St Mark's Basilica dress code and rules

The St Mark's Basilica dress code is simple: cover your shoulders and knees, avoid very short skirts or trousers and low necklines, and don't go in barefoot. Men are also asked to take their hats off. The rules come from the access regulations of the Procuratoria di San Marco, which runs the Basilica, and the same document limits the size of bags, sets out what you may photograph and how long the visit lasts. Here is what each rule means when you are getting dressed in the morning.

What does the dress code actually say?

St Mark's is a working cathedral, the seat of the Patriarch of Venice, and the rules start from that. The official English terms ask that clothing and conduct suit the religious nature of the building and that shoulders and knees are covered. The Italian regulations list what is not admitted:

• bare shoulders;
• skirts and trousers that are too short;
• low-cut necklines;
• bare feet.

They add that men must keep their heads uncovered, so caps and hats come off at the door. The regulations say plainly that visitors who don't meet these conditions will not be admitted, and your time slot doesn't wait while you sort it out, so it pays to get it right before you leave your hotel.

What should I wear?

You don't need formal clothes, just enough coverage. A few combinations that meet the rules in any season:

• Tops: a T-shirt or shirt with sleeves. Vest tops and strappy dresses leave the shoulders bare, so add a light cardigan, shirt or large scarf that you can put on at the entrance.
• Legs: trousers, a skirt or dress below the knee, or shorts long enough to cover the knee. Short shorts and mini skirts are the most common reason to be stopped.
• Necklines: nothing very low-cut; a scarf solves this too.
• Feet: any shoes or sandals. Only bare feet are excluded, but you will walk a long way on stone in Venice, so comfortable shoes make sense anyway.
• Hats: men remove them inside. Sunhats and caps are fine on the square.

In summer, the easiest plan is to wear what you like and carry a thin scarf or shawl plus a light layer for your legs if you are in shorts. If you are going in for Mass or to pray rather than on a ticket, dress the same way: it is the same church.

Can I bring a backpack or luggage?

Backpacks and bags larger than 40×30×20 cm are not allowed in, and trolley cases are not allowed under any circumstances. That size is roughly a small daypack; a full travel rucksack or carry-on case will be turned away.

At the entrance everyone goes through a metal detector, and staff may ask to look inside bags and backpacks. Keep what you carry small and easy to open. If you are arriving in Venice or leaving the same day, drop your luggage at your hotel or a left-luggage service before you come to St Mark's Square.

Are photos allowed inside?

Yes, with limits. The regulations allow photographs only for strictly personal use. You may not use professional photo or video equipment of any kind, stream live by any means, or bring tripods and drones. A phone or a compact camera for your own pictures is fine.

Remember that you are moving along a fenced route with other visitors: stopping for long shots holds up the line, which the rules also ask you to avoid.

How long can I stay inside?

The visit to the Basilica lasts at most 20 minutes, along a fenced route, without detours and without stopping in ways that block the flow of visitors. The Pala d'Oro, the gold and enamel altarpiece, has its own ticket and a limit of 10 minutes. The Museum and the Horses' Loggia upstairs are also separate from the basic ticket; see the Museum and Horses' Loggia and the Pala d'Oro.

If you want more time with the mosaics, an audio guide is available to hire at the desk just past the entrance turnstile, or you can join a guided tour, where a guide explains what you are looking at as you walk.

Tickets, ID and your time slot

All entry tickets are personal and carry the visitor's name, so you must show a valid identity document at the entrance. Each ticket is valid only for the date and time slot you booked. The official terms and conditions allow a margin of up to 15 minutes before or after that time; the official FAQ speaks of about 5 minutes. Treat the shorter figure as the safe one.

Tickets bought from the Procuratoria cannot be changed. Refunds are possible only in the cases set out in its conditions of sale, for example if the Procuratoria itself cancels the visit. For prices and the difference between official and partner tickets, see St Mark's Basilica tickets.

Can I visit during Mass?

Paying visitors are not allowed in during religious services. Entry for prayer, Mass and other liturgy is always free through the Porta dei Fiori, on the north side of the Basilica facing the Piazzetta dei Leoncini. The Basilica opens for prayer every day from 7.30am to 7.30pm. That entrance is for worship, not sightseeing; Mass times are on our Mass times page.

What if there is high water?

If acqua alta reaches the narthex, the entrance hall, the Procuratoria sets up alternative routes, signposted and supervised by its staff, and visitors must keep to the raised walkways. Waterproof footwear helps on the square. More on acqua alta and the Basilica.

A quick checklist

• Photo ID matching the name on your ticket.
• Shoulders and knees covered, or a scarf and layer to cover them.
• A bag no larger than 40×30×20 cm, and no trolley case.
• No tripod, drone or professional camera kit.
• Arrive at the entrance within your time slot.

Opening times and the last entry are on our opening hours page.