St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) visitor opening hours are typically Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am until 5:15 pm, with the last entrance at 4:45 pm. On Sundays and national holy days, visitor access usually starts later, running from 2:00 pm to 5:15 pm, again with the last entrance at 4:45 pm.
closed days
St. Mark’s Basilica doesn’t have a simple “weekly closed day” the way many museums do. Instead, visitor access depends on the church’s liturgical schedule, so the building can be open on the calendar but not open to tourists at certain times. The most important example is Sunday morning: the official ticketing FAQ explains that on Sundays from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm only the Museum is open because Holy Mass takes place in the Basilica, and then the Basilica opens to visitors later in the day.
So, in practical terms, if you’re asking “which days is it closed,” the answer is usually “none,” but you should treat Sunday morning as the time when the Basilica is effectively closed for sightseeing, with general visitor entry restarting at 2:00 pm on Sundays and public (holy) holidays. On top of that, the same official guidance warns that opening and closing times can change on national holy days, celebrations, and occasions attended by the Patriarch of Venice, so occasional short-notice restrictions are possible even on normal-looking days.
Lastentry
St. Mark’s Basilica last entry for visitors is 4:45 pm (16:45). On the official ticketing FAQ, this is stated as the last entrance, with the Basilica closing at 5:15 pm, both on Monday to Saturday and on Sundays / national holy days (Sundays simply start later, at 2:00 pm).
Because St. Mark’s is an active church, times can still shift for celebrations or special occasions, so if you’re planning a tight visit, it’s worth treating 4:45 pm as a hard cutoff and checking the official notices close to your date.
Admissiondays
St. Mark’s Basilica admission days are best understood as “when tourists are admitted,” because the building is a living church and worship can override sightseeing access. In normal conditions, visitors can enter the Basilica from Monday to Saturday, and it’s also open to visitors on Sundays and national holy days, but with a later start. The official ticketing FAQ lists tourist access as Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am, with visitor entry ending at 4:45 pm and closing at 5:15 pm, while on Sundays and national holy days tourist access runs from 2:00 pm until the same 4:45 pm last access, closing at 5:15 pm.
The detail most people miss is Sunday morning. Official pricing information notes that on Sunday mornings until 2:00 pm, and during religious services, the only area open to visitors is the Museum and Horses Loggia, because Mass takes place in the Basilica. So, if you’re planning “admission days” for a tight itinerary, you can treat the Basilica as visitable on any day of the week, but treat Sunday morning as a time when general sightseeing admission to the Basilica itself is effectively paused.
https://www.stmarksbasilica.com/
St. Mark’s Basilica packing
St. Mark’s Basilica packing is really about one thing: arriving “church-ready” and security-ready, without carrying anything that slows you down or risks being refused at the entrance. Even if you’ve visited plenty of Italian churches, San Marco is stricter than most people expect, and the rules are enforced on busy days.
Clothing comes first, because it decides whether you walk straight in or get turned back. The official guidance is clear that your shoulders and knees should be covered, and the access rules give practical examples of what won’t be accepted, such as bare shoulders, overly short skirts or shorts, and overly deep necklines. Men are expected to keep their head uncovered, and it is not allowed to enter barefoot. In summer, the easiest “packing move” is a thin scarf or light layer that lives in your bag and goes on the moment you step into the queue, so your outfit works for both the heat outside and the basilica inside.
Your bag matters even more than your outfit. The access regulation sets a size rule: backpacks and luggage larger than 40 × 30 × 20 cm cannot enter, and you cannot enter with a trolley at all. So if you’re coming straight from the station or you’re carrying a daypack because you’re doing Venice all day, plan to leave the big bag at your hotel or a luggage storage before you even walk into the square. It’s the difference between a smooth visit and a frustrating detour.
Security is part of the experience, so pack as if you’re going through a checkpoint. The rules state that entry includes a metal detector check and that guards can also inspect the inside of bags and backpacks. That’s why it’s smart to keep metal-heavy items to a minimum and to avoid carrying anything that looks questionable “just in case.” The regulation also spells out examples of items that are treated as risks, including drones, portable tripods, weapons, glue and paint, and other objects that could endanger people or the building.
Inside, the basilica expects you to behave like you’re in a place of prayer, not a normal tourist attraction. The official rules require quiet and ask you to silence your phone and not take calls, and they also prohibit food, drinks, and even chewing gum. So if you normally travel with snacks and a drink in your hand, the better plan is to finish them before you join the line and keep anything you’re carrying tucked away. You’ll feel more comfortable, and you won’t be distracted by what you’re allowed to do once you’re inside.
Photography is another area where packing choices matter. The access rules allow photos only for strictly personal use, prohibit professional devices, and ban streaming altogether, with any broader filming or reproduction requiring written authorization. In practice, that means you should leave the “content-creator kit” behind and bring only what you can use quietly and respectfully, without turning the basilica into a studio.
Two last details make a real difference. First, the rules say you need a valid ticket and a valid identity document, and staff can check these during your time inside, so keep your ID and ticket easy to reach rather than buried in a bag. Second, footwear choice matters more than you’d think: the regulation discourages heels and unstable shoes because there are narrow, steep passages and uneven spots, and it also warns visitors to be extra careful when acqua alta affects movement through the complex.
If you pack with those realities in mind—modest layers, a small bag, no bulky gear, and essentials kept accessible—St. Mark’s Basilica stops feeling stressful and becomes what it should be: a quiet, unforgettable hour in the heart of Venice.
