Doge’s Palace extends Christmas hours on 25 December

Doge’s Palace (Doge’s Palace) in Venice will extend its Christmas opening hours on 25 and 26 December 2026. The schedule gives visitors access to the historic palace in Italy until 9pm on both days, with entry beginning at 10am on Christmas Day.

The announcement also covers the Correr Museum, creating a longer evening visit in St. Mark’s Square during the Christmas holiday period.

Christmas opening hours announced for Doge’s Palace

The Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia has announced extended opening hours for Friday 25 and Saturday 26 December 2026. The Doge’s Palace and the Correr Museum will remain open until 9pm, with last admission at 8pm, on both dates.

On Friday 25 December, the palace will open to the public at 10am. The same evening schedule is also planned for Friday 1 and Saturday 2 January 2027, although those dates fall outside the current December travel window. The official Christmas opening notice lists the dates and access times.

How the Christmas schedule fits the palace

The extended access applies to a building whose visible form was assembled over several centuries. The wing facing St. Mark’s Basin was rebuilt from 1340 onwards, while the side facing St. Mark’s Square reached its present form from 1424.

The canal-side wing, which contains the former Doge’s apartments and government offices, was built between 1483 and 1565. This layered history explains why the Christmas schedule covers more than a single ceremonial hall: visitors move through a complex of Gothic, Renaissance and Mannerist elements. The museum’s building history guide identifies the main construction phases.

What visitors can see during the evening access

The palace’s relationship with Venice’s former government gives the Christmas dates a specific setting. Its rooms once served the Doge, courts and state institutions, while the Bridge of Sighs later connected the palace with the New Prisons.

The evening extension therefore changes the visit window rather than adding a separate exhibition or festival programme. Travellers can plan a palace visit on 25 or 26 December and use the announced later access alongside the Correr Museum in the same square.

Visiting Doge’s Palace: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The Christmas opening applies at Doge’s Palace in Venice on 25 and 26 December 2026. The palace opens at 10am on 25 December and remains accessible until 9pm on both dates, with last admission at 8pm.
• The special schedule concerns public access to the palace and the Correr Museum. It replaces the ordinary winter timetable for the announced evening periods, while the regular museum route remains the place’s historic interiors and collections.
• The public entrance is Porta del Frumento in Piazzetta San Marco. From Venice Santa Lucia railway station or Piazzale Roma, ACTV waterbus lines 1, 2, 4.1 and 5.1 serve stops including Vallaresso, San Zaccaria and Giardinetti.

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Frequently asked questions about Doge’s Palace

When do the Christmas opening hours take place at Doge’s Palace?

The extended hours run on 25 and 26 December 2026. On 25 December, public entry begins at 10am, while access continues until 9pm on both dates.

Where is Doge’s Palace and how do you get there?

The palace stands at San Marco 1 in Venice, with public entry through Porta del Frumento in Piazzetta San Marco. ACTV waterbus lines 1 and 2 connect the area with Santa Lucia railway station and Piazzale Roma.

What is Doge’s Palace?

It is a former residence of the Doge and a public museum combining Gothic, Renaissance and Mannerist elements. Its main wings were rebuilt or developed from 1340, 1424 and between 1483 and 1565.