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

Piazza San Marco, Venice

4.6
#1 of 189 in Historic Sites in Venice
Must see · Historic Walking Area · Landmark
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.
Create an itinerary including Piazza San Marco
© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors

Tours to Piazza San Marco

FROM $18 BOOK WITH VIATOR Venice Sightseeing Walking Tour with a Local Guide
4.9
Duration: 2 hours
Tours from $18 »
FROM $97 BOOK WITH VIATOR Legendary Venice St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace Group or Private Tour
4.9
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Tours from $97 »
FROM $117 BOOK WITH VIATOR St Mark's Basilica After-Hours Group or Private Tour with Optional Doge's Palace
4.8
Duration: 90 to 210 minutes
Tours from $117 »

Piazza San Marco reviews

Rate this attraction
TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
36,929 reviews
Google
4.7
TripAdvisor
  • By TSinParis
    Beautiful piazza - when we visited relatively empty which was both amazing and sad. I had seen this piazza several times previously with hordes of tourists, but this time because of COVID19 people...  more »
  • By SB01
    This is on everyone's bucket list and it does not disappoint. We were "lucky" in that we visited during Covid, so it was not as overrun as usual. Early morning and late afternoon are amongst the best....  more »
See more on TripAdvisor »
Google
  • 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.
  • By Siu Long
    You say Venice and the fist thing that comes to the mind is this square. Amazing, elegant, sober. It is incredible how the whole square has a coherent architectural style despite the fact that the building that surround it have been built in very different ages. You can't miss it.
See more on Google »

Plan your trip to Venice

  • Get a personalized trip
    A complete day by day itinerary
    based on your preferences
  • Customize it
    Refine your trip. We'll find the
    best routes and schedules
  • Book it
    Choose from the best hotels
    and activities. Up to 50% off
  • Manage it
    Everything in one place.
    Everyone on the same page.

Popular things to do in Venice

Canal Grande ©
Water Body
Canal Grande
4.8
Duration: 2 hours
Doge's Palace ©
Specialty Museum
Doge's Palace
4.7
Duration: 2 hours
Basilica di San Marco
Architectural Building
Basilica di San Marco
4.6
Duration: 1h 30 min
Ponte di Rialto ©
Bridge
Ponte di Rialto
3.6
Duration: 30 minutes

Museums in Venice

Peggy Guggenheim Collection ©
Art Museum
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
4.4
Duration: 2 hours
Gallerie dell'Accademia ©
Art Museum
Gallerie dell'Accademia
4.0
Duration: 2 hours
Buy tickets from $24 »
Museo Ebraico di Venezia ©
Specialty Museum
Museo Ebraico di Venezia
3.8
Duration: 2 hours
Museo Correr ©
Art Museum
Museo Correr
4.1
Duration: 1h 30 min

Hidden gems in Venice

San Giorgio Maggiore ©
Church
San Giorgio Maggiore
4.8
Duration: 1h 30 min
Ca' Zenobio degli Armeni
Architectural Building
Ca' Zenobio degli Armeni
4.9
Duration: 1h 30 min
©
Food Tour
Food Tours
4.8
Duration: 3 hours
Like a Venetian ©
Boat Tour
Like a Venetian
5.0
Duration: 2 hours

Side trips from Venice

Gardaland Park ©
Theme Park
Gardaland Park
Castelnuovo del Garda
3.7
Duration: 8 hours
Centro Storico
Landmark
Centro Storico
Padua
4.8
Duration: 4 hours
Scrovegni Chapel ©
Church
Scrovegni Chapel
Padua
4.7
Duration: 30 minutes
Museo di Castelvecchio ©
World heritage site
Museo di Castelvecchio
Verona
4.4
Duration: 1h 30 min

Shopping in Venice

Elios Bijoux ©
Gift & Specialty Shop
Elios Bijoux
5.0
Duration: 1h 30 min
Bragora
Gift & Specialty Shop
Bragora
5.0
Duration: 1h 30 min
La Fonderia Artistica Valese
Gift & Specialty Shop
La Fonderia Artistica Valese
5.0
Duration: 1h 30 min
Muranero di Niang Moulaye
Gift & Specialty Shop
Muranero di Niang Moulaye
5.0
Duration: 1h 30 min

Nearby attractions in Venice

St Mark's Campanile ©
Observation Deck
St Mark's Campanile
4.6
Duration: 1h 30 min
Ponte dei Sospiri ©
Bridge
Ponte dei Sospiri
4.3
Duration: 30 minutes
Mama Isa's Cooking School ©
Lesson / Workshop
Mama Isa's Cooking School
5.0
Duration: 8 hours
La Bussola Free Tours
Walking tour
La Bussola Free Tours
4.9
Duration: 2h 30 min

Featured attractions

Tour Leader Venice ©
Food Tour
Tour Leader Venice
5.0
Duration: 3 hours
Venice Original Photo Walk and Tour ©
Photography Tour
Venice Original Photo Walk and Tour
5.0
Duration: 3 hours
Gioielleria Eredi Jovon ©
Antique Store
Gioielleria Eredi Jovon
4.9
Duration: 1 hour
Better Photo Walks in Venice ©
Photography Tour
Better Photo Walks in Venice
5.0
Duration: 2h 30 min

Don't Miss a Thing. See & Do More.

Trips to Piazza San Marco by other users

16 days in Europe BY A USER FROM PUERTO RICO Barcelona · Rome · Venice 17 days in Europe BY A USER FROM UNITED STATES Paris · Montreux · Rome 31 days in Italy BY A USER FROM IRELAND Rome · Naples · Sorrento 15 days in Italy BY A USER FROM MALTA Naples · Ravello · Rome 60 days in Europe BY A USER FROM CANADA Lisbon · Barcelona · Venice 15 days in Vienna, Italy & Croatia BY A USER FROM GERMANY Vienna · Venice · Florence