The Travel Guide to the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice

The palazzo, located at Dorsoduro 701, sits between the Accademia Bridge and the Church of Santa Maria della Salute. Dating back to the 18th century, its famously unfinished façade is an architectural curiosity. For travellers exploring Things to do in Venice, this museum is a must-see stop for art lovers.

Planning Your Visit

The museum is open daily from 10 am until 6 pm, except on Tuesdays when it is closed. The ticket office closes at 5 pm, and the last entrance is permitted at that time.

Admission Fees

• Adults: approximately €16
• Students (under 26 with valid ID): €9
• Seniors (over 70): €14
• Children under 10: free
  Because visitor numbers are limited, it is strongly recommended to purchase tickets online in advance for a specific time slot, especially during peak season.

Free and Discounted Admission

The museum offers various free admission opportunities:

• Visitors with limited mobility and their care partners receive free admission.
• Visitors who are blind or visually impaired and their companions receive free admission.
• Venetian citizens enjoy free entry during the Madonna della Salute celebrations (19–23 November), and residents or students can enter for free on Thursdays from 2 pm to 6 pm.

Getting There

The museum is accessible by Venice’s vaporetto (water bus) system via the ACTV network.

By Vaporetto:

• From Piazzale Roma or Ferrovia (Santa Lucia train station): take Line 2 (direction Lido, Accademia stop) or Line 1 (direction Lido, Accademia or Salute stops).
• From Piazza San Marco: take Line 2 (direction Piazzale Roma, Accademia stop) or Line 1 (direction Piazzale Roma, Salute or Accademia stops).

The museum is just a few minutes’ walk from the Accademia Bridge in the Dorsoduro district.

Exploring the Collections

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Permanent Display)

This central collection is dedicated to understanding and appreciating modern art of the 20th century, including major movements such as Cubism, Futurism, European Abstractionism, Surrealism, and American Abstract Expressionism.

Featured artists include Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Jackson Pollock, Wassily Kandinsky, and René Magritte.

Key highlights include:

• The Angel of the City (1948) by Marino Marini, displayed in the entrance courtyard.
• Alchemy (1947) by Jackson Pollock, an exemplar of his drip-painting technique.
• The Empire of Light (1950) by René Magritte, merging day and night in one image.
• Upward (1929) by Kandinsky, a geometric abstract work.

The collection also includes African, Oceanic, and Pre-Columbian works.

The Hannelore B. and Rudolph B. Schulhof Collection

Situated in the museum’s barchessa, this section extends the timeframe of modern art to include post-war European and American art up to the 1980s. It features Minimalism, Pop Art, and Post-Painterly Abstraction with artists such as Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko, Cy Twombly, and Donald Judd.

The Nasher Sculpture Garden

A landscaped garden space where art and nature merge. Sculptures by Alberto Giacometti, Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, and Jean Arp are on display. Visitors should note that Peggy Guggenheim’s ashes are buried in the garden alongside her fourteen beloved Lhasa Apso dogs.

Current and Upcoming Exhibitions

The museum hosts a rotating calendar of temporary exhibitions and events, such as:

• Ongoing: Manu-Facture: The Ceramics of Lucio Fontana (11 October 2025 – 2 March 2026)
• Upcoming: Peggy Guggenheim in London: The Making of a Collector (25 April – 19 October 2026)

Accessibility and Inclusion

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is committed to ensuring access for all visitors. Facilities include free wheelchairs and baby strollers. Platform lifts are available for different levels, providing access to the garden, café, and temporary exhibition galleries.

Special programmes cater to blind or visually impaired visitors, such as tactile tours with relief tablets, Braille materials, and high-legibility labels. Service animals are welcome.

Tours, Services, and Workshops

The museum offers guided tours, with English-language tours on Saturdays and Sundays. Private tours can be arranged outside regular hours. Audio guides are available for approximately €7 in multiple languages.

Free daily presentations called “Art Talks” introduce guests to Peggy’s life and the collection. Educational programmes are available for schools and children, including workshops like Kids Day.

Dining and Shopping

• Museum Café: Operated by the Venetian restaurant Ai Gondolieri, offering a selection of dishes and snacks with a view over the Grand Canal.
• Museum Shops: There are two, one inside and one outside the entrance, offering items inspired by Peggy Guggenheim and 20th-century art.

Visitor Policies and Conduct

To ensure a respectful environment:

• Large bags, backpacks, or suitcases must be checked in the cloakroom.
• Appropriate attire is required; swimwear or bare feet are not permitted.
• Food and drink cannot be consumed inside the museum or garden.
• Photography is allowed without flash; tripods and selfie sticks are prohibited.
• Sketching with pencils and notebooks is permitted; pens, paints, and easels are not allowed.
• Visitors must follow staff instructions; running, rough play, unauthorised music, and soliciting are prohibited.

Contact Information

• General Information: +39 041 2405 411 | info@guggenheim-venice.it
• Visitor Services: +39 041 2405 440 / 419 | visitorinfo@guggenheim-venice.it
• Tactile Tour Booking: +39 041 2405 444 / 401 | doppiosenso@guggenheim-venice.it
• Guided Tour Booking: booking@guggenheim-venice.it

The Stories Behind the Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Visiting the museum is not just about viewing art; it is an invitation to explore the life of Peggy Guggenheim and the extraordinary history of the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni.

Peggy Guggenheim – A Life as Bold as Her Art

Born into the wealthy Guggenheim family, Peggy’s father perished on the Titanic, and other family tragedies marked her early life. She later embraced the avant-garde art world in Paris, collecting works and supporting artists who would define modernism. Her unconventional life is reflected in every corner of the museum she created.

The Unfinished Palace

The Palazzo Venier dei Leoni is an architectural oddity conceived in the 18th century but never completed. Its low-lying façade on the Grand Canal is the result of an ambitious project that lost funding or favour. Before Peggy bought it, it was home to eccentric figures such as the Marchesa Luisa Casati and Doris Castlerosse, known for their decadent parties.

Sculpture Scandal

One of the museum’s most famous works, Marino Marini’s The Angel of the City, depicts a man on horseback. The sculpture once featured a detachable bronze penis, which Peggy reportedly removed daily and later had welded permanently after it was stolen.

Wartime Salvage

During the Second World War, Peggy courageously rescued hundreds of modern artworks from Nazi-occupied Europe. The Louvre famously declined to store her collection, claiming it was “not worth saving”, a decision history has proven wrong.

Legacy in Conflict

After her death in 1979, Peggy left her collection and palazzo to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation on the condition that they remain intact. Legal disputes later arose among her heirs, but her vision endures, and the museum continues to thrive as one of Venice’s most inspiring cultural landmarks.

Conclusion

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is far more than a museum; it is a reflection of a daring life devoted to art and innovation. Every part of the palazzo, from Pollock’s vibrant canvases to the peaceful sculpture garden where Peggy rests, tells a story of courage, rebellion, and creativity. For UK travellers seeking culture and inspiration, this museum is a must-see when discovering the many things to do in Venice.