Season guide · Venice · Italy
Venice in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Orlando Paride, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Cold, misty and magical, with low prices except at Christmas, New Year and Carnival in February. Expect highs up to 9°C (48°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F), with about 18 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 0°C (32°F) to 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 18
- Sea
- 9°C (48°F) to 12°C (54°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7°C (45°F) | 0°C (32°F) | 6 | 9.1 h | 2/5 |
| February | 9°C (48°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 5 | 10.3 h | 4/5 |
| December | 7°C (45°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 7 | 8.7 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 8°C (46°F) against a yearly 18°C (64°F), and 18 of the year's roughly 84 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- 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)
- December: Christmas market in Campo Santo Stefano (December)
- December: New Year's Eve fireworks over St Mark's Basin (31 December)
Good choices for winter
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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
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Museum · Dorsoduro
Ca' Rezzonico
A baroque palace on the Grand Canal displaying 18th-century Venice: ballrooms with frescoed ceilings by Giambattista Tiepolo, rooms of period furniture, Pietro Longhi's scenes of daily life and Guardi's views of the city.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Religious site · San Marco
St Mark's Basilica
Cover shoulders and knees, leave large bags at the free deposit nearby and buy the museum ticket for the loggia view.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
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Palace · San Marco
Doge's Palace
The Gothic palace of the doges was the seat of the Venetian Republic for centuries.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Museum · Dorsoduro
Gallerie dell'Accademia
Focus on the Bellini, Giorgione and Veronese rooms if time is short.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Day trips in winter
- Treviso (About 30 minutes by train) — A relaxed walled town of canals, frescoed houses and arcades, known as the birthplace of tiramisù and as a gateway to the Prosecco hills.
- Prosecco hills (About 1 hour by train to Conegliano) — The steep vineyard hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the home of Prosecco Superiore.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Venice?
It is a trade-off: Cold, misty and magical, with low prices except at Christmas, New Year and Carnival in February. The best months overall are April–May and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Venice in winter?
Highs of up to 9°C (48°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F), with about 18 rainy days over the season.