Doge's Palace
Venice, Italy
San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice
i
Photo: Paul Harrison, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free; tower paid
- Opening hours
- Daily, by day
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
i
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Church
- Free
- Bell tower
- Paid, by lift
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Highlights
- View of San Marco, Palladio, Tintoretto
- Time needed
- About an hour
- Vaporetto
- Line 2 from San Zaccaria — one stop
Key facts
1566Andrea Palladio began the church
Sourcei
English Wikipedia1610church and façade completed
Sourcei
English WikipediaTintorettohis Last Supper and Gathering of the Manna in the chancel
Sourcei
English Wikipedia1951the Giorgio Cini Foundation moved into the monastery
Sourcei
English WikipediaLabyrintha hedge maze in the garden honours Jorge Luis Borges
Sourcei
English WikipediaA short history
A Benedictine monastery stood on San Giorgio from the 10th century, among the most powerful in Venice. In 1566 the monks commissioned Andrea Palladio to build a new church, and he created the white façade like an ancient temple, with columns and pediments beneath a dome, that you see from every point of the San Marco waterfront. It was completed by 1610.
In 1951 industrialist Vittorio Cini restored the monastery for the Giorgio Cini Foundation, a cultural centre with a library, exhibitions and concerts. Today the island is a quiet place of gardens, cloisters and city views, minutes by boat from the San Marco crowds.
Palladio's church
The interior is bright and calm — white walls, grey columns, clear Palladian proportions. In the chancel hang two late works by Tintoretto: a dramatic diagonal Last Supper set in a tavern with angels swirling in the lamp smoke, and the Gathering of the Manna; the choir has carved wooden monks' stalls. Entry is free, and the lift to the bell tower starts behind the altar.
The bell tower and view
The roughly 60-metre bell tower has a lift to an open deck over the whole city: Piazza San Marco, the Campanile and the Doge's Palace, the Grand Canal with the Salute, the Giudecca, the Lido and the lagoon islands. Many prefer it to the St Mark's Campanile — from here you see the whole famous ensemble, Campanile included. Queues are rare, making it a great alternative in high season; the bells are loud on the hour.
Back at ground level, the landing frames a rare water-level view of the Riva degli Schiavoni, the Doge's Palace, the Campanile and the Salute in one line — magical as the lights come on. There's a small café beside the church, and the foundation hosts exhibitions, including during the Biennale.
What to see
- Palladio's façade — best seen from San Marco.
- The bell tower — the view of San Marco and the Doge's Palace.
- Tintoretto's Last Supper — in the chancel.
- Cini Foundation cloisters — on a guided tour.
- Borges labyrinth — a hedge maze in the garden.
- The landing — views of the Riva degli Schiavoni.
How to get there
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Doge's Palace is about 17 min away on foot.
- Bridge of Sighs is about 17 min away on foot.
More tips
- Vaporetto 2 from San Zaccaria — one stop, about 3 minutes.
- San Zaccaria is by the Doge's Palace and Bridge of Sighs.
- Line 2 continues to the Giudecca.
- There's no bridge — the boat is the only way.
Is San Giorgio Maggiore worth it?
Yes — one of Venice's best viewpoints without the queues, and a peaceful island a couple of minutes from San Marco. Come late in the day and go up the tower an hour before sunset, then watch the waterfront lights come on, with Palladio's free church and its Tintorettos as a bonus.
Before you go
Ready: 0 of 5Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser.
You are ready for the visit
Views in Venice: compare and choose
Viewpoints in Venice rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.
| St Mark's Basilica | 57 | 1 h | Paid | 14 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridge of Sighs | 57 | 15 min | Free | 13 min walk |
| Rialto Bridge | 56 | 20 min | Free | 23 min walk |
| Piazza San Marco | 55 | 30 min | Free | 15 min walk |
| Santa Maria della Salute | 51 | 30 min | Free | 14 min walk |
| Grand Canal | 49 | 1 h | Free | 37 min walk |
| St Mark's Campanile | 47 | 30 min | Paid | 14 min walk |
| Accademia Bridge | 44 | 15 min | Free | 22 min walk |
| San Giorgio Maggioreyou are here | 43 | 1 h | Free | — |
| Burano | 34 | 3 h | Free | 8.6 km |
| Torcello | 30 | 2 h | Free | 9.7 km |
San Marco from the water
The Doge's Palace, the water bus to San Giorgio Maggiore and its tower, then the Giudecca.
- Doge's Palace2 h · Paid
- 12 min walk from the previous stopSan Giorgio Maggioreyou are here1 h · Free; tower paid
- 22 min walk from the previous stopGiudecca1 h 30 min · Free
3 places · about 5 h 4 min with walks · 34 min on foot in total
Nearby and on the way
How to do it right
- Line 2 — one stop.
- Tower with no queue.
- Best light before sunset.
- The church is free.
Questions
How do I get to San Giorgio Maggiore?
Vaporetto line 2 from San Zaccaria — one stop.
Is there a lift in the bell tower?
Yes, for a small fee.
Which view is better — the Campanile or San Giorgio?
San Giorgio shows the whole San Marco ensemble including the Campanile, with hardly any queue.
Who built the church?
Andrea Palladio, starting in 1566.
What's inside the church?
Tintoretto's Last Supper and Gathering of the Manna in the chancel.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia, San Giorgio Maggiore; San Giorgio Maggiore (church)
Top YesGo picks: Venice
St Mark's Basilica
Venice, Italy
Rialto Bridge
Venice, Italy
Piazza San Marco
Venice, Italy
Grand Canal
Venice, Italy
Gondola ride
Venice, Italy
Accademia Bridge
Venice, Italy
Murano
Venice, Italy
La Fenice
Venice, Italy