Venice sightseeing tickets: the Doge's Palace, St Mark's Basilica and the Campanile

This guide is for first-time visitors to Venice who want the three big sights on St Mark's Square: the Doge's Palace, St Mark's Basilica and the Campanile (the bell tower). They stand within a couple of minutes' walk of each other, but each has its own ticket, its own hours and its own rules. The ones that catch people out are Sunday mornings at the Basilica, named tickets with ID checks, and bag limits. If you also want a day on the lagoon islands, see our Murano Glass Museum and Burano Lace Museum tickets guide.

Who is this for?

• First visit, one or two days: you want the palace, the mosaics and the view from the top without wasting your morning in the wrong queue.
• Weekend visitors: on Sundays and public holidays the Basilica opens to visitors only at 14:00, so plan the palace for Sunday morning.
• Families: the Campanile has a lift, so small children don't have to climb. On the Basilica terraces, children up to 12 must be with an adult and held by the hand.

Which ticket should I pick?

Doge's Palace

You can book the Doge's Palace fast-track ticket. The ticket page lists access to the Bridge of Sighs, the first floor of the Museo Correr, the National Archaeological Museum and the Marciana National Library. At checkout there is a version with free cancellation; pick it if your dates may change.

This matches the official St Mark's Square Museums ticket, a single ticket for the palace, the Museo Correr, the Archaeological Museum and the Monumental Rooms of the Marciana Library. One official notice is worth knowing: holders of a St Mark's Square Museums ticket without a set entry time are admitted to the palace only from 12:00. Check that your voucher shows an entry time if you want a morning visit.

Pick this one if you only have time for one sight. The palace was the seat of the Venetian Republic's government, and the route includes the Bridge of Sighs.

St Mark's Basilica

You can book a hosted entry ticket for St Mark's Basilica. At checkout you choose the Basilica only, the Basilica plus terrace, or the Basilica plus terrace and the Pala d'Oro, the gold altarpiece. When we checked, it was non-refundable and could not be rescheduled. It is a hosted entry, so read your voucher for the meeting point and time.

You can also book direct on the official Basilica ticket site. Either way, the official access rules apply: tickets are named, you need a valid ID at the entrance, and you can enter only within 15 minutes before or after your booked time. Under the same rules, visitors on tickets sold through operators may not use audio guides or apps inside the Basilica.

Pick this one for the gold mosaics. The visit inside is short: the access rules allow a maximum of 20 minutes in the Basilica and 10 minutes at the Pala d'Oro.

St Mark's Campanile

You can book a Campanile entry ticket with an audio guide. It covers the bell tower and a digital audio guide, but not the Basilica. When we checked, it was non-refundable with no rescheduling.

The official Campanile page gives the tower's height as 98.6 metres. It collapsed in 1902, was rebuilt "as it was, where it was" and reopened in 1912. A lift was added in 1932 and reaches the bell chamber in about 30 seconds.

Pick this one for the view over the square, the domes and the lagoon. Check each official page for current prices.

When are they open?

These are the hours the official pages showed for mid-November 2026:

• Doge's Palace: daily 09:00 to 18:00 in the winter season (1 November to 31 March), last admission 17:00. Closing procedures begin 30 minutes before closing time. See the official opening hours.
• St Mark's Basilica, Pala d'Oro, Museum and Loggia: Monday to Saturday from 09:30, last admission 16:45, closing 17:15. On Sundays and public holidays the Basilica opens at 14:00, while the Museum and Horses Loggia open at 09:30. The daily 10:00 to 10:30 slot is no longer sold, because of worship. See the official opening hours.
• Campanile: winter hours open at 09:30, with last admission between 18:00 and 18:45 and closing at 19:15. Times can change for events or bad weather.

The Doge's Palace and the Museo Correr have announced extended evening hours for 25 and 26 December 2026 and 1 and 2 January 2027.

What's the best time to go?

A workable one-day plan:

1. Morning, Doge's Palace: arrive with a timed entry soon after 09:00. Give the palace and the Bridge of Sighs most of the morning; the Correr and the library rooms are on the same ticket.
2. Early afternoon, St Mark's Basilica: book a slot after lunch on a weekday, or from 14:00 on a Sunday.
3. Late afternoon, Campanile: November days are short, so a late slot can catch the evening light. Its last admission is later than at the palace or the Basilica.

Venice's access fee doesn't apply in November. For 2026, the city applied it on 60 days between 3 April and 26 July only. See the official access fee page for 2027 dates.

How do I get there?

All three sights are on St Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) or the Piazzetta next to it.

• By waterbus: the official palace page lists Line 1 to Vallaresso or San Zaccaria, or Line 2 to Giardinetti, from Piazzale Roma or Santa Lucia station. The city's public transport operator is AVM/Actv.
• On foot: the Basilica's official page puts the walk from Piazzale Roma or the station at about 30 to 45 minutes.
• Doge's Palace entrance: Porta del Frumento, on the Piazzetta San Marco.

Common mistakes

• Planning the Basilica for a Sunday morning. It opens to visitors only at 14:00 on Sundays and public holidays.
• Booking a ticket without an entry time for the palace. Untimed St Mark's Square Museums tickets are admitted only from 12:00.
• Forgetting ID. Basilica and Campanile tickets are named, and staff check ID at the entrance.
• Bringing a big backpack. At the Basilica, bags over 40 x 30 x 20 cm aren't allowed, and trolleys never are. At the palace, luggage over 1 linear metre (the three sides added together) isn't allowed. Medium bags and backpacks go into the free cloakroom.
• Bare shoulders or very short shorts. The Basilica asks for covered shoulders and knees, and men must remove hats.
• Arriving late. The Basilica and Campanile allow only 15 minutes either side of your booked time.

FAQ

Does the Doge's Palace ticket include St Mark's Basilica?

No. The palace ticket covers the palace, the Museo Correr, the Archaeological Museum and the Marciana Library rooms. The Basilica and the Campanile are run separately and need their own tickets.

Can I visit St Mark's Basilica on a Sunday?

Yes, from 14:00. On Sundays and public holidays the Basilica opens to visitors at 14:00, with last admission at 16:45.

Is there a lift in the Campanile?

Yes. The official site says a lift was added in 1932 and reaches the bell chamber in about 30 seconds.

Do I need to pay the Venice access fee in November?

No, not in November 2026. The 2026 fee applied only on set days between 3 April and 26 July. Check the official page for the 2027 calendar.

Which one should I pick if I only have one morning?

The Doge's Palace, with a timed entry. On a weekday you can add the Basilica, which closes at 17:15.

Sources

• Doge's Palace: visitor information, hours and tickets
• St Mark's Basilica: opening hours
• St Mark's Basilica: entrance rules
• St Mark's Basilica: full access rules (PDF, Italian)
• St Mark's Campanile: history
• Comune di Venezia: access fee