DOGE'S PALACE
"palazzo ducale"
Children absolutely love Doge’s Palace! Marble staircases, displays of swords and suits of amour, walls filled with fascinating colourful frescos, and finally the eerie prison chambers! The Doge was the ruler of Venice and this Palace was his residence as well as the gathering place for dignitaries and officials. It housed many chambers where the councils would discuss and vote on affairs relating to the Republic of Venice. The prisons are entered via the Bridge of Sighs, which was given it’s name because legend has it that prisoners would sigh as they crossed the bridge and looked out of the window over the lagoon one last time before their imprisonment. The prisons themselves are pretty scary – dark, and foreboding (i.e., children love them!)
WHEN TO GO
The queues to get in are ridiculously long but a weekday on a standard winter week you might be lucky enough to just waltz right in as we have many a time!
MUSEUM PASS
If you’re planning to see other museums, consider getting a Museum Pass, as it costs only a little bit more than a standard ticket and includes entrance to Doge’s Palace, Ca’ Rezzonico, the Natural History Museum and 8 other sites.
INSIDER TIP
It is possible to book a ticket online in advance but you are unlikely to completely skip the queues – it’s just a shorter queue that moves much faster. The Secret Itinerary tour is worth considering. You can book online and it includes some secret passages and rooms (including a torture chamber) that cannot be seen with the usual entrance ticket (kids must be 6 or over). Tickets cost up to 20.50 for adults and 14.50 for children.
FAMILY FRIENDLINESS
Children will enjoy this museum because it is so varied; there is something for everyone. In our experience the kids like the armoury rooms and the prisons the best. Older kids might enjoy looking at the stunning frescoes that depict anything from violent battles to mythological and religious scenes. There is a café and a lovely bookshop/gift shop inside the palace with lots of children’s books. There’s a baby room for breastfeeding and nappy changing. They have special access facilities that we once tried with our pram but unfortunately it only gives you access to a few of the rooms (you still have to climb lots of stairs to see the Armoury rooms and Prison).
Address: San Marco 1
Street: Piazza San Marco
Nearest waterbus: San Marco or San Zaccaria
Water bus lines: 1, 2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6, 14,
Phone: 041 2715911
Closed: Open every day
Opening hours: Winter 0830-1730 (last admission 1630)
Website: