If you’re like many travelers, Venice is on your bucket list. This unique Italian city is one of the most sought-after destinations in the world. However, if you're planning a visit to Venice, it's important to consider the timing of your trip. The best months to visit might not be what you expect.
Here’s a comprehensive guide on the best times to visit Venice, Italy. We’ll explore what you can expect during the high, low, and shoulder seasons. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to plan the perfect trip to Venice that suits your preferences.
What You Need to Know About Seasons in Venice
The Venice tourist season typically runs from April to October, but summer is the busiest and most expensive time to visit. Additionally, the summers in Venice are very hot and humid, so you should prepare for the weather. Comfortable shoes, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen are essential for this city during the summer months.
The best temperatures of the year are generally in March, April, September, and October, when it's cooler but still pleasant. Most of Europe is best visited during these months due to the comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds.
The time of year with the fewest tourists but also the coldest temperatures in Venice is winter. The average temperature is around 44°F, so you'll need warm clothes and a raincoat. However, with fewer tourists comes cheaper prices in Venice.
A Month-By-Month Guide to Visiting Venice
One of the best tips for traveling to Venice is how to avoid large crowds. Venice has had booming tourism for decades and is never empty. Things have improved slightly since the city banned cruise ships, but the high season is still in the summer. Overall, the best time to visit Venice is in the autumn or spring.
January in Venice
Average temperatures: 34°F to 43°F (1°C to 6°C) Crowd level: lowest of the year Good to know: acqua alta season is active, pack waterproof boots
One of the reasons why Venice in winter is off-season is acqua alta. This is a unique tide peak that happens periodically in the northern Adriatic Sea between October and February. If you visit Venice in January, make sure to have rain boots and be ready for a wet experience. The upside is that hotel prices drop to their lowest point of the year, and you’ll have museums and bridges nearly to yourself.
February in Venice
Average temperatures: 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C) Crowd level: low, except during Carnevale Good to know: Carnevale dates shift every year since they’re tied to Easter, so confirm the exact dates before booking
The vibrant and extravagant Carnevale is the most visited annual event in Venice. For Italians, the carnival is a spectacular celebration even bigger than New Year’s Eve. This is when they gather in costumes to celebrate the Venice Republic’s victory over its enemy. The Venice Carnival dates back to the 12th century, and if you visit today, you will see a lot of people in masks and outfits that seem like they have traveled from the past.
March in Venice
Average temperatures: 41°F to 53°F (5°C to 12°C) Crowd level: low, ticking up around Easter Good to know: Easter dates change annually, and many shops and restaurants close for the holiday
Easter is usually in March or April, and in Italy, it is a huge holiday because of their Catholic faith. If you come to Venice at Easter, you will find many shops and restaurants closed. However, if you are staying in a hotel, you will have everything you need, and March is one of the best times of the year to visit Venice thanks to mild weather and thin crowds outside the holiday itself.
April in Venice
Average temperatures: 48°F to 60°F (9°C to 16°C) Crowd level: moderate and building Good to know: Venice’s day tripper access fee begins applying on select dates this month
April has mild temperatures and is just the beginning of tourist season, making it one of the best months to visit Venice. You can enjoy sightseeing without worrying about sunscreen and long queues at every museum. It is also a great time to visit restaurants and cafes, which are starting to work longer hours as tourists arrive in the city. Note that Venice’s day tripper fee starts kicking in on select spring weekends, so day visitors should check the current calendar before planning a trip in.
May in Venice
Average temperatures: 55°F to 68°F (13°C to 20°C) Crowd level: moderate to high Good to know: the Vogalonga rowing regatta and the access fee both fall this month
May is a great month to visit Venice since it offers pleasant weather and longer, brighter days. Imagine yourself sunbathing in the back of a gondola or traveling to the lagoon in Venice. Late May also brings the Vogalonga, a beloved 30 kilometer non-competitive rowing regatta that fills the lagoon and Grand Canal with thousands of boats, a genuinely local event worth planning around if you love being on the water. From May to November, the Venice Biennale is also held, making it an excellent time to visit if you love art.
June in Venice
Average temperatures: 62°F to 75°F (17°C to 24°C) Crowd level: high Good to know: the access fee is still active on select dates through late June
June is a great month to visit Venice if you want to visit during the summer but want to avoid humidity and hot days. You will catch a breeze from the Adriatic Sea and you will get to enjoy gondola rides on sunny days without much rain.
July in Venice
Average temperatures: 66°F to 80°F (19°C to 27°C) Crowd level: peak Good to know: the Festa del Redentore, one of Venice’s biggest festivals, falls on the third weekend of the month
July is Venice’s peak season, and places like the Rialto Bridge, Piazza San Marco and Doge’s Palace are crowded. Italian streets and cafes are full of tourists, so be careful not to be a victim of pickpockets while making your way through the narrow streets. If your visit lines up with the third weekend of July, don’t miss the Festa del Redentore, when Venetians fill the Giudecca Canal with decorated boats for a waterside feast, a temporary pontoon bridge opens for pedestrians, and the night ends with fireworks over St. Mark’s Basin. It’s one of the most local, least touristy big events on the calendar.
August in Venice
Average temperatures: 66°F to 79°F (19°C to 26°C) Crowd level: peak Good to know: the Venice Film Festival opens in late August
August stays hot and busy, but it’s also when the Venice Film Festival gets underway in the final week of the month, bringing a flicker of red carpet glamour to the Lido alongside the usual crowds at San Marco Basilica, the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge. A gondola ride at dusk is a nice way to break up a full day of walking and beat the worst of the afternoon heat.
September in Venice
Average temperatures: 60°F to 73°F (16°C to 23°C) Crowd level: high, easing by late month Good to know: the Regata Storica lands on the first Sunday of the month
September is when the Venice Film Festival wraps up, drawing celebrities from around the world, and when the Regata Storica takes over the Grand Canal: a historic parade of costumed gondoliers and traditional boats followed by competitive races, always held the first Sunday of the month. Also, late September is ideal if you want to see nearby cities in the Venetian lagoon, including Murano, Burano and Torcello. Day trips from Venice can include places like Padua and Verona, which can be reached within one hour by train or bus. The best way to get around Venice and the lagoon is the vaporetto, the local water taxi.
October in Venice
Average temperatures: 51°F to 63°F (11°C to 17°C) Crowd level: moderate, dropping Good to know: the Biennale (in Art years) runs through late November, and this is often cited as the best all around month
October brings a full calendar, including opera at La Fenice and a wine fair, and you won’t encounter the same throngs as during the busy season. If we had to choose one month as the best to visit Venice, it would be October.
November in Venice
Average temperatures: 43°F to 52°F (6°C to 11°C) Crowd level: low Good to know: acqua alta risk is at its highest this month, historically worse than winter
If you want to avoid the crowds, consider going to Venice in November. Compared to the height of the tourist season, November has cooler weather and fewer visitors. It’s also historically one of the highest-risk months for acqua alta, so pack for the possibility of flooded walkways along with the occasional downpour.
December in Venice
Average temperatures: 37°F to 45°F (3°C to 7°C) Crowd level: low, with a bump around the holidays Good to know: hotel rates are among the year’s best outside the Christmas and New Year’s stretch
December in Venice is magical, with all the decorations for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Although the weather can be cold and rainy, it is a unique opportunity to visit museums which are almost empty at this time. Also, you will get some better rates for beautiful hotels in Venice’s center.
If You Go
Venice Access Fee
Venice charges day trippers an access fee on select dates each spring and summer, typically five euros if booked in advance or ten euros for late registration. The fee does not apply to overnight guests, though they still need to register. Check the official Venice access fee portal for current dates before finalizing plans.
Where to Stay
The Royal San Marco Hotel sits one narrow street from Piazza San Marco, with the kind of central location that makes wandering the city on foot genuinely easy.
Tours and Experiences
For a well-rounded first day in the city, the Skip-the-Line St. Mark’s and Gondola Ride tour covers the Rialto Bridge, the fish market and Cannaregio on foot before finishing with a gondola glide past St. Mark’s Square.
Practical Planning
Pack for shoulder season unpredictability with a light rain layer, and consider travel insurance through Squaremouth for peace of mind. An Airalo eSIM is worth setting up before you land, since Venice’s narrow calli make navigation apps essential.
Need a hand planning your trip? Here are the sites and services we rely on most, from booking tools to travel products we love.
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