Trip Planner: Europe / Italy / Veneto / Province of Venice / City of Venice / Venice / Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco, Venice

4.5

#1 of 1,218 in Historic Sites in Veneto

Must see · Historic Walking Area · Landmark

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Venice's principal public space, Piazza San Marco has served as the city's social, religious, and political center for centuries. In fact, Napoleon called the square "the drawing room of Europe." It's the largest square in the city and the only one given the designation of "piazza" (the others are all called "campi"). Originally constructed in the ninth century as a small public space dotted with trees, the square was substantially enlarged in the 12th century and was paved with bricks in the 13th. Several major architectural sites surround the area. The most notable is an imposing church dedicated to St. Mark. Don't feed the pigeons--city law forbids feeding the birds in the square. To visit Piazza San Marco on your trip to Venice, use our Venice trip planner.

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Tours to Piazza San Marco

FROM $25 BOOK WITH VIATOR Murano, Burano and Torcello Half-Day Sightseeing Tour Murano, Burano and Torcello Half-Day Sightseeing Tour

3.5

Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes

Tours from $25 ›

FROM $339 BOOK WITH VIATOR Best Venice Tour with Skip-the-Line St Mark’s Basilica & Grand Canal Boat tour Best Venice Tour with Skip-the-Line St Mark’s Basilica & Grand Canal Boat tour

4.2

Duration: 3 hours

Tours from $339 ›

FROM $85 BOOK WITH VIATOR Legendary Venice St. Mark's Basilica with Terrace Access & Doge's Palace Legendary Venice St. Mark's Basilica with Terrace Access & Doge's Palace

4.7

Duration: 3 hours

Tours from $85 ›

FROM $45 BOOK WITH VIATOR Venice Walking Tour and Gondola Ride Venice Walking Tour and Gondola Ride

3.7

Duration: 129 to 147 minutes

Tours from $45 ›

FROM $98 BOOK WITH VIATOR St Mark's Basilica After-Hours Small Group Tour with Optional Doge's Palace St Mark's Basilica After-Hours Small Group Tour with Optional Doge's Palace

4.8

Duration: 90 to 210 minutes

Tours from $98 ›

FROM $45 BOOK WITH VIATOR Skip the Line: Best of Venice Walking Tour with St Mark's Basilica Skip the Line: Best of Venice Walking Tour with St Mark's Basilica

4.0

Duration: 2 hours

Tours from $45 ›

FROM $22 BOOK WITH VIATOR Venice Sightseeing Walking Tour with a Local Guide Venice Sightseeing Walking Tour with a Local Guide

4.8

Duration: 2 hours

Tours from $22 ›

FROM $126 BOOK WITH VIATOR Venice Walking Tour plus Skip the Lines Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica Tours Venice Walking Tour plus Skip the Lines Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica Tours

4.6

Duration: 4 hours

Tours from $126 ›

FROM $14 BOOK WITH VIATOR Venice Walking Tour of Most-Famous Sites Monuments & Attractions with Top Guide Venice Walking Tour of Most-Famous Sites Monuments & Attractions with Top Guide

4.8

Duration: 2 hours

Tours from $14 ›

FROM $62 BOOK WITH VIATOR Byzantine Venice Walking tour & Saint Mark's Basilica Byzantine Venice Walking tour & Saint Mark's Basilica

3.7

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Tours from $62 ›

FROM $63 BOOK WITH VIATOR Morning Walking Tour of Venice Plus Gondola Ride Morning Walking Tour of Venice Plus Gondola Ride

4.1

Duration: 3 hours

Tours from $63 ›

FROM $25 BOOK WITH VIATOR Venice Islands Day Trip: Murano, Burano & Torcello Venice Islands Day Trip: Murano, Burano & Torcello

3.7

Duration: 4 to 6 hours

Tours from $25 ›

Piazza San Marco reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating

37,278 reviews

Google

4.7

By F171FXrobertd

Not really......we arrived after sunset and had a walk around. There are 3 Cafes which have a musical ensemble to entertain their punters. 2 are on one side of the square and 1 is on the other. The...

Not really......we arrived after sunset and had a walk around. There are 3 Cafes which have a musical ensemble to entertain their punters. 2 are on one side of the square and 1 is on the other. The... more »
By Paula C

A visit to Venice would hardly be complete without this being a first stop and the people watching is magnificent. You can certainly just stroll the area for pictures but treat yourself to a coffee...

A visit to Venice would hardly be complete without this being a first stop and the people watching is magnificent. You can certainly just stroll the area for pictures but treat yourself to a coffee... more »

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Google

By Harshika Jain

A very lively city center. It is brightly lit up at night with outdoor dining, music performances (with a grand piano, cello etc). I don’t know about past midnight, but this square is very lively throughout the day. In the day time there are a bunch of tourists clicking pictures, and walking towards the ferry, or standing in line to enter the St Mark Building

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By steve mcmarson

Venice is an incredible city to explore. As a wedding photographer I found it intriguing. The presence of large crowds in most areas required patience and seizing opportunity from moment to moment to get clear backgrounds. Give yourself plenty of time to see the place properly and to get into the quieter areas away from the usual tourist path.

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