Rome

Amalfi Coast

Amsterdam

Athens

Barcelona

Boston

Dublin

Florence

Granada

Istanbul

Jerusalem

Las Vegas

London

Madrid

Milan

Naples

New York

Paris

Phoenix

Pompeii

Prague

Reykjavik

San Francisco

Seville (Sevilla)

Vatican

Venice

Alberobello

Bath

Capri

Cinque Terre

Honolulu

La Spezia

Matera

Normandy

Oahu

Pisa

Polignano a Mare

Positano

Sausalito

Segovia

Sorrento

Toledo

Lisbon

Sintra

Porto

Assisi

Verona

Bologna

Chania

Crete

Santorini

Taormina

Belfast

The Grand Canyon

Tuscany

Versailles

Girona

Explore the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and more!

Skip the Line

Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum and Vatican Museums

Skip the lines to the Hall of Mirrors with a friendly English speaking guide and roundtrip transport

Skip the line

Palace of Versailles and Gardens Tour from Paris

Walk in the footsteps of gladiators on the Colosseum floor and see the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

Exclusive Access

Palatine Hill

Best Views of the Colosseum and Circus Maximus

Special Access Colosseum Arena Floor Tour through the Gladiator's Gate

Begin your day early and see Rome from above, the Papal Crypts below, and the Vatican museums nearby

St. Peter's Dome Climb and Sistine Chapel Combo Tour

Explore St. Mark's Square's most iconic attractions with skip-the-line tickets and an expert guide

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

Do more in a day: St. Mark's, Doge's Palace, glassblowing and lacemaking demos, and a gondola ride

Ultimate Venice in a Day with Murano and Burano

Get to know Venus de Milo, Liberty Leading the People, and Napoleon's Coronation like never before

Secrets of the Louvre Museum Tour with Mona Lisa

Fulfill your bucket-list dream of viewing the City of Lights from the best spot in the city

Eiffel Tower

Premium Access Eiffel Tower Summit Tour with Seine River Cruise

Get your steps in to the second floor before taking the elevator to the summit for epic Paris views

Guided Tour

Gaze from Below

2nd Level

Fascinating History

1st Level

Eiffel Tower Climbing Tour with Summit Access

Enhance your Eiffel Tower experience accessing the elevator and marvel at panoramic views of Paris

New Tour

Explore all floors up to the summit

Picture-perfect moment

Admire iconic landmarks of Paris 

Meet your tour escort

Eiffel Tower Tickets with Exclusive Summit Access 

Eiffel Tower Summit Tours

TTG_Louvre_011 (1)

Black Friday

Take in views of the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and more on this half-day guided bus tour

Iconic New York City Highlights Tour by Bus 

See Lady Liberty up close and get in touch with your roots at the gateway to New York City

Ferry From Manhattan

Liberty Island

Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty Museum

Ellis Island

Ellis Island Immigration Museum

Best Views of New York

Return to the City

Before the Crowds Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour

View Manhattan the ultra-exclusive way as you soar from Times Square to the Statue of Liberty

Private NYC Helicopter Ride for Two

Explore Buckingham Palace, see the Crown Jewels, take a river cruise on the Thames, and more!

London in a Day Tour with Westminster Abbey and Tower of London

Explore royal history at London's famous church before seeing Buckingham Palace's iconic ceremony

Changing of the Guard

Buckingham Palace

London Walking Tour with Westminster Abbey and Changing of the Guard

Discover London's deep history at Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, and the Changing of the Guard

Private Tour

Private London in a Day Tour

Westminster Abbey

Fancy yourself as Royalty as you tour the State Rooms, Throne Room and Royal Collection.

The Buckingham Palace Royalty Tour

buckingham palace

big ben

Big Ben

Travel the River Thames by boat then dive into British history at London's famous fortress

Tower Bridge

Legends and Lore Tour of the Tower of London

Witness a centuries-old tradition before seeing the crown jewels with fewer crowds

Early Entry Tower of London Tour with the Beefeaters

Tower of London

tower bridge

See the Mona Lisa, Sacre-Coeur, and a Seine River cruise with a friendly local guide

Sacre-Coeur

Notre Dame

Louvre Museum

Mona Lisa

Liberty Leading the People

Paris in a Day

Montmartre

Paris in a Day Tour with Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Notre Dame Cathedral

Paris Attractions

Rome Tours

Venice Tours

Vatican Tours

Florence Tours

Paris Tours

London Tours

Barcelona Tours

Free Cancellation

Venice is the crown jewel of Europe, with must-see landmarks like St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace drawing thousands daily. Without proper planning, you’ll face long lines, confusion, and miss the magic of Venice. We’ve spent over a decade perfecting partnerships with Venice’s top sites to guarantee you a smooth, hassle-free experience. Our passionate local guides ensure you see the best Venice has to offer. Don’t settle for ordinary—book with us for an extraordinary journey.
 

You want to see it all when you come to Italy, which means you have to plan carefully and maximize that precious vacation time. Whether you want to explore Tuscany, Venice, Rome, or the Amalfi Coast, you'll find the perfect tour for you. We're Italy experts and have cultivated years of relationships at the top sites. What does that mean for you? You'll enjoy skip-the-line entry and exclusive access to restricted areas at top monuments like the Colosseum and Vatican Museums.

Dive into Venice's dark history at its grand Gothic palace, Bridge of Sighs, and ancient dungeons

<p>You’ll meet your friendly private guide in St. Marks Square, just a short stroll from Doge’s Palace. Skip the line to enter the magnificent Gothic palace as your guide tells stories of crime, betrayal, and how it was once the seat of power for Venice’s brutal rulers. </p><p>Alongside beautiful features such as the Golden Staircase and the paintings of Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese, you’ll explore its darker side as you see where prisoners once caught their final glimpse of freedom on the somber Bridge of Sighs. </p><h2>Venice Doge's Palace Private Tour Description</h2><p>Your 2-hour private tour includes:</p><ul><li><p><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;" class="NormalTextRun SCXW103987181 BCX0">Skip-the-line entry to Doge's Palace</span></p></li><li><p>Private guided tour the palace highlights</p></li><li><p>See famous artwork and the Golden Staircase</p></li><li><p><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;" class="NormalTextRun SCXW16384356 BCX0">Bridge of Sighs, prison cells, and much more</span></p></li><li><p>A passionate, English-speaking private guide</p></li></ul><h3>Meet in St. Mark's Square</h3><p>This private tour of the Doge's Palace begins in Piazza San Marco. Before entering and skipping the line, learn about the the Venetian Gothic architecture of the palace's beautiful exterior. The Doge’s Palace, or <i>Palazzo Ducale</i> in Italian, was renovated in the 15th century by one of the most famous Doge's, Francesco Foscari.&nbsp;</p><h3>Explore the Doge's Palace</h3><p>From the 15th to 18th centuries, the Doges of Venice lived and ruled over the city from the inside the walls of this incredible building. The interior of the Doge's Palace is as impressive as the outside, full of marble fireplaces, friezes, and stucco adorning the walls. Some works of art stand out, including famous pieces by Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese, and your guide will explain the stories and interpretations behind the art as your private tour leads you through the palace. </p><p>You'll also pass through the imposing Great Council Chamber, which is one of the largest rooms in Europe and the place where the most important decisions were discussed.</p><p>One of the palace's most striking features is the Golden Staircase, considered the richest staircase ever built. It connects the first floor of the palace to the third, where the Doge's offices were located. Your guide will show you the grand offices from which Venice was ruled for centuries, including the rooms that housed the powerful Council of Ten—the city's governing body.</p><h3>Prison Cells and the Bridge of Sighs</h3><p>Not all of the palace is beautiful and golden, since this place was also the setting for some of Venice's darkest moments. The fortress-like Doge's Palace not only held the seat of the Venetian Republic, but it also connected to a prison via the famous Bridge of Sighs. Legend has it, prisoners looked out of the small windows for what was often their final sight of freedom before their fate was sealed by a judge.</p><p>Your guide will show you some of the cramped cells where famous Venetians like Casanova were once held, and you'll take a walk across the Bridge of Sighs to trace the steps of those unfortunate enough to walk this bridge centuries ago.</p>

Tour Overview

We recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes, a camera, and a water bottle. Large bags and backpacks are not allowed and will have to be checked before entering the Doge's Palace. It's best to leave them at your hotel if possible.

What to bring

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

Wheelchair accessible

What's included

Before entering the Doge's Palace, admire the glorious facade that's inspired aspects of so many  other buildings.

Private tour of Doge's Palace

Lavishly decorated staircase still today leads up to the apartments once used by the doge!

The Golden Staircase

Before exploring further galleries and rooms, we get a look at this grandiose staircase.

The Giant Staircase

See the darker side of the Doge's Palace and you visit prison cells where Venetian prisoners suffered in grim conditions.

Eerie prison cells

While millions of visitors look at this bridge from the distance, see it from the inside. Experience it through the eyes of a prisoner, headed to face judgement. 

Bridge of Sighs

Marvel at the glorious internal courtyard of the palace, and imagine the lush parties that the Doge used to throw over here.

The Palace Courtyard

Itinerary

Private tour of Doge's Palace - Before entering the Doge's Palace, admire the glorious facade that's inspired aspects of so many  other buildings.

Palace Exterior

The Golden Staircase - Lavishly decorated staircase still today leads up to the apartments once used by the doge!

Golden Staircase

The Giant Staircase - Before exploring further galleries and rooms, we get a look at this grandiose staircase.

Giants Staircase

Eerie prison cells - See the darker side of the Doge's Palace and you visit prison cells where Venetian prisoners suffered in grim conditions.

Prison Cells

Bridge of Sighs - While millions of visitors look at this bridge from the distance, see it from the inside. Experience it through the eyes of a prisoner, headed to face judgement. 

The Palace Courtyard - Marvel at the glorious internal courtyard of the palace, and imagine the lush parties that the Doge used to throw over here.

Palace Courtyard

Skip the line to discover Venice’s shocking history and extravagant art on a private Doge's Place tour, with Bridge of Sighs, Golden Staircase, and more

Want to see more of Venice’s fascinating Palazzo Ducale? Then join a passionate local guide and skip the line for an unforgettable private tour of this unique and elaborate palace, where Venice’s rulers once controlled the city with an iron fist. Admire the opulence of the Golden Staircase and iconic works by Renaissance artists, see prison cells where famous Venetians like Casanova were held, and retrace the final steps of the condemned as you cross the infamous Bridge of Sighs. 

Venice Doge's Palace Private Tour

Dive into Venice's dark history at its grand Gothic palace, Bridge of Sighs, and ancient dungeons

Tour Overview

Select participants and date

What's included

Itinerary

Meeting and drop-off point

What to bring?

See what people are saying

FAQs

Subscribe for New tours

All Our Destinations