St. Mark’s Basilica is Venice’s golden church: five Byzantine domes over more than 8,000 square metres of glittering mosaics, built to hold the relics of the city’s patron saint. As of October 2026 a basilica ticket costs €10, €20 with the Pala d’Oro altarpiece or with the museum and terrace, and €30 for everything. Every ticket is timed and in the visitor’s name, so book on the basilica’s official site and bring ID. It opens Monday to Saturday at 9:30, Sundays and holidays at 14:00, with last entry at 16:45, and you must cover shoulders and knees.
Right now in St. Mark's Basilica
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Tickets and tours for St. Mark's Basilica
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Why St. Mark’s matters
In 828 two Venetian merchants smuggled the body of St. Mark the Evangelist out of Alexandria, and Venice built a church worthy of him next to the doge’s palace. The present basilica, consecrated in 1094, was modelled on the great churches of Constantinople, and for centuries every ship returning from the East was expected to bring something to decorate it: marble columns, carvings and, after the sack of Constantinople in 1204, four bronze horses. It was the doges’ private chapel until 1807, when it became Venice’s cathedral. The result is a church unlike any other in Italy, half Western and half Byzantine, and a record in gold of the Republic’s wealth.
What you’ll see
- The mosaics: the domes and vaults are covered in gold-ground mosaics telling the stories of the Bible and of St. Mark’s body reaching Venice. Look up in the Pentecost and Ascension domes.
- The marble floor: a rolling carpet of inlaid stone patterns and animals, uneven after centuries of settling into the lagoon.
- The Pala d’Oro: the gold altarpiece behind the high altar, made by Byzantine and Venetian goldsmiths and set with enamels and hundreds of gems. It needs its own ticket.
- The museum and Loggia dei Cavalli: upstairs, the original bronze horses, close-up views of the mosaics, and the terrace over St. Mark’s Square where copies of the horses stand.
- The Campanile: the bell tower in the square, rebuilt after it collapsed in 1902, has a lift to the top and a view over the domes, the lagoon and, on clear days, the Alps.
Tickets and how to visit
Prices and rules from the Procuratoria di San Marco, as of October 2026:
- Basilica (€10): entry to the church at your booked time.
- Basilica and Pala d’Oro (€20) or Basilica and Museum (€20): the museum ticket includes the Loggia dei Cavalli terrace.
- Full ticket (€30): the basilica, Pala d’Oro, museum and terrace.
- Campanile (€15): booked separately, with its own time slot.
- Discounts and free entry: under-10s go free; ages 10–18, students up to 26 and over-65s get 50% off, with proof at the door. Visitors with a disability and a companion enter free with documentation.
- A bonus: since July 2025 any basilica ticket also lets you into more than 30 other Venetian churches within six months, including Torcello’s cathedral, the Salute’s sacristy and the Redentore.
- Named, timed entry: tickets are nominative and checked against ID, and you enter only in your booked slot, so be on time.
- Booking: on tickets.basilicasanmarco.it or at the basilica’s ticket points. Prices for tour operators are higher.
- Hours: Monday to Saturday 9:30–17:15 (last entry 16:45); Sundays and holidays 14:00–17:15 for the basilica, while the museum opens at 9:30. Hours change for services, so check before you go.
- Bags: backpacks and bags are not allowed inside; leave them first at the free deposit at the Ateneo San Basso, in the lane to the left of the façade.
- Dress code: shoulders and knees covered, for men and women, and quiet inside: it is a working cathedral.
How long to allow and when to go
Weather for your datesSunrise and sunset
The basilica itself takes 30–45 minutes; add 30 minutes for the museum and terrace and 15 for the Pala d’Oro. Book the first slot at 9:30, before the square fills with day-trippers, then go up to the Loggia dei Cavalli for the view. From October to January, high tides can cover the square for a few hours: the basilica is protected by glass barriers around its base, but pack waterproof shoes.
Accessibility
Wheelchair users enter through the Porta dei Fiori, on the left side of the basilica, which has a ramp; ask the staff there. The museum upstairs has a lift and a stair lift. The ancient floor is uneven, so take care.
Getting there
The basilica faces St. Mark’s Square. Vaporetto lines 1 and 2 stop at San Marco and nearby San Zaccaria; line 1 takes about 45 minutes down the Grand Canal from the station. On foot, follow the yellow “Per San Marco” signs from the Rialto.
Combine it with
The Doge’s Palace is next door, its Gothic Porta della Carta gateway right beside the basilica, and the two make a perfect morning. Plan the rest of your stay with our Venice travel guide, and see our boat trips guide for the lagoon islands and our city sightseeing guide.
St. Mark’s Basilica FAQ
How much does St. Mark’s Basilica cost in 2026?
As of October 2026, €10 for the basilica, €20 with the Pala d’Oro or with the museum and terrace, and €30 for everything. The Campanile costs €15. Under-10s go free.
Do I need to book St. Mark’s Basilica?
Yes, in practice. Every ticket has a booked time slot and your name, and you can’t enter outside your slot. Book on tickets.basilicasanmarco.it, the official site.
Can I bring a backpack into St. Mark’s Basilica?
No. Leave backpacks and bags at the free deposit at the Ateneo San Basso, just to the left of the basilica, before your slot.
What is the dress code for St. Mark’s Basilica?
Shoulders and knees must be covered, for men and women. Visitors in shorts, miniskirts or sleeveless tops are turned away, even with a ticket.
When is St. Mark’s Basilica open on Sundays?
On Sundays and religious holidays the basilica opens to visitors only at 14:00, after the morning services, with last entry at 16:45.
Does the St. Mark’s ticket include other churches?
Yes. Since July 2025 any ticket that includes the basilica also gives entry, within six months, to more than 30 other Venetian churches, including the Redentore and Torcello’s cathedral.
Sources
Place data: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODBL) · Wikidata (CC0)