When is the best time to visit Venice?

There isn't a true low season in Venice, not really. The Serenissima (the Most Serene Republic of Venice) is so unique, and so famous, people across the world want to see it with their own eyes no matter what the season.

The best time to visit Venice for your plans will bring its own pros and cons, but as there are different activities and events to enjoy up and down the canals of Venice all year, there really isn't a bad time to visit.

From festivals like Carnevale to the quieter, foggier months of winter (December to February), we look at the best time of the year to visit Italy's famous city of Venice.

May to October is the best time to visit Venice for festivals

Weather in Venice in summer: Although May is technically still spring, this is when the weather begins to warm up in Venice, and daylight lasts long into the evening. At the height of summer (July and August), the weather crosses the threshold from nice to stiflingly hot – something to be aware of if you’re planning to explore the city on foot.

The closer to summer it gets, the more tourist numbers and prices rise, but the best free things to do in Venice can help you keep within your budget. The volume of visitors first increases for Carnevale (held on Shrove Tuesday). Then in May, as the sun returns to the sky, the city is abuzz once more. Special events pop up and crowds gather – the chief among all being the Venice Biennale, which has been celebrating visual arts and architecture here since 1895.

June is the start of high season and tourists pour in, especially once schools close down for the summer break around the middle of the month. If the main tourist spots in Venice become too crowded, you can always seek out one of Venice's less-trafficked neighborhoods.

Even though the temperatures and humidity rise in July, Venice will still be bustling. If the crowds get too much for you you can always take a day trip outside the city.

Another way to deal with the sun beating down on your head is to make the most of it, lying down at one of the many beaches of the Lagoon, both in and around Venice. Also be sure to get yourself a good spot for the Festa del Redentore (third Sunday of July) fireworks display.

September is one of the best months of the year to visit Venice while it's still warm – the heat dwindles and it makes for an excellent time to enjoy the last moments of the end of summer and beginning of autumn. Come October when fall has arrived, good weather days exist, but it’s also when the acqua alta ("high water" when some of Venice ends up under water) looms. If you're visiting in October pack waterproof boots just in case.

March or April is the best time to visit Venice for sunshine without the heat

Weather in Venice in spring: You can expect sunny days in spring, but temperatures will still be mild and you should pack for cool nights and the potential for rain. Happily Venice is just as photogenic in the rain, and with moody dark skies above. 

The spring months are the best choice if you want to do plenty of exploring without the sun beating down on your head (and you don’t mind getting caught in the occasional rain shower).

If you thought the city would be emptied out after the revelries of Carnevale, think again. With the weather getting warmer as the city shakes off winter, visitors are out and about on the bridges and canals of Venice again.

April is the true start of the spring season. Centuries-old celebrations like St Mark’s Day make for quite the photogenic stay.

A trip around Easter time will also ensure you see your fair share of the best Venice has to offer, as the days of the Holy Week are always dotted with celebrations and ceremonies – but keep in mind that schools close in Italy for Easter, and many domestic tourists come in for weekend trips.

November to February is the best time to visit Venice for budget travelers

Weather in Venice in winter: Despite its maritime location, Venice does get bitterly cold in winter with the occasional flurry of snow when temperatures drop below freezing. Pack for cold weather, including a warm hat as fog is a common feature in winter in Venice.

With the exceptions of Christmas and New Year’s Eve, in the colder months the city is as empty as it can be – with local schools and work in full swing, tourist numbers are much lower than they are from March onwards.

However, a lack of travelers doesn’t mean Venice is less lively. The Festa della Madonna della Salute brings the lagoon alive in late November, where stalls line the canals and a candlelit procession crosses a bridge of boats to reach the Salute.

Over Christmas, the area around the Rialto Bridge glimmers with lights and markets.

In January, visitors will want to find a viewing spot on the infamous Ponte di Rialto for the Regata delle Befane – the boat race where participants dress as witches.

The costumes continue at the world-famous Carnevale, a riot of color and concealment. It is an exciting moment of coming together in the final throes of winter, before the mask slips and spring in the city begins to unfurl.