Venice · St Mark's Square
St Mark's Basilica
The Byzantine basilica covered in gold mosaic, begun in 828 to house the relics of St Mark. Entry is by booked time slot, and the Pala d'Oro, the museum and the loggia over the porch cost extra.
- 2 h
- €10
- Book ahead
- St Mark's Square
Data checked on October 5, 2026
The basilica was begun in 828 to hold the relics of St Mark, which two Venetian merchants had taken from Alexandria. It is Byzantine in plan, with domes above a floor and ceilings covered in gold mosaic, and it was the church of the Venetian state as much as of the city. The interior is dark and lit mostly by the gold itself, so the visit is slow and quiet. Plan extra time if you add the Pala d'Oro altarpiece or the museum, where the original bronze horses stand, because the loggia over the porch looks out across the square.
What to look for
- Gold mosaics in the domes and the entrance hall
- The Pala d'Oro altarpiece (extra ticket)
- The bronze horses in the museum (extra ticket)
- The loggia over the porch with a view of the square
Opening hours
| Monday | 9:30 am–5:15 pm | last entry 4:45 pm |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:30 am–5:15 pm | last entry 4:45 pm |
| Wednesday | 9:30 am–5:15 pm | last entry 4:45 pm |
| Thursday | 9:30 am–5:15 pm | last entry 4:45 pm |
| Friday | 9:30 am–5:15 pm | last entry 4:45 pm |
| Saturday | 9:30 am–5:15 pm | last entry 4:45 pm |
| Sunday | 2:00 pm–5:15 pm | last entry 4:45 pm |
Monday to Saturday 09:30 to 17:15, Sunday and religious holidays 14:00 to 17:15. Last entry is 16:45. On Sundays the museum and the loggia open from 09:30 while the basilica itself waits until the afternoon. Times can change with events and services.
Source: Procuratoria di San Marco, checked October 5, 2026
Tickets and booking
Adult ticket €10. The basilica alone is 10 euros. Adding the Pala d'Oro or the museum and loggia makes 20 euros, and the full ticket with all three is 30 euros. Any ticket that includes the basilica also gives six months of entry to more than 40 other Venetian churches, including the Salute sacristy and the basilica on Torcello.
Tickets are named from the moment you book, and you can only enter in the slot you chose, with five minutes of tolerance. Book on the official ticket site. A slot showing zero is sold out.
Getting there
The basilica faces the square, about five minutes on foot from the San Zaccaria and San Marco Vallaresso vaporetto stops.
Tip
Book the first slot of the day, then walk straight on to the Doge's Palace while its queue is still short.