Venice

About Venice

Natural phenomena and seasons

• Acqua alta (high water) (October–January) — From October–January, tides and wind can raise the sea level and briefly flood low-lying areas such as St Mark's Square. Follow the city's tide alerts; raised walkways are set up and waterproof boots help.

How many days do you need?

Allow two or three days: one for St Mark's Square, the basilica and the Doge's Palace; one for the Rialto area, a vaporetto ride along the Grand Canal and the museums of Dorsoduro; and a third for the islands of Murano and Burano. The city is at its best in the evening and early morning, after the day-trippers leave.

Where to stay

• San Marco and Castello — Walking distance to the main sights; eastern Castello is quieter.
• Cannaregio — Near the railway station, with canals where local life goes on.
• Dorsoduro — Close to the museums, with student cafés and calm waterfronts.

From the airport to the city

Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is on the mainland, on the northern edge of the lagoon. Alilaguna water buses go straight into the historic centre, while ATVO and ACTV buses run to Piazzale Roma. Some flights use Treviso Airport (TSF), farther away. Arriving by train, Venezia Santa Lucia station opens directly onto the Grand Canal.

Getting around

There are no cars: you walk or take ACTV's water buses, called vaporetti. At a few points, a traghetto (a gondola ferry) crosses the Grand Canal. Lanes are narrow and bridges have steps, so large suitcases can be hard work.

Good to know

• On designated days in spring and summer, the city charges day visitors a fee to enter the historic centre; overnight guests are exempt but may need to register. Check the dates on the city's website before you go.
• In autumn and winter, high water (acqua alta) can flood low-lying areas such as St Mark's Square.
• Swimming in the canals and sitting to eat on monument steps are prohibited. The currency is the euro.

Useful links

• City of Venice comune.venezia.it
• ACTV (water buses and buses) actv.avmspa.it
• Venice Marco Polo Airport veniceairport.it

Best time to visit for the weather: May–June and September–October. The warmest month is July (average high 84 °F); the wettest is November (4.1 in).

Monthly climate

Source: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), 2005–2024 monthly averages of daily high temperature and total rainfall. Values are estimates for an area of about 50 km and may differ from the city-centre weather station.

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