St Mark's Basilica Venice Tickets 2026: Prices, Pala d'Oro, Campanile

Most visitors arrive at St Mark's expecting a free church and find a queue, a dress code, and a sign that says no bags. The basilica is still a working cathedral, but tourist entry has been ticketed since 2024. The pricing splits into four overlapping options, and the Campanile is sold separately. Here's what each one actually buys you.

In 3 minutes:

• Basic entry is €10. Full ticket (with Pala d'Oro, Museum and Loggia) is €30. Campanile is a separate €15.
• Dress code is strict. Shoulders and knees covered, no exceptions.
• No bags allowed inside. Free deposit at Ateneo San Basso, next door.

How much do St Mark's Basilica tickets cost?

The Procuratoria di San Marco sells six ticket combinations. The two that matter for most visitors:

Basilica admission: €10. Gets you into the nave, the floor mosaics, and a view of the high altar. Pala d'Oro, Museum and Loggia not included.

Full ticket: €30. Basilica + Pala d'Oro + Museum + Loggia dei Cavalli (the upstairs terrace with the four bronze Horses). This is the one to pick if you only visit once.

Pala d'Oro alone: sold as a €20 combo with basilica entry. The standalone €10 supplement is only available at the door.

Campanile (bell tower): €15, separate ticket, separate queue. No combination with the basilica.

Individual visitors booking online get an automatic 20% discount on most categories. Under-11s, residents of the Diocese of Venice, and visitors with disabilities enter free (Campanile excluded).

What's actually inside

The basilica is dim on purpose. Eight thousand square metres of gold-ground mosaics cover the ceilings and domes; they only catch light when the sun angle is right. Mid-morning (10:00–11:00) is when the central Pentecost dome lights up. Late afternoon shifts to the apse.

The floor mosaics are 12th-century and easy to miss. A raised wooden boardwalk routes visitors through the nave; the geometric stonework you walk past dates from the 1100s and has buckled with the lagoon's subsidence. Look down at least once.

The Pala d'Oro sits behind the high altar. You climb three steps and walk around the back of the chancel to see it. Up close, the 1,927 stones and gold-enamel panels read as a single object; from the nave, it's a distant glow.

The Loggia dei Cavalli (upstairs) holds the four original bronze Horses, looted from Constantinople in 1204. The four on the façade are copies. The terrace view over Piazza San Marco is the best in Venice that doesn't require climbing the Campanile.

What do most visitors wish they knew about St Mark's?

The bag rule turns people away. No bags of any kind, even small handbags. The Ateneo San Basso deposit (left of the basilica) is free and takes about five minutes. Get there before the queue forms at 10:00.

Sunday mornings are useless for sightseeing. Until 14:00, only the Museum and Loggia upstairs are open to visitors. The nave is reserved for mass.

Campanile is lift-only. There are no stairs. The lift queue moves slowly and there's no skip-the-line option from any reseller. Aim for opening (9:30) or the last hour.

The free worship entrance is not a workaround. Porta dei Fiori on the north side is for prayer only. Staff check, and you can't wander.

If you're also visiting the Doge's Palace across the Piazzetta, do the basilica first (it opens earlier) and the palace after lunch. The queue dynamics work in your favour.

Frequently asked questions

How much are St Mark's Basilica tickets in 2026?

Basic basilica admission is €10. The full ticket (basilica plus Pala d'Oro, Museum and Loggia dei Cavalli) is €30. The Campanile (bell tower) is a separate €15 ticket. Individuals booking online get an automatic 20% discount on most tickets.

Can you visit St Mark's Basilica for free?

Worship access is free through the Porta dei Fiori (north side, Piazzetta dei Leoncini), but only for prayer and not for general sightseeing. Tourist visits to the interior require a ticket. Free admission also covers children under 11, visitors with disabilities and an accompanying person, and residents of the Diocese of Venice with ID.

What is the dress code for St Mark's Basilica?

Shoulders and knees must be covered. Sleeveless tops, shorts and short skirts are refused at the door, with no exceptions. Bring a scarf or a light layer if you're visiting in summer.

Can you bring a bag inside St Mark's Basilica?

No bags are allowed inside: handbags, backpacks, camera bags, suitcases or bumbags. Leave them at the Ateneo San Basso deposit, immediately left of the entrance. It's free and takes five minutes if you arrive before the morning queue.

Is the Pala d'Oro worth the extra ticket?

Yes. The Pala d'Oro is the gold-and-enamel altarpiece behind the high altar, set with 1,927 gems. You walk behind the main altar to see it from a metre away. The basic basilica ticket only lets you glimpse it from the nave.

If you're planning a full Piazza San Marco day, pair St Mark's with the Doge's Palace next door, and check whether the Venice Museum Pass is worth it for the rest of your stay (it doesn't include the basilica).