Best Time of Year for Visiting Venice

No matter when you travel to the city, Venice' s attractions will always be waiting for you. From its palaces to the extraordinary St Mark's Basilica, its entertaining markets, its beautiful bridges and, of course, its canals, this Italian city never disappoints.

This is not to say that there are no better times to travel than others. The climate, the influx of tourists, prices and other factors mean that certain times of the year are better for enjoying your stay. In general, the spring and early autumn months are the most comfortable if all circumstances are considered. 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 that will determine the best time to travel to Venice. Winters in Venice tend to be quite cold, while the summer months are characterised by heat and humidity. In general, if you have a choice, the best times to visit are late spring and early autumn.

In both periods the weather is mild, with mild temperatures, although the possibility of rain is always present. However, compared to the summer, these are seasons with somewhat fewer tourists, which will allow you to stroll more peacefully through the streets and canals. The weather at this time, however, can be somewhat unpredictable, so always check the forecast before you travel.

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 somewhat lower and you will see fewer tourists than in summer, although they increase as the season progresses.
• Summer (mid-June-late September): the city is full of visitors and crowds are the norm. The weather is very hot and prices rise. The positive aspect is the chance to enjoy more daylight hours and the Venetian night.
• Autumn: (late September - mid-December): The crowds gradually start to disappear. The heat is dropping, but the cold has not yet set in. However, there is more chance of rain and the phenomenon of acqua alta.
• Winter (end of December-mid-March): the coldest and darkest months of the year, so daylight hours are greatly reduced. Christmas and Carnival are two very busy times, especially the latter.

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

Within the season, the month of May may stand out. During this time you will be able to make the most of the evenings, as the hours of daylight gradually increase. Temperatures, meanwhile, can reach around 20ºC, although it is normal for them to be a few degrees lower.

In March and April, on the other hand, there may be some cold spells, but they are less uncomfortable 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 the city's streets and canals, as well as for excursions from Venice to nearby Burano, Murano and Torcello. The former, in particular, is at its best thanks to the effect of spring light on its colourful houses.

However, spring also has its downside. From the end of April onwards, prices for flights and accommodation rise. This makes it necessary to book earlier and even choose hotels in a nearby town, such as Mestre. Fortunately, there are enough transport options to get around Venice to get you to Venice in just 15 minutes.

Activities if you travel to Venice in spring

If you decide to or can travel to Venice in spring there are some activities that you should not miss, in addition to the usual visits:

• Su E Zo per i Ponti: it is a race open to everyone that runs from the Straw Bridge to St. Mark's Square. Along the way you cross bridges all over Venice.
• St. Mark's Day: On the day of the city's patron saint, 25 April, there is an interesting gondola regatta, among other celebrations.
• La Sensa: this festival mixes its religious character with the celebration of Venice's relationship with the sea. It is one of the most beloved festivities of the Venetians and is full of cultural and leisure activities.

Most visits to Venice occur during the summer, when most people are able to take their holidays. The first consequence is that the city fills up with visitors from all over the world. Spaces such as St Mark's Square become a little uncomfortable, especially when cruise passengers disembark.

This overcrowding causes long queues to get into Venice's most important monuments, so buying tickets in advance and with the option to avoid waiting in line is more essential than ever. As for the gondola rides, the Grand Canal is usually very busy during this season, making it slower and more difficult to get around.

On the other hand, the weather in Venice at this time of year is quite hot. It is a humid heat and can be uncomfortable for some visitors who are not used to such temperatures. However, this also has its positive side: the almost total absence of rain and the many hours of daylight that allow for long evenings.

Prices, of course, tend to rise considerably and it is advisable to plan well in advance.

Things to do if you're travelling to Venice in summer

As it is high season, Venice offers visitors an abundance of events and festivals. Some of them are almost a must if you are in the city:

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

The first weeks of autumn, from the end of September in Venice to the last days of October in Venice, Venice offers great advantages to its visitors. For starters, daylight hours are still plentiful and temperatures are usually mild. However, be aware that the nights start to get colder, with lows that can drop as low as 8 degrees Celsius.

November in Venice and early December are colder months, although not cold enough to make a visit too uncomfortable.

One phenomenon that can make visitors uncomfortable, however, 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 serious episode will you have to stop your tour until everything returns to normal.

With the passing of autumn, the number of tourists also decreases considerably. This makes this season the best for strolling comfortably through the streets of the city and for visiting attractions such as St. Mark's Basilica without being crowded.

Activities if you travel to Venice in autumn

Although there are not as many as in summer, Venice also has some important festivals that take place in autumn. In addition, the lesser influx of tourists means that these are festivities in which the Venetians take centre stage:

• Regata Storica di Venezia: one of Venice's great celebrations. As well as enjoying music, drink and food, you'll be able to watch several spectacular regattas and a parade in period costume.
• Halloween in Venice: For the past few years, Venetians have been celebrating Halloween in style. Its streets and squares are filled with costumes and, of course, 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 go to the esplanade of the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute. The celebration takes place at the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute.

Winter in Venice is considered to be the worst time to visit Venice, but paradoxically it is the time when the city's most important event, the carnival, takes place. While the cold and rainy weather of the season is a sure way for many tourists to avoid the carnival, travelling during this time of year is also a charming experience.

The city takes on a darker appearance and it is not uncommon to see fog in the canals. On the positive side, this gives it a different, almost ghostly atmosphere, which many may enjoy.

On the other hand, this is the time of year when you can find the best prices, with the exception of the aforementioned Carnival and Christmas in Venice. Also, strolling along the streets and canals is much more comfortable, as well as visiting the monuments.

Activities if you travel to Venice in winter

The cold winter weather doesn't stop Venetians from celebrating two of their biggest festivals: Christmas and Carnival. During Christmas and Carnival the city's tranquillity is broken and it can be difficult to find hotel accommodation:

• Carnival: for about 10 days in February in Venice, the city's most important festival is in full swing. Events, parties, dances and parades are continuous, but the crowds are enormous.
• Christmas: from about the second week of December in Venice, Venice decorates and lights up its streets to celebrate Christmas. During these days you can go to the flea markets, skate on a big ice rink or celebrate the end of the year.
• Befana Witch's Day: Befana is in charge of bringing presents to Venetian children. On January 6th, a regatta takes place in which all the crew members dress up as this character.

So that you have all the information at your fingertips, here is a table with information about the different times of the year to visit Venice.

The short answer is yes, but the long answer is much more nuanced. During its most important festival, all the streets and squares of Venice are filled with people dressed in costumes and wearing the popular carnival masks. There are also many balls, some of which are exclusive and some of which you can attend as a visitor.

During the days of the festival, visitors will find a large number of events, although it is perhaps during the Venetian night when the celebration is at its best.

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

On the other hand, hotels fill up and it is very likely that you will have to look for a hotel far away from the city.

One of the experiences that almost all visitors have in mind when they travel to Venice is a gondola ride. Gondola rides are available all year round, but there are some better times of the year than others.

The summer, for example, is a time when the number of visitors to the city is at its peak. It is not uncommon for boat jams to form on the canals and the experience loses some of its charm.

The best times to hire a gondola are in early spring or autumn, when the canals become quite clear.

A very interesting but overlooked time for gondola rides is winter. The gondoliers often lend a blanket for those interested to cover themselves on board, and the dim light adds to the romance of the experience.