Plan Your Trip
The honest month-by-month rundown. Shoulder months that reward patience, festivals that move the dates, and the acqua alta window.
TLDR
The best weeks are mid-March to early May and late September through November. July and August are hot, crowded and expensive. Carnival (late January into February) and the Biennale (May to November) move prices sharply. Acqua alta is most likely between October and December. Pick shoulder season if you can.
Insider Tip
The first two weeks of November are the quietest Venice gets while still having every restaurant open. Bring a waterproof coat, check the tide forecast at 08:00 each day, and expect to pay roughly 30 to 40 percent less than you would in June.
Month by month
Average daytime highs, main events, and why you would pick each month.
| Month | High C | What’s on | Reason to pick it |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 | Quiet, cold, clear | Cheapest hotel rates, empty St Mark’s at dawn |
| February | 9 | Carnevale 10 to 12 days | Masks and pageantry, if you book 9 months ahead |
| March | 13 | Still quiet, rising light | The first of the good shoulder weeks |
| April | 17 | Easter, spring weather | Long daylight, manageable crowds except Easter week |
| May | 22 | Biennale opens (even years) | Busy, but the weather is reliable |
| June | 26 | Peak starts | Long evenings, Vogalonga regatta second Sunday |
| July | 29 | Redentore third Sunday | Fireworks night is worth it; the rest of July is hot |
| August | 29 | Film Festival last week | Lido buzzes; the city is humid and queueing |
| September | 25 | Regata Storica first Sunday | Best month overall: warm, light, proper dinners |
| October | 19 | First acqua alta risk | Autumn light, moderate prices, a boot day or two |
| November | 13 | Feast of the Salute 21 Nov | Empty, cheap, honest Venice |
| December | 8 | Christmas market at Campo Santo Stefano | Short days, candlelit churches, good rates |
Dates worth pinning
Several festivals move each year. Always confirm from the official source before you book a hotel on the back of one.
- Carnevale di Venezia. 10 to 12 days, ending on Shrove Tuesday. In 2027 the expected window is 30 January to 9 February. Check carnevale.venezia.it.
- Biennale. Art in even years (2026, 2028), architecture in odd (2027, 2029). Opens late April or May and runs until late November at the Giardini and Arsenale. Confirm at labiennale.org.
- Vogalonga. A non-competitive rowing regatta that loops through the lagoon. Second Sunday after Ascension, usually mid to late May.
- Redentore. Third Saturday and Sunday of July. Fireworks over the Bacino on Saturday night, bridge of boats across the Giudecca canal. One of the better reasons to accept July heat.
- Venice Film Festival. Last week of August and first few days of September at the Lido.
- Regata Storica. First Sunday of September. Costumed rowing procession followed by races on the Grand Canal.
- Festa della Salute. 21 November. A local festival where residents cross a temporary pontoon bridge to the Salute church.
Acqua alta season, in plain terms
October through December is the window when the lagoon runs highest. Since the MOSE barriers have been operating, severe floods are now rare. On most trips that fall in this window you will see nothing at all. On one morning in 20 you might get a few hours of shallow water on the lowest squares before it recedes. Read our acqua alta guide if you are booking for November.
What July and August actually feel like
Hot, busy, and around 15 to 25 percent more expensive than May or September for the same room. The canals are thick with tour group traffic from 10:00 to 17:00 and the air is humid. If you must travel then, eat early, walk before 09:00 and after 19:00, and pick a sestiere away from San Marco. Cannaregio and Castello handle summer better than San Polo or San Marco.
One concrete step
Lock in the month first. Then pick your sestiere from our where to stay comparison. You will find that the right month opens up quieter neighbourhoods your budget would not reach in July.
Common questions
Is Venice too cold in winter?
Not really. Daytime highs sit around 7 to 10C from December to February. It rarely snows. A waterproof coat and proper shoes are plenty. The upside is empty St Mark’s at sunrise and room rates that can be half the June price.
When is the cheapest time to visit Venice?
Mid-January (after New Year, before Carnival) and mid-November (after Salute is unusual, after crowds thin). Rates can be 40 percent below June. Avoid peak Carnival week and Biennale openings.
Does Venice really flood in November?
Sometimes. Acqua alta is most likely between late October and December, but since MOSE has been operating the severe events are rare. On most November trips you will not see any flooding at all.
When are the main Venice festivals?
Carnival late January to early February, Vogalonga mid to late May, Biennale May to November, Redentore late July, Film Festival end of August, Regata Storica first Sunday of September, Salute 21 November.
Is September or May a better month for Venice?
September is usually the better single pick. Warm water at the Lido, softer light, and the Regata Storica on the first Sunday. May can be wet and a Biennale opening week is busy. Both beat July and August on every measure.