One day in Venice

St Mark's Square

The main square of Venice, closed in by the basilica, the arcaded Procuratie and the Campanile, with the lagoon at the open end. It is free and open at all hours.

1 h 30 visitAlways open

Cross it before 09:00 or after dark, when the tour groups are elsewhere and the arcades are empty.

Open at all hours. The square is the lowest point in the city and floods first when the tide is high, and raised walkways go up.

Source: Venezia Unica, checked October 5, 2026

Doge's Palace

The seat of the Venetian Republic, with the state rooms, the Great Council Hall and the Bridge of Sighs. The ticket also covers the Correr Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the Marciana Library rooms.

3 h visitOpen 9:00 am–7:00 pm · last entry 6:00 pmAdult ticket €35

Go at opening. The big halls are far easier to take in before the first tour groups arrive.

The palace recommends reservations. It now also sells tickets without a fixed entry time, so booking ahead does not tie you to a slot.

Open daily 09:00 to 19:00 from 1 April to 31 October and 09:00 to 18:00 from 1 November to 31 March. Last admission is one hour before closing, and closing procedures start 30 minutes before. Closed on 25 December and 1 January.

Source: Palazzo Ducale (Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia), checked October 5, 2026

St Mark's Basilica

The Byzantine basilica covered in gold mosaic, begun in 828 to house the relics of St Mark. Entry is by booked time slot, and the Pala d'Oro, the museum and the loggia over the porch cost extra.

2 h visitOpen 2:00 pm–5:15 pm · last entry 4:45 pmAdult ticket €10

Book the first slot of the day, then walk straight on to the Doge's Palace while its queue is still short.

Tickets are named from the moment you book, and you can only enter in the slot you chose, with five minutes of tolerance. Book on the official ticket site. A slot showing zero is sold out.

Monday to Saturday 09:30 to 17:15, Sunday and religious holidays 14:00 to 17:15. Last entry is 16:45. On Sundays the museum and the loggia open from 09:30 while the basilica itself waits until the afternoon. Times can change with events and services.

Source: Procuratoria di San Marco, checked October 5, 2026

Rialto Bridge

A stone arch with two rows of shops, built between 1588 and 1592 and for centuries the only bridge over the Grand Canal. The view from the outer walkways is the reason to cross.

45 min visitAlways open

Cross early in the morning, when you can stop on the steps without blocking the stream of people.

Source: Venezia Unica, checked October 5, 2026