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 678 Walks’ customer ratingsOverall rating
4.7 /5
678 reviewsRating summary by category
Latest reviews
Excellent
Did not like the Whisper head sets used. It continually felt as though it was falling off.
Verified · Jeanne · USA · Female · May 03, 2026 Excellent
Fun experience with a very knowledgable guide. Virginia was great and the prisons were so fascinating
Tripadvisor customer · Hailey · Apr 29, 2026 Excellent
Virginia was very knowledgeable and so sweet! She tried to accommodate everything we needed and answer all the questions we had. She was amazing and I highly recommend using her!
Tripadvisor customer · Deanna · Apr 29, 2026 Excellent
Loved our guide, Virginia, and loved seeing behind the scenes. I really have such a better understanding of Venice now because of this tour!
Tripadvisor customer · Tonnya · Apr 29, 2026 Excellent
Absolutely fantastic tour with Fillipe (apologies on spelling if incorrect) today around the Hidden Passages, prisons and main chambers of the Doge’s Palace plus St Mark’s Basilica. Funny, entertaining and very knowledgeable, he took the time to answer a wide range of questions and covered a broad range of time periods in the buildings’ histories. All fascinating and giving a level of detail and context to architecture, art and the political structures you would not get without a tour. You do need a good general level of fitness and mobility for the stairs and passages and this is stated very clearly in the description of the tour. Cannot rate this highly enough as a fab way to see these two sites!
Tripadvisor customer · Lucy · Apr 28, 2026
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 678 Walks’ customer ratingsTotal guest reviews
:
851
guest reviews
Excellent 713
Great 109
Good 16
Average 3
Poor 10
Latest reviews
Excellent
Did not like the Whisper head sets used. It continually felt as though it was falling off.
Verified · Jeanne · USA · Female · 65 - 74 years · May 03, 2026 Excellent
Loved our guide, Virginia, and loved seeing behind the scenes. I really have such a better understanding of Venice now because of this tour!
Tripadvisor customer · Tonnya · Apr 29, 2026 Excellent
Virginia was very knowledgeable and so sweet! She tried to accommodate everything we needed and answer all the questions we had. She was amazing and I highly recommend using her!
Tripadvisor customer · Deanna · Apr 29, 2026 Excellent
Fun experience with a very knowledgable guide. Virginia was great and the prisons were so fascinating
Tripadvisor customer · Hailey · Apr 29, 2026 Excellent
Absolutely fantastic tour with Fillipe (apologies on spelling if incorrect) today around the Hidden Passages, prisons and main chambers of the Doge’s Palace plus St Mark’s Basilica. Funny, entertaining and very knowledgeable, he took the time to answer a wide range of questions and covered a broad range of time periods in the buildings’ histories. All fascinating and giving a level of detail and context to architecture, art and the political structures you would not get without a tour. You do need a good general level of fitness and mobility for the stairs and passages and this is stated very clearly in the description of the tour. Cannot rate this highly enough as a fab way to see these two sites!
Tripadvisor customer · Lucy · Apr 28, 2026 Excellent
This is a must-do tour! It covered a gamut of interests: art, prison life and antics, history of the Doges and Doges Palace, solemnity and beauty of St Mark’s Basilica. It was great to be the first entrants in the morning. Shannon was our guide and she was outstanding! Every moment was filled with facts, stories, and unique information! Thank you, Shannon, for our favorite day in Venice! Janet and Rich. .
Tripadvisor customer · janet · Apr 26, 2026 Excellent
Shannon was fantastic! Definitely worth booking this trip ahead of time as we got so much more out of the Doge's Palace and Basilica.
Tripadvisor customer · Francesca · Apr 24, 2026 Excellent
Shannon gave us a brilliant tour, really interesting.
Tripadvisor customer · nicola · Apr 24, 2026 Excellent
Amazing experience with Shannon, both the doge palace and the basilica were so much more lively and entertaining with her great storytelling and explanations.
Tripadvisor customer · gounthar · Apr 24, 2026 Excellent
Wonderful engaging tour the secret areas definitely worth seeing . The pace and starting early were spot on . Just enough information without feeling overloaded . Thank you Shannon for a memorable tour
Tripadvisor customer · Debra · Apr 24, 2026FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Are the Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries Wheelchair accessible?
No, unfortunatley they are not. But tours to general-access areas are.
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.
Can I bring a stroller into the Doge's Palace?
No. The Doge's palace is full of staircases and narrow corridors. Strollers are not allowed inside.
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