More about: St. Mark's Basilica in Venice Tickets and Tours
St. Mark's Basilica stands near the Doge's Palace and St. Mark's Square, the hub of the city's social and religious life. With over 4,000 square metres of gilded mosaics, marble floors and 500 columns dating back to the 3rd century, it is a unique temple in Italy.
As one of the most visited attractions in Venice, getting fast-track access to avoid queues or booking a guided tour of the Basilica can be a great idea. Access to St . Mark's most important treasures, the Museum, the Treasury and the Pala d'Oro, is subject to a fee. Here are the best options:
Venice St. Mark Basilica Tickets with Terrace Access
Access St. Mark's Basilica with an audio guide and views from the terrace
Skip the entrance queues and explore St. Mark's Basilica at your own pace with an audio guide and exclusive access to its terrace.
With this skip-the-line ticket to St. Mark's Basilica, you can explore this Venetian monument without waiting, accessing both the ground floor and the upper terrace, as well as the St. Mark's Museum. A digital audio guide in your language will accompany you throughout the tour so that you don't miss any details of its history, art and architecture.
In addition, you will enjoy spectacular panoramic views from the terrace, a privileged spot from which to contemplate St. Mark's Square and take the best photos of your trip. This option also includes the assistance of staff at the meeting point to help you with any questions before starting the visit.
Why I like this option: it combines skip-the-line entry, an audio guide and access to the terrace, allowing you to enjoy the basilica in complete freedom and with historical context.
Recommended if... you want to explore St. Mark's Basilica from the inside, learn with an audio guide and enjoy unique views from above.
Venice St Mark's Basilica Small Group Guided Tour
Tour St. Mark's Basilica with an expert guide
Discover every corner of this impressive temple on a guided walking tour and skip the queues and waiting times.
Walk around and marvel at this architectural masterpiece and Venetian icon. Tour St. Mark's Basilica on a guided tour with a small group of about 10 people. Enjoy the works that surround it, its domes and the traces of great artists who have left their legacy.
Access the terrace and take the best photographs, as well as enjoy a digital map with more than 200 points to visit, which will make this experience unforgettable.
Why I like this option: you'll skip the queues and waiting times and be able to tour the basilica with a guide who will help you appreciate every corner and story.
Recommended if... you want to take away a complete souvenir of this visit, learning from an expert throughout the tour.
How to buy tickets for St Mark's Basilica
Visiting this jewel of Byzantine art is a must if you are walking around Venice. You can get your tickets at the ticket office, but the influx of tourists to this place is so great that queues and waiting times are usually 45 minutes or more. What's more, you won't be able to guarantee entry at your desired time or on your desired day.
That's why I definitely recommend buying your tickets for St. Mark's Basilica in advance online. This will save you time and allow you to better organise your travel itinerary. What's more, you'll have peace of mind knowing that you'll have access not only to the Basilica, but also to the Museum, the terrace and the Pala D'Oro.
Ticket prices for St Mark's Basilica
Until recently, admission to St. Mark's Basilica was free. Unfortunately, due to the huge influx of tourists to the city of Venice, this has changed. You can now buy your tickets online, with prices ranging from CAD 40 depending on the season ** 40**
Types of tickets and visits to St. Mark's Basilica
There are different ways to explore St Mark's Basilica, from the simplest ticket with an audio guide to complete guided tours that include other monuments such as the Doge's Palace. The choice depends on the type of experience you are looking for: you can explore at your own pace, access exclusive areas such as the terrace or the museum, or delve into its history with an expert guide. Here are the main options:
- Skip-the-line ticket to St Mark's Basilica with terrace and audio guide from CAD 67: skip-the-line access, audio guide, museum and panoramic views from the terrace.
- Entrance with access to the Pala d'Oro, terrace and museum from CAD 104: also includes the famous Pala d'Oro and the Museum of St Mark's.
- Guided tour of the Basilica and the Doge's Palace from CAD 154: 2-hour tour of both monuments with an expert guide.
- Guided tour of the square and basilica from CAD 114: walking tour of St Mark's Square plus guided tour of the basilica.
- Guided tour of St Mark's Basilica after closing time from CAD 188: exclusive entry outside normal opening hours, includes the crypt, Pala d'Oro and option to add the Doge's Palace.
Opening hours of St Mark's Basilica
- St Mark's Basilica in Venice can be visited every day of the year from 9.30am to 5pm, with last admission 15 minutes before closing time.
- On Sundays and public holidays, opening hours are restricted to 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. from November until Easter of the following year.
What you shouldn't miss on your visit to St Mark's Basilica
Once you have chosen your type of tour and in addition to exploring this masterpiece of Byzantine art that is St. Mark's Basilica, there are four points of special interest that you cannot miss on your visit and which are paid for on site, except in the case of some of the excursions that include admission:
Golden Pole
This is the most important work of art in St Mark's Basilica, a large altarpiece set with enamels and precious stones.
Treasury of St Mark's Basilica
This is a Byzantine treasure of gold and silver originating from the sacking of Constantinople.
The Museum and the Horses of St. Mark
This museum is full of works of art, including the original sculptures of the Horses of St. Mark. Made of gold-plated bronze, these sculptures were located in the hippodrome of Constantinople and were part of the booty stolen during the Fourth Crusade. In addition, from the museum you can see the ceilings and mosaics of the basilica up close.
Basilica Balcony
From the terrace of St. Mark's Basilica, which you can access via the Loggia del Cavalli staircase, you will have unique views of the majestic St. Mark's Square. This was the royal balcony from which the Doge of Venice watched the ceremonies held in the square, and from here you can see the porticoed facades of the square, the Bell Tower, the Torre dell'Oroglio and the facade of the Doge's Palace.
In the background, you can see the columns of St. Mark and St. Theodore, and in the distance, you can see the island of San Giorgio Maggiore on the lagoon with its imposing church.
How to get to St Mark's Basilica
St Mark's Basilica is easy to find as it is located in the centre of the city, in St Mark's Square, so it is very easy to reach on foot or by vaporetto. If you are travelling to Venice but are not staying in the city, you can reach the basilica from the train station in half an hour on foot.
You can take advantage of a 72-hour pass, which gives you unlimited access to three water transport lines, allowing you to reach St Mark's Square and other key points in the city.
Other interesting activities
If you are interested in visiting St. Mark's Basilica, you may also want to consider visiting the Doge's Palace (you can read my article about it here Doge's Palace in Venice Tickets and Tours). I also recommend completing your trip to Venice with a gondola ride. To help you decide when booking your itinerary, here are the best options: The 5 Best Gondola Rides in Venice.