one! I will definitely book with this company again on future trips to Europe! Highly recommended!

My husband and I decided to do a tour of St.Marks and Doges Palace and Marie was our tour guide! She was so knowledgeable and Taught us a thorough explanation walking through the tour. She was so delightful to be around and listen to! I would recommend her and this tour company highly!

Choose dates later / Buy as a gift

By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here .

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Private Venice Tour of St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace

Travel back in time to the golden age when the Venetian Empire ruled the seas. On this expertly led private Venice tour, you will discover the history and secrets behind St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace. Visit the religious and political hearts of the Venetian Republic with skip the line entry and walk across the Bridge of Sighs with your dedicated local guide.

• First Timers
• Art & History Lovers

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What to Expect

Dive into the power and glory of Venice two most iconic sights on this exclusive Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace walking tour. Our carefully planned private Venice tour will transport you back to the golden age of power that Venice wielded for centuries, shedding light on the gilded Basilica and the mighty Palace.

Private Venice Tour Overview

The elegant Piazza San Marco, the political and religious heart of the Floating City for over 1,000 years, is the starting point for this private Venice tour. Praised by Napoleon as the most beautiful drawing room in Europe, this spacious square is the only one in Venice to merit the title “piazza.” Its graceful Renaissance arches shelter some of the city’s most elegant shops and historic cafes.

Your guide will present the buildings in St. Mark’s Square, each of which had significance in the political, religious, and everyday lives of Venetians during the Empire. At the eastern end of the spacious piazza is the St. Mark’s Basilica, built in 1063. With its Byzantine style domes and its awe-inspiring gilded mosaics, the Basilica is a testament to Venice’s historical power as a sea-trading empire, and to its political links with both East and West.

St. Mark’s Basilica Skip the Line Tour

After learning about this famed square, get straight inside the Basilica where your guide will take you through the stories told in the sparkling mosaics. Unlike anything else in Italy, this Byzantine treasure trove includes golden mosaics, marbled inlaid floors, gem-encrusted altars and priceless works of art. Be awed by its beauty as your guide explains the art and the history in the Biblical scenes and spectacular architecture of Venice’s most illustrious masterpiece.

Doge's Palace Skip the Line Tour

Adjacent to the Basilica is the iconic palace of the city, residence of the Doge and seat of the Venetian government until Napoleon’s conquest in 1797. Today the Doge’s Palace houses myriad Renaissance masterpieces, including Tintoretto’s Paradiso, one of the largest paintings on canvas ever produced. The Doge’s Palace also contains the infamous Bridge of Sighs where prisoners took a last, wistful look of Venice before descending to the dank dungeons below.

Explore the treasures hidden inside as your guide leads to you to all the finest attractions that are accessible to the public. As you walk through the ornate rooms, your guide unveils secret stories of power and corruption including the tale of Marin Faliero, the only Doge to have been beheaded for treason whose portrait is covered by a black cloth. Marvel over ceilings frescoed by Tintoretto and discover the flattering works produced on demand by the masters of the time. 'Virtues of the Republic' in the Council Room was Veronese's rosy outlook on the state of his nation while 'The Triumph of Venice' in the Senate Hall was where Tintoretto paid his dues on a high ceiling.

In the Chamber of the Council of Ten , as you marvel over Veronese's 'Juno Bestowing Her Gifts on Venice,' your guide will point you in the direction of a dark corner, dwarfed by the vibrant masterpiece. This unassuming slot was where friends and foes condemned each other in the form of accusations - warranted or not - that were investigated and acted on with frightening brutality. Finally, walk through the Bridge of Sighs into the New Prisons where your guide will share why the bridge was given this nickname and how Casanova and generations of political and criminal prisoners spent their miserable last days before being executed.

• St. Mark’s Square
• Skip the line entrance into St. Mark's Basilica
• Skip the line entrance into the Doge’s Palace
• New Prisons
• Bridge of Sighs

What Is Included

• Private licensed professional local guide
• Tickets & reservation fees for skip the line access to the Doge's Palace
• Tickets & reservation fees for skip the line access to St. Mark’s Basilica

What Is Not Included

• Transportation
• Food & drinks
• Tips (optional)
• Anything not expressly mentioned as included

Meeting Point

Important information.

• This private Venice tour is available on request any day except Sunday mornings, December 25, January 1, May 1 and August 15.
• St. Mark’s Basilica is subject to closure without notice. When this occurs, we are happy to offer clients an extended tour of the Basilica from outside and of St. Mark’s Square.
• For safety reasons all visitors to St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace must pass through a security line and there is sometimes a line for this.
• Skip-the-line access into St. Mark’s Basilica is unavailable from November 1 – March 31. Lines during this time of year are minimal and should not delay your tour.

Good to Know

• Occasionally, this private Venice tour may run in reverse order visiting the Doge's Palace prior to entering St. Mark's Basilica.
• Appropriate dress is required for entry into St Mark Basilica. Knees, shoulders and backs must be covered. Tank tops, bare shoulders or short skirts are not permitted. By not being properly attired, you run into the risk of being denied entry.
• You cannot enter the Basilica with large bags, umbrellas, and tripods. These items must be checked into the free luggage storage area off-site at Ateneo San Basso located in Piazzetta dei Leoncini on the left side of St Mark's Basilica.
• Wear comfortable shoes.
• Regretfully this private Venice tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or those with impaired mobility.

How to Book Your Private Tour

• Send Us Your Inquiry Fill out the tour inquiry form and we will respond with availability and price quote.
• Payment Policy Full payment by credit card is required to make a reservation. We use industry leader Stripe for all card transactions.
• Tour Voucher Within two business days of payment, we will email you a voucher with all the booking details. Such email constitutes your proof of purchase.

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Last update: February 7, 2022

As ever, we put health and safety first. Since the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, all of our tours comply with the necessary safety and security regulations as per local guidelines. As long as the Covid-19 emergency persists, here what you can expect during your tour: Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized. Social Distancing during the tour in accordance with government guidelines.

Guest Guidelines – All participants who are over 6 years old are required to bring their own FFP2 facemask and wear them for the duration of the tour (wearing masks is mandatory both outdoors and indoors).

Mandatory Covid-19 Rules – Traveler Guidelines starting from January 10, 2022 until further notice: All venues in Italy will require visitors to produce the “Reinforced Green Pass” (or equivalent record of vaccination for non-EU countries) also known as the “Super Green Pass”, to prove that they have received a booster shot (3rd injection) . Those who will not present the required documents will not be entitled to any credit or refund. Additionally, travel within the country by train, boat, and buses now require all passengers to wear FFP2 facemasks .

Temperature checks will also take place at tour venues; if your temperature is above 37.5°C (99.5° F) you will unfortunately not be able to attend the tour. For more information, including specifics associated with requirements and restrictions associated with travel to and within Italy, read the following Covid-19 updates or consult the Italian embassy in your country.

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The best 11 experiences to see venice in a day: a local's guide.

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Unlocking Venice's Treasures: Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries Tour with Expert Guides. Discover the secrets of the Doge’s Palace with our expert English-speaking guides on this exclusive tour of one of Venice's most significant landmarks. Enhance your experience by adding an additional 30 minutes to visit St. Mark's Basilica with skip-the-line tickets, immersing yourself further in the rich history and beauty of Venice

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Highlights & Includes

• Local Expert Guide
• Skip the line Tickets for the Doge's Palace & Secret Itinerary

Tour Overview

Unlocking Venice's Treasures: Private Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries Walking Tour On our Private Venice Doge's Palace & Secret Itineraries Walking Tours you'll be accompanied by one of our local expert Venice city tour guides to enjoy the most comprehensive tour of Venice's most important building, the Doge's Palace . On our private tour of the Doge's Palace, visit the sumptuous and splendidly decorated rooms of what used to be the "brain" that governed the Republic of Venice. Its open architecture testifies to the unbeatable power of Venice, queen of the sea, while its lavish chambers display the immense wealth that the city possessed. And then, as one of the highlights of our Private Tours of the Doge's Palace, we will enter the Secret Itineraries of the Doge's Palace : behind the walls of the elaborately decorated hallways and chambers lay another world closed to everyone but a few trusted men of the Republic! Cross the Bridge of Sighs in this Private Doge’s Palace Secret Itineraries Tour As we tour the public rooms of the Doge's Palace your eyes will be captured by the beauty that is around you. You'll learn about the diverse roles played in society by the Doge and his counsellors, who helped create the many institutions that made Venice the most modern and liberal state in Europe. During Doge’s Secret Itineraries Tour, you'll cross the famous Bridge of Sighs and visit the prisons of the Doge's Palace . You'll hear about the infamous Council of Ten, and be entertained by the legends and stories of the characters who played a role in creating the most serene of Republics. Traverse the Corridors of Power in the Private Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries Tour On our Private Walking Tours of the Doge's Palace discover the corridors of power, a tall sturdy door that remains always locked ! Behind that locked door lies the Secret Itineraries of the Doge's Palace. A tour that takes you into the inner sanctums of the "brain of Venice", where you'll learn all the secrets of the Venetian Republic. Visit the Chancellors Office , the man responsible for writing all the secret documents of the Republic and learn how the Venetian guaranteed his loyalty! On our private walking tours of the Doge's Palace you'll also see the Doge’s offices , were a multitude of Secret documents were kept and where you'll be able to admire the interior decorations of the rooms built by workmen from the Arsenale who applied their unique shipbuilding skills to a building on dry land. Next Stop in Your Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries Tour: Torture Chambers and Casanova’s Prison Cell The next stop on your Private Tour of the Secret Itineraries of the Doge's Palace is the gruesome Torture Chamber , where enemies of the State would be tortured before the State Inquisitors. Learn about the single form of torture that the Venetians used and still on display, and why no-one was able to resist the pain! Learn also how prisoners awaiting the same punishment were entertained as they waited their turn! From the torture chamber we head up into "I Piombi" Prisons , so called because they lay directly below the lead roofs of the Doge's Palace. These wooden cells beneath the lead roofs would be intolerably hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter months. It was in these cells that the famous lover Casanova was incarcerated and here you will learn about the trumped-up charges that Casanova's enemies used against him to imprison the world's most famous lover. On our Secret Itineraries of the Doge's Palace tour we will see both the prison cells that Casanova spent time in and you will be entertained by the stories of his two attempts to escape and how finally, he made his way to freedom. If you are interested in Casanova’s story and legend, please check out also our Casanova Tour in Venice. As we explore the prisons, we'll venture into the attic area of the Palace , navigating a narrow gangway . Along the way, we'll walk over the massive 16th-century timber beams supporting the roof. Discover the ingenious methods employed by the Venetians to preserve their timber and construct such a weighty structure without additional support. Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries Tour: Admire the Works of Tintoretto and Veronese The last two rooms of the Secret Itineraries of the Doge's Palace belonged to the State inquisitors & three judges of the council of ten. Here we can again admire the works of Venetian masters Tintoretto & Veronese . You'll also have the opportunity to admire a few original pieces of furniture within the Doge's Palace, such as a charming cabinet designed for court documents . Notably, it features three keyholes, requiring all three judges' presence to unlock — a fascinating glimpse into the palace's intricate governance system. The Venetians fear of corruption knew no limits — which is probably why the Venetian Republic survived longer than any other, until its demise in 1797.

Meeting Point in St. Mark's Square: our Expert Guide Awaits You for an Unforgettable Doge Secret Itineraries Tour! Your English-speaking guide will greet you at St. Mark's Square, positioned between the two prominent columns facing the waterfront. One column is adorned with a lion, while the other features Saint Todaro. Look for your guide holding a sign bearing your name for easy identification

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Based on 6 Reviews

Mr Kevin Kumke

Very well informed and clear presentation

It was a fun perspective on the politics on Venice at the time.

Excellent experience, great guide.

Private tour of the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Basilica

Two symbols of Venice in a private visit

• E-voucher accepted
• Reserved entrance
• Confirmation by email
• Private guide
• Duration: about 3 hours
• Admire the Doge's Palace, the former residence of the Doges.
• Let yourself be captivated by the magnificent mosaics of the St. Mark's Basilica
• Listen to the explanations of your private guide

This private tour will allow you to discover two of the symbols of Venice: the Doge's Palace and the St. Mark's Basilica. The visit will begin at the Doge's Palace, built between the 11th and 12th centuries on the site of an ancient fortified settlement and converted into the residence of the Doges. Inside you will be able to see the Dogo's flats, the government rooms, the torture chamber and the Piombi, the former prisons where Giacomo Casanova, the only one who managed to escape from this escape-proof place. Your guide will then take you inside the St. Mark's Basilica, a majestic example of Byzantine architecture, rich in beautiful golden mosaics and adorned with five domes. The Basilica is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world, a perfect blend of architectural and artistic styles, testimony to the ancient wealth and power of the Serenissima. 

PLEASE NOTE: the tour does not include the entrance to the Secret Itineraries of the Doge's Palace, the visit to the Golden Spade and the Treasures of San Marco. If you are interested in including them, please email us at [email protected]

The Best Doge’s Palace Tours To Take in 2024 and Why

Ian Sumpter Last Updated: October 18, 2023

There are so many amazing things to do in the Floating City, it may be difficult to choose where to spend your precious time. The Doge’s Palace should be at the top of any list. In this guide, we share the best Doge’s Palace tours to take and why, to help you decide which tour is best for you.

Pro Tip: Planning your trip to Venice? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. See our comprehensive  guide to Venice  for more planning resources, our  top Venice tours  for a memorable trip, and  how to see Venice in a day .

Should You Take a Tour of the Doge’s Palace in Venice?

Yes, without a doubt!

Built-in an ornate Venetian Gothic Style, the Doge’s Palace combines decadent decoration with macabre prisons and torture chambers, harking back to its complex and, at times, disturbing past.

Located in the heart of Venice, the Doge’s Palace was the residence and seat of power for the Duke(or Doge) of Venice until the fall of the Venetian Republic in 1797. The Palace had been the heart of political and public administration when Venice was independent and fell into irrelevancy in the following years.

The Palace finally became a public museum in 1923 and has been a popular tourist destination ever since. You can, of course, visit the Doge’s Palace on your own, but with over a millennium’s worth of history, a local expert guide will elevate any visit by regaling you with stories of political intrigue, espionage, murder, and torture.

You can find out more about the fascinating history of the Palace here , and below, you will find a collection of our best Doge’s Palace tours to take and why.

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our  Venice Guide for more info.

The Best Doge’s Palace Tours to take

There are several options if you want to tour the Doge’s Palace. You can concentrate on the Palace itself or combine it with several of the other fantastic monuments of Venice. Whatever you are looking for, you’ll find something below in our list of best Doge’s Palace tours.

• Ultimate Venice in a Day with Murano and Burano
• Venice in a Day with Gondola Ride

St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace Half-Day Tour with Gondola Ride

• Private Doge’s Palace Tour

Ultimate Venice in a Day with the Doge’s Palace, Murano and Burano

This combo tour is perfect if your time in Venice is limited to a single day or a short weekend. You’ll cram in as much as possible in nine action-packed hours.

You’ll start at the infamous Doge’s Palace, with its Gothic architecture and dark past. The palace’s interior features lavish decor and art by masters like Titian that mask the more sinister aspects of the palace’s history.

You’ll see the grand hall, arguably the world’s most expensive staircase, the Doge’s prison cells, and the feared ‘Chamber of Torment.’

Afterward, you’ll explore the incredible Basilica of St Marks. And, of course, no trip to Venice is complete without a gondola ride, so we’ve also been sure to build that into the itinerary.

After a break for lunch, you’ll meet up with your small group and guide to take a private water taxi out to the islands of Murano and Burano.

You’ll see a live glassblowing demonstration up close in Murano, a centuries-old tradition. In bright and beautiful Burano, you’ll see an intricate lacemaking demonstration before having time to explore.

It is the perfect way to see all of Venice’s star attractions in a single day.

Highlights:

• 9-hour tour
• Skip-the-line guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica
• Skip-the-line guided tour of Doge’s Palace
• Go on a traditional gondola ride
• Private water taxi to Murano and Burano
• Glassblowing and lacemaking demonstrations

Not ready to book a tour? Check out why you should include Murano and Burano

Venice in a Day Combo Tour With Gondola Ride

Put on your favorite walking shoes and clear the day for a captivating 6-hour tour that promises to unveil the essence of Venice within a single day.

Your journey begins with exclusive skip-the-line tickets to the Doge’s Palace, a historically significant stronghold where formidable magistrates held sway until the late 18th century.

This Venetian Gothic Doge’s Palace stands as one of Venice’s most enigmatic landmarks, having been the center of power for the Venetian Empire until 1797

Within the palace’s storied walls, you’ll encounter not only some of Venice’s finest artworks, such as the Golden Staircase, and masterpieces by Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese, but you’ll also dive into its dark past as you explore the chamber of torment, the prison cells, and the Bridge of Sighs.

Your local expert guide will then lead you to St. Mark’s Basilica, and of course, before you explore some of Venice’s quieter areas and hidden gems. And of course your day wouldn’t be complete without checking off a quintessential Venice experience from your bucket list—a ride in a Venetian gondola.

• 6-hour tour
• See the highlights of Venice in a day
• Skip-the-line guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace
• Walking tour of Venice’s quieter areas and hidden gems
• Traditional Gondola ride

Not ready to book a tour? Check out how to see Venice in a day .

Skip the lines and go behind the scenes at the Doge’s Palace, the residence and seat of power of the Duke of Venice for centuries.

You’ll explore the Bridge of Sighs, the torment chamber, prison cells, and the beautiful art and design in the rest of the palace.

After hearing the dark and fascinating history of the Doge’s palace, prepare yourself for breathtaking sights like St. Mark’s Basilica, also known as the “Church of Gold,” and the iconic Rialto Bridge from a few vantage points.

If that’s not enough, you’ll even cram in an iconic Gondola time to cap things off.

• 3.5-hour tour
• Traditional gondola ride

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our  Doge’s Palace Guide for more info.

Venice Doge’s Palace Private Tour

Group tours are a great and affordable way to understand a city, but a private tour may be your best option if you are inquisitive and love asking questions. With a private guide, you have your expert guide’s undivided attention.

And with this tour, the Doge’s palace will have your undivided attention. For two hours, you will explore the luxurious halls and learn about its tempestuous history.

This is the perfect tour for the history buffs or anybody interested in one of Venice’s most fascinating sites.

• Skip-the-line entry to Doge’s Palace
• Private guided tour the palace highlights
• See famous artwork and the Golden Staircase
• Bridge of Sighs, prison cells, and much more
• A passionate, English-speaking private guide

Where To Stay in Venice

Despite the size of this little island, there are endless hotel options to choose from. We’ve picked the best neighborhoods and hotels to stay in whether you prefer Italian luxury or quiet serenity—or both!

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Exclusive Alone in St. Mark’s & Doge’s Palace Tour

• Explore the two most famous sights of Venice in the most exclusive way. Enjoy a Doge’s Palace night tour when all visitors have left, then unlock the doors to enter St. Mark’s Basilica after closing time.
• Visit grand council rooms, the Doge’s apartments, and incredible frescos by Veronese and Tintoretto on our Doge’s Palace tour, then enjoy access to areas not usually seen by the public on our exclusive St. Mark’s visit.
• Travel in small groups of 25 people or less for a more intimate experience. And since this late entry time at St. Mark’s is exclusive to Walks of Italy, we can guarantee a max of three other groups inside the huge basilica during your visit.

Tour description

Step behind closed doors to experience st. mark's basilica and the doge's palace after all the crowds have gone..

During the day, St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace are packed with visitors, making it difficult to fully appreciate the grandeur of these stunning spaces. That's not the case on this tour. We've worked with both sites to secure VIP access after closing time, giving you ample room to appreciate both of these gems of Venetian art and architecture in relative peace.

Enjoy a Doge's Palace night tour alone after the doors close to the public.

You’ll start your VIP evening at the Doge's Palace just as the doors close, leaving you almost alone to explore with your small group. What the Vatican is to Rome, the Doge's Palace is to Venice. For 700 years, this remarkable palace has been home to not only the Doge (the Duke of Venice), but to Venice’s independent government, courts, and even prisons.

We’ll take you right to the heart of Venice’s power and history on our Doge’s Palace night tour, from the Doge’s own lavish apartments to the Hall of the Great Council, where the city’s all-important general assembly made decisions before beautiful paintings by Veronese and Tintoretto. Learn the secret behind why the painted series of doges is interrupted by a mysterious black veil, and discover what the Doge really did, who he was, and why you might not want the job yourself.

You’ll also get to explore the massive armory, with all the weapons you wouldn’t have wanted to face—and the spooky prisons, where you wouldn’t have wanted to end up! Cap it all off with a stroll through the interior of the Bridge of Sighs, which you’ll learn isn’t quite as romantic as you thought.

Enter St. Mark's Basilica after closing for the most exclusive visit available.

After a short break you’ll continue to St. Mark's Basilica where you’ll get the real treat—and the highlight of our night tour. Meet an official custodian of the Basilica, who will unlock the doors and usher your small group inside. This VIP access is only available to Walks of Italy, so you’ll see the Basilica almost alone!

Enter this stunning space and take a deep breath. You’re seeing the Basilica as few visitors will ever see it—and as only the Doge himself was allowed to see it: empty! There won’t be any crowding, bustling or shouting during your visit. Just the peace and tranquility with which this basilica, one of the world’s most impressive, should be seen.

To take full advantage of our VIP visit, your guide will lead you to the Pala d’Oro, a stunning Byzantine altarpiece covered in over 1,900 gems and usually blocked by a very long line. You'll also have a special visit to the crypt, where our custodian friend will unlock the door for you. Above ground, get up close to the altar, where your guide will tell you the strange story of how the bones of St. Mark came to rest so far from where they originally lay.

And of course, be sure to look up. Night is the best time to admire the basilica’s 43,000 square feet of gold mosaics, shimmering through the dark.

Small groups, local guides & special access provide a truly VIP experience.

Traveling in small groups throughout your tour, you’ll find it easy to hear and engage with your guide—and to ask all the questions you can think of. Listen to tales of swashbuckling merchants who fitted the basilica with stolen jewels and precious stones, how Casanova escaped from the prisons of the Doge’s Palace, and how Venice managed to earn the title of the world’s oldest republic.

On this in-depth, exclusive tour, you won’t just see the two most important sights in Venice; you’ll explore and fully understand them. Handpicked for their knowledge, enthusiasm and friendliness, our local guides are the perfect hosts to help you get the most from your Venetian adventure.

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Verified guest reviews, apr 10, 2024.

When you visit Venice for the first time you are confronted by people on mass - many of them following a tour guide waving a flag aloft so the group can follow without being lost. As an independant outdoorsman from rural Australia - used to doing my own thing - I thought joining such a group would be a sign I had descended into Hades. This tour was at the end of a European Holiday and when I saw how many people gathered at the meeting point - my heart sank. However when my guide introduced herself her ability to communicate her knowledge of the Dogues Palace was an art form in itself. Her skills as an orator was an art form in itself. Can give the highest recommendation for the guide our group had. M Stewart - Australia

Feb 06, 2024

This was absolutely the highlight of our trip. Having been through St. Marks Basilica and Dodge's Palace during peak season previously, this experience felt unreal. We are so thankful to our Guide and Walks for providing this incredible experience that we will never forget. Highly recommend.

Jan 30, 2024

Excellent tour. Elena was extremely knowledgable. She was able to answer all of our questions, and she was humorous. I would say she's one of the two best tour guides we have had throughout our 25 years of traveling abroad. The tour was extensive and covered everything that we needed to know about Venice, the Doge's palace, and the Basilica. It also included areas that no other tour groups or people are allowed to see. What a wonderful experience. We will be booking with them again when we travel to other places.

Jan 07, 2024

It was simply fabulous... The after-hours access to St Mark's, with the lighting was something to behold. To start in the dark and have the lights gradually reveal the splendour that is St Mark’s was unforgettable. Romy our guide was perfect – giving us the story behind the story which brings everything alive.

Oct 11, 2023

Great tour- skip the lines and see the basilica with very few people . The reveal of the ceiling at night was an sight to remember. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and we learned so much about Venice - highly recommend!

Know before you book

Similar tours, venice at sunset: cicchetti, food & wine tour, legendary venice: st. mark’s basilica with terraces & doge’s palace, exclusive alone in st. mark’s basilica after hours.

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Visit the creepy dungeon - Doge's Palace

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• Doge's Palace

Visit the creepy dungeon

The palace itself was pretty, not as pretty as some of the other palaces I'd seen but pretty nevertheless. Highlight was definitely venturing under to the dungeon/prison by myself. Got spooked a little and the chill in the air definitely enhanced the experience for me, lol.

Plan for at least three hours. Visit the prison. Taking pictures is forbidden. Neck gets tired of the endless looking the ceiling.

Well worth the time to tour the inside of the Doge's palace. Lots of history here. We were disappointed because the Doge's apartments were closed as they prepared a new exhibit

This is a very over priced and disappointing place. Not quite sure why so expensive - unless you have deep pockets and are ok with the cost avoid its really not worth it

The archetecture, the history, seeing the bridge of sorrows and the prisioners cels was sad but enlightning !

Really enjoyable visit to a stunning building. Excellent in every respect and the cafe serves great coffee!

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The epicenter of modern Russia, Moscow booms with shiny new skyscrapers, the bulbous onion domes of the tsars and politically-rich Red Square. Explore the metropolis with a tourHQ guide.

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The sprawling, mind-boggling metropolis of Russian Moscow has long been one of the theatrical stages on which the great dramas of Europe and Asia have been played out in grand style. Burned by Napoleon in 1812, immortalised by Tolstoy, utilised by the Bolsheviks and championed as a bastion of heroic defiance by the post-war communists, it’s almost hard to believe just how defining the historical events that found their home on Moscow’s streets have been. Moscow tour guides will easily be able to mark the major must-see landmarks on the map, from the onion-domed orthodox Saint Basil's Cathedral, to the political powerhouse of Red Square just next door, while others will be quick to recommend a ride on Moscow’s famous subterranean metro system, or a visit to the UNESCO-attested Novodevichy Convent on the city’s southern side. But Moscow is a city also in the throes of a cultural wrangling between the old and the new. Creative energies abound here: Boho bars and pumping super clubs now occupy the iconic mega structures of the old USSR; high-fashion outlets, trendy shopping malls and luxurious residential districts stand as testimony to a city that’s now the undisputed playground of the world’s super-rich, while sprawling modern art museums dominate the cultural offering of the downtown districts north of the Moskva River.  

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The Wooden Palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye

• duration: 2 hours
• price: 60 €
• order: Book

What You Will See

The dominant structure at Kolomenskoye is the Church of the Ascension, the earliest existing structure. In the 16th century it served as a summer church for the Tsar’s Family. It was erected to mark a momentous event- the birth of a long- awaited heir to the Russian throne, the future Ivan IV, called Ivan the Terrible. The church reaches a height of 62 meters.

The Palace of the Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich in Kolomenskoye is a monument of art and every-day life of the last and brightest period of Moscow Tsardom, the period from which modern Russia takes its roots.

It is a masterpiece of 16th-17th century art and architecture. It was first mentioned in the will of the Moscow Prince Ivan Kalita which dates to 1339 as a country residence. As time went by, the residence was converted into the favorite summer palace of Tsar Alexis I. Peter the Great daughter Elizabeth was born in the palace in 1709 and Tsar Peter the Great spent part of his youth here.

Today, it is one of the most impressive living museums of medieval art and history. Its collection includes authentic interior artifacts, icons, wooden sculpture, furniture, household items.

The interior exposition is located in 24 reconstructed chambers of the Tsar’s, Tsarina’s and Tsareviches’ (the Tsar’s sons’) towers. The design of each chamber lies in harmony with its function (gala reception halls, personal chambers).

On the narrative paintings in Throne chamber of the Tsar’s tower you can see biblical kings David and Solomon (it was not for nothing that Simeon Polotsky compared the palace with “Solomon’s fair chamber”.

The motifs used in interior painting include ornaments, narrative painting and ancient mythological characters

Like in many palaces of the world, the image of the starry sky with symbols of the Sun and the Moon played a great part in the interior décor. The motif symbolizes the ties between earthly and heavenly power. In the Tsarina’s Tower you will see paintings related to Four Seasons and the Parables from the Book of Esther.

Details of the Tour

Alexey Palace tour last for 2 hours and during this time you will discover:

• The numerous and elaborate system of rooms and passages;
• Sophisticated wooden carving;
• Extravagant interiors, with gilded walls and ceilings;
• The symbols of Royalty typical for Medieval Russia;
• What the famous Russian expression “You are too heavy to bear, Crown of Monomakh” means.

The History of the Palace

The State Historical, Architectural and landscape Museum of Kolomenskoye is located several kilometers to the south-east of Moscow city center on the ancient road leading to the town of Kolomna, so the name of the residence. The area is about 390 hectares overlooks the bank of the Moskva River.

Kolomenskoye was particularly important during the reign of Ivan IV the Terrible in the 16th century and Alexey Mikhailovich in the 17th century. The Unique architectural ensemble was built at this period

The palace with 270 rooms decorated with paintings and carvings was built in 1667 without using any fastens materials, nails or hooks. It consisted of 26 buildings connected with each other by numerous corridors. The whole complex was divided into male and female parts. The male part included ceremonial chambers, chambers of the tsar and his sons, while the female part belonged to the Tsarina and Alexis’s daughters.

Foreigners referred to the Palace as an “Eighth Wonder of the World.” After the moving the Royal Court from Moscow to St. Petersburg in the 18th century the palace was gradually falling into decay. Catherina the Great refused to make it her Moscow residence.

The Moscow Government completed a full scale reconstruction as detailed plans of the Alexis Palace survived as well as its descriptions in numerous documents, paintings and drawings. During the early Soviet period various artifacts were transported to Kolomenskoye from different parts of the USSR for preservation, so nowadays Kolomenskoye hosts an impressive set of different historical objects.

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