Museums and Art
in Venice (Italy)
Cruise Port Review

All cruise travelers need to know to visit the best museums and art galleries in Venice: reviews; opening hours, entrance fees.

By:
Date:

The museums of Venice are unique and should be on any cruise traveler's list. Most require more than one hour to visit and some can be a bit expensive. If planning to visit more than one museum, the most affordable way to visit the fantastic collections in Venice is to buy a Museum Pass

Although the Museum Pass ticket (€24.00) doesn't include all museums in Venice, it grants entrance to St. Marks Museum, the Doge’s Palace, the Museo Correr, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale, the Ca’ Rezzonico, the Ca’ Pesaro, the Natural History Museum, the Glass Museum in Murano and the Lace Museum in Burano.

Collezione Peggy Guggenheim
(Peggy Guggenheim Collection)

This museum is visited by more visitors to Venice than any other museum, Rather small in size, it contains a large collection of 20th-century sculptures, artwork and paintings. Also contained here is the collection of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection who you may remember is a famous and colorful daughter, who’s father perished in the sinking of the Titanic. Included in the collection are works by Max Ernst, Picasso, Duchamp and Brancusi. With sculptures, and exotic paintings, including some Americans who were assisted by Peggy, this museum offers a great exhibit.

Where:  Dorsoduro
Phone: +39 041 240 5411
Open: Daily: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | Closed on Tuesday and December 25
Entrance: €15.00
Website: Official Site

Ca’ Rezzonico - Museo del ‘700 Veneziano
(Museum of 18th-Century Venice)

During the 17th century this palace was designed and construction started by Baldassare Longhena, and finally completed 100 years later by Giorgio Massari. It became the home of famous English poet Robert browning. Look for the plaque on the left side of the palace, which states, “Open my heart and you will see graved inside it, Italy”. This is an excellent museum depicting 18th century life and artwork, including works by Canaletto as well as Giambattista Tiepolo.

Photo of Museo Ca'Rezzonico in Venice, Italy.

Ca’ Rezzonico

Photo © IQCruising.com

Where: Dorsoduro
Open: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (last admission 5:00 pm) | Closed on Tuesday
Entrance: €10.00
Website: Official Site

Ca’ d Oro
(Galleria Giorgio Franchetti)

Of all the hundreds of palaces lining the Grand Canal, the Ca’ d Oro is the most impressive and well preserved of all of them. This exquisite Gothic palace, back in the 15th century was known as the “Golden House”, as throughout the palace walls and decorations were in fact laced with gold. Built between 1422 and 1440 for Procuratore Marino Contarini, this house is now a museum housing some of the best craftsman of Venice. Now a gallery owned by the state, it houses the best collection of Flemish, Tuscan and Venice artwork.

Where: Cannaregio
Phone: +39 041 522 2349
Open: Daily: 8:15 am to 6:15 pm
Entrance: €8.50
Website: Official Site

Ca’ Pesaro - Museo D’Arte Moderna
(Modern and Oriental Art)

This museum gallery is where you can find an excellent collection of Italian artwork from the 19th century all the way to the 1950’s. Facing the Grand Canal, this is a baroque marble palace, designed and started in the 17th century and completed in 1710. Note that within the museum there are still hanging some of the original frescoes and oil-painted walls. Here you will also find artwork from 19th and 20th century artists including Matisse, Klimt and Kandinsky, as well as a collection of Japanese artwork and artifacts located on the 3rd floor.

Where: Santa Croce
Open: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (last admission 5:00 pm) | Closed on Mondays
Entrance: €10.00
Website: Official Site

Fondaco dei Turchi
(Museum of Natural History)

This museum has undergone many years of re-construction of the original building. Located on the Grand Canal, it is one of the most civic buildings located in Venice. Before the reconstruction, it housed lagoon fauna and flora from the area, along with various stuffed animals, and various fossils. Today you will find two to three rooms open to the public.

Where: Santa Croce
Phone: +39 041 2750206
Open: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (last admission 5:00 pm) | Closed on Mondays
Entrance: €8.00
Website: Official Site

Palazzo Grassi
(Contemporary Art)

As one of the last noble residences built on the Great Canal, Giorio Massari built this palace between 1748 and 1772 for the Bolognse Family. Purchased in 2005 by Francois Pinaut to house his modern and contemporary artwork in 2005, the museum has renewed its life. Today it is being used as an exhibit hall for contemporary visual arts.

Where: Campo San Samuele
Phone: +39 041 523 1680
Open: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm (last admission 6:00 pm) | Closed on Tuesdays
Entrance: €15.00
Website: Official Site

Museo Archeologico Nazionale
(Venice National Archaeological Museum)

This museum is the resting place where you find a collection of art collected in 1596. Being that there really is’t any real ancient past for Venice, this museum has a collection of Greek and Roman art and sculptures that are second only to those in Rome.

Where: Piazzetta San Marco
Phone:  +39 041 296 7663
Open: Monday to Sunday: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Entrance: € 4.00 OR €19.00 (Combined Ticket to Doge’s Palace, Museo Correr and Museo Archeologico Nazionale)
Website: Facebook Page

Museo Storico Navale – Arsenale
(Museum of Naval History)

This museum is the Museum of Naval History, now housed within the walls of an old granary. When the great ships were created in early Venice history, they were built based on scale models. These models are now found here in this museum. Also of interest is a complete model of the island of Crete, which is massive. The second floor contains military uniforms along with Korean and Chinese ship models.

Where: Riva San Biagio - Castello
Phone: +39 041 244 1399
Open: June 1 to October 31: 8:45 am to 5:00 pm | November to May: 8:45 am to 1:30 pm
Entrance: €5.00
Website: Official Site

Palazzo Fortuny
(Fortuny Museum)

This museum is located within the walls of the home originally built for the Pesaro Family, then purchased by Spanish-Venetian designer Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo who lived here between 1861 and 1949. As you walk among his legacy of artwork, you will see his palate and easel among collections of paintings and photographs.

Where: Campo S. Beneto
Phone: +39 041 5200995
Open: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (last admission 5:00 pm) | Closed on Tuesdays
Entrance: €12.00
Website: Official Site

Pinacoteca Querini Stampalia
(Books, Manuscripts and Paintings )

Located on the left bank of the Grand Canal in the Castello district is where you will find this museum. It was built in the 16th century as the residence of the Querini family. In a great gesture, the last descendants of the family Querini donated this wonderful palace and its artwork to the city of Venice in 1869. You will find over 300 manuscripts and a million plus Venetian books on the first floor, and the second floor with Venetian artwork from 14th-18th century.

Where: Santa Maria Formosa - Castelo
Phone: +39 041 271 1411
Open: Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm | Closed on Monday
Entrance: € 10.00
Website: Official Site

Share Venice Port Review

The information on this page was accurate when last updated but changes may have occurred without notice.
It is advisable to confirm details with local tourist information before planning your cruise, tour or excursion of Venice.
If any inaccuracies are found or if there are any suggestions to improve the content of this page please let us know.

Submit a Correction / Suggestion.