The Doge’s Palace in Venice is located in St Mark’s Square 1, in the centre of Venice, opposite St Mark’s Basilica and within the most touristic area of the city. In this article we discover together the best ways to reach the Doge’s Palace on foot, by car, train or Vaporetto.
The Doge’s Palace is located in Piazza San Marco 1 – 30124 Venice (VE), right next to St Mark’s Basilica, the most famous attraction of the lagoon city on the Adriatic.
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Where is the Doge’s Palace in Venice?
The Doge’s Palace in Venice is located in St Mark’s Square 1.
Since most of Venice’s attractions are located in that area, you won’t need to make any special journeys to reach it.
The entrance to the palace overlooks the grand Riva degli Schiavoni seafront promenade. Currently, you can enter the attraction through the so-called Porta del Frumento.
Tickets for Doge’s Palace: Fast Track
Purchase online. Choose the time of your choice. Visit Venice’s Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, prisons and more.
You can cancel for free up to the day before the visit.
What is the best way to reach the Doge’s Palace in Venice?
The easiest way to reach the Doge’s Palace is on foot, as most travellers do. The palace is a stone’s throw from St Mark’s Basilica and can be reached with a pleasant 30-minute walk from Venice’s Santa Lucia train station or the central Piazzale Roma.
A quick and suggestive way to get to the palace is by Vaporetto, the typical waterbus that transports the inhabitants and tourists of Venice by sea. The stop is San Zaccaria and you can board from various points in the city.
Alternatively, you can opt for a gondola, which is certainly the most charming (but less economical) way to travel by sea and reach the Doge’s Palace.
How to reach the Doge’s Palace by car
Within the historical centre of Venice, cars, bicycles or scooters are not allowed. Therefore, once you enter the city, you will have to park your vehicle outside the historic centre and proceed on foot.
Here are the recommended car parks:
- Parking Tronchetto
- Parking Piazzale Roma (Garage San Marco)
- Parking in Mestre with shuttle service to the centre of Venice.
Once you have left your car at the car park, enter the historic centre of Venice, follow the directions to ‘San Marco’ and reach the Doge’s Palace in about 30 minutes on foot.
How to reach the Doge’s Palace by Vaporetto
One of the most suggestive ways to reach the Doge’s Palace in Venice is by Vaporetto, the famous public boat transport that allows you to move easily through the canals of the world’s most famous Floating City.
Vaporetto Pass: Ticket for public transportation in Venice (ACTV)
Explore the Floating City stress-free by accessing all public transportation in Venice with a single card. Choose the pass that is most convenient for you, with options ranging from 75 minutes to as many as 7 days.
From Piazzale Roma
If you reach Venice by plane or car, you will necessarily enter the historic centre of Venice via Piazzale Roma. Here is how to get to the Doge’s Palace by Vaporetto starting from Piazzale Roma:
- Line 1: about 40 minutes
- Line 52 (direct): about 20 minutes
- Line 82 (direct): about 30 minutes
Vaporettos depart at 10-12 minute intervals.
From Venezia Santa Lucia train station
If you reach Venice by train, you can take the Vaporetto from Venice Santa Lucia Railway Station:
- Line 1: approximately 35 minutes
- Line 52 (direct): approximately 25 minutes
- Line 82 (direct): approximately 25 minutes
Vaporettos depart at 10-12 minute intervals.
Vaporetto prices
The price for travelling in Venice by Vaporetto is as follows:
- Vaporetto pass: from 12€
- Single ride: 9,50€
- 24 hours: 25€
- 2 days: 35€
- 3 days: 45€
- 7 days: 65€
How to reach the Doge’s Palace by gondola
The gondola is undoubtedly the most fascinating means of transport. With this evocative and historical means of transport, you can travel along numerous canals in the centre of Venice, giving you a truly unforgettable tour.
Private gondola ride under the Bridge of Sighs Venice
Purchase online. Choose the time of your choice. Climb aboard an authentic gondola and embark on a romantic ride with a professional gondolier.
You can cancel for free up to the day before the visit.
Usually, you can book pre-arranged routes, which naturally include a stop at St Mark’s Square. Some tours are thematic, so you can choose according to the characteristics of the tour.
As far as boarding points are concerned, you can look at the available options and decide which one to start from according to your location or tour schedule.
Not visiting Venice without taking a gondola ride would be a real shame!
How to get to the Doge’s Palace on foot
There is an alternative way to reach St Mark’s Square from Piazzale Roma, and it is a pleasant walk of about 30 minutes.
If you have time to spare and wish to explore the city, it may take you even longer than expected, as there are many fascinating places to visit along the way.
To orient yourself during the walk, you can rely on a navigator set to walking mode or use a city map.
Along the walls of historic Venetian buildings, you will find the typical yellow or white signs with the names of the calli, which will help you to understand your position and the direction to take to get to San Marco or Rialto.
Crossing the Ponte della Costituzione, you will have a nice view of the Santa Lucia Station on your left.
From this point, you have several options: the most direct and quickest route will take you towards Strada Nova, but given Venice’s unique setting, what could be more pleasant than getting lost in the picturesque calli?
If you want to enjoy a more structured walk to admire the beauty of the city, you can take the Ponte degli Scalzi from the Ferrovia to cross the Grand Canal.
From there, you can reach Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio, then Campo Santa Maria Mater Domini and finally Rialto. Crossing the Rialto Bridge, you will arrive at Campo San Bartolomeo and from there you can walk along the Mercerie, a series of narrow streets that will eventually lead you to St Mark’s Square.
How to reach the Doge’s Palace by train
Venice offers convenient access by train: the main station is Venezia Santa Lucia, one of the largest and busiest in Italy, located in the heart of the city and directly overlooking the Grand Canal.
Once you reach the station, you can decide whether to get to St Mark’s Square by land (on foot) or by sea (via Vaporetto, water taxi or gondola).
Getting to St Mark’s Square Venice: FAQ
How do I get to St Mark’s Square Venice?
You can reach St Mark’s Square by land or by sea. Here are all the options available to reach the most famous square in Venice:
- on foot: in about 30 minutes walk through the historic centre
- by Vaporetto: in about 25 minutes (buy tickets)
- by Gondola: private or group tour (buy tickets)
How to get from the Station to St Mark’s Square?
From Venice Santa Lucia Station, you can reach St Mark’s Square on foot (in about 30 minutes), by Vaporetto (lines 1, 52 or 82) or by gondola.
Which water bus should I take to St Mark’s Square?
The Venice lines that stop in St Mark’s Square are 1, 52 and 82. Vaporetti (waterbuses) leave from Piazzale Roma and the Santa Lucia central station and stop at various tourist spots in the city.
How long does it take to walk from Venice Station to St Mark’s Square?
The distance between Venice’s Santa Lucia Station and St Mark’s Square is 2 km, a total of about 27 minutes on foot, passing through the historic centre and the city’s most picturesque streets.
Conclusions
Here we are at the end of this article, on how to get to St Mark’s Square by car, by train, on foot, by gondola or by Vaporetto.
If you need more information on how to get to the Doge’s Palace, leave a comment below.
Happy holidays,
Andrea
Tickets for Doge’s Palace: Fast Track
Purchase online. Choose the time of your choice. Visit Venice’s Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, prisons and more.
You can cancel for free up to the day before the visit.
