Timeline
15:53
Grab a coffee and a seat at Caffè Florian. The historic interior is grand, and it is open all day.
16:08
Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Walk to Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. The church is open until 18:00, so you have plenty of time to admire the Titians and Bellinis inside before the exterior lights up.
16:33
Head up the bell tower of St. Mark. The 17-minute walk from the Frari takes you through the historic center. From the top, watch the golden light wash over the city as the sun dips toward the WSW.
17:08
End your walk at Saint Mark's Basilica. The exterior is striking in the fading light, and the piazza is still active with evening visitors.
Local tip
The Frari church closes its doors at 18:00, with last admission 30 minutes prior. Arrive before then to ensure you can go inside. The walk from the Frari to St. Mark's is about 17 minutes, so leave the church with enough time to climb the tower before the sun sets.
Check before you go
- Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari is open Mon-Fri 09:00-18:00. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.
- Caffè Florian is open daily from 09:00 to 00:00.
- The bell tower of St. Mark is open daily; check current hours for elevator access if needed.
- Saint Mark's Basilica requires appropriate dress (no shorts or sleeveless tops).
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Venice (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).