Venice
Venice is a city of islands in the Venetian Lagoon, where cars are banned and you get around on foot or by boat.
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Venice is built on islands in the shallow Venetian Lagoon, in northeastern Italy, and it is the regional capital of Veneto. It was the seat of government of the Republic of Venice until 1797, and that past shows in St Mark's Basilica, with its gold mosaics, and the Doge's Palace beside it. Inside the historic centre you go only on foot or by water. Vaporetto waterbuses run along the Grand Canal, and traghetti, gondola-style ferries with two oarsmen, still carry locals across where no bridge is nearby.
The historic centre is split into six districts, or sestieri. Art lovers come for the Gallerie dell'Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and food lovers for cicchetti, small bites eaten in bars with a glass of prosecco. Murano, known for glass, and Burano, known for lace, are the main lagoon islands for a day trip. Winters are cool and damp, summers are warm and humid, and rain peaks in spring and autumn.
Venice in five
- Check the access fee calendarOn set peak days, visitors who are not staying overnight pay an access fee. Hotel guests are exempt but still register.Venice access fee
- Buy a vaporetto passSingle water bus tickets cost more than a time-based pass, so count your rides before choosing.
- Pack lightMost bridges have steps, and wheeled bags are hard work.
- Murano and Burano in the morningAllow half a day for both, and go early before the boats fill.
- Eat away from San MarcoRestaurants within sight of St Mark's Square charge for the view. Walk to Cannaregio or Castello for cheaper, more local places.
Things to do in Venice
See all attractions in Venice
Need to know
- Airport
- Marco Polo (VCE), by Alilaguna boat or bus to Piazzale Roma
- Getting around
- On foot and by vaporetto
- Best base
- Cannaregio or Castello, away from San Marco
- Access fee
- Day visitors on set peak days
- Time needed
- 2 nights; one day is rushed
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh8°Low2°Cold, foggyJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, foggy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°CarnivalFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Carnival
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Cool, quieterMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quieter
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Mild, EasterAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, Easter
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Warm, busyMayRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 140 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- JuneClear10 rainy daysHigh26°Low19°Warm, long daysJuneClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- JulyClear10 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Hot, crowdedJulyClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- AugustClear9 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh29°Low21°Hot, crowdedAugustClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, crowded
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Film festivalSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 129 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Film festival
- OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh19°Low13°Mild, high waterOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, high water
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°High water riskNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
High water risk
- DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Cold, high waterDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, high water
Average daily high and low in Venice, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Venice
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 58%
- Wind
- 16 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Venice
10:57 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°11°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue15°10°8%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed15°9°5%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Thu15°6°0%Thursday: Clear. High 15°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri15°4°9%Friday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 9%.
- Sat12°8°10%Saturday: Rain. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun15°7°25%Sunday: Rain. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 25%.
Updated 07:05 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Coming up
Every year
- MayPalio of FerraraFerrara, a day trip
Day trips by train
Day trips from Venice, the full guide- Muranoabout 10 to 20 min by vaporettoKnown for glass production, on a lagoon island a short vaporetto ride away.Read the guide
- Buranoabout 45 to 60 min by vaporettoKnown for lace and brightly painted houses, reached by vaporetto from Venice.
- Paduaabout 25 to 30 min by trainGiotto's Scrovegni Chapel, reached by train from Venezia Santa Lucia.
Before you go to Venice
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Rules for Venice, checked
- Non-resident day-trippers pay a €5 access fee on peak days and, for 2026, must book through a mandatory digital reservation system. Check the current days on the City of Venice website.Source
- Overnight visitors pay a separate stay tax and are not subject to the day-tripper fee. Ask your hotel how the tax is charged.
- Inside the historic centre you go on foot or by boat. Cars stop at the mainland car parks and Piazzale Roma, so plan how you will carry your bags.
- Since 1 June 2024, tour groups are limited to 25 people and loudspeakers are banned. Check group rules with your tour operator before you book.
- Check passport and entry rules before you travel. The Italian Foreign Ministry's Viaggiare Sicuri site lists them.
Plan around Venice
Regions, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideVeronaAn hour by train: the Arena and Juliet's balcony
Read the guidePaduaFrescoes and a market, about 30 minutes by train
Read the guideTrevisoA canal town with a quieter food scene
Read the guideTourist taxes in EuropeCity taxes by country, and how they are charged
Read the guideItaly by train off-peakA route that avoids the summer rush
Read the guideVenice FAQ
Is Venice worth visiting?
Yes, especially early and late in the day when the day-trippers are gone. Come for the canals, Murano and Burano, and the evening calm, and avoid peak summer weekends if you can.
How many days do you need in Venice?
Two nights is a good minimum: one full day for San Marco, the Grand Canal and the Rialto, and another for Cannaregio, Castello and the islands.
Do you have to pay to enter Venice?
On set peak days, day visitors who are not staying overnight pay an access fee and must register. Hotel guests are exempt but still register; check the official calendar for dates.
When is the best time to visit Venice?
May, June, September and October are the best mix of weather and fewer crowds. Autumn and winter bring high-water risk, and August is hot and crowded.
How do you get from Marco Polo Airport to Venice?
By Alilaguna boat or by bus to Piazzale Roma, then on foot or by vaporetto. The bus is usually quicker and ends at Piazzale Roma; the boat is slower but arrives by water.