There’s no need to stand in line for the top museums and palaces.
Most visitors to Venice want to see the well-known sites, and may spend a lot of time waiting in line to buy tickets. Not a lot of fun, especially on a hot day. The problem applies especially to the 700-year-old Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s Palace) in St Mark’s Square and the stunningly beautiful San Marco Basilica.
The solution? A ‘Skip-the-line’ ticket. Book ahead and you can go right in! No long wait outside.
The Doge’s Palace Reserved Entry Admission Ticket allows you to walk in through the separate fast-track entrance for pre-booked tickets. You still have to go through security but no long wait in the ticket line.
the Saint Mark’s Basilica Skip-the-line Ticket and Audio Guide is worth considering too. Entrance to the Basilica is free if you don’t mind waiting (See picture above). But choose Skip-the-Line if your time is valuable. This ticket also includes a useful audio guide for your mobile device as you explore the basilica at your own pace.
The well-reviewed Guided Tours here are another option. All of these save you from the slow-moving ticket line too. Many of them cover both the Basilica and the Palace.
These pre-booked tickets may sell out. If so, here are two other ways to avoid a long slow-moving line to gain entrance.
Plan A: Arrive Before 10am or after 3pm, when the waiting time is often a bit shorter.
Plan B: Buy a Museum Pass from the much less crowded Correr Museum across the square. The pass gives access to some of the top sites and churches in Venice including the Doge’s Palace.
The toilets at the Correr are better too. It can be a long wait at the Palace!
