Welcome to this guide that features St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco).
This guide is for anyone that is planning to visit this timeless Venetian attraction, and learn the best things you can do during your time around this area of Venice.
I don’t think I’m exaggerating by saying that St. Mark’s Square is the most beautiful square in the world. The ‘drawing room of Europe’ is what Napoleon used to call it, it’s the only square in Venice (all the others are called ‘campi’).
Piazza San Marco displays the wealth and power of the Serenissima Republic of Venice in a unique way and only by visiting it, you can get a real sense of that!
The magnificent St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace and the St. Mark’s Campanile draw visitors from all over the globe to the iconic square.
St Mark’s Square, Venice
Below you’ll see exactly why the timeless beauty of this square leaves its visitors lost for words. Let’s start by looking at the best things to do in St. Mark’s Square.
Firstly, if you’ve not been already, I invite every first-time (and even repeat visitors) to add St. Mark’s Square to their Venice itinerary and let me tell you exactly why…
Simply because this famous square and its rich Venetian historical, artistic and architectural heritage never fails to fascinate its thousands of daily visitors.
It’s also true that St. Mark’s Square is one of main locations affected by over tourism in Venice, and, this could negatively impact your visit to the square.
💡 Local Tip: visit St. Mark’s Square early in the morning (between 8 and 9 am) or late afternoon/early evening. The square is magical at night.
Where is St Mark’s Square
St. Mark’s Square is located in the San Marco neighbourhood, in the heart of the city. It’s 180 metres long and 70 metres wide and is the only square in Venice, since the rest of the squares are instead called campi and campielli.
It’s good to know that there’s also the bus and tram square called Piazzale Roma, in the Santa Croce district. From Piazzale Roma and the railway station Venice Santa Lucia, Piazza San Marco is 27 minutes walk away, which corresponds to 2 kilometres. The Rialto Bridge is only 600 metres away from St. Mark’s Square.
To learn more about the city’s streets, I suggest you read my neighbourhoods in Venice guide to understand what you can find in each specific area of Venice.
Is St Mark’s Square worth visiting?
Yes! And, if you’re still asking yourself if it’s worth visiting this popular (and only) square in Venice or simply wondering why it’s so highly praised,
Allow me to explain in a few points:
- St. Mark’s Square is a symbol and the beating heart of Venice. It’s also considered one of the most beautiful squares in the world. It’s the favourite place to go for a walk surrounded by stunning architectural and artistic heritage for locals and tourists alike.
- The most popular attractions of the city are based in St. Mark’s Square. Not only the piazza itself is considered a must-see landmark and included in any Venice itinerary, but also the St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, the St. Mark’s Campanile and the Torre dei Mori. In St. Mark’s Square you can also find the Correr Museum, the Archeological Museum and Marciana Library. Finally don’t forget to stop by for a coffee or drink in the oldest cafè in the world: Caffè Florian!
- St. Mark’s Square has always played a crucial role for the history of the city. Here it’s where important events were happening, from death executions, religious processions to tournaments or festivals. The best way to learn about the square’s history and the main attractions overlooking it, is by booking a guided tour with a professional guide.
How to get to St Mark’s Square
There are various ways to get to St. Mark’s Square from Santa Lucia train station, Piazzale Roma and there’s also a direct water bus from Venice Marco Polo airport.
From the train station or Piazzale Roma: you can walk, which I believe it’s the best way to explore the city, get a water bus (vaporetto) to S. Marco Giardinetti or S. Marco-S. Zaccaria (lines 1, 2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 and N) or a water taxi.
From Venice Marco Polo airport: the most direct transportation options are the blue or red (seasonal) Alilaguna water bus lines, the shared water taxi or a private water taxi, that I recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment.
What is St Mark’s Square famous for?
Piazza San Marco is by far one of the best tourist attractions in Venice and a very popular place to hang around during day and night for tourists and locals alike.
The square is known as one of the most beautiful squares in the world and is made up of three parts: the main square, the Piazzetta and the Piazzetta dei Leoncini.
Piazza San Marco is famous for the landmarks of great historical and architectural value it houses.
Landmarks to see in St Mark’s Square include:
- St. Mark’s Basilica;
- St. Mark’s Campanile;
- Marciana Library;
- Doge’s Palace;
- Procuratie Nove and Vecchie;
- Clock Tower;
- Royal Palace;
- Correr Museum.
Let’s also not forget that in Piazza San Marco, you can find Caffè Florian the first ever café to open in Italy (year 1720).
Best Hotels near St Mark’s Square
Having St. Mark’s Square on your doorstep is a dreamy experience for any traveller visiting Venice. Here’s my selection of the best hotels near St. Mark’s Square to check out if you want to sleep a few steps away from this beautiful piazza.
- Hotel Flora: a beautiful 3 star boutique hotel, set in a 17th-century palace, only 5-minute walk from St Mark’s Square.
- Baglioni Hotel Luna: one of the most beautiful 5 star hotels of Venice. With its on-site restaurants, cafè and rooftop terrace, frescoed ceilings, fine brocades and Murano chandeliers, this is a hotel you won’t easily forget!
- 286 Piazza San Marco: looking to stay on a more ‘modest’ budget but still wake up in the morning in front of the St. Mark’s Basilica? Then this modern, spacious but minimal guest house is what you’re looking for.
- Bellevue Luxury Rooms San Marco Luxury: Venetian-style rooms surrounded by precious decor and fabrics, marble bathrooms, and stunning views of the square, the Bellevue luxury rooms will deliver, no doubt!
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Things to do in St Mark’s Square
Don’t be surprised if you get distracted by all the beauty here, you can easily spend half a day walking around St. Mark’s Square and visiting its main attractions.
To help you out, below I am going to share a list of the best things to do in St. Mark’s Square which is designed to guide you during your stay in Venice.
Admire Mosaics in Saint Mark’s Basilica
The St. Mark’s Basilica or Basilica of San Marco is one of the top attractions of Venice and the religious heart of the Lagoon city.
It also happens to be the second most visited monument in Italy (after the Colosseum in Rome) and one of the most beautiful churches in the world.
It’s also known as Basilica d’Oro (Golden Basilica) for its incredible golden mosaics decorating the internal walls. It was built in the 11th century on the remains of a church dedicated to St. Mark, which in turn replaced a previous chapel dedicated to San Teodoro.
The Basilica displays beautifully the multi-layered history of Venice and changes that went through the city over the centuries. As a result, you can expect to admire a fusion of Roman, Venetian and Byzantine artistic and architectural styles.
The architectural layout is inspired by the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. Both the external facade and the interior are richly decorated with marble, mosaics, columns and sculptures. The St. Mark’s Basilica is a very popular sight to visit, so expect to see hoards of tourists waiting to get inside.
I suggest getting the skip-the-line ticket with guided tour to avoid the queues at the entrance and take the chance to learn the history accompanied by an expert guide.
Useful info:
- The ticket cost to visit the St. Mark’s Basilica is 3 euros.
- To access the Pala d’Oro – supplement of 5 euros to pay.
- Access to the Museum – Loggia Dei Cavalli supplement of 7 euros.
- Free for children up to 6 years of age
- Find more info about St. Mark’s Basilica here.
Enjoy views from the Campanile di San Marco
St. Mark’s Campanile is one of the symbols of Venice. From a height of 98.6 metres, you can admire breathtaking views of the city and the Venetian lagoon.
On a clear day, you’ll spot the beautiful Dolomites, so if you love views from above, most definitely climb the bell tower! Make sure to book your ticket in advance and skip the long queues at its entrance, in particular during the summer months.
St. Mark’s Campanile was originally built as a watchtower and lighthouse and the current look made its first appearance in the 15th century. Unfortunately, though, the bell tower that stands there today is not the original. In 1902, following renovation works, it began to show signs of sagging and eventually collapsed.
The majestic Campanile is also called by Venetian ‘el paròn de casa’, which means ‘the Venetians’ landlord’, for symbolically ‘looking after’ the people of Venice over the centuries.
A curious fact is that the bell tower has 6 bells and each one of them plays a note. During the Serenissima Republic days, every bell’s used to announce upcoming events to Venetians like the start of the Senate meetings and to the worshippers to join religious functions.
Useful info: At the time of online booking, you can choose between two time slots (9.30am-3.29pm and 3.30pm-8pm) and then select your preferred time for the visit. The ticket is 12 euros for adults and free for children up to 6 years old.
A drink at Caffe Florian
As one of the most famous coffee shops in Italy, Caffe Florian is officially the oldest Italian café and it was inaugurated on the 29th December 1720.
The café used to be a meeting place for literary figures such as Carlo Goldoni, Giacomo Casanova, Lord Byron, Ugo Foscolo, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Charles Dickens, just to name a few.
Walking through the door of Caffe Florian is like travelling back in time. You can either take a seat inside (or at the tables outside) and sip a hot or cold drink, as the noblemen and intellectuals of the 18th and 19th centuries used to do.
Bear in mind that it is lavish to eat or drink at this café compared to many other coffee shops in Venice, but if you’re not traveling on a budget, I’d say… go for it!
For many visitors, a Spritz and the iconic Venetian Bellini cocktail are worth trying here, along with the scrumptious cakes, if you’ve got a sweet tooth like me!
Visit Museo Correr
At the opposite side of the square, in front of St. Mark’s Basilica, you can see the Napoleonic Wing, a 19th century building which was the residence of important Venetian political authorities.
This is the Correr Museum, one of the most important museums of Venice that belongs to the MUVE, a foundation that includes 11 civic museums of the city.
It’s worth knowing that when you purchase the Doge’s Palace ticket, you can also get access to the Correr Museum and other museums in St. Mark’s Square, the National Archeological Museum and Marciana Library.
The museum is famous for its invaluable collection of sculptures by Canova and Venetian art paintings, from their origins till the ‘500. In the Procuratie Nove halls, you can visit an exhibition dedicated to various aspects of Venetian civilization: from its institutions, to the city festivals and maritime traditions.
Finally, the Imperial Halls or Sissi Halls is where the famous Empress of Austria Sissi used to stay during her visits to Venice. See the official Correr Museum website to learn more.
Visit the Doge’s Palace
The magnificent Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale in Italian), during the years of the Serenissima Republic was the residence and seat of the Doge, the chief magistrate of Venice.
The palace represents the most beautiful example of Venetian Gothic architecture and captures any visitor’s attention with its white and rose-tiled facade.
It’s located right next to the Basilica of San Marco, in front of the Piazzetta. The palace develops on three sides, three floors and houses an elegant porticoed courtyard inside.
Visitors access the palace from the monumental Porta del Frumento and the tours usually start from Museo dell’Opera, then on the first floor the Doge’s Apartments and the sumptuous Institutional Chambers, on the first and second floors.
The most beautiful chamber is the Chamber of the Great Council that includes works of important Venetian artists such as Carpaccio, Bellini and Titian.
By booking your Doge’s Palace entry ticket in advance, you’ll also have access to the Prisons that you can reach after crossing the famous Bridge of Sighs.
Find all the info you need, on the official Doge’s Palace website.
💡 Local Tip: over the years I visited both the St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace with and without a guide. After testing both experiences, I strongly recommend doing a guided tour if you don’t want to miss out key details on your visit.
This Doge’s Palace & St. Mark’s Basilica (with Terrace Access Tour) is one of the most perfect experiences. It includes the guided tour of both attractions, priority entrance to the Doge’s Palace and the St. Mark’s Basilica terrace access.
Torre dell’Orologio
You can’t help but take a minute (or two) to stand in front of the beautiful Clock Tower of St. Mark’s Square (Torre dell’Orologio). Often overshadowed by the popular St. Mark’s Square attractions of the Basilica di San Marco and the Campanile, the Clock Tower is a proper engineering masterpiece.
You’ll most likely walk down its arch to get to the Mercerie, the shopping street that connects St. Mark’s Square to Rialto. Back in the year 1493, the Serenissima Senate asked a famous family of watchmakers from Reggio Emilia, the Ranieri, to create a new clock that would mark the time for the city.
On the blue and gold enamel dial of the clock, you can read not only the time, but also the day, the moon phases and the zodiac!
3 years later, the architect Mauro Codussi to protect the clock built a tower on top of which were placed the bronze statues of two Moors shepherds that mark the hours by striking a large bell with their hammers.
The Clock Tower is part of the Civic Museums of Venice and you can only visit it by booking in advance your visit and guide here.
Venice Travel Tips for visiting St. Mark’s Square
Here are some of my personal tips for making the most of your time here:
- In the summer, avoid visiting St. Mark’s Square in the central hours of the day. The square is not only often overrun by tourists, but it’s too hot to stand in the queues for long. It’s preferable to visit the square and the attractions as soon as they open or around closing time.
- Visit St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace with a guide, otherwise you’d miss out on a lot of very interesting information and curious facts. You can book your guided tour in advance too.
- If you decide to do a self-guided tour of the Basilica and Palace, make sure to book the skip-the-line tickets to avoid spending too much time queuing.
- To respect the religious nature of the place, cover your shoulders and knees inside St. Mark’s Basilica (or bring something along to do it!)
- Go for a stroll around St. Mark’s Square at night. Seeing the square empty and silent, it’s priceless and very romantic!
- Only a few minutes away from the square, you can go for a walk in the Royal Gardens. It’s free.
- Take a picture of the Bridge of Sighs from the Ponte della Paglia.
- Bear in mind that St. Mark’s Square is the lowest part of Venice which means that when there’s acqua alta, it’s the first place to flood. That happens only in the central hours of the day and you can always wear some rubber boots or disposable ones that are sold around the city. Elevated walkways are installed to allow people to keep moving around.
St Mark’s Square FAQs
Here are some questions people ask before visiting St Mark’s Square:
St Mark’s Square, Venice
St. Mark’s Square is an unmissable attraction in Venice to visit and should be included in any first-time visitor’s itinerary.
One of the most beautiful squares in the world is a magical place whether you’re strolling around it during the day, or at night, with only a few tourists left in the city.
In this guide I have shared some of the most popular things you can do in St. Mark’s Square and provided useful information and tips for your visit.
Learn what else to see in the Lagoon city by reading my post that covers the best things to do in Venice so you don’t miss out on all the rest that this city has to offer.
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