How to visit the Arsenale of Venice

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NB: The Municipality ofVenice's offices do not organize guided tours at the Arsenale of Venice.

To visit the Northen Arsenale

The Northern Arsenale can be reached by lines 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 5.2 (ACTV stop "Bacini - Arsenale nord") or by foot from the Campo de La Celestia, through the suspended bridge along the north boundary wall of the Arsenale.
The Northern Arsenale is normally open to the public from Monday to Friday, from 8.00 AM to 3.00 PM.
The opening to the public concerns the public spaces and the ground floor of the Tesa 105 (shed).
The other Tese of the north Arsenal and the Porta Nuova Tower are only open to the public during specific events.
During the opening months of the La Biennale arte / architecture, accessibility to the Northern Arsenale extends to seven days a week and a connecting boat with the Southern Arsenale (Giardino delle Vergini) is available.

To visit the Southern Arsenale

The Southern Arsenal can be reached by lines 1, 4.1 and 4.2 (the ACTV reference stop "Arsenale") or by foot from Riva degli Schiavoni.

The areas of the Southern Arsenale are used by the La Biennale di Venezia Foundation and they are accessible during the months of the opening of the exhibitions (May-November) with the payment of the entrance ticket. During the other periods the visits are organized according to the organization of the La Biennale di Venezia Foundation. Still in the opening period of the exhibitions, the Giardino delle Vergini is open during the day. The Giardino delle Vergini is a green garden surrounded by the walls of the Arsenale that extends over the area of the former monastery of Santa Maria Vergine, demolished at the end of the nineteenth century.

Visit the official web site of Biennale Venezia

To visit the areas of the Marina Militare (Navy)

The areas owned by the Navy aren't normally  open to the public, but they can be visited on certain specific occasions.
To visit the areas of the Arsenale owned by the Navy, it’s possible contact the Istituto di Studi Militari Marittimi (Maristudi).

Visit the website of the Marina Militare

To visit the Naval Historical Museum and the Ship Pavilion

The Naval Historical Museum is located in a 15th century building, which was already the "Granary" of the Serenissima, in the Campo San Biagio, near the Arsenale. Part of the building is still under the jurisdiction of the Italian Navy. The memory of its glories is today entrusted to the Naval History Museum, the most important of its kind in Italy. Beyond the main building, whose exhibition area is spread over five levels for a total of 42 exhibition halls, it is also possible to visit the Ship Pavilion, located in the ancient “rowing workshop” of the Arsenale.

Visit the website of the Ship Pavilion

Visit the website of the Naval Historical Museum