When is the best time to visit Venice?
Well, any time honestly the best time to visit Venice. We’ve been there in April and in November, as spring and autumn should be when there are the least crowds. Honestly, April was better because the weather was much nicer.
Since Venice is one of the most popular places in Italy to visit, there are always many people there. The crowds range from “small” to “crazy” depending on which time you visit, but you’ll never be alone.
In short, you can expect the most crowds from around the middle of April to the end of September.
Anyways, let’s go season by season.
Spring – shoulder season
Prices are what you’d expect from a shoulder season. Mind that at the beginning of spring, some shops and restaurants might be closed.
The tourist season itself begins in May, which is when crowds start to arrive.
As for the weather, March is obviously much colder than May. The temperatures in March go up to around 12 degrees Celsius and at the end of May – even to low twenties Celsius. You might need a jacket, especially for the evenings. You can expect it to be raining as well, with the occasional thunderstorm thrown in.
Summer – high season
And by “high” season I mean HIGH. Summer is crowded in Venice. If you don’t love crowds, summer in Venice is not really for you.
The prices of things go up as well – so the hotels and gondola rides will cost more than during a shoulder season.
As for the temperature, summer in Venice is hot with the highest temperatures being in July. There are often thunderstorms in the afternoon and bugs during all hours of the day. All of this means – bring sunscreen and a bug spray with you!
Autumn – shoulder season
Similar to spring, Autumn in Venice is less crowded. This means easier access to a lot of attractions, including the museums and gondola rides.
The prices are friendlier than in Summer, although nothing really is cheap in Venice.
As for the weather, in September it’s still quite warm and sunny, but at the end of Autumn, it’s not that pleasant. There can be rains and fog, and it’s already getting quite cold outside. So it might happen that you have to wait in a line for St Mark’s Basilica while it rains. Unpleasant!
If you plan to go at the end of autumn, though, make sure you have some activities planned for a rainy day as well.
And keep in mind that in Autumn (and winter, for that matter) days are short, which means that there’s less time to do things.
Winter – low season, except for Venice Carnivale
During the Carnivale, which is held 40 days before Easter, usually between late January and mid-February, there are lots and lots of crowds. The prices of the hotels surge as well because of that.
Otherwise, there are little crowds really. You don’t have to worry about long lines to access the sights – just make sure to dress properly!
That’s because the weather is at its coldest. And since it’s cold and humid outside, it’s not exactly pleasant. There’s a bit of rain, maybe some snow, and freezing temperatures at night. Plus, the days are short which means less time to do things, as I already said.
On the other hand, the famous fog of Venice rolls in and the canals look very romantic. Tradeoffs, as usual!
So, what is the best time to visit Venice?
Shortly, the best time to visit Venice is during the shoulder seasons. This is meant during April-May or September-October.
During this time the city is not so much overcrowded, the weather is nice, and prices are still quite reasonable.
But honestly – do you really think there is something in this world we could call a bad time to visit Venice?
