Venice: Help me decide on St Marks visit timing

Why not do both, if it matters to you: the first for the better experience, and the second for the photos in the right light?

Oh! Not a bad idea! Have you been there during the lighting of the mosaics? Worth it?

When we were there last fall, we were able to purchase skip the line tickets for an entrance at 11:30 to see the mosaics lit. That worked out just fine for us - we approached and got in with no wait. It was, however, moderately crowded inside.

I avoided going into the Basilica the three times I was in Venice, but on the fourth time I was passing, saw there was a minimal line-up and got in in about 5 minutes. It was around i pm and think a lot of people were at lunch. No lit up mosaics but I loved the feel of the ancient church when it was not crowded. This visit was mid-October and Venice was packed so not sure how I lucked out on such an oncrowded visit!

I was there early in the morning when it wasn't crowded, as that was what mattered most to me.

Thank you, all, for the input!

Hi princessabbydarling:
I highly recommend visiting while the cathedral is lit! I saw it both ways. The gold really shines ... it was breathtaking to me.
You can reserve a timed entry online (about 6 euros instead of the 3 euro if purchasing in person for a timed entry) to enter at 11:30.

But, if you'd appreciate a quiet reflective time, without lining up or paying for another timed entry, you could consider entering the smaller side entry to attend the prayer service? I attended during evening prayer service and appreciated the solemnity of the space, the scent, the environment, the respect. Of course, you cannot photograph at this time, and you are restricted to the partitioned area. A different experience.

You'll find plenty of other opportunities for the smaller, empty cathedrals around town, and perhaps travel to some throughout the lagoon. Enjoy!!

Does anyone know how long is the Basilica San Marco Saturday
Evening Prayer and Office of Reading service? TY.

marthasmclaughlin, you'd be better off starting a new thread with your question, as it's more likely others who didn't previously respond to this thread will read it.

Personally, St. Marks is a different place with the lights on. I would brave crowds to see it when the lights are on. People who haven't seen it with the lights on might say it's a pretty neat place. Those who have seen it with lights will tell you it's amazing.

I've been inside St Mark's three times - twice when lit (one of those times the lights were turned on while I was inside). When lit, it is magical! So muted without lights and little or no natural light. But with the lights on - it shimmers and takes my breath away!

I see this thread was started in March, but others have responded in the last few days, so
I will chime in and hope OP sees all of the replies....

Was there today. The "skip the line" ticket skips the line to get in, but, if you've also purchased
a ticket for Pala d'Oro and the Museum, it doesn't skip the line for that. There was no line for
the Pala, but a fairly significant one for the museum, mainly because the stairway is narrow and
they mush everyone together who wants to go to the museum. But if you want to see the ceiling
mosaics much closer up, get the museum ticket, as it gets you to the second floor. The museum
has some restored mosaics which you more or less can get right up close to.

As for the lighting, I was there around 11:15 and the lights were already on. Was still there when
they turned off the lights around 12:45, and the difference is huge. You may still be able to see
the mosaics near the entrance well, as they are near windows that let in ambiant light, but the
major ones more to the interior of the basilica are very dim after the lights go off.

Yes it's crowded, but it wasn't that crowded today. And you're taking a lot of pictures of things high
up, so that mitigates things a bit.

Another option is to actually attend a mass there....no tickets required, just enter along with the others attending the mass.....the attendees entered (at that time) sort over to the left. (And you even quietly, respectfully, ente after the mass has started....just find a seat and join along). Then you will have a few minutes also after the mass to look around a bit, and then you can just go up the stairs (after purchasing a ticket). Worked beautifully for us several years ago. We just very kindly asked one of the church ushers after mass) where/how we would go to go upstairs, and he kindly showed us. It is truly a beautiful place, and the view out over the square from the upper level is nice.