Venice St Marks and Giudecca timing

We are going to Venice next year. Who did you use to set up your St. Marks tour with? Thank You.

Hi, ChinaLake! I simply booked thru the St Marks official site.

Just to be clear, Abby, it doesn't sound as if you booked a tour, meaning one with a human guide, correct? I'm guessing this is what you booked:

https://basilicasanmarco.skiperformance.com/en/store#/en/buy

Just asking for Chinalake in case an escorted tour was what they were looking for. :O)

Regarding photos, yes they are allowed (you can see some of those in visitor reviews of the church on TripAdvisor) but monopods and tripods are almost universally banned in museums and churches so leave those at home or back at the hotel.. Expect the church to be very, very busy so be cautious of spending too much time front-and-center of any prime shooting locations so as to kindly share those spaces with other photobugs. :O)

Thanks, Kathy, for the clarification! Yes, this is a self-guided tour, no tour guide.

Kathy, it seems like you have some experience visiting the Basilica. Do you think 2 hours is adequate? Too much?

And, of course! Thank you for the reminder to share the space with all that are there to enjoy. 😊

Abby, I'd love to help you with that question but while I have been to the basilica, it was long enuf ago that it would be best for someone who has been more recently to weigh in.

LOL, I pretty much figured my comment about sharing photo space was "preaching to the choir," as they say, but for anyone else using this thread for their own trips... :O)

We were there last April. We were there for several hours, between all to see in the Cathedral itself, and the museum, and just overlooking the square. Rick’s tour is very good about explaining every thing there is to see. Hard to remember but I would imagine 2-3 hours at minimum.

Thanks, Marshallra! Very helpful!

I think 2 hours would be quite short. After you finish seeing the lower part of the church, you have the museum upstairs (with more great views of the mosaics) and the viewing terrace.

Thank you acraven! Good insights!

We were just in St. Marks two weeks ago, taking a tour with Walks of Italy. We spent about 1.5 hours in St. Marks. We could not visit the inside of the main church as they were having a first communion private service, so we spent that time in the museum and the outside balconies. I imagine visiting the inside would take at least another 30 minutes, so 2 hours is a good starting point. One note, it was really crowded, so that may also influence how much time you want or need for your tour.

Hi, Noticed that all the tickets for st. marks are sold out completely for the day I’m there. (used the link above.) Anyone have any ideas/ work around?

I ran into that problem, too--though I foolishly tried to buy the entry on the morning I wanted to see St. Mark's. You can stand in line with the other ticketless folks. The line looked really long when I arrived (probably just after 10 AM), but it moved quite fast. I got into the church in about 30 minutes. You can probably save some standing-in-line time by going earlier, but you'd then have to hang around a long time to get the benefit of the midday illumination.

Thanks. I decided if I don’t go in that’s OK ,so much in Venice and little time on the tour. I might prefer checking out glass and masks…

If you have taken the 17 day tour, do we actually go in Brunelleschi’s Dome and tour inside? I recall serving somewhere to book Day 8 after 12:00. Can’t find it now and I’m ready to book. Also did anyone find that a Vaporetto pass came in handy and was really needed, or just a ticket or two were needed?

Thanks so much all

Good question! I also am wondering about vaporetto pass… I am thinking about just buying a multi-day pass when we land at the airport. Then I never have to worry about finding one when we actually need it.

If you have taken the 17 day tour, do we actually go in Brunelleschi’s
Dome and tour inside?

That's in Florence and not in Venice, and specific to people on an RS tour, which the OP is not taking. Best to post as a new forum question for Florence and the 17-day tour.

Hey Kathy,
You’re right. I’ve been scattered these last few days and with several windows open,I posted it on the wrong forum. Yes I already do have a topic on the 17 day tour. 😜

Pick up the pass at the airport before you leave the terminal. It is quick and easy and then you never have to worry about buying a new ticket, or waiting on lines etc.

Thank you, Marshallra! 8 days!!!

Individual vaporetto tickets are 9.50 euros each now, so a pass usually makes more sense. The time period starts when you first validate the pass.
You can buy passes at the airport, major stops, & local tobacco shops. The latter do want cash.
At night, it's fun just to ride lines 1 and 2 up and down the Grand Canal. Try to sit outside if the weather is good, and some boats have front and rear outdoor seats.
Transportation from the airport is the Alilaguna, not vaporetto, it is different, and one way tickets are 15 Euros ( I think).
Safe travels!

The interior of St. Mark's is full of mosaics. It tends to appeal greatly to glass-lovers, of which I am one.

LOL, it's all too easy to have too much on the brain on the eve of a big adventure!! :O)

We toured St Mark’s on May 7th. I purchased a combination ticket that included: the Basillica, Pala d’Oro and Museum Loggia Cavalier Ticket. Our ticket time slot was for 15:30.
-Don’t be late.
-You will need to ask which line is for ticket holders as it isn’t obvious. You will be grateful you have a ticket.
-Purchase an AUDIO guide just before admittance. Wish we had. I didn’t ask and it wasn’t offered. Next time.
-No flash
-Made sure we saw St Mark’s tomb for our grandson.
-Be prepared as there are few opportunities for the restroom.
-We toured for 2 hrs and took a break at the museum cafe. Wasn’t straightforward how to pickup where we left off but the staff did allow us to backtrack after our respite. Could have stayed for 3 and 1/2hrs.

Wow, Brisla! Welcome back! I hope you had a magical time in Venezia! Very helpful info! I am planning to use Rick Steve’s audio tour… hopefully that will be good! I have my little map of the “skip the line” door versus the main door. And, I plan on getting there 30 minutes before my ticket time ( at least). Think that works?

i was in venice last week. went into san marco by standing in the ticketless line at about 9:00 am. line moved fast i was in soon enough. people who had 'skip the line' tickets didn't fare any better because there was only one line. two hours is more than enough but that depends on your style. i was out in less than an hour. the church is free but the palla d'oro and the museum and the exterior balcony are ticketed. by the way, the weather has been rainy and chilly since early may. looks like it will continue to be so for the month. i suggest bringing rain gear and an extra sweater to layer. lastly, i stayed in guidecca the whole time and took the vaporetto everywhere. the day passes are a lifesaver. you can jump on and off as much as you need.

Welcome home, alomaker! Thanks for sharing your experience. Yup, rain coat on the packing list for sure. It was sad to see the flooding in Emilia Romagna from all the rain. But, even a wet vacation is better than working, amiright?? We are planning lunch at La Palanca on Giudecca. Did you try it?

haha, not home yet! spent 4 days in vicenza after venice. did day trips to verona, treviso, and bardolino. all rainy! now i am in piacenza for 5 days, then bologna for another 5 then florence for 2, and finally on to spain. won't be back in the usa until july 5th. i did not eat at la palanca. giudecca is a great place to take photos of the main island from. also, go to san giorgio if you can. the church is nice and great view of piazza san marco from there. no issue taking photos inside san marco, just no flash as usual. have fun!

Jealous!! Safe travels!