Your experience in Venice is not truly complete without a visit to Piazza San Marco. For lovers of architecture, culture, history, water, fine dining, and endless shopping opportunities.

Piazza San Marco is a short 15-minute walk from the train station. But make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes as there are many bridges to cross. Even without a map, you can easily find this area - just follow the tourists. Or if that doesn't work for you, simply walk and ask the Venetians. Once you arrive to a certain point, there are signs and arrows providing you directions.

Piazza San Marco is a HUGE open space of glorious architecture - too overwhelmingly beautiful to describe in mere words (check out my photos). On the way to the Piazza, you will pass by many fine restaurants, concert halls, shops, and pubs.

Piazza San Marco is one of the main places to catch a gondola ride through the city and also to take public transportation to the many islands (highly recommend Lido). Gondola rides can be quite costly (we paid 100 euros for 1-hour ride at night), but if you speak a bit of Italian perhaps you can score a better deal. Our gondolier was very charming, spoke good English and French, and even serenaded us!

On your gondola ride, you will notice the water levels have been steadily creeping upwards through the years necessitating many home owners, restaurants, and hotels to move their first floors up to the second floors. Many residences can only be reached by water!

We went on a night when the waters were particularly choppy, but it made the experience all the more exciting. Our gondolier was incredibly nimble and we never once feared for our safety.

During the flooding season, tables are set up in the Piazza so that you can walk from one spot to another. We went in July and experienced only mild flooding, no issues though.

I have heard many tourists complain about the heat and the smell from the canals. Honestly, I did not notice either and we went when it was supposed to be at its height.

At night, you can listen to the musical entertainment while dining (for a small charge).

There are plenty of polizia around, so all is safe.

Truly the heart of Venice is the Piazza San Marco, St Mark's Square. The city's greatest church—the Basilica of St Mark—and the Palace of the Doges is situated around the square and its smaller offshoot, the Piazzetta. Napoleon himself described the square as "The finest drawing room in Europe".

This statement should not be seen as an uncritical one however—it describes the lethargy and irrelevance that Venice had drifted into by the turn of the 19th century. A place to relax, yes, to chat and plan, yes; not a place for action. This can be seen today in the patrons supping at their over-priced coffees in the Caffes Florian, Quadri, and Lavena; the tourists slowly craning their necks up at the mosaics of the basilica, at the campanile, and trying to glimpse the 'Moors' atop the Torre dell'Orologio; and the languid couples strolling through at dusk.

Apart from the basilica and Palazzo Ducale (reviewed separately) there are other things to see. For free there is the stroll down the Piazzetta to the Molo to see the patron saints of Venice atop the twin granite columns—the winged lion of St Mark, and the city's original patron, St Theodore. Turning left down the waterfront takes you past the entrance to the Doge's Palace, to a bridge, from where you can get your compulsory photo of the Ponte dei Sospiri—the Bridge of Sighs.

Back in the Piazza, at 99m the Campanile is the tallest structure in the city. This particular version only actually dates from 1912—the original suddenly collapsed in 1902. Sixty cents allows you to ascend. The view from here has been enjoyed by many, including Galileo, Goethe, and Emperor Frederick III, who refused to dismount and instead rode his horse up to the top. For my money however a better view can be achieved by taking the vaporetto across to San Giorgio Maggiore and climbing the campanile there.

To the north of the square is the Clock Tower, or Torre dell'Orologio. You cannot visit it, and the best view comes from the front balcony of the basilica. From here you can see the two bronze statues that strike the hour, colloquially known as 'The Moors' due to the dark patina of the metal.

Surrounding the square we find the Procuratie. Essentially rather grand offices for the administration of the city when they were completed by Sansovino in the 16th century, they were converted into a palace by Napoleon's stepson upon his appointment as Viceroy of Italy, a redesign that involved tearing down Sansovino's church of San Geminiano at the square's western end and building a ballroom in its place. Nowadays, they are occupied by the Museo Correr and Museo Archeologico. Entry to these museums and the Palazzo Ducale is with the Musei di Piazza San Marco card (€11; half price for EU citizens under 30 or over 65) or the Venice Card (see Overview for details).

There are a few sights that you have to see in your life; a few things you must experience. Venice’s Piazza San Marco is one of these. Napoleon was not wrong when he called this square Europe’s most beautiful drawing room.

Visit during the day to experience the crowds of people and the famous flocks of pigeons. See the beautiful Torre dell’Orologio, with its blue face and zodiac signs. Visit at night and enjoy an espresso at Cafe Florian, the oldest coffee house in Europe. Kiss your lover while couples nearby dance to the music of the various cafe orchestras.

Beyond the beauty of the square itself, three of Venice’s significant tourist stops cluster around the Piazza San Marco: The Duomo San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, and the Campinile.

Ascending the square's Campinile will afford will afford you a bird's eye view of the red rooftops of La Serinissima, the serene one. Claim a spot at one of the windows on the first Sunday in September and watch the start of the historic regatta on the grand canal.

Descend and join the tourists in St Mark’s basilica. The mosaics of tiny gold squares are incredible, and the treasury of relics interesting.

The Palazzo Ducale (Doge’s palace) was the seat of secular power in Venice, where each elected leader of the city state lived and ruled. Tour the elaborate but empty residential portion, then cross the Ponte di Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) and descend into the prisons before returning to the square.

This is probably the most famous square in the entire city. When you visit this square, as you stand at one end of the square, it will seem as if the square is so vast. The shape and the formation of the square make it seem vast and really bigger than meets the eye. It is really a lot of fun to visit this square. As you walk through the square, you can take in the great smells coming from the various little cafes and eateries. Plus, you can enjoy the soothing Italian music playing from the shops. It is definitely a fun place to go and walk around. Browse a little, shop a little, explore a little, and then don't forget to have a bite to eat here because this square has a lot of amazing options!

No tour of Venice is complete without a visit to this famous piazza. I recommend going in the early morning or late afternoon if you are visiting in the summer because the sun beats down on it and it becomes hard to see the church or take good pictures. The line to go into San Marco also get VERY long so get there early if you want to see the inside.