St. Mark’s Basilica Tickets, Opening Hours and Tips for Your Visit

St. Mark’s Basilica is Venice’s cathedral, on Piazza San Marco. General entry is free, and it’s open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. The last entrance is at 4:45 p.m., and on Sundays and holy days of obligation the doors open at 2 p.m.

At a glance

• General entry to the basilica: free
• Basilica, Monday to Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., last entrance 4:45 p.m.
• Basilica, Sundays and holy days of obligation: 2 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., last entrance 4:45 p.m.
• Museum and Horses Loggia: every day, 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., last admission 4:45 p.m.
• Campanile, summer period (March to November): 9:30 a.m. to 9:15 p.m., last access 8:45 p.m.
• Nearest vaporetto stops: San Marco (Vallaresso) and San Zaccaria

How much are tickets to St. Mark’s Basilica?

General entry to the basilica is free. The Pala d’Oro, the museum and loggia, and the treasury each have a separate ticket. The Campanile also needs its own ticket, which includes the elevator to the top.

Visits are booked online on the official website. On the Booking page you choose the ticket, the date and the time slot. Arrive at your booked time: the tolerance is 5 minutes, and entry may be denied if the date and time don’t match the booking.

Because the square fills up in the late morning, a later time slot is a good choice for a calmer visit.

What are the opening hours of St. Mark’s Basilica?

The basilica is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m., with last entrance at 4:45 p.m. and closing at 5:15 p.m. On Sundays and holy days of obligation it opens from 2 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. for last access, again closing at 5:15 p.m. The Pala d’Oro follows the same hours as the basilica. Opening and closing times may vary on holy days of obligation, celebrations and events with the Patriarch of Venice.

The Museum and Horses Loggia are open every day from 9:30 a.m., with last admission at 4:45 p.m. On Sundays the museum is the only part open in the morning, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., because Mass is celebrated in the basilica.

The Campanile keeps longer hours. From March to November it’s open from 9:30 a.m. to 9:15 p.m., with last access at 8:45 p.m.

When is the best time to visit St. Mark’s Basilica?

The square is crowded in mid-morning, so arriving early or booking a later slot brings more calm. On Sundays the basilica itself doesn’t open until 2 p.m., which makes the afternoon the time for the interior and the morning the time for the museum.

The Campanile is the choice for a late visit in the warm months. In July highs reach 83°F (28°C), and the tower stays open until 9:15 p.m. between March and November. The elevator offers wide, quiet views.

How to get to St. Mark’s Basilica

From Rialto, it’s 10 to 15 minutes on foot following the San Marco signs. You can also take vaporetto line 1 or 2 to San Marco (Vallaresso). From Accademia or Salute, cross the Ponte dell’Accademia and follow the signposted route to the square, or take line 1 to San Marco. San Zaccaria is the other nearby stop.

Validate your ticket at the start of each journey and each time you change vehicle. A standard 75-minute ticket costs €9.50, and on board the waterbuses only digital payments are accepted.

What to see at St. Mark’s Basilica

The basilica gives its name to the square. It’s built in oriental style and topped by five Byzantine domes, and it’s a well-known example of Italian-Byzantine architecture. Inside, the Pala d’Oro is a paid visit with its own ticket.

The museum and loggia hold the Horses of Saint Mark and are also a paid visit. Next to the basilica, the Campanile stands 324 feet (98.6 meters) high. Its elevator takes you to the top.

Piazza San Marco is a monumental site, so avoid sitting on the ground or eating and drinking there.

What else to see near St. Mark’s Basilica

The Gallerie dell’Accademia hold Venetian masterpieces from the 14th to the 18th century. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with ticket sales ending at 6 p.m. Entry is free for everyone on the first Sunday of each month. The Rialto Bridge, built from 1588 to 1591, has 24 shops along its two covered ramps.