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Venice St. Mark's Basilica + Doge's Palace Time Allowances

Hello, and new to the forum here. My wife and I will be spending 3 days in Venice next April, and needed some help putting together one day to see St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace. We're staying within a 10 min. walk from St. Mark's, so, using Rick's guide and itinerary, would probably see the square first, and then either ride to the top of the Campanile first, or see the Basilica at 9:30 AM (both are open at 9:30 AM, I think). We'd leave after that, and then come back in the afternoon crowds have lessened to tour the Doge's Palace, maybe after 2:00 or 3:00 PM? I realize some of these sights close at certain times in the early evening, but am hoping to see them during that time. Does that all seem reasonable?

For the Basilica, it sounds like 2-3 hrs. is adequate. Would that include the museum, as well? How long is appropriate to plan for Doge's Palace? Thanks for your help.

Posted by
338 posts

ride to the top of the Campanile first (I think the first ride is 9:30 AM?).

I wouldn’t go to the Campanile that early in the morning because you run the risk of a foggy morning and with fog the view wont be so good. I would go to St. Marks at the earliest possible hour, it won’t be so full then, and would go to the Campanile as late as possible.

Posted by
5 posts

Thanks, Marco. I'm already changing my itinerary to do St. Mark's first, after spending (hopefully) a quieter hour in St. Mark's Square early before that. I didn't realize about the fog or foggy conditions, so will take note and do it later in the day. I also read about San Giorgio Maggiore, which seems like it has an equal (and less crowded) viewpoint of the city across from St. Mark's.

Posted by
338 posts

The view from San Giorgio Maggiore is spectacular too, I would go to both.

Posted by
1715 posts

To the OP, where are you staying in Venice? We will be there next May but I haven't made any hotel reservations yet.