Venice St. Mark’s Basilica After Hours: 1.5-Hour Tour

Your guide will meet you at St. Mark’s Square for this special after-hours visit to St. Mark’s Basilica. With thrilling anecdotes and swashbuckling stories, your guide will tell you about the history of Venice and St. Mark’s.

Hear how the Basilica received its precious relics via a 9th-century kidnapping. Passersby will wonder where you are going as a custodian unlocks the Basilica’s doors for you to enter.

Inside, take a deep breath as you experience St. Mark’s Basilica as almost no one else has ever been able to, aside from the doge himself. There is no standing elbow-to-elbow with other tourists and no crowd noise. Instead, you are alone with your guide and the custodian.

In tranquility and peace, experience the Basilica. You can even go where the others cannot during the day. See the crypt where the bones of St. Mark are said to be kept. Plus, you can see the walls stained by the past floods that devastated Venice. The crypt used to be flooded every time high tide hit the city.

The evening is also the best time to visit because it is the time of day that the mosaics are at their most beautiful. All 43,000 square feet are illuminated, glimmering and sparkling in the dark.

Your guide is passionate about Venetian art and history. Hear the tale of how St. Mark’s became St. Mark’s, a story that pivots on a kidnapping and a dangerous sea voyage. Learn where the precious marbles decorating St. Mark’s come from in one 1-hour tour.

Important information

What to bring

• Long pants
• Long-sleeved shirt

Not allowed

• Backpacks
• Baby strollers
• Short skirts
• Shorts
• Sleeveless shirts

Know before you go

• The Basilica is a holy place and attire must be appropriate. Both men and women are asked to wear clothing that covers at least the shoulders and knees. Your tour operator cannot be held responsible for entry denied due to improper dress
• This tour is wheelchair accessible with some difficulties; it is recommended to contact the local partner before the tour to make arrangements
• Backpacks are prohibited inside St. Mark's Basilica
• This tour operates rain or shine. However, occasionally St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace are closed to the public, without previous notice, due to high tides or particular festivities
• If you select the option that includes the Doge's Palace, there will be a break (up to 2 hours) between your visit to the Doge’s Palace and your after-hours tour of St. Mark’s Basilica

Not suitable for

• Wheelchair users
• People with mobility impairments