When we were in Florence and Rome a few years ago, I booked tickets to the more popular museums ahead of time, to avoid standing in long lines. Are there any museums or other sights in Venice that I should book ahead? I don't see any mention of it in any of the tour guides I've consulted.

Thanks very much,
Alice

Secret Itineraries Tour:
Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale, Venice
The Doge’s Palace in located in Piazza San Marco.
Call for booking the tour: 011-39-041-520-9070
You pay when you get the tickets. Bring small bills.

It's well worth it to get a reservation for St. Marks:
www.alata.it/eng/booking/sanmarco.asp

i never think that far ahead, but will top this post for you for more input

Thanks for the website SusanP--I just booked our Basilica tour easily!

daisy, Glad to help. I was very happy to walk past that long line that snaked out into the middle of the square!

Thanks for the link SusanP. My mom and I were just talking about whether or not this could be done and then I saw your post!

Definitely the Doge's Palace. But your hotel should be able to book this for you on your arrival. It took us two tries to get tickets as they are limited. And the previous poster was correct...bring small bills.

Let me see if I am understanding this correctly...one can book entrance into St. Mark's in advance? And if not, are there truly long lines? (We will be htere June 6-8th if that matters.)

Well, yes, you can book St. Mark's ahead of time, as I noted above. And I was there the third week of Sept last year. I passed St. Mark's several times on the way to other places, and every time there was a long line out into the middle of the square. It will probably be worse in June.

Boy, SusanP, of all the "book in advance" threads about Italy, that is a new one to me. I had wanted to be relaxed and flexible in Venice since it's the last three days of a 12 day trip, but waiting in a long line is not fun. Thanks for the heads up!

missypie and others, just one other thing. When I was there, at first I couldn't figure out where to go in with my reservation. Turns out you just go up to the same door as all those waiting in line, to the left of the line, show the guard your reservation, and go right in.

ttt

Is there a tour of St. Mark square to book also?

ItalyLove,

Are you referring to a tour of the official buildings like the Procuratie Vecchio, Procuratie Nuovo (Museo Correr is in the Procuratie Nuovo), Torre dell'Orologio, Libreria?

Susan P--Thanks for the great link for St. Mark's reservations! However, when I try to reserve a date in July, it shows every day closed. Do you know whether I am trying to reserve too far ahead?

I'm also interested in that answer about July reservations.

PLUS- any thoughts out there about whether a 13 yr. old would enjoy the tour of St. Marks vs. the secrets tour?

top for me

Digbydog, I'm really not sure, although I seem to remember someone in the past having that problem, and you may be right that it's too soon. I would keep trying every week to see if it opens up. I know I made my reservation only about a week before I left, so I'm not sure how far ahead they accept the reservations. Good luck!

We booked the Basilica ahead of time as well for our trip last June and I remember booking it a few months in advance, so I wouldn't think July is too far out,but maybe they changed their policy. Keep trying - it is definitely worth it to skip the line.

Like Susan it took us a while to figure out where to go with our reservation. Once I figured out just to go to the front of the (long)line we were waved right in. We did get a few dirty looks from people waiting in line, but hey we planned ahead!