Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a place of magic and mystery that enchants millions of visitors every year. Its popularity can become a nightmare : endless hours in line at monuments like St. Mark's Basilica or the Doge's Palace .
If you don't want to wait hours in the sun or rain and turn the experience into a true dream, without having to wait in line, you can rely on these small but practical tips.
First rule to avoid lines in Venice: book online
Booking online is the most effective way to avoid ticket lines. In the digital age, going directly to the ticket office is a waste of time you can easily avoid. And let's get to the point: to visit St. Mark's Basilica, you really have no choice but to book online . Online booking is mandatory starting July 1, 2025.
To visit one of the most beautiful monuments in Venice, all you have to do is:
- Book a skip-the-line ticket online;
- Choose the right time slot.
The effective combination of these two simple rules allows you to plan your visits online, schedule a great tour of the city, and enjoy magical Venice stress-free.
Don't think the rules are different for the Doge's Palace; we're talking about one of the finest examples of Venetian Gothic architecture. A beautiful building you can't miss, yet a daily destination for anyone who wants to discover the wonders of Venice.
Here too, the golden rule of smart purchasing applies: buy tickets online and skip the line . This way, you can enter through one of the entrances reserved for you, avoiding wasting too much of your time in the city.
Avoiding the queues at St. Mark's and the Doge's Palace: play it smart with the right timing
For those who want to stay on top of things, the best strategy is to book online, avoiding peak times. In this case, you should know two or three things that will allow you to better plan your visit :
- Noon is the worst time, the most crowded;
- The peak times for the two historic sites are from 10:00 to 15:00;
- Periods such as the days of the historical regatta, public holidays and the Venice Carnival see the highest seasonal attendance, ever;
- The Doge's Palace is the attraction that requires the most time to visit, so good planning would suggest starting right here;
- On Sundays and religious holidays, the Basilica opens to visitors only in the afternoon.
So, what should you do to enjoy St. Mark's and the Doge's Palace without too many hassles? If possible, plan your visit during weekdays , preferably between Tuesday and Thursday. Then, choose to visit these places early in the morning or towards closing time. This means booking a tour that starts around 9:30 am, if possible, or alternatively around 4:00 pm.
The Doge's Palace closes at 7:00 PM, meaning you can easily schedule the two visits at the same time, choosing the Basilica first and then the Doge's Palace later. This way, you can book late, when most guided tours and groups have finished their tours. Then, between April and October, you can take advantage of weekends for a visit that extends until 11:00 PM, allowing you to choose to enjoy the sunset or the evening at one of the city's most panoramic spots.
The best time to visit Venice and its attractions, experience the city slowly , and enjoy the pleasures of a relaxed atmosphere are the shoulder seasons, such as spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October). During these months, the weather is pleasant, the chaos is significantly less, and with a short-term rental, the city is at your disposal. Need more help? Here you can book tickets for the Doge's Palace and here you can book tickets for St. Mark's Basilica.
Practical tips and things to know for visiting St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace
If you want to enjoy your visit stress-free, you should know that St. Mark's Basilica has a dress code . This means that if you don't want to wait in line unnecessarily, you should dress appropriately for a place of worship: avoid tank tops and shorts; the basic rule is that shoulders and knees should be covered.
Please remember that large luggage is not permitted . If you plan to visit the Basilica and the Museum of San Marco before leaving, you can store your luggage for free at the San Basso office, located in a street to the left of the Basilica.
To save money, there are combined and cumulative tickets that include access to the Doge's Palace and other Venice museums such as the Monumental Rooms, the Marciana Library or the Correr Museum like the Venice Pass or you can choose the VenetoMyCard , one of the best options for building your own single Venice pass.
Don't miss the chance to visit St. Mark's Bell Tower
You can't combine the Basilica and the Doge's Palace without considering St. Mark's Campanile, known as "El parón de casa . It offers the most spectacular view of Venice and is open daily, with no interruptions. However, the line here is also very long, so the best solution is always to purchase a skip-the-line ticket online.
And how do you coordinate a visit to these three attractions? You have endless options: combine a visit to St. Mark's Basilica with a visit to the Campanile, or you can decide to visit the two attractions as two separate entities.
You can then choose to do everything in the afternoon, leaving the bell tower for last to see the city bathed in the colors of the sunset and the lights coming on in St. Mark's Square —an unforgettable experience. Alternatively, you can do it by visiting the bell tower in the morning, the Doge's Palace, and then St. Mark's Basilica, after a well-deserved lunch break.
Skip the lines and enjoy Venice stress-free
You have some time to imagine yourself visiting Venice, discovering it from top to bottom, even retracing the footsteps of Corto Maltese , for a slightly more off-the-beaten-path adventure. Any time is a good time to visit this magical city, but if you take a tip, consider a short-term or temporary rental. The less crowded months will allow you to truly soak up its magical atmosphere.
In this case, to discover the city like a true local, all you have to do is book one of our apartments online!
