Good afternoon all - getting quite confused about the Doges Palace. The price for the Secret Itineraries tour and the Hidden Treasures tour is 20 euros according to the official web page. This also allows you to stay later/earlier in the palace? And if ordered online there is only the wait for security - correct? My confusion is around the Venice Unica pass - are the ones offering 7 days transport plus various museums (including Doges Palace but not the tour) actually worth it if the only museum we are really interested in is the Doges Palace? Or would be better off just with the transport pass for 7 days (60 euro) and 20 euro for the tour? I have been to Venice before but it was many years ago and we were happy wandering around without the vaporetto but are now travelling with children etc and in July the heat/crowds might make the transport pass a necessity! In Rome we never bother to get passes just always have a few spare bus tickets but then the price difference for tourists isn't so high. Thank you for all the advice so far!
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15576 posts
Hi! If the only museum you'd visit is the Doge's Palace, then the museum pass is not for you. The full price (for adults) of €20 for the SI tour includes museum entrance, if you do plan to have one of the museum passes, you should book the reduced price of €14. Do book the earliest tour of the day, it gets really hot in many of the areas the tour goes to. You can enter the museum any time before the tour begins and stay as long afterward as you like. Just be at the tour meeting point in the courtyard a few minutes before the tour begins. There is also a cafe on the ground floor with reasonable prices.
The Hidden Treasures tour is a separate tour and you need to book it separately. I looked at the official website and didn't see any times listed for this tour. It's also odd that there is no combined ticket for both tours. I also didn't see any reduction for children's tickets. I would call them to get complete information.
You can buy vaporetto passes separately, also on the Venezia Unica website. Start on this page. Under public transport, look at the ACTV tickets (that's the vaporetto). If you anticipate using the boats more than just a couple of times or more than a day or two, it's definitely worthwhile. You can buy 48 hour, 36 hour and 7 days (presumably calendar days) passes. A single ride is €7.50. You can ride the boats just to enjoy the scenery - along the Grand Canal (both during the day and after dark), along the Giudecca Canal, and across the lagoon to Burano (worth it just for the ride).
Posted by
OP
Sydney, Australia
11 posts
Thanks so much - this is exactly what I was after! Good advice re the early tour too. I see these tours for July are't on sale yet - any ideas how far out you can book? Thanks again
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15576 posts
Do some trial & error on their website to see how far out you can book now. It's probably the same all year long.