Tips for visiting St Mark's Basilica

The most useful thing to know before visiting St Mark's Basilica is that entry runs on timed, named tickets: you book a half-hour slot, bring photo ID, and spend up to 20 minutes on a fenced route through the church. Everything else follows from that, from when to book to what to wear. These tips are drawn from the Procuratoria di San Marco's own rules and price list, checked on 10 November 2026.

When should I go?

The Basilica is open to visitors Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 5.15pm, and on Sundays and holy days of obligation from 2pm to 5.15pm. Last entry is at 4.45pm. On Sunday mornings only the Museum is open, because Mass is celebrated in the Basilica.

Within those hours tickets are sold in half-hour slots. On weekdays the first slot starts at 9.30am and the last at 4pm; on Sundays slots run from 2pm to 4pm. The 10–10.30am slot is no longer sold, for reasons of worship.

A few things to bear in mind:

• Opening times can change on major feast days and when the Patriarch of Venice presides at a celebration.
• Some days had no slots at all. In the official booking calendar checked on 10 November 2026, no Basilica slots were offered on 29 November 2026.
• No slots were offered on 25 December 2026 either.
• None were offered on 31 January 2027; no reason is published for any of these dates.
• Paying visitors can't enter during services, so the times around Mass are not for sightseeing.

Full hours for the Pala d'Oro, the Museum and the Campanile are on opening hours.

How far ahead should I book?

Official sales open 90 days before the date of the visit. Each private account can buy a maximum of 5 tickets a year, which matters if you are booking for a family or group. Tickets are personal, valid only for the slot you choose, and cannot be changed or transferred; refunds are possible only in the cases in the conditions of sale, for instance if the Procuratoria cancels the visit, or for a documented, objective reason notified at least 48 hours ahead by email to accrediti@procuratoriasanmarco.it.

On the day, the official terms allow you up to 15 minutes before or after your slot; the official FAQ speaks of about 5 minutes. Plan for the shorter margin.

Who pays less, and who goes free?

Reduced tickets cost half the standard private price:

• young people aged 11 to 18;
• students up to 26;
• visitors over 65.

The official shop also has group rates for four and five adults, at €9.25 and €9.00 per person for the Basilica.

Free entry applies to:

• children under 11 (the price page and shop list ages 0–10 as free, with at most two free child tickets per order; the official tariff document says under 10);
• people with disabilities and a companion;
• accredited school groups and their teachers, clergy and members of religious orders, law enforcement, accredited guides and some institutional guests;
• residents of the municipalities of Venezia, Caorle, Cavallino-Treporti, Eraclea, Jesolo, Mira, Quarto d'Altino and the parish of Cittanova, for the Basilica, Pala d'Oro and Museum but not the Campanile.

No discounts apply to the Procuratoria's evening visits. The full price table is on St Mark's Basilica tickets.

What should I bring?

• Photo ID that matches the name on your ticket.
• Clothes that cover shoulders and knees, or a scarf and a layer to put on at the door. Men remove hats.
• A small bag: anything larger than 40×30×20 cm is refused, and trolley cases are never allowed. There is a metal detector at the entrance.
• A phone or compact camera if you like: photos are allowed for personal use only, without tripods or professional equipment.

Details on the dress code and rules.

Is the Basilica accessible?

People with disabilities and their companions always enter free: show documentation of the disability to the custodian at the door. Staff then escort visitors to the most suitable entrance. Visitors with reduced mobility or in a wheelchair can enter through the Porta dei Fiori, which has a platform. The Museum, upstairs, has a lift and a stair-lift.

The Campanile is reached only by lift.

How long does the visit take?

The Basilica route lasts at most 20 minutes, and the Pala d'Oro up to 10 more. The Museum and Horses' Loggia are a separate visit upstairs. An audio guide can be hired at the desk just past the entrance turnstile.

A good plan for a first visit is the full ticket (Basilica, Pala d'Oro, Museum and Loggia, €30), then the Campanile (€15) on a separate slot.

Official ticket or partner ticket?

Be clear about the difference before you pay more:

• The official ticket is the cheapest. €10 for the Basilica, €20 with the Pala d'Oro or the Museum, €30 for all three, bought from the Procuratoria's online shop. The Procuratoria's conditions say the bare ticket, without added services, may be sold to private visitors only through that shop.
• Partner products bundle entry with a service. Depending on the product, that is a host who meets you at the entrance, a live guide, the terrace and Museum, or a combination with the Campanile or the Doge's Palace. They cost more than the official ticket.
• Flexibility differs. Official tickets cannot be changed. Some partner products offer free cancellation up to a set time before the visit and others don't; each card below shows its own terms.

If you only want to see the church and can book a fixed slot, buy the official ticket. If you want a guide, would rather not deal with the official booking yourself, or need to cancel, a partner product may suit you better. Compare the options on skip-the-line tickets and guided tours.

What else does the ticket include?

Any St Mark's Basilica ticket also gives entry, within six months of purchase, to the cathedral on Torcello, the sacristy of the Salute, the Pinacoteca Manfrediniana and about forty Venetian churches, plus free entry to the home of The Human Safety Net in the Procuratie on the square. The Basilica itself can only be entered in your booked slot.

Want to go in for free?

Entry for prayer, Mass and the liturgy is always free through the Porta dei Fiori, on the north side facing the Piazzetta dei Leoncini. The Basilica opens for prayer every day from 7.30am to 7.30pm. This is for worship, not a tour; Mass times are on our Mass times page.