Get St. Mark's Basilica Skip-the-line Tickets for Fast Entry

How long are the queues at St. Mark’s Basilica?

St. Mark’s Basilica sees over 3 million visitors each year, and lines outside the church can be long, particularly from April to October.

On busy days, general admission queues stretch across St. Mark’s Square, with wait times ranging from 60 to 90 minutes between 10am and 1pm. The line often snakes through Piazza San Marco, past the Doge’s Palace entrance.
Even during off-season, unreserved entry can mean a 20–40-minute wait, especially in the late morning. Most lines form well before the basilica opens and move slowly due to crowd control and security checks.
Even with fast-track, you’ll still need to queue briefly through security—typically 10–20 minutes, though it can spike on busy days.

Types of queues at St. Mark’s Basilica

Basilica di San Marco and Piazza San Marco, Venice Full-Day Guided Tour

Ticketing queue

Location: Main entrance (Porta di San Clemente), west façade
Who it’s for: Visitors buying on-site tickets
Wait time: 60–90 mins (peak), 20–40 mins (off-peak)
Skip‑the‑line? ✅Yes, if you book online in advance

Campanile tower in San Marco Square, Venice, with surrounding historic architecture.

Bell Tower entrance

Location: Right of the main entrance, facing St. Mark’s Square
Who it’s for: Skip‑the‑line ticket holders, Tour groups, Venice Pass holders
Wait time: 0–10 mins
Skip‑the‑Line? ✅ Yes— bypasses general line, often quieter, with direct entry

St. Mark's Basilica exterior with ornate domes and arches in Venice, Italy.

Priority Entry / Porta di San Pietro

Location: Left of the main entrance, beside the Door of Flowers
Who it’s for: Priority access ticket holders and select guided tours
Wait time: 10–20 mins (security only)
Skip-the-Line? ✅ Yes – skips the ticket queue, security still applies

Security screening area at a tourist attraction entrance with visitors in line.

Security queue

Location: Right after ticket validation
Who it’s for: All visitors
Wait time: 10–20 mins (typical), up to 30 mins busy days
Skip‑the‑line? ❌ No—mandatory for everyone

Choose the right entrance for you >

All your options to skip the queues at St. Mark’s Basilica

Tour guide with tourists at St. Mark's Basilica, Venice, skip-the-line tickets.

1. Book skip‑the‑line tickets in advance

Pre-booked timed-entry tickets let you skip the long ticket counter queues and go directly to security. Entry is granted close to your selected time slot. These tickets often sell out 2–3 days in advance during peak season (April–October), so booking early is essential.

2. Choose a guided tour

Guided tours include skip-the-line access, often via the quieter Bell Tower (Porta di San Clemente) or Porta di San Pietro entrances. These tours also get you through security faster and include expert narration about the mosaics, history, and architecture.
Explore guided tours →

St. Mark's Basilica and Clocktower in Piazza San Marco, Venice, with tourists exploring the square.

3. Visit during off-peak hours

Weekday mornings before 10am or afternoons after 3pm tend to be less crowded. In the low season (November to March), wait times typically drop to 20–40 minutes, especially on non-holiday weekdays.
Best time to visit→

Tour guide leading a group at St. Mark's Basilica with a gondola ride in Venice, Italy

4. Avoid peak days

Tuesdays to Thursdays generally see lighter footfall than weekends. Avoid visiting when multiple cruise ships dock (typically mid-morning to early afternoon). Early April, late May, and mid-September to early October are still busy—winter months offer the calmest experience.
Plan your visit→

Notre Dame Cathedral interior during mass, Paris, France.

5. Avoid religious service hours and free-access windows

Masses are held at 7am, 8am, 12pm, and 6:45pm. These times are reserved for worshippers, and sightseeing is not allowed. While entry is free, crowds often build before and after services. Skip-the-line ticket holders may still face brief delays around these hours—plan accordingly for a smoother experience.

Happy people in front of st mark basilica

6. Use the Venice Pass

The Venice Pass includes skip-the-line access to St. Mark’s Basilica and the Bell Tower. You’ll enter via a reserved entrance and skip both ticket queues. The pass also offers priority elevator access to the Campanile for panoramic city views.

Compare your St. Mark’s Basilica ticket options

Ticket type	Wait times	Queues skipped	Includes	Price from	Book
On-site ticket	60–90 mins	❌ None	Entry to Basilica	€3	Not recommended
Entry ticket	20–30 mins	✅ Ticket queue	Guaranteed entry to Basilica	€20	St. Mark's Basilica Entry Tickets with Skip-the-Line Access
Entry with audio guide	20–30 mins	✅ Ticket queue	Entry to Basilica + audio guide	€44.90	St. Mark’s Basilica Skip-the-Line Tickets with Audio Guide
Guided tour	10–20 mins	✅ Ticket queue	Basilica entry + guide + St. Mark's Museum + Pala d’Oro	€56	St. Mark's Basilica Skip-the-Line Guided Tour
Combos with Doge Palace	10–30 mins	✅ Ticket queue at both sites	Entry to both + audio guides + guided tour of both landmarks, depending on the experience chosen	€69.70	St. Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

What are customers saying?

Loved by 35 million+

Brenda

Sep 2025

5/5

We chose the self-audio tour with Skip the Line access. Our guide led us to the Basilica, showed our tickets and we were in. Very easy. The audio was very good. The Basilica is beautiful and well worth the time and money. We enjoyed it very much.

Hartmannsgruber

Aug 2025

5/5

Admission was absolutely smooth, there was no queuing and the audio guide worked without any problems. The advice to download the app and thus the guide beforehand should definitely be heeded (some visitors are probably still standing in front of the cathedral trying to download it...).

María

Aug 2025

5/5

We arrived twenty minutes late because we got lost and the group had already left, but the guy who was in the office at the meeting point, very nice, accompanied us to the Basilica of San Marcos to let us in.

Bureau

Aug 2025

4/5

The.guide ali was very nice and very good. However we could have saved time by downloading the applications before the appointment..ali would only have had to scan the qr code..... Luckily he had the connection to share the internet, because depending on the cell phone it can take a long time. Interesting experience and top customer service

Simon

Jul 2025

5/5

Perfect handling, uncomplicated and redeemable according to description. Audio guide also easily available in all languages.

Sache

Jul 2025

3/5

Meeting point was changed shortly before the start. Information only by email and not in the app. The guide who led the group to the entrance was not recognizable as an employee of Crown Tours (no purple T-shirt or pennant).

Carol

Jun 2025

3/5

even though the description says it included the audio guide at the basilica the lady at the audio guide booth said my ticket did not include one I had to pay another 28 euros can i claim this back ?

Elizabeth

Jun 2025

3/5

The ticket was available at the posted location and it allowed me to use the shorter line. But the quality of the audio guide was poor for St Mark's. I did not know there were different versions of the Audioguide. This one was put out by the tour company and only gave a summary, no details. I wish I had bought the one sold at the door.

Frequently Asked Questions about skip‑the‑line tickets at St. Mark’s

What does “skip‑the‑line” actually mean?

It means you can bypass the long ticket queue at the entrance. However, all visitors—regardless of ticket type—must still go through mandatory security. Some tickets also use quieter entrances like the Bell Tower or Porta di San Pietro for faster access.

Do I still need to go through security?

Yes. Security screening is mandatory for all visitors, even with skip-the-line or guided tour tickets. Expect a wait of 10–20 minutes during busy hours.

How much time do I save with skip-the-line tickets?

During peak season (April to October), regular entry lines can stretch 60–90 minutes. With skip-the-line access, most visitors enter within 20–30 minutes—saving up to an hour.

Do skip-the-line tickets include the Pala d’Oro and St. Mark’s Museum?

Some do. Entry-level skip-the-line tickets typically include access to the Basilica only. For the Pala d’Oro altarpiece and the museum, choose a guided tour or upgraded combo ticket.

Can I buy skip-the-line tickets on the same day?

Sometimes—on quieter days. But during peak months, skip-the-line tickets often sell out 2–3 days in advance. Booking early is highly recommended.

Is a guided tour better than a regular skip-the-line ticket?

It depends. Guided tours offer skip-the-line access plus expert narration, access to additional areas (like the museum), and a smoother entry via reserved group entrances. If you're interested in the mosaics, domes, and layout, [this deep-dive on the interior and architecture is a great primer →], the guided tour is the way to go.

Can I enter the Basilica at any time with my ticket?

No. All skip-the-line tickets require you to choose a time slot during booking. Arrive at least 15 minutes early to allow time for security checks.

Is skip-the-line available on free-entry or religious service days?

No. During mass or liturgical services—usually at 7am, 8am, 12pm, and 6:45pm—tourist entry is paused. Skip-the-line tickets are not valid during these windows.

Why do skip-the-line tickets cost more?

You're paying for priority access, timed entry, and crowd avoidance. Prices also reflect limited capacity per time slot and, in some cases, access to additional areas or guided services.

Can I edit or reschedule my ticket?

Usually not. Most tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable. Some platforms allow changes for a fee—check the cancellation policy before booking.

Is there a specific entrance for skip-the-line ticket holders?

Yes. Most skip-the-line ticket holders use the Bell Tower entrance (Porta di San Clemente), located to the right of the main façade, near the Calle Valleresso vaporetto stop (Line 1 or N).

Can I re-enter the Basilica with the same ticket?

No. All tickets—including skip-the-line options—are valid for single entry only.

Are audio guides included with skip-the-line tickets?

Some are. Entry-level tickets may include a multilingual audio guide. Others, like combo tickets or guided tours, may replace this with live commentary.

Do children need skip-the-line tickets too?

Yes, children usually need a separate ticket—though many platforms offer discounted or free entry for minors under a certain age. Always check the product details.