Best Time of Year for Visiting Venice

No matter when you visit the city, Venice’s attractions will always be waiting for you. From its palaces to the extraordinary St Mark’s Basilica, not to mention its lively markets, beautiful bridges and, of course, its canals, this Italian city never disappoints.

This doesn’t mean that some times of year aren’t better for visiting than others. The weather, the number of tourists, prices and other factors mean that some times of year may be better for enjoying your stay. Generally speaking, the spring months and the early autumn are the most pleasant when all factors are taken into account. In any case, if you can only go in summer or winter, I advise you not to hesitate.

The weather is one of the main factors determining the best time to travel to Venice. In this city, winters are usually quite cold, whilst the summer months are characterised by heat and humidity. Generally speaking, if you have a choice, the best times to visit are the late spring and early autumn months.

During both periods, the weather offers some respite, with mild temperatures, although the chance of rain is always present. However, compared to summer, these are seasons with slightly fewer tourists, allowing you to stroll more peacefully through the streets and along the canals. The weather at these times of year, however, can be somewhat unpredictable, so always check the forecast before travelling.

As a brief summary of the pros and cons, here is a note on each season:

• Spring (March–mid-June): with the exception of Easter, prices are slightly lower and there are fewer tourists than in summer, although numbers do increase as the season progresses.
• Summer (mid-June–late September): the city is packed with visitors and crowds are the norm. The weather is very hot and prices rise. The upside is the chance to enjoy longer daylight hours and Venetian nights.
• Autumn(late September–mid-December): the large crowds begin to thin out gradually. The heat subsides, though the cold has not yet set in. However, there is a greater chance of rain and of the acqua alta phenomenon occurring.
• Winter (late December–mid-March): the coldest and darkest months of the year, meaning daylight hours are greatly reduced. Christmas and Carnival are two very busy times, especially the latter.

The spring months are the perfect time to visit Venice. Temperatures are milder and you’ll find fewer tourists on the streets or queuing to enter, for example, the Doge’s Palace.

Within this season , May perhaps stands out. During this month, you’ll be able to make the most of the afternoons, as the days gradually get longer. Temperatures, meanwhile, can reach around 20°C, though they usually stay a few degrees lower.

In March and April, on the other hand, there may be some cold spells, but they’re less of a nuisance than in the winter months. The only problem is that this is one of the rainiest periods in the city.

April and May are the best months for strolling through the city’s streets and along its canals, as well as for taking day trips from Venice to nearby Burano, Murano and Torcello. Burano, in particular, looks at its best thanks to the effect of the spring light on its colourful houses.

However, spring also has its downsides. From late April onwards, there is a rise in flight and accommodation prices. This means you need to book further in advance and may even have to choose hotels in a nearby town, such as Mestre. Fortunately, there are plenty of transport options for getting around Venice, allowing you to reach the city in just 15 minutes.

Things to do if you’re visiting Venice in spring

If you decide to, or are able to, travel to Venice in spring, there are a few activities you shouldn’t miss, in addition, of course, to the usual sights:

• Su E Zo per i Ponti: this is a race open to everyone that runs from the Ponte della Paja to St Mark’s Square. Along the route, participants cross bridges throughout Venice.
• Feast of St Mark: on the city’s patron saint’s day, 25 April, an interesting gondola regatta takes place, amongst other celebrations.
• La Sensa: this festival blends its religious character with a celebration of Venice’s relationship with the sea. It is one of the festivities most cherished by Venetians and is packed with cultural and leisure activities.

Most visits to Venice take place during the summer, when most people can take their holidays. The first consequence is that the city fills up with visitors from all over the world. Places like St Mark’s Square become a bit uncomfortable, especially when cruise passengers disembark.

This overcrowding leads to long queues to enter Venice’s most important monuments, making it more essential than ever to buy tickets in advance and opt for skip-the-line entry. As for gondola rides, there is usually heavy traffic on the Grand Canal at this time of year, making journeys slower and more complicated.

Furthermore, the weather in Venice at this time of year is quite hot. It is a humid heat and can be uncomfortable for some visitors unaccustomed to such temperatures. However, this also has its positive side: the almost total absence of rain and the long hours of daylight allow you to make the most of the evenings.

Prices, of course, tend to rise significantly, so it is highly recommended to plan everything well in advance.

Things to do if you’re visiting Venice in summer

As it is the high season, Venice offers its visitors a wealth of events and festivals. Some of these are almost a must-see if you are in the city:

• The Festa del Redentore: this is the most important celebration of the summer. It takes place in the third week of July and, amongst other entertainment options, features an extraordinary fireworks display.
• Venice International Film Festival: in the first week of September, Venice hosts its famous film festival. You can head to the island of Lido to catch a glimpse of some international stars and, of course, attend the premieres.
• Head to the beach: Venice is surrounded by several islands with beaches considered among the best in Italy. If the heat gets too much (or if you’re visiting Venice with children) , you can always spend a few hours on the beaches of Lido or Jesolo.

The first weeks of autumn, from late September to the last days of October, offer great advantages to visitors to Venice. To begin with, there are still plenty of hours of daylight and temperatures are usually mild. However, bear in mind that the nights are starting to get colder, with lows that can drop to 8°C.

November and early Decemberin Venice are indeed colder months, though not cold enough to make a visit overly uncomfortable.

On the other hand, one phenomenon that can cause discomfort for visitors is acqua alta, the phenomenon that causes many areas of Venice to flood for two or three hours. Normally, the water level does not rise too high and the city is used to living with it. Only if you are unlucky enough to experience a severe episode will you have to halt your tour until everything returns to normal.

As autumn progresses, the number of tourists also drops significantly. This makes this season the best time to stroll comfortably through the city’s streets and visit attractions such as St Mark’s Basilica without the crowds.

Things to do if you’re visiting Venice in autumn

Although there aren’t as many as in summer, Venice also hosts some major festivals in autumn. Furthermore, the smaller number of tourists means these festivities allow the Venetians to take centre stage:

• Venice Historical Regatta: one of Venice’s major celebrations. As well as enjoying music, drinks and food, you’ll be able to watch several spectacular regattas and a parade featuring period costumes.
• Halloween in Venice: for the past few years, Venetians have been celebrating Halloween in style. Its narrow streets and squares fill with costumes and, naturally, Venetian masks.
• Madonna della Salute: on 21 November, Venice celebrates the end of the great plague epidemic of the 17th century. Many Venetians cross the Rialto Bridge to head to the esplanade of the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, where the celebration takes place.

Winter in Venice is considered the worst time to visit the city, although paradoxically it is when the city’s premier event takes place: the carnival. There is no doubt that the cold and rain characteristic of this season deter many tourists from visiting, but travelling at this time of year also has its charm.

Thus, the city takes on a darker appearance and it is not uncommon to see mist among its canals. On the plus side, this creates a different, almost ghostly atmosphere that many may find appealing.

Furthermore, this is the time of year when you’ll find the best prices, with the exception of the aforementioned carnival and Christmas in Venice. Similarly, strolling through its streets and along its canals is much more comfortable, as are visits to the monuments.

Things to do if you’re visiting Venice in winter

The winter cold does not stop the Venetians from celebrating two of their biggest festivals: Christmas and the carnival. During these events, the city’s usual tranquillity is disrupted and finding a room in its hotels can be tricky:

• Carnival: for around 10 days in February in Venice, the city comes alive with its flagship festival. Events, parties, dances and parades are non-stop, but the crowds are enormous.
• Christmas: from around the second week of December in Venice, the city decorates and lights up its streets to celebrate Christmas. During this time, you can visit the Christmas markets, go ice skating on a large rink or see out the old year.
• Befana’s Day: Befana is the figure responsible for bringing gifts to Venetian children. On 6 January, a regatta takes place in which all the crew members are dressed up as this character.

To give you the clearest and most accessible information, here is a table with details on the different times of year to visit Venice.

The short answer is yes, but the long answer is rather more nuanced. During its biggest festival, all the streets and squares of Venice fill with people in fancy dress and wearing the popular carnival masks. There are also many balls organised, some exclusive and others open to visitors.

Throughout the festival, visitors will find a wide range of events, though it is perhaps during the Venetian night-time that the celebrations are best experienced.

However, this period is not ideal if you wish to visit the classic monuments and museums. The sheer number of tourists everywhere makes it rather difficult to get around.

Furthermore, hotels fill up and you’ll most likely have to look for one quite far from the city centre.

One of the experiences almost all visitors have in mind when travelling to Venice is taking a gondola ride. These tours are available all year round, but there are certain times of year that are better than others for doing so.

Summer, for example, is hampered by the sheer number of visitors to the city. It is not uncommon for proper boat traffic jams to form in the canals, and the experience loses some of its charm.

The best times to book a gondola are early spring or autumn, when the canals are much less crowded.

A very interesting but rather overlooked time for these trips is winter. Gondoliers usually provide a blanket for passengers to wrap up in on board, and the subdued light adds to the romance of the experience.