Doge’s Palace Secret Itineraries Tour with Casanova’s Cell, Bridge of Sighs & St. Mark's Basilica
3 hours
Max 20
Why take this tour?
Highlights
- Explore the more impenetrable parts of the Doge's Palace, including torture chambers and interrogation rooms
- Learn more about the people who passed through this building, such as the famous Casanova
- Acquaint yourself with the long and fascinating history of Venice through stories told by your expert guide
- Skip the long lines into St. Mark's Basilica to discover the treasure trove of incredible art inside
- Sites Visited
- Casanova’s prison cell
- Torture chamber
- Secret archives
- Hall of the Great Council
- Courtrooms
- Sala della Scrutinio
- New Prisons
- Bridge of Sighs
- St. Mark's Basilica
- Tour Includes
- VIP Doge’s Palace Secret Itineraries tickets
- Skip-the-line access to St. Mark's Basilica (12€)
- Skip-the-line Doge's Palace tickets
- Expert local guide
Take a walk through hidden torture rooms, cells and council rooms
Book Now
Verified Customer reviews
Verified ratings
4.7 /5
based on 668 Walks’ customer ratingsOverall rating
4.7 /5
668 reviewsRating summary by category
Latest reviews
Excellent
Il Palazzo Ducale e le Prigioni Nuove rappresentano uno dei complessi storici più affascinanti di Venezia e offrono un’esperienza culturale completa, capace di unire arte, politica e vita quotidiana della Serenissima.<br />Il Palazzo Ducale colpisce subito per la sua eleganza architettonica: l’esterno in stile gotico veneziano è leggero e decorativo, mentre l’interno sorprende con sale monumentali riccamente affrescate da artisti come Tintoretto e Veronese. La visita permette di capire come funzionava il governo della Repubblica di Venezia, tra il Doge, il Maggior Consiglio e le istituzioni politiche. Le sale sono ampie, luminose e cariche di simboli di potere e giustizia.<br />Le Prigioni Nuove, collegate al palazzo attraverso il celebre Ponte dei Sospiri, offrono invece un forte contrasto. Qui l’atmosfera è più cupa e austera: corridoi stretti e celle semplici raccontano il lato più duro della giustizia veneziana. Il passaggio dal palazzo alle prigioni rende la visita ancora più significativa, perché mostra il legame diretto tra il potere politico e il sistema giudiziario.<br />Consiglio pratico: conviene acquistare il biglietto direttamente a Venezia presso il Museo Correr. Con 30 euro per un adulto è possibile visitare sia il Palazzo Ducale sia le Prigioni Nuove, sia il Miseo Correr. La visita è senza guida, ma ben organizzata e permette di esplorare gli spazi con calma, leggendo i pannelli informativi.<br />Nel complesso, la visita è coinvolgente e istruttiva, consigliata a chi vuole conoscere davvero la storia di Venezia, andando oltre la sua immagine romantica. Un’esperienza che lascia il segno e aiuta a comprendere meglio il passato della città.
Tripadvisor customer · Angiefunky78 · Jan 05, 2026 Excellent
This was a great behind the scenes tour. Our guide, Tiana, was excellent. She had great stories to tell us. We enjoyed this tour a lot. It was great to have the secret part of the palace to ourselves.
GetYourGuide customer · Dianna · United States · Oct 27, 2025 Excellent
Roberta, our guide, was very knowledgeable and friendly. We learned so much on this tour. Seeing the secret passages and prisons was a definite highlight. We highly recommend this tour.
Tripadvisor customer · Laureen · Oct 15, 2025 Excellent
Mose’s was a fantastic guide. His English was snazing, he was funny, kept us engaged and the knowledge he had about the history of Doges palace was unreal.
GetYourGuide customer · Sarah · United Kingdom · Oct 08, 2025 Excellent
Susan, our guide was excellent. She was clearly very knowledgeable about all aspects of the history of the Doges palace and prisons. A great communicator, erudite, kept to time, not rushed, a perfect amount of information. Susan made the tour. We loved the light and shade provided by seeing the behind the scenes of the dungeon and administration rooms then the contrast with the opulence of the "front of house" as Susan expressed it. The bonus access to Ca Rezzonico museum was well worth the visit, thanks to Susan for encouraging us to visit there in the afternoon and to take advantage of the museum cafe on the Grand Canal.
GetYourGuide customer · Sandra · Australia · Oct 05, 2025FAQs
Do I need to bring my passport/ID with me?
Yes! All guests (including children) must bring a government-issued ID/passport on the day of their tour. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument. The full names of all participants are required at the time of booking and must match the names on their ID/passport. Name changes are not permitted.
What can I bring into the Doge's Palace?
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.
What happens if there's a private event at the Doge's Palace and/or St. Mark's Basilica?
On rare occasions access may be restricted due to private events inside the Doge's Palace and/or St. Mark's Basilica. Unfortunately this is a situation beyond our control. Our tour guides will make modifications to ensure you still have an excellent experience, but no refunds will be issued. We appreciate your understanding.
Is this tour wheelchair accessible?
No. Unfortunately, due to site restrictions we cannot accommodate wheelchairs on this tour. 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.
Will the tour route be modified in the event of high tide/"acqua alta"?
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.
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.
Does this tour run when it rains?
This tour runs rain or shine. However, occasionally the Doge's Palace is closed to the public, without previous notice, due to high tides or particular festivities. In these cases we endeavor to contact customers as soon as possible to arrange a suitable alternative.
Are the Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries Wheelchair accessible?
No, unfortunatley they are not. But tours to general-access areas are.
Can I bring children on the Secret Itineraries Tour?
Children under the age of 6 are not allowed to visit the Secret Itineraries of the Doges palace, so unfortunately they cannot take this tour.
Is there air conditioning?
There is no AC which means the narrow passages featured throughout can become quite hot over the course of the tour.
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