A central focal point on St. Mark's Square
In addition to the Campanile, which is impressive simply because of its height, St. Mark’s Basilica is the main attraction on St. Mark’s Square. That’s why the area right in front of the church (Basilica di San Marco) is the busiest. It doesn’t matter whether you’re touring the church, climbing up to the gallery, or simply admiring the numerous mosaics. So beautiful, so fascinating, so extraordinary that it simply draws in every visitor to Venice. As you can see in the photo, the basilica is currently undergoing renovation. The residents of Venice can tell at a glance when the photo was taken—depending on which part of the facade is currently covered.
Is admission free?
It used to be said that St. Mark's Basilica is a church. This is where the faithful pray to God. That's why admission is, of course, free. But …
All the tourists in Venice rightly thought that if this church was so impressive from the outside, just how beautiful and unique it must be on the inside. So let’s all go right in—as many of us as possible at once. And flashes, cameras, cell phones—anything that could capture a souvenir photo was put to use. The devout Venetians could no longer pray in peace. There's not a trace of peace and quiet.
So simultaneous access The number of visitors was limited to a tolerable minimum. And it wasn’t the entire church interior that was accessible to everyone, but rather a walking path lined with protective mats. This had the unpleasant consequence of endlessly long lines at the entrance. This situation, too, was actually unbearable.
Online reservations are required
Starting in July 2025, there will therefore be a new solution that has since proven effective: Every visitor to Venice who wants to enter St. Mark's Basilica, must be done in advance and online Specify a specific visit time. Visitors are only allowed to enter the cathedral during that time. There is NO ticket office at the cathedral itself anymore. Admission quotas are managed exclusively online. Each visitor is assigned a 30-minute time slot during which they are permitted to enter the cathedral. Not before, and not after. The current price is 10.00 euros per person.
Our tip: Be sure to make your reservation well in advance; once the daily quota is filled, there will be no way to enter St. Mark's Basilica in Venice.
St. Mark's Basilica in Venice: Reservation QR Code
On the page that this QR code takes you to, scroll down until St. Mark's Basilica is displayed. Or Basilica + Pala d’Oro, or Basilica of St. Mark + Museum
Then click the button: Buy tickets >
First, you must select a date and then a time in 30-minute intervals. Admission is 10.00 euros. Children up to 9.9 years old get in free. (Bring ID!) Summer hours: 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. You can book just St. Mark’s Basilica (10.00 euros), St. Mark’s Basilica plus the Pala d’Oro (20.00 euros), or St. Mark’s Basilica plus the museum and balcony (Galeria) (20.00 euros). Full access to St. Mark’s Basilica: 30.00 euros
Important Note: „“None of the tickets are refundable. Once a reservation is completed, it cannot be modified." (You CANNOT cancel or change a confirmed and paid reservation.)