When to visit Venice

The main tourist season is from April to November, though Venice is also busy at Christmas, Easter and Carnival (February). The annual Venice Film Festival (August) and the Biennale (September) add even more to the crowds (and prices). The most pleasant times of year to visit are around the beginning and end of the tourist season, when the city is less busy and the weather is mild.

The summer season can be really hectic, with crowds of people streaming through narrow alleys and cramming uncomfortably on to the vaporetti, nose to nose on the tiny decks, or squashed into the un-airconditioned cabin. Some people complain of odors from the canals, and queues to get in to major museums seem endless – but there is a delightfully bustling, festive atmosphere. Buskers and backpackers abound, restaurants and café terraces buzz with life. Venice can be equally busy and festive around Carnival time in February, with masked and costumed revelers in the streets, but a visit at other times during winter is also very much worth considering. Winter is when Venice is at its most mysterious – and if it snows or is misty, at its most magical. Suddenly all those stories of romance and intrigue, or those dark murder mysteries, seem quite feasible. In early spring and autumn Venice has a quieter charm. It is much easier to find a place in restaurants, and you don’t waste so much time queuing for museums.

For more information on the climate, please visit the Venice Weather page.