St Mark’s Square is open to the public, day and night. What you book are the monuments around it: St Mark’s Basilica and its paid parts (Pala d’Oro, museum and Loggia dei Cavalli), the bell tower, and the Doge’s Palace. For the basilica and the bell tower, the official ticket office is that of the Procuratoria di San Marco, which sells timed-entry tickets. This page gathers the official hours recorded on 24 October 2026, the difference between official tickets and resellers, the city’s access fee and a sunrise and sunset calendar for the square.
To place the square in a trip, see our guide to visiting Venice, our page on the best time to visit Venice and, right next door, our guide to the Doge’s Palace.
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St Mark’s Square: key facts
- Square: public space, no ticket
- Basilica, Pala d’Oro: Monday to Saturday 9:30 am–5:15 pm (last entry 4:45 pm); Sundays and holy days of obligation 2 pm–5:15 pm (last entry 4:45 pm)
- Museum and Loggia dei Cavalli: daily 9:30 am–5:15 pm (last entry 4:45 pm); on Sunday mornings only the museum is open, during Mass
- Bell tower: opens 9:30 am; in summer last entry 8 pm–8:30 pm, closing 9:15 pm; in winter last entry 6 pm–6:45 pm, closing 7:15 pm
- Booking: named, timed tickets on the official ticket office linked from the basilica’s website; about 5 minutes’ tolerance on the booked time
- Source: hours checked on 24 October 2026 on the official ticket office of the Procuratoria di San Marco; they may change during celebrations led by the Patriarch
What to see in St Mark’s Square
The square is a large paved space, closed on three sides by the Procuratie, the former buildings of the Procurators of St Mark, and open to the east onto the basilica. To the south, the Piazzetta runs down to St Mark’s Basin, between the Doge’s Palace and the Marciana Library. Everything can be seen free of charge from outside: facades, the columns of the Piazzetta, the Clock Tower, the historic cafés under the arcades.
St Mark’s Basilica
According to Wikipedia, a first church was founded in 828 to house the relics of St Mark. The present building, rebuilt from 1063 on a plan inspired by the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople, was consecrated in 1094. It became the cathedral of the Patriarchate of Venice in 1807. The interior is covered in gold-ground mosaics; on the facade, the four bronze horses are copies of the quadriga brought from Constantinople in 1204, whose originals are displayed in the museum.
The visit has several parts: the basilica itself, the Pala d’Oro (a gold altarpiece behind the high altar), the St Mark’s Museum and the Loggia dei Cavalli, which offers a view over the square from the facade. The official ticket office offers options that combine these parts. According to the official website, tickets that include the basilica also give access, within six months of purchase, to other sites: the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta in Torcello, the Salute sacristy, the Pinacoteca Manfrediniana and a long list of churches in the city, as well as the Casa di The Human Safety Net in the Procuratie.
The bell tower
The bell tower, standing apart in front of the basilica, is 98.6 meters (323 ft) tall according to Wikipedia. The original collapsed on July 14, 1902; it was rebuilt identically and inaugurated in 1912. You go up to the top by elevator. The view takes in the rooftops, the lagoon and, on a clear day, the Alps. Its hours are wider than the basilica’s: this is the visit to keep for the end of the day.
The Doge’s Palace and the square museums
The Doge’s Palace and the Correr Museum belong to the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia, with their own ticket office. We detail the palace, its hours and its routes in our guide to the Doge’s Palace.
Tickets: official or reseller?
The official ticket office for the basilica and the bell tower is reached from the « Acquista biglietti » button on the basilicasanmarco.it website. You choose the ticket type, the date and the time slot; confirmation arrives by e-mail with a QR code. Printing is not required: the ticket can be shown on your phone. The site specifies that entry is only guaranteed within the booked slot, with a tolerance of about 5 minutes (example given: a 10:00–10:30 slot, entry possible until 10:35). A slot shown as « 0 » is full or closed.
We do not give prices: the official ticket office shows them only at the time of booking, and we could not read them reliably on 24 October 2026. Resellers (ticketing platforms, guided-tour agencies) often sell tickets with a guided tour, audio guide or a combination with the Doge’s Palace. Their prices include a service fee; compare with the official ticket office before you buy, and read the cancellation terms.
Free entry and accessibility
According to the Accessibility page of the official website, entry is always free for people with disabilities and their companions: just present proof at the gates. The museum, upstairs, has an elevator and a stairlift. During services, wheelchair access is through the Porta dei Fiori (Door of Flowers) on the left side of the basilica, which has a ramp.
Booking your visit to the basilica and bell tower
The official ticket office is enough for a simple timed entry. A reseller ticket is mainly worthwhile if you want a guided tour in a particular language, a guide for the basilica and the Doge’s Palace on the same day, or a ready-made package. Points to check before you pay: what is included (basilica only, Pala d’Oro, museum, bell tower), the exact meeting time, the guide’s language, the cancellation policy and whether the slot is actually booked with the basilica.
Venice’s access fee
The square is free, but on certain days the city of Venice asks day visitors for a contribution. According to the municipality’s official website (cda.ve.it, consulted on 24 October 2026), the 2026 trial phase is over: since July 27, 2026, you can visit Venice without payment or an exemption request. The fee will be due again in 2027, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, on the dates below; its terms (amount, exemptions) will be announced by December 31, 2026 at the latest.
| 2027 month | Announced days of application |
|---|---|
| March | 26, 27, 28, 29 |
| April | 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23 to 30 |
| May | 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28 to 31 |
| June | 1 to 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 |
| July | 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 |
| August | 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 |
Best time to visit St Mark’s Square
The square changes a great deal with the time of day. Early in the morning, before the monuments open at 9:30 am, it is almost empty and the light comes from the east, behind the basilica. At the end of the day, the sun sets behind the Napoleonic Wing, to the west, and lights up the basilica’s facade. The table below gives sunrise and sunset times on the square, calculated for the 15th of each month, in local time (daylight saving time included).
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length (h:min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:46 | 16:53 | 9:06 |
| February | 07:12 | 17:37 | 10:24 |
| March | 06:23 | 18:16 | 11:52 |
| April | 06:26 | 19:56 | 13:30 |
| May | 05:40 | 20:33 | 14:53 |
| June | 05:21 | 21:00 | 15:39 |
| July | 05:36 | 20:56 | 15:20 |
| August | 06:10 | 20:18 | 14:08 |
| September | 06:48 | 19:22 | 12:34 |
| October | 07:26 | 18:25 | 11:00 |
| November | 07:08 | 16:40 | 9:32 |
| December | 07:43 | 16:27 | 8:45 |
A useful cross-check: in summer the bell tower closes at 9:15 pm while the sun sets around 9 pm in mid-June; a late slot lets you watch the sunset from the top, subject to last entry (8 pm–8:30 pm). In winter the bell tower closes at 7:15 pm, well after sunset (around 4:30 pm in mid-December). For weather and acqua alta, see our page on the best time to visit Venice.
Suggested half-day route
- 9:15 am: arrive on the empty square, walk around the Piazzetta and the columns
- 9:30 am: basilica on your booked slot, then the Pala d’Oro
- St Mark’s Museum and the Loggia dei Cavalli for the view over the square
- Late morning: Doge’s Palace (separate ticket office)
- End of the day: bell tower, ideally around sunset in summer
Common mistakes
- Arriving late for your slot: beyond about 5 minutes, entry may be refused.
- Assuming the basilica opens on Sunday morning: it only opens at 2 pm, and only the museum is accessible in the morning.
- Confusing the basilica ticket with the Doge’s Palace ticket: they are two different ticket offices.
- Forgetting to check, in 2027, whether your visit day is subject to the access fee.
- Buying a reseller ticket without knowing whether it includes the bell tower or only the basilica.
What to see nearby
From the square, vaporettos reach the islands of the lagoon: see our guides to Murano and Burano. In February the square is the heart of the Venice Carnival. Still undecided about the city? Read our comparison Rome or Venice.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay to enter St Mark’s Square?
No, the square is public. Only the monuments (basilica, bell tower, Doge’s Palace, museums) are paid, and the city may ask day visitors for an access fee on certain days in 2027.
What are St Mark’s Basilica opening hours?
Monday to Saturday 9:30 am–5:15 pm, last entry 4:45 pm; Sundays and holy days of obligation 2 pm–5:15 pm, according to the official ticket office, consulted on 24 October 2026.
How late can you go up the bell tower?
In summer, last entry between 8 pm and 8:30 pm, closing at 9:15 pm; in winter, last entry between 6 pm and 6:45 pm, closing at 7:15 pm. Hours may change depending on events and weather.
Where do you buy official basilica tickets?
On the Procuratoria di San Marco ticket office, reached from the basilicasanmarco.it website, where you choose a date and a time slot.
Does the basilica ticket give access to other sites?
Yes: according to the official website, to the Torcello basilica, the Salute sacristy, the Pinacoteca Manfrediniana and many churches in Venice, within six months of purchase.
Does the access fee still apply in 2026?
No: according to the municipality, it no longer applies since July 27, 2026. It will return in 2027, from late March to mid-August, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Our sources
- Procuratoria di San Marco, official ticket office: « FAQ » and « Luoghi visitabili con biglietto – Orari di apertura » pages, consulted on 24 October 2026
- Basilica di San Marco (basilicasanmarco.it): « Accessibilità » page, consulted on 24 October 2026
- Comune di Venezia, Contributo di accesso (cda.ve.it), consulted on 24 October 2026
- Wikipedia articles « St Mark’s Basilica » and « St Mark’s Campanile », consulted on 24 October 2026
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, applied by Destination de Voyage to the coordinates of St Mark’s Square (15th of each month, year 2027, clear horizon)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and access rules may change: check the official website before you go.