Best Time to Visit Venice: Weather by Month, Crowds, Sea Temperature and Festival Season

Venice is at its easiest in May and September, when the days are warm enough for the Lido and the walking is comfortable. September also brings the Film Festival to the Lido, so the calendar matters as much as the weather.

July and August bring the hottest days and the warmest water. January and December bring short, gray days with little sun, though Carnival in February and March gives winter its own reason to go.

At a glance

• Best window: May and September
• Warmest month: July, with a high of 83°F (29°C)
• Coldest month: January, with a low of 32°F (0°C)
• Warmest sea: August, at 78°F (26°C)
• Most rainy days: June, with 9 days
• Film Festival: September 2 to 12, 2026

When is the best time to visit Venice?

May and September suit most travelers. Highs reach 72°F (22°C) in May and 75°F (24°C) in September, which is comfortable for walking all day between the Campanile, the Doge’s Palace and the Basilica mosaics.

For the beach, the Lido is the answer. It is Venice’s seaside face, a short crossing of the lagoon away from the city. The Adriatic is warm enough for a swim from June to September, and July and August are the warmest months of the water.

September is a little warmer and has the sea still at 73°F (23°C). April has the most rainy days of the spring months, at about 8, so pack a rain layer.

Quiet trips fit the cold months. January and February are cold, with highs of 46°F (8°C) and 49°F (9°C), and the days are short. Carnival then fills part of February and March, so a quiet week there is better placed after it.

• if you want the beach → June to September, with the Lido as the base for the day
• for sightseeing or walking → May and September, with highs from 72°F (22°C) to 75°F (24°C)
• for quiet → January and the weeks outside Carnival, accepting cold and little sun

Venice weather by month

*Long-term monthly averages.*

The year runs from cold, gray winters to a hot, bright July, then back down. Highs climb from 46°F (8°C) in January to 83°F (28°C) in July and August.

October drops to 65°F (19°C) and sunshine falls to about 5 hours.

Winter is hardest for anyone who wants long days outdoors. Those months suit travelers who plan around museums and churches.

When can you swim in Venice?

The sea passes 68°F (20°C) from June through September. June averages 73°F (23°C), July 78°F (26°C), August 78°F (26°C) and September 73°F (23°C). May, at 65°F (18°C), and October, at 66°F (19°C), stay just below that line.

These are monthly averages.

The Lido is where Venice swims. It has the Venice beaches and sits where the lagoon meets the open Adriatic. Cycling the island is also an option on a dry day.

When is Venice cheapest and least crowded?

Venice charges an access fee to regulate day visits and discourage unplanned ones. It applies only to the historic city, not to the minor islands, and in 2025 it was not applied to the Lido. Going on a planned stay and checking the fee for your dates helps.

Where you sleep changes the bill. The tourist tax is paid by guests in hotels, apartments and B&Bs, and its rate varies by area. The historic center and Giudecca pay the full rate, while the mainland and the lagoon islands have reductions.

Festivals and events in Venice through the year

Carnival in February and March

Venice Carnival takes place in February and March.

Cold weather comes with it. February highs reach 49°F (9°C), so plan layers and a few indoor stops.

The Art Exhibition and summer festivals

The Art Exhibition of the Biennale runs from May 9 to November 22 in 2026. The Festa del Redentore falls on the third Sunday of July.

The Film Festival and the Regata Storica in September

The Regata Storica is held on the first Sunday of September. The sea is still 73°F (23°C) then, so the Lido remains an option around the festival.

Contemporary Music in October

October is cooler, with highs of 65°F (19°C), and the sea has dropped to 66°F (19°C).