Venice in November suits travelers who want museums, churches, the Art Biennale and a bacaro lunch, with afternoons of 55°F (13°C) and plenty of cloud. The Biennale’s International Art Exhibition stays open until November 22.
Days are short, with 9 hours 33 minutes of daylight in mid-November, and the Basilica of St. Mark opens only in the afternoon on Sundays. Plan the outdoor sights for the middle of the day and keep the evening for a table indoors.
At a glance
- Afternoon high: 55°F (13°C)
- Night low: 42°F (6°C)
- Rainy days: 6 in the month
- Sunshine: 2.9 hours per day
- Sea: 60°F
- Event: 61st International Art Exhibition, until November 22, 2026
What is the weather like in Venice in November?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Sunshine per day | Sea | Daylight (15th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 65°F (19°C) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.8 in (72 mm) | 7 | 4.9 h | 66°F (19°C) | 11 h 02 |
| November | 55°F (13°C) | 42°F (6°C) | 2.8 in (72 mm) | 6 | 2.9 h | 60°F (16°C) | 9 h 33 |
| December | 47°F (8°C) | 34°F (1°C) | 2.0 in (50 mm) | 6 | 2.5 h | 55°F (13°C) | 8 h 44 |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
November in Venice is cool and gray. Afternoons reach 55°F (13°C) and nights drop to 42°F (6°C), so a coat is part of every outing and a long walk needs a stop indoors.
Rain falls on about six days of the month, and the sun shows for only about three hours a day on average. Mid-month brings 9 hours 33 minutes of daylight. Put the open-air sights, such as the Campanile, the Giardini or a boat to the islands, in the middle of the day, and keep the Doge’s Palace and the museums for a wet afternoon. The sea is at 60°F (16°C).
October is warmer, with highs of 65°F (18°C), lows of 51°F (11°C) and nearly seven rainy days. December is colder still, with highs of 47°F (8°C) and lows of 34°F (1°C), and less sun than November. Rain days stay close from one month to the next, so the real change over four weeks is the temperature and the light.
What to do in Venice in November
The Art Biennale in the Giardini and Arsenale before November 22
The 61st International Art Exhibition runs from May 9 to November 22, 2026. The Biennale’s events take place at the Giardini, the Arsenale and other venues in the city and on the mainland, so a visit can fill a full cloudy day indoors.
The closing date makes the first three weeks of the month the time to go. After November 22 the exhibition is over, so a trip planned for the last week misses it.
St. Mark’s Basilica, the Pala d’Oro and the Campanile
The Basilica is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., with last access at 4:45 and closing at 5:15 p.m. On Sundays and holy days of obligation it opens only from 2:00 to 4:45 p.m. The Pala d’Oro follows the same hours.
Tickets are bought online by choosing the ticket type, date and time slot, so pick the slot before leaving the hotel. Times can change on holy days and celebrations, so check the date. Go up in the middle of the day while visibility is best. In the square itself, sitting on the ground or eating and drinking should be avoided.
The Doge’s Palace and the Museum Pass on a rainy day
The Doge’s Palace is at San Marco 1, and the public entrance is the Porta del Frumento on the Piazzetta San Marco. Its ticket is the St. Mark’s Square Museums ticket, which also covers the Museo Correr, the National Archaeological Museum and the Monumental Rooms of the Marciana National Library. The MUVE app audioguide is included in the ticket price.
Two visits are by reservation only, for a limited number of people: the Secret Itinerary, through the rooms where Venetian administrators worked, and the Doge’s Hidden Treasures tour, through the Doge’s private rooms. Reserve them before you arrive. The Museum Pass adds Ca’ Rezzonico, Palazzo Mocenigo, Goldoni’s House, Ca’ Pesaro, the Glass Museum on Murano, the Lace Museum on Burano and more, which suits a trip of several wet days.
Murano, Burano and Torcello in the short November light
On Murano, some glassworks show the glass-blowing technique, and the Museo del Vetro is at Fondamenta Giustinian 8. Burano is known for its coloured house facades. The Museo del Merletto is at Piazza Galuppi 187, and by reservation visitors can watch lace-makers at work.
Torcello has the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the 14th-century Church of Santa Fosca, the Museo di Torcello and the throne of Attila on its small square. A long ramp links Burano to the park on Mazzorbo. With only about nine and a half hours of daylight mid-month, start early and choose one or two islands, not all three.
Cicchetti at a bacaro and Venetian specialties
Cicchetti are small bites eaten standing at a bacaro, a Venetian wine bar. They fit a cool day well, since a stop takes a few minutes and a coat stays on.
Venetian cooking mixes seafood traditions with spicy oriental influences, and fish and white meats such as chicken, goose and duck come with polenta and rice. Radicchio rosso di Chioggia is a protected European product. For something sweet, look for baicoli, zaleti and pan dei dogi.
Is Venice busy in November?
November falls in the tourist tax’s high season, which runs from February 1 to December 31. The big dated events sit elsewhere in the year: Carnival in February and March, the Festa del Redentore in July, the Film Festival from September 2 to 12 and the Regata Storica on the first Sunday of September. The one dated draw in November is the Art Biennale, which ends on the 22nd. The music festival ended on October 24.
Since July 27, 2026, the day-visitor access fee does not apply, and Venice can be visited without any payment or exemption request. The fee returns in 2027, starting with March 26 to 29. For the Biennale weeks, reserve rooms early. For the Basilica, Doge’s Palace and other timed entries, book the date and slot online first. Hotel La Fenice et des Artistes offers discounts between 5% and 20% on the best available rate for direct bookings, and Hotel Tintoretto gives 5% on its official website.
Guests in hotels, apartments, B&Bs and farm stays pay the tourist tax, collected by the property. It is charged per person per night, for a maximum of 5 consecutive nights. Rates vary by area, and staying on the mainland or the lagoon islands costs less than the historic centre and Giudecca.
Can you swim in Venice in November?
The sea near Venice averages 60°F (16°C) in November, down from 66°F (19°C) in October. That is a monthly average, and it makes a swim a cold one. December falls further, to 55°F (12°C).
The Lido is the city’s seaside, where the lagoon meets the open Adriatic, and it is a short crossing from the center. Lido beaches are part of what it offers, but November is a month for a walk, a bike ride or a look at the horizon.
What to pack for Venice in November
Cool nights, a gray sky and a city covered on foot decide the bag. The point is layers and shoes that handle wet paving.
- A warm coat and a sweater, for lows near 42°F (6°C) and highs of 55°F (13°C).
- A compact umbrella or waterproof jacket, for about six rainy days in the month.
- Comfortable, grippy shoes, since the historic center is entirely pedestrian and Venice has over 400 bridges.
- A card or phone for payment, because on board waterborne services only digital payments are accepted.
- An extra layer for churches and museum queues, where you may stand a while on days with only 3 hours of sun on average.
- A leash and plan for a pet, if one travels, since the Doge’s Palace offers a dog-sitting service bookable by web or app.
What to know before visiting Venice in November
The U.S. State Department rates Italy Level 2, Exercise increased caution, due to terrorism (advisory issued September 10, 2026). It recommends enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for alerts from the U.S. embassy or consulate, and buying travel insurance before you go.
For getting around, tickets must be validated at the start of each journey and at each change of vehicle. A standard 75-minute ticket costs €9.50, and the Venezia Daily Pass costs €25.00. A traghetto crossing of the Grand Canal costs €2.00 for tourists. Bicycles are not allowed in the historic center, even if pushed by hand. Sunday hours at the Basilica and the Campanile’s closing time are the points to check before fixing a day.
Is November a good time to visit Venice?
Yes, for travelers who want museums, churches, the Art Biennale and food, and who accept gray skies and cool air. Afternoons of 55°F (13°C) suit long indoor visits.
December adds colder weather, with nights near freezing at 34°F (1°C), and the Biennale is over.
For swimming, October is the better month, with the sea at 66°F (19°C). For museums and the Biennale, go in November, in the first three weeks. For families, children up to six travel free on the city’s urban transport services. If the weather turns, the Museum Pass covers many indoor stops.
The Biennale closes on November 22, so the early and middle weeks of the month are the ones to pick.
Sources
- palazzoducale.visitmuve.it (https://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/visitor-information/), checked 2026-10-30
- scultura.veneto.eu (https://scultura.veneto.eu/stampa-dettaglio?uuid=c5d75d69-553a-4bfa-901f-ba47d4e100a1&template=%2Fregioneveneto%2Fpresentation%2Flocalita-detail), checked 2026-10-25
- comune.venezia.it (https://www.comune.venezia.it/it/content/tourist-tax-information-guests?gsid=fba7e79e-4a73-4cc7-b858-2954de6cc4fc), checked 2026-10-30
- visit.venice.it (https://visit.venice.it/things-to-do/rialto-bridge), checked 2026-10-30
- tickets.basilicasanmarco.it (https://tickets.basilicasanmarco.it/it/support/faq), checked 2026-10-25
- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/en/veneto/venice), checked 2026-10-22
- comune.venezia.it (https://www.comune.venezia.it/sites/comune.venezia.it/files/page/files/Itinerario_%20Burano%20Torcello%202017%20ITA.pdf), checked 2026-10-30
- labiennale.org (https://www.labiennale.org/en/news/save-dates-2026), checked 2026-10-30