February in Venice suits travelers who want museums, churches and Carnival season more than warm weather. Afternoons reach 49°F (9°C), the sea is cold, and the days are short enough to plan around.
The month also marks a change on the hotel side. The city’s high season for the tourist tax starts on February 1, and Carnival runs from February into March.
At a glance
- Afternoon high: 49°F (9°C)
- Night low: 33°F (1°C)
- Rainy days: 5
- Sea temperature: 48°F (9°C)
- Daylight on February 15: 10 hours 22 minutes
- Event: Venice Carnival, February to March
What is the weather like in Venice in February?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Sunshine per day | Sea | Daylight (15th) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 46°F (8°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 1.6 in (40 mm) | 6 | 2.6 h | 50°F (10°C) | 9 h 04 |
| February | 49°F (9°C) | 33°F (1°C) | 2.2 in (57 mm) | 5 | 3.8 h | 48°F (9°C) | 10 h 22 |
| March | 56°F (13°C) | 40°F (5°C) | 2.4 in (61 mm) | 6 | 4.6 h | 50°F (10°C) | 11 h 50 |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
February in Venice is cold and fairly gray. Afternoons reach 49°F (9°C), and nights drop to 33°F (1°C), right at freezing. Plan on a warm coat for the whole day, and a hat and gloves for the evening.
Daylight lasts a little over ten hours in mid-February. Put outdoor sights such as the lagoon islands in the middle of the day, and keep the indoor museums for the wet days.
January is a notch colder, with afternoons at 46°F (8°C) and six rainy days. March brings afternoons of 56°F (13°C) and nights of 40°F (4°C). February sits between the two, closer to January on the thermometer.
What to do in Venice in February
Venice Carnival in February and March
Carnival takes place in February and March. Costume and mask ateliers sit a few steps from Hotel Danieli on Riva degli Schiavoni, close to the Bridge of Sighs and Piazza San Marco.
Piazza San Marco is a monumental site, and sitting on the ground or eating and drinking there is discouraged. Stand a little way off for a coffee, and book rooms early for the Carnival weeks.
St. Mark’s Basilica and the Campanile
The Basilica is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., with closing at 5:15 p.m. On Sundays and holy days it opens only from 2:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. The visit includes the Pala d’Oro and the museum and loggia of the Horses of Saint Mark. Tickets are bought online by choosing a type, a date and a time slot.
Doge’s Palace and the St. Mark’s Square Museums
The Doge’s Palace is part of the St. Mark’s Square Museums ticket, together with Museum Correr, the National Archaeological Museum and the Monumental Rooms of the Marciana National Library. The public entrance is at Porta del Frumento, Piazzetta San Marco. The MUVE APP audioguide comes with the ticket price.
The palace also runs two visits by reservation only, for a limited number of people: the Secret Itinerary, through the rooms of the Venetian administration, and the Doge’s Hidden Treasures tour, through the Doge’s private rooms. Both suit a cold, rainy February day, and they are worth booking ahead.
Gallerie dell’Accademia and the Scuola di San Rocco
The Gallerie dell’Accademia hold Venetian painting from the 14th to the 18th century in 24 rooms. The address is Campo della Carità, Dorsoduro 1050. It makes a good plan for one of the five rainy days.
The Scuola di San Rocco has a cycle of paintings by Tintoretto. Pair it with the Accademia for a full day under a roof, then walk back across the bridges in the late afternoon.
Glass on Murano and lace on Burano
The Museo del Vetro is on Murano at Fondamenta Giustinian 8, and some of the island’s glassworks let visitors watch glass-blowing. The Museo del Merletto is on Burano at Piazza Galuppi 187. At the lace museum, visitors can watch lace-makers at work by reservation.
Torcello has the Museo di Torcello, the Church of Santa Fosca and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. With about ten hours of daylight, start the islands in the morning. The Museum Pass covers the Glass Museum, the Lace Museum and the Torcello Museum.
Is Venice busy in February?
For the tourist tax, Venice’s high season runs from February 1 to December 31, and January is the low season. February is the first month of the high season, and Carnival runs from February into March.
Book rooms early, especially for the Carnival weeks. Booking directly can pay off. Hotel La Fenice et des Artistes offers discounts between 5% and 20% on the best available rate, and Hotel Tintoretto gives 5% on its official website.
The tourist tax is collected by the hotel and calculated on the number of nights per person. Rates vary by area: historic centre, islands or mainland. It is due for a maximum of 5 consecutive nights. Visitors staying in accommodation do not pay the separate day-visit access fee, whose listed days for 2027 start with March 26 to 29.
Can you swim in Venice in February?
The sea near Venice averages 48°F (9°C) in February, a monthly average and well below any comfortable swimming level. Swimming is not the point of a Venice February.
The Lido is the city’s seaside, a short crossing of the lagoon facing the open Adriatic. Go there for a winter walk on the beach and the sea air, and bring your coat.
The Lido’s beach season belongs to other months.
What to pack for Venice in February
February asks for warmth and for shoes that handle a lot of walking. The historic centre is entirely pedestrian, and Venice has over 400 bridges.
- A warm coat, hat and gloves for nights near 33°F (1°C) and afternoons of 49°F (9°C).
- An umbrella or rain jacket for about five rainy days.
- Comfortable shoes with good grip for bridges and wet stone paving.
- A card or phone for the water bus, since on board waterborne services only digital payments are accepted.
- Layers for the museums, then a hat for the Campanile.
What to know before visiting Venice in February
On the ACTV water bus, 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 gondola crossing of the Grand Canal costs €2.00 for tourists. Venice can be visited entirely on foot.
The U.S. State Department lists Italy at Level 2, Exercise increased caution, issued September 10, 2026, due to terrorism. It recommends enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) and buying travel insurance before you go.
Is February a good time to visit Venice?
It is a cold month, so it suits people happy to spend much of the day indoors.
March warms to afternoons of 56°F (13°C) and brings more than four and a half hours of sun a day.
If you want fewer crowds, go outside the Carnival weeks. If you want warmth or swimming, choose another month. With children, the Kids’ Carnival and the indoor museums give a full day when it rains.
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