Venice · St Mark's Square
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
- Free
- Booking: not needed
- St Mark's Square
Data checked on October 5, 2026
St Mark's Square has been the civic and religious centre of Venice since the Middle Ages. Arcades frame three sides, the basilica closes the east end and the Piazzetta opens south to the water between two tall columns. You can see it in minutes, but the light and the crowds change so much between early morning and midday that a second pass is worth it. Most of the main sights open off the square itself.
What to look for
- The Clock Tower with its blue and gold dial
- The two columns on the Piazzetta
- The arcades of the Procuratie
- The view across St Mark's Basin to San Giorgio
Opening hours
Always open.
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
Tickets and booking
Free.
Getting there
The nearest vaporetto stops are San Zaccaria and San Marco Vallaresso, both a few minutes on foot, and Rialto is about ten minutes away.
Tip
Cross it before 09:00 or after dark, when the tour groups are elsewhere and the arcades are empty.