St Mark's Basilica, Venice

St Mark's Basilica is the great church on St Mark's Square in Venice, famous for its mosaics, and you visit it with a named, timed ticket. The plain ticket costs €10 and is sold by the Procuratoria di San Marco, which runs the Basilica, in its online shop. Options with a host, a live guide, the terrace or the Pala d'Oro are sold on Tiqets and cost more for the service they add. This guide sets out both, so you can pick what suits your visit.

How do tickets work?

Every ticket is for one named person, on one day, in a half-hour slot, and you need ID at the entrance. Official tickets can't be changed, and sales open 90 days ahead. The Basilica alone is €10, with the Pala d'Oro or the Museum and terrace €20, and the full ticket €30. The Campanile is a separate €15 ticket. Children under 11 go free, and ages 11 to 18, students up to 26 and over-65s pay half. The tickets page compares the official prices with every partner option.

When is it open?

From Monday to Saturday the Basilica opens to visitors at 9.30am, and on Sundays and holy days of obligation at 2pm, after the morning Masses. Last entry is at 4.45pm. On Sunday mornings only the Museum is open. Full times, including the Campanile, are on the opening hours page.

Can you go in for free?

For prayer and Mass, yes. The Porta dei Fiori, on the north side, is open for worship every day from 7.30am to 7.30pm, free. It isn't a way to sightsee: paying visitors can't enter during services. See Mass times.

What is there to see?

• The mosaics and the interior: a mosaic decoration begun in the 11th century, under Doge Domenico Selvo. See mosaics and interior.
• The Pala d'Oro: the golden altarpiece behind the high altar, with about 250 enamels and 1,927 gems. See the Pala d'Oro.
• The horses: the four original gilded horses, taken from Constantinople in 1204, are in the Museum; copies stand on the terrace outside. See Museum and terrace.
• The Campanile: the 98.6-metre bell tower on the square, climbed by lift. See the Campanile.

Before you go

• Dress code: shoulders and knees covered. See dress code and rules.
• Bags: nothing larger than 40 × 30 × 20 cm, and no wheeled cases.
• Time inside: up to 20 minutes on the Basilica route, so a guide or audio guide helps. See guided tours.
• Arrive on time: entry is tied to your slot, and everyone goes through a metal detector.

For the square around the church, see St Mark's Square. For directions by vaporetto or on foot, see getting there.