10 Best Things to Do in St. Mark’s Square, Venice

Take a stroll through St. Mark's Square and feast your eyes on its incredible buildings, monuments and history.
10 Best Things to Do in St. Mark’s Square, Venice

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St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) is an open space connecting the south side of the square with the lagoon. The square is located between the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) and the Marciana Library. The area is incredibly beautiful and interesting, and definitely a must-see, even if you only spend a day in Venice.

St. Mark's Square is the largest and most important square in Venice and one of the most famous in Italy, even inspiring Napoleon, who ended up calling it the "Salon of Europe. " However, it is not the square's size that gives it its well-deserved fame, but rather all the monuments that surround it and the interesting things to do from the Piazza.

1. Visit the historic columns of St. Mark's Square

Columns of St. Mark's Square| ©Sean X Liu
Columns of St. Mark's Square| ©Sean X Liu

At the open end of St. Mark's Square are two large granite columns. At the top of the first column sits St. Theodore (the patron saint of the city before St. Mark), holding a spear with which he is believed to have killed a dragon (this is a copy of the original found in the Doge's Palace). On the second column is a lion, the symbol of St. Mark. Both statues were believed to guard St. Mark's Square and the city in general.

The origin of these two statues is not very clear. From the 12th century onwards, they began to become popular, and in the 18th century, public executions took place between them. Because of this, if you want to keep up the Venetian tradition while visiting St. Mark's Square, you should avoid walking between the two columns. Throughout history, they have been the center of some public trials and the scene of several miracles.

If you book a tour of St. Mark's Square, you will learn all about these and other stories and anecdotes that will captivate you. A two-hour walking tour will allow you to discover not only the square but also the Basilica without having to wait in the long line that forms every day at its doors.

Book a tour of St. Mark's Square

2. Experience Italian opera at a concert in the Doge's Palace

Concert| ©Hellotickets
Concert| ©Hellotickets

After exploring the square, immerse yourself in Italian musical tradition with an opera concert at the Doge's Palace, a unique cultural experience in one of the most iconic buildings in St. Mark's Square.

For approximately 1 hour, you will listen to arias and classical pieces performed by the prestigious Collegium Ducale orchestra in an intimate setting steeped in history. The program ranges from Mozart to 20th-century works, offering a carefully curated selection for all music lovers.

Admission includes a guaranteed seat and takes place in a spectacular setting, ideal for those looking to end the day with an authentic activity, away from the crowds and in total harmony with Venetian art.

Book your ticket for an opera concert at the Doge's Palace

3. Step inside St. Mark's Basilica

Entrance to St. Mark's Basilica| ©Mark Huguet
Entrance to St. Mark's Basilica| ©Mark Huguet

Incredibly beautiful and absolutely unmissable, St. Mark's Basilica is the jewel of St. Mark's Square and possibly one of the most beautiful churches in all of Italy. Built with Byzantine touches, it is full of incredible details. I recommend seeing its fantastic mosaics, the relics of St. Mark himself, and the four bronze horses (these have a very interesting history).

Touring the interior of the church is free. However, unless you arrive early, be prepared to wait a while before entering: waiting times regularly exceed 45 minutes! To avoid this, I recommend queuing before the basilica opens in the morning. St. Mark's Basilica opens at 9:30 a.m., so I suggest arriving at 8:30 a.m., especially during the busy July and August season.

Another more convenientalternative is to book direct entry to St. Mark's Basilica, which will save you from having to queue and also includes access to the Pala D'Oro and the terrace, which is normally subject to an additional charge. You can also choose to book a guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica. You'll see how quickly you can get inside one of Venice's most important monuments.

Book your ticket to St. Mark's Basilica

4. Enjoy the views from St. Mark's Bell Tower

St. Mark's Campanile| ©Elliott Brown
St. Mark's Campanile| ©Elliott Brown

For the most iconic views of Venice, head straight to St. Mark's Campanile from St. Mark's Square. It's the tallest building you'll see from there and is an integral part of the structure of this iconic square.

From the tower itself, you'll have a fantastic view of the Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Basilica, the Venetian Lagoon, the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge, and the Bridge of Sighs.

And unlike most views from the top, this tower doesn't include the effort factor in its equation. Instead of climbing hundreds of stairs to the top, you can simply take the elevator. For more information about St. Mark's Campanile, visit the following website.

Book a guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica

5. Enjoy a coffee in one of the beautiful cafés in Piazza San Marco

Entrance to Caffe Florian| ©CF
Entrance to Caffe Florian| ©CF

There are several beautiful cafés scattered around the edges of St. Mark's Square where you can relax after your tour of St. Mark's Square. I recommend trying both the Venetian coffee and the pastries served with it. You're also sure to hear live music while enjoying the spectacular views from the square. The prices are a bit steep, as they include the location in the price. Having breakfast in the Salone d'Europa (the name Napoleon gave to St. Mark's Square) comes at a price.

Caffe Florian is by far the most famous café in the square. It opened in 1720 and is considered the oldest café in Europe.

Enjoying an Italian coffee in a 300-year-old café while admiring the almost 1,000-year-old basilica and reflecting on all the milestones that have taken place in the area is something I highly recommend.

Book a tour of St. Mark's Square

6. Visit the Correr Museum in St. Mark's Square

Correr Museum| ©Maria Codina
Correr Museum| ©Maria Codina

Located right in St. Mark's Square, the beautiful Correr Museum has a tendency to hide in plain sight (largely due to the size of the square and the numerous historic buildings surrounding it). However, if you book the tour of St. Mark's Square, you will be given detailed information on where to find it so that you can visit it afterwards.

If art is something you appreciate, this magnificent museum of art and history is sure to satisfy your artistic thirst. Despite its relatively small size, it includes some of the most curious and sought-after works in all of Europe. For more information, visit the museum's official website.

Book your ticket to St. Mark's Basilica

Don't miss the horses that guard St. Mark's Basilica

7. Don't miss the horses that guard St. Mark's Basilica

The Horses of St. Mark| ©Alistair Young
The Horses of St. Mark| ©Alistair Young

If you look closely at the front façade of St. Mark's Basilica, you will see four of the most famous statues in Venice: the Horses of St. Mark. I recommend stopping to take a closer look, as they were once one of the most prized possessions of the city, symbolizing power and status.

In 1797, Napoleon took the horses and placed them on top of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, until they were returned to Venice in 1814, to the place where they belonged.

It is worth noting that today the horses facing St. Mark's Square are replicas; however, you can also see the originals if you book a guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica.

Book a guided tour of St. Mark's Basilica

8. Don't forget the impressive St. Mark's Clock Tower

St. Mark's Clock Tower| ©Jean-Pol GRANDMONT
St. Mark's Clock Tower| ©Jean-Pol GRANDMONT

It's hard to look up while walking through St. Mark's Square and not see the impressive St. Mark's Clock Tower (or Torre dell'Orologio in Italian), with its beautiful blue face adorned with golden symbols of the zodiac. At 500 years old, its façade remains intact and just as striking as when it was first unveiled.

Although it may not seem to have much to offer inside, believe me, the tour of the interior of the St. Mark's Clock Tower will reveal a fascinating and secret side of this beautiful building. So I highly recommend it once you've enjoyed your tour of St. Mark's Square.

Visits can only be guided, so you have no choice but to book your ticket on the tower's official website.

Book a tour of St. Mark's Square

9. Beware of acqua alta in St. Mark's Square

Acqua alta in St. Mark's Square| ©Javier Valero Iglesias
Acqua alta in St. Mark's Square| ©Javier Valero Iglesias

Acqua Alta is a phenomenon that occurs periodically in Venice when the Adriatic Sea rises. When this happens, the city is slightly flooded, especially in its lowest areas.

Venice's famous acqua alta (high water) often touches St. Mark's Square. If you visit Venice between November and February, you may see St. Mark's Square looking very different.

As St. Mark's Square is the lowest point in Venice, it is the first place to flood when there is Acqua Alta. When this happens, the authorities set up wooden walkways for locals and tourists. Several times a year, the square is completely flooded, but there is no need to worry as it is not dangerous. In fact, many visitors want to see Venice in this state and walk across the square on the walkways.

Book a tour of St. Mark's Square

10. Enjoy the nightlife in St. Mark's Square

St. Mark's Square at night| ©Sean X Liu
St. Mark's Square at night| ©Sean X Liu

The square comes alive at dusk when the weather is no longer so hot. It's worth walking around the square among the famous cafés and listening to the various bands playing live music.

What's more, St. Mark's Square is by far the best place to be at night in Venice. I say this not only because of its lights, monuments, and pleasant temperatures, but also because of the atmosphere and the happiness that spreads at that time of day . It seems like everyone is happy!

Book a tour of St. Mark's Square

Follow these tips for visiting St. Mark's Square

Piazza San Marco| ©Toa Herftiba
Piazza San Marco| ©Toa Herftiba

Here are some tips that will come in handy to help you enjoy this iconic square to the fullest and not miss a thing along the way. Keep in mind that this is a must-see, even if you are only in Venice for one day, and pay close attention to the best times to enjoy the area and the rules that apply to this square, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Start your tour of Venice in St. Mark's Square

While it's true that there's a lot to do in the city, such as seeing the bridges of Venice or taking a traditional gondola ride, don't forget that St. Mark's Square is the most famous area of the city and the place with the highest density of historical monuments to see and visit per square meter.

Starting with a tour of St. Mark's Square will allow you to spend the rest of your time traveling around Venice to appreciate the other places of interest. In addition, starting with a visit to the square is a smart move, as you will avoid the late-afternoon crowds at some of the square's monuments, such as St. Mark's Basilica and St. Mark's Bell Tower.

Go either very early or very late

Personally, I recommend visiting Piazza San Marco after 8 p.m., regardless of whether you are visiting Venice in spring or winter. This is because you will be able to enjoy a fully illuminated square, which is even more beautiful than usual and much less crowded.

If you want to experience the same thing when visiting Venice in summer, it is best to visit early (between 7 and 8 a.m.). Not only will you be able to appreciate every detail of the square more clearly and comfortably, but the temperatures at that time of day are also pleasant.

Don't forget to take a nighttime stroll through St. Mark's Square

St. Mark's Square at night is on another level, not only because its iconic monuments are illuminated to further captivate tourists, but simply because of its nighttime atmosphere.

At night, you can hear music beginning to play in almost every corner of the square, and street performers will entertain you with their music without charging a penny. Best of all, you can recharge your batteries at one of the many places to eat near St. Mark's Basilica (in the square itself).

Rules to follow in St. Mark's Square

Eating and drinking are prohibited in Piazza San Marco. Littering and feeding the pigeons are not allowed. If you have food with you and need to recharge your batteries, I suggest heading to the Giardini ex Reali, a former royal public garden near St. Mark's Square.

Book your ticket to St. Mark's Basilica

Reviews from other travellers

4.7
· 2023 Reviews
  • H
    H.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The music and atmosphere are absolutely lovely, but the place can get a bit crowded.
  • O
    O.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The music was simply heavenly, it left me speechless. The venue, steeped in history, added a magical touch to the whole experience.
  • D
    D.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    I went to an opera concert in Venice and loved it. The music was beautiful and the atmosphere was magical.
  • E
    E.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    Unforgettable experience, breathtaking music in an enchanting setting. Recommended for lovers of opera and Italian culture.
  • S
    S.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The concert was beautiful, I loved the music and the atmosphere.