5.0(11 reviews)
Private Doge’s Palace Tour & Special Access to Secret Passages with St. Mark's Basilica
3 hours
Max 6 people
Venice, Italy
About this activity
Step into hidden chambers and Casanova’s cell on a private Doge’s Palace Secret Itineraries tour reserved just for your group.
Highlights
- Private tour of the Doge's Palace with an expert guide
- Rare, behind-the-scenes special access to secret passages
- Explore the Doge's Palace courtrooms and apartments
- Look inside Casanova's historic prison cell
- One-on-one time for questions with your local guide
- Skip the line into St. Mark's Basilica to marvel at its gold ceiling
Full description
Experience the Doge's Palace with special access to areas that most visitors never see. With a dedicated guide, explore the secret passages connecting hidden archives, council rooms, and the notorious torture chamber. Climb into the palace attic to view high-security prison cells, including the one famously escaped by Casanova. Continue exploring the general access areas of the Doge's Palace, including grand halls filled with works by Venetian masters that show the city at its height. Your tour finishes with skip-the-line access to St. Mark's Basilica to admire its golden ceiling. This tour is completely private, with no other guests in your group and a guide that's focused on you. Enjoy more time to ask questions, linger where interest strikes, and appreciate the details.
Begin your private experience inside the Doge's Palace, where a palace guard will unlock the door to the usually off-limits secret passageways for you. These concealed rooms once held the most sensitive work of the Venetian Republic, from confidential records to political investigations. Continue into the interrogation room and adjoining council spaces where officials decided prisoners' fates as your guide explains how justice functioned in Venice. The quieter setting of a private tour allows you to explore these spaces at a comfortable pace and engage in deeper conversation with your guide.
The route then rises into the attic, home to high security prison cells that once held some of Venice's most noteworthy captives. Step inside the cell associated with Casanova and hear how his dramatic escape took place, along with insights into daily life for those imprisoned here.
After completing the Secret Itineraries, continue with a full tour of the Doge's Palace and cross the famous Bridge of Sighs. Walk through grand chambers decorated with masterpieces by Venetian artists and see how public life contrasted with the darker stories hidden upstairs. Your tour finishes inside St. Mark's Basilica next door to round out a complete, personal, and premium experience at two of Venice's most important sites.
Important: You must provide the following details for every guests in your party at the time of booking: first and last name. All guests must bring ID on the day of their tour as it is required to visit the St. Mark's Basilica. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument. Name changes are not permitted. This experience is refundable up to 7 days before your tour.
The route then rises into the attic, home to high security prison cells that once held some of Venice's most noteworthy captives. Step inside the cell associated with Casanova and hear how his dramatic escape took place, along with insights into daily life for those imprisoned here.
After completing the Secret Itineraries, continue with a full tour of the Doge's Palace and cross the famous Bridge of Sighs. Walk through grand chambers decorated with masterpieces by Venetian artists and see how public life contrasted with the darker stories hidden upstairs. Your tour finishes inside St. Mark's Basilica next door to round out a complete, personal, and premium experience at two of Venice's most important sites.
Important: You must provide the following details for every guests in your party at the time of booking: first and last name. All guests must bring ID on the day of their tour as it is required to visit the St. Mark's Basilica. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument. Name changes are not permitted. This experience is refundable up to 7 days before your tour.
Included / Excluded
- Special access to the Doge’s Palace Secret itineraries
- Skip-the-line Doge's Palace tickets
- English-speaking tour guide
- Skip-the-line access to St. Mark's Basilica (12€)
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Meeting point
Start Location
Piazza San Marco, 52, Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice, Italy
Museo Correr, P.za San Marco, 52, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets at Correr Museum in Piazza San Marco 52. Your guide will be waiting under the portico just outside the entrance of the museum.
Get directions →Important information
Know before you book
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- Guests should be prepared for a moderate level of physical activity, including standing for extended periods and climbing stairs, which may not be suitable for travelers with certain health conditions or mobility limitations.
- Due to Doge's Palace regulations, children under the age of 6 are not permitted inside the secret itineraries and therefore cannot take this tour.
- This tour is not suitable for people who are claustrophobic.
- No refund will be provided if high tide prevents certain parts of the tour, but adjustments to the route will be made for client safety and comfort.
- If access is restricted due to private events inside the Doge's Palace, we cannot be held responsible. This is a situation beyond our control. No refund will be issued.
Know before you go
- Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour start time for check-in. Out of courtesy to other guests, we’re unable to wait for latecomers. No refunds can be provided for late arrivals or no-shows.
- All guests (including children) must bring ID on the day of their tour.
- You are permitted to enter the Doge's Palace with handbags and small backpacks. But any large backpacks or luggage are not permitted inside. You have to check them in the cloakroom.
- There is no air conditioning in the secret passages, meaning the narrow spaces can get very hot in summer.
- Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
- If the local municipality restricts access due to high tide and there are no walkways available, it is the client’s responsibility to bring appropriate footwear (e.g., boots). The guide will modify the itinerary to include alternate dry paths whenever possible.
- For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 7 days before the activity starts
Up to 7 days before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 7 days before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund
Reviews
5.0(11 reviews)
Lisa
Jun 20265.0
The tour was great and having priority on the boat was excellent
Matthew
Jun 20265.0
If you’re reading this, book it now! You’ll be one of the first on the boat and get the best spot before anyone else. Daniela (aka “Daniel”) treated us exceptionally well from start to finish. Her knowledge of the falls and the stories behind them was the perfect balance of informative and entertaining. She keeps you laughing throughout the tour and enjoys the experience right alongside you as if it were her first time seeing it. 10/10 — I would recommend this tour to anyone. As an added bonus, our group had only four people, which made the experience absolutely incredible and much more personal. Thanks again, Daniel! 😉
Lisa
Jun 20265.0
The tour was great and having priority on the boat was excellent
Additional information
Ticket age ranges:
- Adult (15+)
- Child (6-14)
- Adult (15+)
- Child (6-14)