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
The Doge’s Palace and the New Prisons represent one of the most fascinating historical complexes in Venice and offer a complete cultural experience, able to combine art, politics and daily life of the Serenissima Republic.<br />The Doge’s Palace immediately impresses with its architectural elegance: the exterior in Venetian Gothic style is light and decorative, while the interior surprises with monumental rooms richly frescoed by artists such as Tintoretto and Veronese. The visit allows you to understand how the government of the Republic of Venice worked, between the Doge, the Major Council and the political institutions. The rooms are large, bright and full of symbols of power and justice.<br />The New Prisons, connected to the palace by the famous Bridge of Sighs, offer a strong contrast. Here the atmosphere is darker and more austere: narrow corridors and simple cells tell the harsher side of Venetian justice. The passage from the palace to the prisons makes the visit even more significant, because it shows the direct link between political power and the judicial system.<br />Practical tip: buy your ticket directly in Venice at the Correr Museum. With 30 euros for an adult you can visit both the Doge's Palace and the New Prisons, and the Miseo Correr. The visit is without a guide, but well organized and allows you to explore the spaces calmly, reading the information panels.<br />Overall, the visit is engaging and instructive, recommended for those who really want to know the history of Venice, going beyond its romantic image. An experience that leaves its mark and helps to better understand the city’s past.
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
Reviews from our guests
Doge’s Palace Secret Itineraries Tour with Casanova’s Cell, Bridge of Sighs & St. Mark's Basilica
of Walks customers highly recommend this tour to friends or family Source: Walks Customers' Post-Tour Net Promoter Score Survey
Verified rating
4.7 /5
based on 668 Walks’ customer ratingsTotal guest reviews
:
816
guest reviews
Excellent 678
Great 109
Good 16
Average 3
Poor 10
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
The Doge’s Palace and the New Prisons represent one of the most fascinating historical complexes in Venice and offer a complete cultural experience, able to combine art, politics and daily life of the Serenissima Republic.<br />The Doge’s Palace immediately impresses with its architectural elegance: the exterior in Venetian Gothic style is light and decorative, while the interior surprises with monumental rooms richly frescoed by artists such as Tintoretto and Veronese. The visit allows you to understand how the government of the Republic of Venice worked, between the Doge, the Major Council and the political institutions. The rooms are large, bright and full of symbols of power and justice.<br />The New Prisons, connected to the palace by the famous Bridge of Sighs, offer a strong contrast. Here the atmosphere is darker and more austere: narrow corridors and simple cells tell the harsher side of Venetian justice. The passage from the palace to the prisons makes the visit even more significant, because it shows the direct link between political power and the judicial system.<br />Practical tip: buy your ticket directly in Venice at the Correr Museum. With 30 euros for an adult you can visit both the Doge's Palace and the New Prisons, and the Miseo Correr. The visit is without a guide, but well organized and allows you to explore the spaces calmly, reading the information panels.<br />Overall, the visit is engaging and instructive, recommended for those who really want to know the history of Venice, going beyond its romantic image. An experience that leaves its mark and helps to better understand the city’s past.
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, 2025 Excellent
Susan was very knowledgeable - we learnt a lot about the palace and history. Great insights with some humour thrown in.
Highly recommend this tour
Tripadvisor customer · Pete · Oct 05, 2025 Excellent
Really enjoyed tour with Antonetta who is Venetian born,really enjoyed the secret passages and walking in the bridge of sighs too . very informative and helpful would highly recommend
Tripadvisor customer · Cathy · Oct 05, 2025 Excellent
This tour was great! We had an excellent tour guide who made the visit very interesting (story-telling was intriguing) - was never bored. There are many stairs to climb so be mindful of that if you have mobility issues (and tight places in the prison cells).
GetYourGuide customer · United States · Oct 01, 2025 Excellent
Our guide was very knowledgeable and professional. She shared the secrets of the prisons, Casanova, and the palace’s historical and artistic significance. Very enjoyable tour!
Tripadvisor customer · Laura · Sep 30, 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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