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Venice rewards planning more than almost any other city in Italy. Its two greatest monuments, the Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica, stand side by side on the same square, yet they have separate tickets, separate queues, different rules and very different experiences. Add the gondola, the bell tower, the islands of the lagoon and, on certain days, an access fee for day visitors, and a little preparation goes a long way.
This guide explains which Venice tickets are worth buying in 2026, what each includes, how much things really cost and how to see the city in style without wasting hours in line.
Our Venice Picks
- Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica guided tour: both monuments in one well-planned visit
- Doge’s Palace Secret Itineraries tour: the hidden offices, archives and prisons
- St Mark’s Basilica after-hours tour: the golden mosaics without the crowds
- Private gondola ride: the classic Venetian experience
- Private boat tour of Murano and Burano with champagne
Venice Tickets at a Glance
| Experience | Approx. official price (2026) | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Doge’s Palace (with St Mark’s Square museums) | €30 online at least 30 days ahead, €35 otherwise | Fast-track entry or guided tour |
| Secret Itineraries of the Doge’s Palace | Around €40, small groups | Secret Itineraries tour |
| St Mark’s Basilica | Around €10, extras for the Pala d’Oro, museum and terrace | Skip-the-line ticket or with museum |
| St Mark’s Campanile | Varies by season | Skip-the-line with audio guide |
| Gondola | €90 for 30 minutes by day, €110 in the evening, per boat | Shared or private |
| Vaporetto (water bus) | €9.50 single, €25 for 24 hours | Vaporetto passes |
Prices are approximate and may change; tours and resellers charge more but often include guides, priority access and flexible cancellation.
The Doge’s Palace
For almost a thousand years, the Doge’s Palace was the heart of the Venetian Republic: the residence of its elected ruler, the seat of its councils and courts, and its prison. The pink and white Gothic facade facing the lagoon is one of the most famous in the world, and inside, the state rooms are covered with paintings by Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto. The Great Council Chamber holds Tintoretto’s Paradise, one of the largest oil paintings ever made. From the palace, you cross the Bridge of Sighs into the prisons, where condemned prisoners took their last look at the lagoon.
The standard ticket is timed and also covers the other museums of St Mark’s Square, including the Museo Correr. Book a fast-track entry in high season, when same-day slots can sell out, or choose a guided tour to understand how the Republic actually worked. The Secret Itineraries tour is the highlight for many visitors: it leads through hidden offices, the torture chamber and the Piombi cells under the lead roof, from which Casanova famously escaped in 1756. Places are limited, so book early.
St Mark’s Basilica
St Mark’s Basilica is a Byzantine treasure chest, built to hold the relics of St Mark, which Venetian merchants smuggled out of Alexandria in the ninth century. Its domes and walls are covered with thousands of square metres of golden mosaics, and when the lights are switched on, the whole interior glows. Highlights include the Pala d’Oro, a gold altarpiece studded with gems and enamels, and the museum upstairs, where you can see the original bronze horses of St Mark and step out onto the terrace above the square.
Entry requires a timed ticket, with extra charges for the Pala d’Oro, the museum and the terrace. Large bags and backpacks are not allowed inside, and shoulders and knees must be covered. A skip-the-line ticket or the version including the museum saves time, and for something truly special, the exclusive after-hours entry and guided tour lets you see the mosaics in near silence when the day crowds have gone.
Seeing Both in One Visit
Because the palace and the basilica are next door to each other, combining them is the most efficient way to see St Mark’s Square. The Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica guided tour covers both with an expert guide, and the version that adds priority entry to the bell tower completes the set. For a full first day, the basilica, Doge’s Palace and gondola ride package handles everything. Planning to visit several civic museums? The Doge’s Palace and Museum Pass and the St Mark’s Square Pass are worth comparing.
The Campanile
St Mark’s bell tower, nearly 100 metres high, offers the best panorama of Venice: the domes of the basilica below, the red roofs, the lagoon and, on clear winter days, the Alps. The tower you see today is a faithful reconstruction; the original collapsed suddenly in 1902 and was rebuilt within a decade. A lift takes you to the top, so the view is accessible to everyone. Book a skip-the-line ticket with audio guide and go early or late in the day for the softest light.
Gondolas: Shared, Private or at Night
A gondola ride is expensive and, yes, touristic, but drifting through quiet side canals under small bridges remains one of the great experiences of travel. The official fixed rate is €90 for a 30-minute ride by day and €110 in the evening, per boat for up to five passengers. You have three main options:
- Shared gondola ride: the cheapest way, sharing the boat with other travellers.
- Private gondola ride: the boat to yourselves, ideal for couples.
- Evening gondola ride on the Grand Canal: the palaces lit up at dusk.
Locals cross the Grand Canal in a traghetto, a simple gondola ferry at a few fixed points, for a couple of euros. It lasts only a minute or two, but it is a lovely taste of the real Venice.
Murano, Burano and Torcello
The islands of the lagoon make a perfect half day away from the crowds of San Marco. Murano has been the home of Venetian glassmaking since the thirteenth century; watch a master at work in a furnace. Burano is famous for its brightly painted houses and its lace. Torcello, the quietest, was once a powerful town and still has a cathedral with remarkable Byzantine mosaics, including a vast Last Judgement.
- Murano, Burano and Torcello on a traditional boat
- Murano and Burano with a glass-blowing demonstration
- Private boat tour of Murano and Burano with champagne: the luxury option
The Venice Access Fee
To manage overtourism, Venice charges an access fee to day visitors on around 60 peak days between April and July. It costs €5 if booked at least four days in advance and €10 for later bookings. Overnight guests staying in Venice are exempt but should check how their hotel handles registration. If you are coming for the day, check whether your date falls on a fee day and book the access ticket online before you travel.
Evenings in Venice
Venice is at its most magical after the day-trippers leave. See an opera or concert at Teatro La Fenice, one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world, or choose from the many classical concerts held in churches and palaces across the city. Then walk back through the silent streets along the canals.
Practical Tips
- Arrival: from Marco Polo Airport, you can reach the city by bus, water bus or private water taxi. A private transfer makes the arrival with luggage far easier.
- Luggage: Venice has bridges and steps everywhere. Leave bags near Piazzale Roma or the station with Radical Storage if you arrive before check-in.
- Getting around: walk as much as you can; for longer distances, a vaporetto pass is good value.
- Stay connected: Venice’s lanes are a maze; an eSIM from Airalo or Saily keeps your map working.
- Flight problems: AirHelp can check compensation for delayed or cancelled flights.
Prefer to explore at your own pace?
Self-guided audio tours play on your phone, work offline and let you pause for coffee whenever you like. Good options here are the Doge’s Palace ticket with audio tour and St Mark’s Square walk, Grand Canal vaporetto audio tour with ticket or the Peggy Guggenheim Collection fast-track ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book the Doge’s Palace in advance?
In high season, yes. Online tickets booked at least 30 days ahead are also cheaper.
Is St Mark’s Basilica free?
No longer for most visitors. A timed ticket is required, with extra charges for the Pala d’Oro, the museum and the terrace.
How much does a gondola ride cost in 2026?
The official rate is €90 for 30 minutes by day and €110 in the evening, per boat for up to five people. Shared rides cost less per person.
Do I have to pay the Venice access fee?
Only if you are a day visitor on one of the designated peak days. Overnight guests are exempt.
Are Murano and Burano worth it?
Yes. A half day on the islands is a relaxing contrast to the centre and a chance to see glassmaking and Burano’s colourful houses.
Where to Stay: compare hotels and current prices in Venice on Trip.com.
Plan Your Italy Trip
Venice pairs well with Lake Como beyond Milan, which is under two and a half hours away by high-speed train, and with Emilia-Romagna, where our guide to Bologna to Ravenna takes you further south. For more ticket guides, see our Siena Cathedral guide, and use our Italy travel planner for transfers, car hire and connectivity. Browse more things to do in Venice.
Related guides: read our articles on Verona, Valpolicella and Lake Garda and Last Supper tickets in Milan.
Spending time in Milan? See our guide to Milan: the Duomo rooftop, La Scala and the Navigli.
Exploring Emilia-Romagna? See our guide to Ravenna’s Byzantine mosaics.
For galleries, opera and the Venetian masters, see our guide to Venice for art lovers.
To see Venice from the water, read our guide to Venice by boat: gondolas and the lagoon islands.
Hungry in Venice? See our guide to what to eat in Venice.
