Skip the long lines and go straight inside the historic cathedral with your ticket. Inside, you’ll find over 8,000 square meters of mosaics, many made with real gold, showing scenes from the Bible and Venice’s history. On the main floor, you'll see the Pala d’Oro, an altarpiece decorated with almost 2,000 gems.

Head up to the terrace for great views of St. Mark’s Square and the lagoon. In the museum, you can see the original bronze Horses of St. Mark, brought from Constantinople in the 1200s.

You’ll also get an audio guide to help you learn more about the mix of Byzantine and other styles found in the basilica.