Nightlife · Venice · Italy
Venice nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Venice, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Godromil, Public domain
Quick answer
Venice is not a clubbing city: nights centre on aperitivo in bacari, canal-side drinks in Cannaregio and student bars in Dorsoduro. Most bars close around midnight to 2am, and residents expect quiet. The main areas are Fondamenta della Misericordia and Ormesini, Campo Santa Margherita, Rialto and Campo San Giacomo dell'Orio.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Dorsoduro
- Local drink
- Spritz
Where to go out
Fondamenta della Misericordia and Ormesini
Canal-side bars and bacari in Cannaregio, the liveliest evening strip in Venice.
Campo Santa Margherita
A large square in Dorsoduro with student bars and outdoor tables, busy late into the evening.
Rialto
Spritz crowds spill out of bacari into Campo Cesare Battisti and the market squares in the early evening.
Campo San Giacomo dell'Orio
A relaxed square in Santa Croce where locals gather for drinks.
Nightlife tips
- Night vaporetto lines run after the main services end, but less frequently; check the times for your route back.
- Keep noise down when walking home; sound carries over the canals.
- Aperitivo hour, roughly 6pm to 8pm, is when the city is most social.
Evening sights
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Landmark · San Marco
St Mark's Square
Come at sunrise or after 9pm for the square almost to yourself; sitting at a café with music carries a hefty surcharge.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes–1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Photo spot
- Architecture
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Architecture · San Marco
La Fenice opera house
Even a seat high in the gallery for an opera or concert is worth it for the atmosphere; dress smartly.
- Time needed
- 45-minute tour; 3-hour performance
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- After dark
- Couples
- Architecture
- Rainy day
What to drink
- Spritz — The Venetian aperitivo of white wine or prosecco, soda and a bitter liqueur — Aperol, Campari or the Venetian Select — with an olive and a slice of orange.
- Bellini — White peach purée topped with prosecco, invented at Harry's Bar in Venice in the 1940s. It is best in summer when white peaches are in season.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 19°C (66°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 16:53 | 0°C (32°F) | 6 |
| April | About 19:56 | 9°C (48°F) | 9 |
| July | About 20:57 | 19°C (66°F) | 6 |
| October | About 18:26 | 10°C (50°F) | 7 |
Getting home late
- Walking — Use an offline map, and allow extra time with luggage, as every bridge has steps.
- Ferry — Traghetti are gondolas that ferry passengers across the Grand Canal at a few points between bridges for a small fare.
- Taxi — Water taxis are fast and convenient for luggage or groups but expensive; agree the fare before departing.
- Bus — Buses link Piazzale Roma with the airport, Mestre and the mainland; the People Mover monorail runs between Piazzale Roma, the cruise terminal and Tronchetto car park.
Late-night bites
- Cicchetti — Bacari around the Rialto, along Fondamenta della Misericordia in Cannaregio and near Campo Santa Margherita in Dorsoduro.
- Baccalà mantecato — Almost every bacaro; it is the most classic Venetian cicchetto.
- Tramezzini — Cafés and bars across the city, especially around Campo San Luca and the Rialto.
Staying safe at night
Venice has little serious crime, but pickpockets work on crowded vaporetti and around the Rialto and St Mark's. Stone steps and fondamente are slippery when wet, and during acqua alta raised walkways appear on main routes; check tide forecasts in autumn and winter.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for couples, culture, nightlife and quiet stays
Dorsoduro
Dorsoduro, across the Accademia bridge from San Marco, holds the Gallerie dell'Accademia, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the domed Santa Maria della Salute. The Zattere promenade faces the Giudecca Canal at sunset, and Campo Santa Margherita, near the Ca' Foscari university, is lively with students in the evenings.
- Good
- Major art museums on the doorstep; Sunset walks on the Zattere; Quieter than San Marco
- Watch out
- Fewer vaporetto stops in the interior; Some bridges to cross with luggage
- Nearby
- Gallerie dell'Accademia, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Santa Maria della Salute, Zattere
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Venice?
Fondamenta della Misericordia and Ormesini, Campo Santa Margherita and Rialto. Canal-side bars and bacari in Cannaregio, the liveliest evening strip in Venice.
+Which area of Venice is best for nightlife?
Dorsoduro: Art museums, the Zattere waterfront and the student square of Campo Santa Margherita.