Best Time To Visit Venice

The spring and autumn seasons from March to May and September to November constitute the shoulder season for tourism in Venice. Both these seasons are a beautiful time to be in Venice. The city of canals has a magical atmosphere with extremely pleasant weather conditions. Another added advantage is the lack of peak summer crowds.

Winter from December to February marks the low season for tourism in Venice. Travelling to Venice at this time of the year, you can expect much fewer crowds and cheaper fares for accommodation. One thing to keep in mind is that tourist attractions may close early. One exception to the low season is the Carnevale time in February.

January is the coldest and quietest month in Venice, with December coming a close second. The average maximum temperature hovers around 6 to 7 degrees Celsius in these two months. The night temperatures are known to dip below freezing point. The days are shorter in duration and are mostly cloudy with a chance of light rainfall. Winter is also the time for the famous Venetian fog that adds to the romantic yet ghostly atmosphere of the canals. Since these months are a part of the low season for tourism, there will be no crowds at the tourist attractions.

The weather conditions are still relatively cold in February, with temperatures around 6 to 8 degrees Celsius. The overnight temperatures are a little above 1 degree Celsius. The fog is quite heavy in this month and makes for a romantic atmosphere for a canal ride. February sees a surge in tourism owing to the Carnival. The accommodation fares are driven up, and you can expect vast crowds. The streets are especially crowded this month, and you’ll have to limit yourselves to the outskirts if you are looking for peace and wish to avoid the crowds.

Key Events

• Hanukkah is celebrated widely in the Ghetto - the Jewish region of Venice.
• Feast of the Immaculate Virgin takes place on 8th December.
• Christmas Markets pop up from mid-December onwards. Christmas Eve is usually celebrated with a multi-course fish dinner followed by a Midnight Mass at the Saint Mark’s Basilica. 
• New Year’s Eve or Festa di San Silvestro is celebrated pompously throughout Venice. The festivities include parties, music, toasts and fireworks.
• La Befana or Epiphany is another national holiday. It is held on January 6th every year. It is celebrated with a regatta, known as La Regatta Delle Befane, in Venice.  
• The Feast Day of Saint Anthony Abbott is held on 16th and 17th of January. This Italian holiday celebrates gravediggers, the patron saint of butchers, domestic animals and basket makers.
• State-mandated sales start in early January and last for about eight weeks. Watch out for some excellent bargains.
• Carnivale di Venezia is one of the most significant events in Venice. Though the Carnivale is celebrated throughout Italy, it is Venice that throws the biggest parties.

Spring is a beautiful time to be in Venice. The weather conditions are incredibly pleasant and there is plenty of sunshine. The average maximum temperature in March is 12 degrees Celsius and it goes up to 16 degrees Celsius in April. The temperature climbs up to an average maximum of 21 degrees Celsius in May. Spring is a splendid time to visit open-air cafes and to soak up the joyful vibes. March and April are quieter and less crowded whereas May begins to usher in the tourist crowds.

Key Events

• Easter Week occurs in March or April, depending on the calendar. It is a busy week for Venice as tourists start pouring in, owing to the long weekend. Restaurants and other businesses usually remain closed during this time.
• Festa di San Marco and the Liberation Day are celebrated on the 25th of April every year. It is the day when Italy was liberated towards the end of the Second World War.
• The Week of Culture or Settimana della Cultura usually takes place around mid-April. National museums and other tourist attractions offer free entry in order to promote the Italian culture.
• Festa Della Sensa is an ancient celebration that commemorates Venice’s relationship with the sea. The festivities include colourful boat parades and an elaborate procession at sea.
• Vogalonga is an exciting rowing race held during the weekend after Festa Della Sensa. About 3000 participants take part in the 32 km race to put forth a fantastic event.

June marks the beginning of summer and Venice braces itself for heatwaves. Summertime is also the peak tourist season, so expect lots of crowds and lots of heat. The days are sunny and long, receiving close to 16 hours of sunlight. July is the hottest month for Venice. Travellers are advised to prepare themselves for mosquitoes that can be quite a menace.

Despite being a warm and busy time, August is a strange month to be in Venice. The average maximum temperature is around 27 degrees Celsius. It is a good month to consider a sailing, rowing and other water-related activities. However, a section of tourists chooses to stay away from Venice in this month owing to the tales of oppressive heat and smelly canals.  Travellers may notice an occasional, damp whiff but Venice is reasonably hygienic. Excessive crowds can be another reason. A striking observation in August is the clear lack of locals, who usually take off for a vacation elsewhere.

Key Events

• Festa Della Repubblica or Republic Day is a national holiday in Italy. It takes place on June 2nd each year. Majority of the public places and businesses will remain closed on this day. 
• La Biennale is a cultural arts event that takes place in alternate years. It starts in June and goes on till November. Long processions are held in Venice on this occasion.
• Palio of the Four Ancient Maritime Republics is a boat race that is held in Venice once in every four years. 
• Arena di Campo San Polo is an open-air cinema that begins in late-July and goes on till the end of August. It is the largest screen in Venice and features blockbusters from the previous season. Most of the films are either in Italian or dubbed in Italian.
• Festa del Redentore or the Festival of the Redeemer is the biggest event in the month of July. It marks the end of the 1576 epidemic. 
• La Biennale di Venezia or the Venice Biennial is regarded as one of the most prominent art extravaganzas in the world. It is held in alternate years in the month of August. 
• The Venice Film Festival is an internationally-renowned and important annual event. It takes place in August each year.
• Ferragosto takes place on August 15th, which is also a religious holiday of Assumption. Since it marks the beginning of the summer holidays, locals usually head out of town.
• Several outdoor concerts and movies are held throughout the month of August.

Temperatures begin to gradually drop over the course of the Fall season. The tourist crowds also start to thin and Venice transforms into a magical city. The days tend to get shorter. The average maximum temperature is 24 degrees Celsius in September which further drops to 18 degrees Celsius in October and 11 degrees Celsius in November. The days are usually pleasant with clear, blue skies, although the overnight weather conditions get quite chilly. September and October do not experience much rainfall but November is one of the rainier months for Venice.

Key Events

• Festival of the Triumph of the Cross is a holy day that takes place on September 14th. Processions take place at the church and grand school of San Giovanni Evangelista.
• Regata Storica di Venezia is Venice’s Historic Regatta. It is regarded as one of the most spectacular and important events of this city. 
• The Venice Marathon is held on the fourth Sunday of October each year.
• Opera Season at La Fenice takes place towards mid-October. It is a perfect opportunity to see an opera at Venice’s popular opera house.
• Various events are hosted by local restaurants and pubs on the eve of Halloween. The festival is becoming increasingly popular in recent times.
• All Saints Day takes place on November 1st and is a public holiday. This day is dedicated to the deceased loved ones and locals visit the cemeteries in their memory.
• Festa di San Martino takes place on November 11th each year. Kids create a ruckus and indulge in a trick or treat sort of event.
• Festa Della Salute or the Festival of La Salute takes place on 21st November every year. It commemorates the plague that had decimated a majority of the city’s population.