Landmark · Venice
St Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco): free entry days, tickets & hours
Independent guide, not the official St Mark's Basilica website. Official links are under Sources.
St Mark's Basilica is free for some visitors, not for everyone.
- Free for: entry to pray or attend Mass via the Porta dei Fiori (worship, not sightseeing); residents of Venice and the other municipalities of the Diocese (Basilica, Pala d'Oro and Museum); children under 11; visitors with disabilities and their companion.
- Otherwise: basilica admission, individual booking (Porta San Pietro) — €10.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free forFree entry to pray or attend Mass via the Porta dei Fiori (worship, not sightseeing) · 07:30–19:30 | people attending a service (worship only, no sightseeing) | Prayer access only (Masses e.g. Mon-Sat 8:00, 10:00, 18:45; Sun 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 18:45). Not a sightseeing visit; the paid areas (Pala d'Oro, Museum) are not included. | No |
| Free forFree for residents of Venice and the other municipalities of the Diocese (Basilica, Pala d'Oro and Museum) | Venice residents | Municipalities listed: Venice, Caorle, Cavallino-Treporti, Eraclea, Jesolo, Mira, Quarto d'Altino, plus the Parish of Cittanova (San Donà di Piave). Show ID at the entrance gates. Not valid for the Bell Tower. | No |
| Free forFree for children under 11 | children under 11 | Show ID at the entrance. Not valid for the Bell Tower. | No |
| Free forFree for visitors with disabilities and their companion | visitors with disabilities (+1 companion) | Show the disability certificate. Not valid for the Bell Tower. | No |
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- Coming to pray or for Mass? Use the Porta dei Fiori on the north side (Piazzetta dei Leoncini) - no ticket.
- Children under 11 and residents of the Diocese of Venice enter the basilica free with ID.
- On Sunday mornings only the Museum and Horses Loggia are open to visitors; the basilica opens at 2pm.
- Your basilica ticket also opens dozens of Venetian churches and the Salute sacristy.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: St Mark's Basilica
Ticket & extrasVenice: St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace & Bridge of Sighs★★★★☆ 4.1 · 5.3k reviews1 - 2.5 hoursfrom €41.76
Guided tourVenice: St Mark's Basilica & Campanile Ticket & Tour Options★★★★☆ 4.2 · 3.1k reviews1 - 2.5 hoursfrom €18
Guided tourSt. Mark's Basilica Guided Tour with Museum★★★★☆ 4.3 · 3.0k reviewsfrom €32
Skip-the-line ticketSt. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Tour★★★★☆ 4.4 · 2.8k reviewsfrom €79
Skip-the-line ticketSt. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace Skip-the-Line Tickets★★★★☆ 4.4 · 2.5k reviewsfrom €63
Guided tourSt. Mark's Basilica Night Tour ★★★★★ 4.5 · 2.2k reviewsfrom €129
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Official prices
St Mark's Basilica ticket prices
| Basilica admission, individual booking (Porta San Pietro) — Prices rose in 2025-26 as part of the 'contribution for St. Mark' scheme; the ticket also opens many other Venetian churches, the Salute sacristy, Torcello basilica and the Human Safety Net home. Tickets are nominative. Ages 10-18, students under 26 and over-65s get an extra 50% off (not free). Bell Tower is never free. | €10 |
| Basilica + Pala d'Oro — The gold-and-enamel altarpiece behind the high altar. | €20 |
| Basilica + Museum and Horses Loggia — Original bronze horses and the terrace over the piazza. | €20 |
| Basilica full ticket (Basilica, Pala d'Oro, Museum and Loggia) | €30 |
| St Mark's Bell Tower (Campanile) — Lift to the top for the best view of Venice; no free categories. | €15 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
| Mon | 09:30–17:15 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 09:30–17:15 |
| Wed | 09:30–17:15 |
| Thu | 09:30–17:15 |
| Fri | 09:30–17:15 |
| Sat | 09:30–17:15 |
| Sun | 14:00–17:15 |
Visits: Mon-Sat 9:30-17:15 (last admission 16:45); Sundays and holidays basilica from 14:00 (Museum and Horses Loggia from 9:30). Visitor access may be suspended for worship. Prayer entrance (Porta dei Fiori) 7:30-19:30 daily. Bell Tower opens 9:30, closes 19:15 in winter.
Piazza San Marco, 30124 Venice, Italy (visitor entrance Porta San Pietro; prayer entrance Porta dei Fiori)
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
Worth paying for nearby
Paid highlights within walking distance
FAQ
St Mark's Basilica: common questions
Is St Mark's Basilica free?
St Mark's Basilica has no free entry for everyone. Also free: entry to pray or attend Mass via the Porta dei Fiori (worship, not sightseeing); residents of Venice and the other municipalities of the Diocese (Basilica, Pala d'Oro and Museum); children under 11; visitors with disabilities and their companion. Otherwise the official ticket costs €10.
Who gets free entry to St Mark's Basilica?
People attending a service (worship only, no sightseeing) — prayer access only (Masses e.g. Mon-Sat 8:00, 10:00, 18:45; Sun 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 18:45). Not a sightseeing visit; the paid areas (Pala d'Oro, Museum) are not included.. Venice residents — municipalities listed: Venice, Caorle, Cavallino-Treporti, Eraclea, Jesolo, Mira, Quarto d'Altino, plus the Parish of Cittanova (San Donà di Piave). Show ID at the entrance gates. Not valid for the Bell Tower.. Children under 11 — show ID at the entrance. Not valid for the Bell Tower.. Visitors with disabilities (+1 companion) — show the disability certificate. Not valid for the Bell Tower..
How much is a ticket to St Mark's Basilica?
Basilica admission, individual booking (Porta San Pietro) costs €10 on the official site.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about St Mark's Basilica
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Sources
Where this comes from
- basilicasanmarco.it/en/liturgical-services/ · checked Saturday, 24 October 2026
- tickets.basilicasanmarco.it/en/support/prices · checked Saturday, 24 October 2026
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.