Best time to visit · Venice · Italy
The best time to visit Venice
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best times to visit Venice are April to early June and September to October, when the weather is mild and long days suit walking and the lagoon islands. July and August are hot, humid and crowded; November to March is cold and damp, with possible acqua alta, but brings the quietest streets and lowest prices, apart from Carnival.
Key facts
- Best months
- April–May and September–October
- Shoulder season
- March, June and November
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 28°C (82°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 7°C (45°F))
- Rainiest month
- April (~9 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January and November
Seasons
Venice has a humid subtropical climate: cold, damp and foggy winters, warm springs and autumns, and hot, humid summers with mosquitoes. Exceptional high tides (acqua alta) are most common between October and March.
March–May
Spring
Mild days and blossom on the islands; Easter, 25 April and May weekends are crowded, and the Biennale opens.
June–August
Summer
Hot and humid with the heaviest crowds, beach days on the Lido and big festivals such as the Redentore.
September–November
Autumn
Warm September with the Film Festival and Regata Storica, golden October and foggy, quiet November with acqua alta possible.
December–February
Winter
Cold, misty and magical, with low prices except at Christmas, New Year and Carnival in February.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°C | 0°C | 6 | 10°C | 9.1 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 9°C | 1°C | 5 | 9°C | 10.3 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| March | 13°C | 5°C | 7 | 10°C | 11.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 17°C | 9°C | 9 | 13°C | 13.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| May | 22°C | 13°C | 9 | 18°C | 14.9 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| June | 26°C | 17°C | 8 | 22°C | 15.7 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| July | 28°C | 19°C | 6 | 25°C | 15.3 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 28°C | 19°C | 6 | 26°C | 14.1 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| September | 24°C | 15°C | 6 | 23°C | 12.5 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| October | 18°C | 10°C | 7 | 19°C | 10.8 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| November | 12°C | 5°C | 8 | 15°C | 9.4 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 7°C | 1°C | 7 | 12°C | 8.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Regata delle Befane — rowers dressed as witches race on the Grand Canal (6 January) |
| February | Carnival of Venice — masks, costume balls and events (February or early March, ending on Shrove Tuesday) |
| April | Festa di San Marco — men give women a red rosebud (25 April); La Biennale exhibitions usually open (April or May) |
| May | Vogalonga — a non-motorised rowing event around the lagoon (usually late May or early June); Festa della Sensa — the Marriage of the Sea ceremony (Sunday after Ascension) |
| June | La Biennale exhibitions continue (through to November) |
| July | Festa del Redentore — fireworks over St Mark's Basin and a votive bridge to the Redentore (third weekend of July) |
| August | Venice Film Festival on the Lido (late August to early September); Ferragosto public holiday (15 August) |
| September | Regata Storica — historic boat parade and races on the Grand Canal (usually first Sunday of September) |
| October | Venice Marathon (usually late October) |
| November | Festa della Madonna della Salute — a votive bridge across the Grand Canal (21 November); La Biennale exhibitions close (usually late November) |
| December | Christmas market in Campo Santo Stefano (December); New Year's Eve fireworks over St Mark's Basin (31 December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January and November, and the sights are quietest in January and November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Venice?
The best times to visit Venice are April to early June and September to October, when the weather is mild and long days suit walking and the lagoon islands. July and August are hot, humid and crowded; November to March is cold and damp, with possible acqua alta, but brings the quietest streets and lowest prices, apart from Carnival.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Venice?
Usually in January and November. Cold, often foggy and very atmospheric, with the quietest streets of the year outside New Year; acqua alta is possible.
+What is the rainiest month in Venice?
April, with about 9 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Venice get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 28°C (82°F) and lows of 19°C (66°F).