11 Things to Do in Venice in August

Many tourists have to fit their trips around their work or study holidays. This makes August the busiest month of the year in almost all tourist areas of Europe. This is something to keep in mind when preparing your list of what to see and do in Venice if you are visiting during these dates.

On the other hand, Venice also offers during August some interesting activities for its visitors, beyond its main monuments. It is a great time to enjoy the nearby beaches, to watch movies under the stars or to escape to a nearby island to experience its festivals.

Venice has a variety of great beaches surrounding the city. In fact, some of these beaches are considered some of the best in northern Italy. Examples include Lido Beach, Jesolo Beach and Caorle Beach. All you have to do is choose your favourite, get a transport pass that will make your transfers much easier, find out how to use the vaporetto to get there and relax on the sand.

Almost all of them have a great hotel infrastructure so you can eat some of the most typical dishes of the country. The island of Lido is home to some of the best beaches around Venice, the only problem, which gets worse in August, is that they're quite crowded and you'll need to get there early to find a good spot.

A slightly different option is the beaches of Caorle. If you choose to go there (by bus from Mestre or by train from Santa Lucia) I recommend that you don't just sunbathe and swim, as the village of the same name is a very interesting visit. It's a small town that has preserved much of its cobbled streets and houses with coloured shutters, as well as a wonderful Renaissance cathedral.

There are some less crowded neighbourhoods that have some really interesting places worth visiting, but they are often left out of even the best guided tours of Venice. Some that we recommend are:

• The Jewish Quarter: you can learn about the interesting history of this neighbourhood by hiring a tour, where you can visit the ancient places of worship, enjoy its architectural beauty, explore its narrow streets and the most emblematic sites of the ghetto and enter the Levantine and Spanish Synagogues. Without a doubt, this is a neighbourhood worth getting to know in more depth.
• Castello: If you tire of the crowds in the city centre, head to the sestiere of Castello, Venice's largest sestiere. It hides monuments such as the Basilica of San Giovanni e Paolo, the church of San Giorgio dei Greci (do not miss its interior), the Arsenal of Venice or the famous Acqua Alta bookshop.
• Cannaregio: although somewhat more frequented than the previous one, mainly because it is where the Santa Lucia station is located, the neighbourhood does not get all the attention it deserves, places like the Jewish ghetto and the Hebrew museum, the Ponte dei Tre Archi ( the only one with three arches in the city), the church of Sant'Alvise or the church of the Madonna Dell'Orto.
• Dorsoduro: this student quarter hides some of the most interesting museums in Venice, especially the Peggy Guggenheim collection in Venice for which you can buy your tickets in advance. It is also home to one of Venice's most historic churches, the Madonna della Salute. Finally, although more places could be highlighted, here you will find another church that, in my opinion, should be a must-see in the city of canals, that of San Nicolò dei Mendicoli.

No trip to Venice, no matter the date, can end without booking a gondola ride in this city, the true symbol of Venice. August, with its warm evenings and nights, is perhaps one of the best times to complete the experience with a serenade and a good dinner.

The number of tourists visiting Venice in August means that the canals are full of boats all day long. For that reason, the evening can be a great time to take this romantic ride in a little more comfort and soak up the beauty of the lights reflecting on the water.

For about 35 minutes you can cruise the Grand Canal and some of the smaller canals of the city, all while listening to a serenade. Finally, if you've chosen this option, it's time to enjoy a nice dinner with some typical dishes of the area.

After spending the day visiting all there is to see in the Doge's Palace, to give just one example, it's quite possible that you might be in the mood for a more relaxing way to end the day. In August, Venice offers locals and visitors alike the chance to enjoy open-air cinema sessions under the stars, taking place in various squares around the city, and there's no better place than Campo San Polo to catch a film.

You'll find information about the films (mostly in Italian, but also some in English) in various areas of the city. It's best to get to Campo San Polo in good time to buy your ticket at the ticket office and ensure you get a seat, as locals tend to flock here every day.

A good time to visit some of Venice's monuments, such as St Mark's Basilica, a little more leisurely during the month of August is during the celebration of Ferragosto, the 15th of August. This day is celebrated throughout Italy as Assumption Day (il Giorno dell'Assunta), a religious holiday with a strong following in Venice.

Taking advantage of the holiday, many Venetians leave the city to spend time on the beach or in the mountains, although the vast majority of the city's tourist establishments remain open. This mass departure of Venetians is somewhat noticeable in the streets of the city, as the usual crowds are somewhat reduced. And in neighbouring Jesolo, for example, there is an extraordinarily beautiful fireworks display over the sea.

Torcello is another place to visit during Ferragosto. On the occasion of the religious festival you can visit the town museum and the cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta free of charge.

Murano is the closest island to Venice, world famous for its glass. This city has become known throughout the world for its glass-blowing technique, which artisans apply to all kinds of products, be it jewellery, decoration, household goods, etc. But it is also worth a visit for its beauty and because it is home to two of the oldest churches in the so-called Venice lagoon, the Basilica of Santa Maria and San Donato.

There are several organised excursions to Murano, for which you can take a walking tour or even hire a glassblowing workshop to create your own pieces of Murano glass.

If you're in Venice in August you'll find a city experiencing one of the best cultural events in the world: the Biennale. If all the attractive monuments of Venice weren't enough, with the celebration of this event the city is filled with art exhibitions, installations and various types of events for you to enjoy at every turn.

Despite its name, the event is held every year, although with the focus on different artistic genres. In general, activities are divided between the national pavilions in the Biennale Gardens, the international headquarters and various historic buildings, palaces and old churches throughout the city. Another centre not to be missed is the Arsenale, a former pre-industrial factory which hosts exhibitions and plays.

Finally, for lovers of the performing arts, the Teatro delle Tese is another great place to enjoy dance, theatre and music.

Although August is not the most festive month in Venice, if you're in town on the 16th you can take the opportunity to go to Campo San Rocco (in the sestiere of San Polo) to see the events that pay homage to the saint after whom it is named.

San Rocco is, among other things, the patron saint of plague victims in a city that suffered several deadly waves of the disease. On the 16th there are religious events (including a mass in the church of San Rocco, where the relics of the saint are kept), processions and a classical music concert in a setting that is hard to beat, the Scuela Grande.

The church square is really beautiful and, if you are a history buff, it hides the place where Lorenzo de Medici was assassinated in 1548. As for the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, where the concert takes place, it can be said that it is one of those little Venetian jewels hidden behind the attractions of the Grand Canal and its bridges. Built in the 16th century to care for plague patients, the building houses some great paintings by Tintoretto, such as the Crucifixion before Pilate and the Annunciation.

Entrance to the Scuola

• Admission fee: Adults pay about €10, while young people (up to 26 years old) and the over 65s get a discount of about €2.
• Opening times: although you should confirm in case of changes, it is usually possible to visit between 09:30 and 17:30.

One of the most renowned activities in the Venetian summer is its jazz festival. From June to the end of August, there are performances by jazz musicians from all over the world, as well as book presentations and other events. If you like this genre or simply want to attend a performance in magical places, Venice is the ideal place.

Although in previous years performances have been organised in St. Mark's Square itself, in recent years they have focused on other venues.

Among other locations, you can go to the Sala Apollinee of the extraordinary La Fenice Theatre, the Palazzo Grimani or the terrace of the Splendid Hotel. The latter, in particular, offers unparalleled views of the Grand Canal while listening to the artists.

If you're in Venice in late August or early September, you're likely to spot a film star on the streets. This is when the famous International Film Festival takes place and its main prize is the prestigious Golden Lion.

The festival takes place on the Venice Lido, where you can go to try to witness the arrival of the actors and directors by water, as well as the red carpets so characteristic of any film premiere.

During these days you can also try to attend some of the screenings, although I warn you that it's quite difficult to get tickets.

Cinema in Marghera

In case you can't get a ticket for the festival's films, there is still an option to see good cinema. If you are in the Marghera area, in the mainland part of the city, head for Piazza Mercato. Here, during the whole month of August, open-air films are shown, some of which are part of the Venetian festival.

Although its fame is no match for Murano's attractions, Pellestrina Island should be on everyone's list when travelling to Venice in August. If you like good food, music, wine and cheerful company, the best place to spend summer evenings is in the streets of the village that gives the island its name.

Its houses, like Burano, are beautifully painted in bright colours, but with the advantage of fewer tourists on the streets. This trend is only broken during its summer festivals:

• Feast of the Madonna dell'Apparizione: usually held in the first days of August, it commemorates the apparition of the Madonna on the island. To celebrate it, the whole area is full of celebrations, both religious and recreational. The traditional food sold at numerous stalls is not to be missed either.
• Feast of Santo Stefano Portosecco: this week-long festival takes place on 15 August. Numerous events range from a kayaking competition to children's shows, perfect if you've travelled to Venice with kids. In the evenings there are parties with live music and dancing. There are also food stalls offering traditional dishes and, finally, a spectacular regatta in the style of the Venetian Regatta Storica takes place on the occasion of the festivities.

How to get there

The easiest way to get to the Lido is by vaporetto and from the port of Santa Elisabetta take bus number 11.

The big problem in Venice this month is not so much the temperatures, which average 29°C at highs and 18°C at lows, but rather the wind chill caused by the city's high level of humidity.

This makes both day and night very hot, something you'll notice most when you're out in the open air in places like St Mark's Square. Check the weather forecast before you travel and don't forget to bring water and seek shade from time to time.

As soon as you arrive in Venice in August, the queues start. The influx of tourists is already noticeable when it's time to take the vaporetto, so you'll have to be patient for any activity.

Although there are some aspects that can't be solved, such as the crowds in the streets or in the typical places to take the best photos, in August it becomes especially important to buy tickets without queuing.

Fortunately you can do so with the information on how to buy tickets to St Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace and other important monuments in the city.