So I have my reservations for the Uffizi and Accadamia in Florence, Scavi tour in Rome,(need to wait til April 1 to online book Borghese) so everything is moving rather nicely. Do I/should I make reservations for Doges Palace and Accadamia in Venice? If so, what is the procedure?

I simply walked into the Doges Palace and the Accademia (twice) without needing reservations when I’ve traveled to Venice in May. Maybe it’s different during the summer.

As long as you are planning to see the Doge's Palace, I suggest getting the composite/ comprehensive ticket for all the civic museums.

The Palace is the main event for most users but for, I think, 15 Euros, you get a ticket valid for 12 spots: the Palace, the Biblioteca Marciana (fabulous ceilings; it is just across the square), Museo Correr (ditto), the Ca Rezzonico, Fortuny museum (small and kinda eerie) Mocenigo palace (ditto) etc, etc.

We were not trying to max out our ticket use but we actually visited most of the sites and were nearly alone in most places.

The Palace too was pretty empty in mid-afternoon, except for the periodic passage through the rooms of another load of Japanese kids with guide.

My dear spouse ungallantly termed this the Tokyo Express as they looked at nothing -- and who can blame them... It is incredible but it is not a place for the young.

wanderful-thanks for the reply-we will be going in May as well, perhaps we will be fortunate as you.
tedgale-where do you get these tickets?

For the Doge's Palace, a lot of Fodorites here recommend the Secret Itineraries tour (do a search here). If you decide to take it, DO NOT get the museum pass, as the pass does not cover the Secret tour. We were in Venice last October and we bought the museum pass - in the end, it wasn't worth it. The Museum pass covers only the civic museums, but not Accademia or Guggenheim etc.

You need to reserve ahead for the Secret Itineraries tour. There was no line to get into Accademia when we were there in October.

Info on Accademia & Ca d'Oro:
http://www.artive.arti.beniculturali.it/index_x.htm

Info on Civic Museums (including Doge's Palace and Secret Itin tour)
http://www.museiciviciveneziani.it/main.asp?lin=en

the website for the secret itineraries tour states 12.50 euro for the guided tour in english. I read somewhere that this does not include visits to the many different rooms/halls. Is this so?
can we see these on our own after the tour without paying additional admission?

The Secret Itineraries tour ticket includes admission to the rest of the Doges Palace. You will do the Secret tour first, then you can visit the rest of the Palace on your own.

well then, that tour not only sounds interesting, but a bargain at 12.50 euro, considering the "basic" admission price I believe I read was 11
euro!

daisy - I highly recommend the Secret Itineraries tour. It lasts about an hour and 15 minutes. Try contacting your hotel to make reservations for you.

Tom

Don't forget to read the fine print: there's a € 2,50 service charge for the Secret Itineraries Tour. Your grand total will be € 15. But the tour is really quite excellent.

Warning! Prices going up.
I checked the web site www.museiciviciveneziani.it

You need to pay attention to the fact that rates are increased after April 1, 2006. For instance, the Secret Itineraries at the Doge's Palace goes up from 12.50 euro for full price to 16 euro for full price. HOWEVER, if you have a Museum Pass, either full(18 Eur) or St. Marks Museums (12 Eur) you get the Secret Itinerary tour at the reduced price, which is 10 Eur.
Just makes the planning more complicated. Have to figure out exactly how many museums I'll be visiting, and whether the savings is worth it.
Vera