Best Time to Visit Venice

Spring and early summer: easy walking weather

April and May are mild, and they're great for wandering. You can cross the Rialto Bridge and get lost in Cannaregio without sweating. May is the wettest of the warm months, with rain on 13 days, but showers are often short. Carry a small umbrella and duck into a bacaro (a small local wine bar) when it pours.

June is warmer and brighter, with highs around 26°C. Evenings on the Zattere promenade are lovely. It's also busy, so if you hate crowds, aim for April or early May instead.

The Biennale art show runs in the Giardini and Arsenale from spring into autumn in most years. In odd-numbered years it's the Art Biennale, so check which one is on. Redentore, in mid-July, is a big night. Locals watch fireworks from boats near the Giudecca canal.

July to October: hot, then golden

July and August are the hottest months, and they tie at a high of 29°C. Nights stay warm at 22°C. Narrow streets can feel close and sticky by mid-afternoon. Do what locals do: rest midday, then head out late. A Lido beach day also helps. Hop on the vaporetto (water bus) from San Marco.

Italian school holidays run through the summer, and cruise ships and day-trippers add to the crush around St Mark's Square. This is high season, so rooms cost more and lines are longer.

September is the sweet spot for many people. It's still warm, with highs near 25°C, and the sea is pleasant. The Venice Film Festival takes over the Lido in late summer, and the Regata Storica, a parade of historic boats on the Grand Canal, happens on the first Sunday of September. October is calmer and softer, with fewer sunny hours but plenty of mild days.

November to March: quiet and moody

Winter is the low season, and Venice feels like a town again. Days are short and grey, with only 2.5 hours of sun a day in January. It's damp, and highs sit around 8 to 9°C. November is the wettest month, with 103 mm of rain.

It's also when acqua alta, the seasonal high tide that floods low streets, is most likely, especially in autumn and early winter. Pack waterproof boots, and know that raised walkways are put out in St Mark's Square.

Carnevale, in February before Lent, brings masks and costume balls. It's the one winter spike in crowds. If you want empty bridges and cheap rooms, come in January or early March instead.