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Your Complete Guide to the St. Mark's Basilica Entrances in Venice
Contents
One of the most popular cathedrals in Italy and the pride of Venice, St. Mark's Basilica is a must-visit attraction. If you are visiting the basilica for the first time, you might be confused about how to enter the building. We’ve compiled all the information about the St. Mark’s Basilica entrances here. Keep reading to find out about the different entrances and which one you should choose!
Where is St. Mark's Basilica?
A short distance from Doge's Palace and the Venetian lagoon, St. Mark's Basilica is situated in the heart of Venice, at St. Mark's Square.
Address: Piazza San Marco, 328, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy | Find on maps
St. Mark's Basilica Entrances
There are three entrances to St. Mark’s Basilica - the Door of Saint Clement, the Door of Flowers, and the Door of Saint Peter. There is also an entrance to the Bell Tower and one to the museum.
St. Mark’s Basilica Entrances Explained | Location & Getting There
Porta di San Clemente (Door of Saint Clement)
The main entrance, which is always used by crowds of impatient tourists, is the enormous central door. There is a magnificently carved Romanesque portal from the 1200s that features colorful representations of the months of the year as well as a variety of occupations and crafts.
How to reach? Visitors coming by Public Vaporetto can take line 1 and get down at San Marco Vallaresso and walk to the main entrance from there.
Entrance timings: The basilica is open from 9:45 AM to 5 PM, Mondays through Saturdays, and from 2 PM to 4 PM on Sundays and public holidays.
Porta di Fiori (Door of Flowers)
This entrance, located on the northern side of the basilica, near Leoni square, is another entrance that is preferred by tourists. The Porta Dei Fiori, or Flower Gate, earned its name because it is embellished with a lovely Romanesque bas-relief of the Nativity scene. This entrance is used by the visitors to enter for prayers, masses, and services.
How to reach? Visitors coming by train can get down to Santa Lucia and take a walk to the entrance from there.
Entrance timings: This entrance is open only for mass, prayers, and other religious festivals. The basilica is open from 9:45 AM to 5 PM, Mondays through Saturdays, and from 2 PM to 4 PM on Sundays and public holidays.
Porta di San Pietro (Door of Saint Peter)
The Door of Saint Peter is the second door to the left of the main entrance. This entrance is mainly used by visitors who have a priority entrance ticket. Visitors with priority tickets can scan the QR code on the ticket and enter the Basilica directly through this entrance.
How to reach? If you are taking a water ferry, you can take line 2, you can get down at the stop San Marco Giardinetti, and walk to the basilica from there.
Entrance timings: This entrance is open from 9:45 AM to 5:00 PM, Mondays through Saturdays, and 2 PM to 4 PM on Sundays and holidays.
Bell Tower Entrance
The entrance to the bell tower is situated on the facade’s right-hand side. Besides, for the skip-the-line ticket holders, the entrance is on the side of the tower connected to St Mark’s Square. Visitors with online tickets can use the entrance on the right side of the main entrance door to enter the tower.
How to reach? The Vaporetto Line 1 or N stops at San Marco Calle Vallaresso, which is just 270 meters far from the Bell tower.
Entrance timings: The entrance to the Bell Tower is open daily from 9:30 AM to 9:15 PM. The Bell Tower is often closed whenever there is adverse weather, such as fog, storms, or freezing weather.
St. Mark's Museum Entrance
The museum entrance is located on the second floor of St. Mark’s Basilica. It can be reached through a small door located close to the church's main entrance, which can lead you to the staircase to the second floor.
How to reach? Visitors coming by Vaporetto can take line 1 and get down at San Marco Vallaresso, and walk to the museum entrance. The entrance to the museum is located on the second floor of the basilica, which can be accessed through the staircase located near the main entrance.
Entrance timings: St. Mark's Museum is open daily from 9:45 AM to 4:45 PM from the end of October to the beginning of April. The museum's regular hours are 9:35 AM to 5 PM for the rest of the year.
How Do I Enter St. Mark's Basilica?
According to your ticket type, you can enter the basilica through one of the three entrances. However, to enter the facility, all visitors must buy a ticket first. There are numerous choices for this, ranging from basic admission tickets to guided tours. The best time to visit the basilica is early in the morning on a weekday.
Plan Your Visit to St. Mark’s BasilicaBook Your St. Mark's Basilica Tickets
Frequently Asked Questions About St. Mark's Basilica Entrances
Q. Where is St. Mark's Basilica?
A. St. Mark’s Basilica is located at Piazza San Marco, Venice.
Q. Where is the St. Mark's Basilica entrance?
A. The main entrance of St. Mark’s Basilica is located on the western side of the basilica.
Q. How many St. Mark's Basilica entrances are there?
A. There are three entrances to the basilica through which the visitors can access the church and other parts inside the basilica.
Q. Which is the best St. Mark's Basilica entrance?
A. The reserved entrance, which is at the Door of Saint Peter, is the best entrance to avoid the lengthy queues.
Q. What is the average wait time at the St. Mark's Basilica entrance?
A. The average wait time to enter St. Mark’s Basilica can be anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour if you don’t have a priority entrance or guided tour ticket.
Q. Which St. Mark's Basilica entrance do skip the line ticket holders use?
A. Skip the line ticket holders can use the Saint Peter’s door entrance.
Q. Which St. Mark's Basilica entrance is used for guided tours?
A. Guided tour groups must use the St. Peter’s Door entrance to enter the basilica.
Q. Which St. Mark's Basilica entrance do visitors with disabilities use?
A. Visitors with disabilities can use the Porta Dei Fiori or the Door of Flowers entrance.
Q. Which St. Mark's Basilica entrance do I use if I have already purchased tickets?
A. If you have already purchased tickets, you can use the Door of Saint Peter.
Q. Which St. Mark's Basilica entrance do I use if I don’t have tickets?
A. Use the main entrance - the Door of Saint Clement if you don’t have online tickets and need to purchase them at the basilica.
Q. Which St. Mark's Basilica entrance should I use if I’m traveling with a group?
A. If you are traveling with a group as a part of a guided tour, you can use the St. Peter's Door entrance.
Q. How do I avoid waiting in line for a long time at St. Mark's Basilica?
A. You can opt for St. Mark’s Basilica skip the line tickets or guided tours to avoid waiting in line.
Q. What are the St. Mark's Basilica timings?
A. St. Mark’s Basilica is open from 9:45 AM to 5 PM, Mondays through Saturdays, and from 2 PM to 4 PM on Sundays and holidays.
Q. What time should I visit St. Mark's Basilica to avoid waiting in line?
A. We recommend visiting St. Mark’s Basilica early in the day or right before closing time. The ideal season to avoid crowds is during winter.
