St Mark’s Basilica tour in Venice

St Mark’s Square would not be as spectacular without the Clock Tower, San Basso, the Bell Tower and the famous Doge’s Palace and Basilica San Marco. The central portal gives a glimpse of the magnificence of the church, but the interior with the Pala d’Oro (Golden Pall) embellished with precious stones will leave you breathless. Visiting the Basilica requires an experienced guide. With our tours you get skip-the-line entry, which allows you to avoid long queues!

St Mark’s Cathedral tour

Avoid the crowds with skip the line access and visit St Mark ‘s Basilica with an expert guide! You will be told the extraordinary story of this cathedral, its influences and see the richness of its decorations.

In order to enjoy it without unpleasant surprises, online advanced reservation with anticipation is needed. To help you plan your visit, we offer you 2 options to skip the line at St Mark’s Cathedral:

• a shared group tour with other visitors of the Basilica;
• a private walking tour of St Mark ‘s Basilica with local guide.

For St Mark s Basilica tickets and guided visit Click on the BOOKING button at the top right to choose your preferred option. You will be able to make a mock reservation to see the price according to your preferences.

The tour lasts around 1 hour, including 20 minutes inside the basilica (with an extra 10 minutes for the Pala d’Oro if included). The rest of the tour takes place outside, with explanations in front of the façade or in the surrounding streets.

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Need a tailor-made tour?

For groups of more than 20 people or if you would like to enrich the tour (exploration of the San Marco district, access to the Campanile di San Marco, visit to the Doges’ Palace, etc.), we offer customised packages based on your needs and availability.

👉 Contact us by email to receive a quote tailored to your project.

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Guided tour of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice: important information

Due to long queues and various problems related to availability, the Procuratoria di San Marco, responsible for tourism management, has implemented a complete reform. From 1 July 2025, the following will apply:

• access to the basilica is only possible with an online reservation (previously known as a “skip-the-line ticket”) to prevent the sale of unauthorised tickets;
• the number of visitors is limited to better manage visitor flow;
• tickets are nominative and now include combined options with other tourist attractions such as Torcello or La Salute;
• prices have been adjusted;
• these new rules allow for easier entry, shorter queues, the prevention of unauthorised ticket resales and a more pleasant and comfortable experience for all visitors.

A skip-the-line ticket to St. Mark’s Basilica and several treasures of Venice

From 1 July 2025, the entrance ticket to St. Mark’s Basilica will no longer be limited to visiting the basilica alone. It will also open the doors to three other extraordinary cultural sites:

• Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta in Torcello: a medieval gem on a peaceful island in the lagoon;
• Sacristy of the Basilica della Salute: a sacred place rarely accessible to the public;
• Pinacoteca Manfrediniana (Diocesan Museum in the Patriarchal Seminary of the Basilica della Salute): a precious collection of Venetian sacred art.

🕒 These sites can be visited within six months of purchasing your ticket to St. Mark’s Basilica. (Keep your ticket safe!) Entry to the Basilica is still subject to a reserved time slot system, while the other sites offer greater flexibility.

Tours of st Mark’s Basilica Venice

Inspired by the Byzantine style, the basilica follows a Greek cross plan, topped by five domes (a central dome and four branches). Located on piazza San Marco, the basilica was built on the ruins of a church built around the year 830. Its purpose was to collect the relics of Saint Mark, brought back by Venetian merchants.

The majestic facade

Its spectacular facade (completely restored) is dominated by the copy of the famous horses of Saint Mark, bronze horses stolen in the thirteenth century by the Venetians in Constantinople. The main facade of the basilica has four large portals, from the 12th century and, on the right, the window of the Zen chapel. These portals are decorated with mosaics, numerous ancient columns and sculptures from different periods.

The golden mosaics

The interior of the basilica is sublimated with gold. The ceilings and upper walls are covered with golden mosaics (hence its nickname “Golden Basilica”) and the lower walls covered with marble.

Do you need tickets for St Mark’s basilica?

The answer is yes. We advise you to book online with anticipation, You can actually get in line and wait for your turn. Keep in mind that most of the tickets are being sold online, and it can often happen that a time slot is fully booked, and you end up not being able to enter, or stay in line for quite a long time. The admission price to the single basilica ticket does not include access to certain areas, and some visitors are surprised to have to pay an additional fee on the spot. 

The pala d’oro

It is a rectangular goldsmith’s panel (altarpiece) decorated with enamels and precious stones, located behind the high altar. Dedicated to the evangelist Mark, its purpose was to protect the relics of the saint. The relics (the body of Saint Mark) were previously kept in a sarcophagus under the high altar. The pala d’oro is not included in the shared tour but you can visit it, paying a supplement directly there.

The Basilica’s Museum

Here you will find many exhibits that belong to the history of the basilica itself, such as the original bronze horses of St. Mark. You will also have access to the terrace that overlooks the famous St. Mark’s Square and enjoy a magnificent view of Venice.

The crypt of the St’Mark’s Basilica

The crypt of the basilica is obviously under the building. It would be the resting place of the relics of Saint Mark. This area is not accessible during the “normal” guided tours. However, if you are interested, it is possible to organize an “exclusive” visit of the basilica that includes access to the crypt. Contact us if you are interested in this option!

Basilica of San Marco – Opening hours and days of visit

Opening times of the Basilica from 9:30 am to 5:15 pm (Sunday and solemnity “of obligation” from 2 p.m.). If you wish to visit the Basilica without a guide, you can reserve a ticket on the Basilica website. You can come without a ticket and wait in line, but availability is not guaranteed.

 

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Find out more about the must-see sites in Venice :

• the Doge’s Palace
• Combo Basilica and Doge’s Palace