Venice at Christmas: best things to do + tips for a festive trip you’ll love

Practical travel guide to plan a trip to Venice at Christmas. Best things to do, what to expect from the weather, best tours in Venice for the holiday season.

There’s something quietly magical about Venice in December.

Venice is always a contemplative, romantic and dreamy place but Venice during the festivities, as the winter cold sun settles over the canals and Christmas lights brighten up the damp days, the city glows softly and makes you dream of lazy afternoons with a book and ruby red glasses of smooth red wine to ride out the cold.

As you can probably tell from this introduction, I love Venice at Christmas.

I actually love Venice in all seasons, but I find the festivities are an exceptional time to visit as the atmosphere is beautiful and the canals even more atmospheric, away from the blinding light of the summer sun.

Venice At Christmas is, however, cold and damp and some planning is therefore helpful to ensure you make the most of your time.

To enjoy the best the city has to offer, I recommend mixing sightseeing with indoors activities such as classes and museums visit.

This is my practical guide to visiting Venice at Christmas. I hope you enjoy it!

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Weather & What to Expect in Venice in December

Visiting Venice in winter has its own charm, but it’s essential to come prepared. December in Venice is chilly, damp, and often overcast.  

• Temperatures: Daytime highs tend to hover around 6–8 °C (around 43–46 °F), while nighttime lows can dip toward 0–2 °C (32–36 °F).  

• Cloudiness & fog: Skies are often cloudy or mostly cloudy; fog or mist is common along the canals and lagoon in early mornings or evenings.  

• Rain & dampness: Expect occasional light rain or drizzle. Wear shoes that can take a bit of rain, a good jacket and an umbrella (or buy a cheap one from the many shops and vendors around).  I always recommend to pack a second pair of shoes in winter, should one need to dry overnight.

• Short days: Daylight is limited. The sun rises late and sets relatively early, so plan your daylight sightseeing accordingly. Top tip! We made the most of late sunrise to plan an photoshoot just as the sun came up and it was magical (and saved us from losing too much sleep for it!)

• Acqua alta (high water): Venice frequently faces “acqua alta” (high tides) in Decemeber, which is when water can seep into lower-lying squares (notably Piazza San Marco) and low-lying streets. It’s wise to check tide forecasts and street-level alerts during your stay but it is also important not to panic: aqua Alta is part of Venice’s life and the city is equipped with boardwalks that allow to continue sightseeing. While it is damaging to buildings, for the visitors is actually more a novelty than a problem – do not think of it as ‘flood’ that causes panic, chaos or displacements of people etc.

In short: bring layers, waterproof gear, good walking shoes, and expect a moody, atmospheric Venice: the kind of weather that lends itself to reflective walks, indoor gems, and quieter canals. The very best of Venice!

Venice at Christmas with kids

If you are visiting Venice with kids, this guide is for you too! All the activities I have recommended here are also suitable for kids!

When relevant, I have specified tours that are for families so you can choose the approach that suits you best: standard tour (older kids), family tour (game based, perfect for primary school kids and young teens).

If you want more specific info such as where to find playground, stroller tips etc, I recommend you read my other posts: how to visit Venice with a baby or toddler and also Venice with kids.

Top Things to Do in Venice at Christmas Time

Even in winter, Venice has a wealth of experiences that feel especially intimate and atmospheric. Here are highlights to build into your itinerary.

Walk around and ‘get lost’

You’ve probably heard it over and over again: the best thing to do in Venice it to aimlessly wander and allow yourself to get lost and indeed, it is! But do not worry.

Venice is all a city center and has a medieval layout that means parts of it a little like a maze: you walk around and easily you do not know where you are or how you got there. BUT Venice is super safe and also small, so while you will get lost, you will also very quickly find your way back to larger streets and recognisable landmarks so there is really no need to panic!

The ‘getting lost’ approach is the best one as truly, Venice is an open air museum and every corner is atmospheric so it doesn’t make much sense at all to have an exact itinerary, it is only a constraint more than a help.

The best places for a wander in Venice are the area of Dorsoduro, Cannaregio and Castello.

Tour of the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and St Mark’s Basilica

No visit to Venice is complete without stepping into the grand corridors, ornate rooms, and atmospheric prisons of the Doge’s Palace.

At Christmas, you will find the festivities do affect its opening hours so it is paramount to check exact schedule for the current year on the official website and plan accordingly.

Palazzo Ducale is stunning and full of history so I find touring it with a guide to be the best option: a professional guide is able to make the palace come to life with stories of intrigue and mysteries which are fun, very Venetian, and not as easy to get to know on your own. My favorite tour of Doge’s Palace is this one, which is comprehensive and also cover the Basilica (the two are beside each other and it makes sense to visit them together).

If you prefer to visit in your own time however, you can! You can secure tickets ahead here.

Tip for families with kids! Doge’s Palace can be really fun for kids as it is a place of stories and secrets. The best way to visit with kids is with a dedicated family tour: I love this one by LivTours that covers the palace and basilica and is interactive and game based.

Food Tour / Cicchetti & Venetian Delights

One of the best ways to get under Venice’s skin is through its food.

Venice has been an important trading center for centuries, with ties with countries all around the mediterranean and beyond, which means its food culture developed in a fascinating and unexpected way.

A local food or “cicchetti” tour (Venetian small plates in bacari, Venice’s wine bars) is perfect for cold days: you hop between cozy bars, sample bites of baccalà mantecato, sarde in saor, polpette, and local pastries, all with warm company and occasional wine or spritz.

This is a fantastic way to get to know Venice food, discover local places and get out of the cold!

Great food tours are this one that also brings you to the fabulous and historic Rialto market.

Mask-Making Workshop / Venetian Carnival Crafts

Even though Carnival is in February, the tradition of mask-making lives year-round in Venice and you can take part in it!

Instead of buying a mask souvenir from the tourist stops, you can meet a local artisan and learn the art of mask decorating in their own atelier. Workshops are fun, hands-on, a lovely souvenir of your time in Venice and make for a fantastic Christmas gift!

A BRILLIANT one is this one which also give you the opportunity to visit Giudecca, a stunning and local area you may otherwise miss (don’t worry, it’s very easy to reach)

Museums & Indoor Gems

When the weather is damp, Venice still has dozens of world-class indoor options to shelter you:

• Gallerie dell’Accademia — STUNNING, with Venetian painting from the 14th to 18th centuries

• Peggy Guggenheim Collection — beautiful and kid friendly!

• Ca’ Rezzonico — Fantastic, a great way to learn about Venice, how it came to be and Venetian life

• Museo Correr at Piazza San Marco — Venetian history, art, and culture 

Visit Murano & Burano

A day (or half-day) trip to the lagoon islands is a great addition to tour time in Venice also in winter: just wrap up for the vaporetto ride as the lagoon can feel chilly!

• Murano is the closest to Venice and known for its centuries-old glassmaking tradition. The island is VERY touristy and commercial on its main thoroughfare but it also has lovely quiet streets with local vibe if you take a bit of time to wander and explore. It is an ideal destination if you want to get some handmade Christmas presents from one of its many glass workshops (small jewellery, home decor etc)

• Burano is a little further out and famed for its brightly colored houses and lace-making tradition. The photos are endlessly charming even in a grey light, and with fewer tourists, you get more time to soak it in.  Less commercial than Murano, it has a strong lace tradition so if you can still find some cute shops for handmade lace gifts!

Many combined tours include both, or you can take the vaporetto lines (e.g. Line 12 from Fondamenta Nove) to make your own schedule.  It is easy either way!

Consider doing Murano in the morning (to catch the glass workshops) then Burano in the quieter afternoon. When we did this, we took the vaporetto back at sunset and it was wonderful!

Go to a concert

Venice has a strong classical music tradition and a fantastic way to tap into it at Christmas is by going to the concert. Vivaldi was from Venice so a great one to choose is the Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Concert in the Vivaldi Church.

I also recommend you visit Venice stunning historic La Fenice Theater, which is so grand and elegant, it is sure to make an impression.

Shopping in Venice at Christmas and Venice Christmas market

Christmas markets are not an Italian tradition we do get some and Venice is no exception.

Campo Santo Stefano Christmas Village: transforms Campo Santo Stefano into a festive hub, with wooden chalets selling Venetian crafts, masks, Murano glass, lace, ornaments, and seasonal sweets.  

If you prefer Artisan boutiques: In Venice, you’ll find many ateliers making masks, jewelry, lace, or tiny prints of Venetian scenes. Have a look at, Il Pavone Stamperia (prints), Le Forcole di Saverio Pastor, Spezieria dell’Ercole Oro but also Atelier Nicolao (this last one for carnival handmade costumes: amazing!)

You will also find several local shops for books and niceties. For instance, I love SullaLuna in Cannaregio where you can browse books, get coffee and find pretty gifts.

• Murano & Burano shops: On your island visit, pick up a glass pendant or lace doily direct from the artisans who made it.

At Christmas, many shops decorate their windows, and vendors lay out seasonal touches that make the shopping feel more like treasure hunting than bargaining.

Where to Stay: best hotels in Venice for Christmas

Picking the right hotel in Venice is part of the enchantment although comes at a cost – unfortunately accommodation in Venice is not cheap.

At Christmas, you want somewhere that feels like Venice (canals, quiet corners, old palazzi), but also comfortable in winter. Here are three standout choices at a mid to high end range:

Starhotel Splendid

Hotel Saturnia, great 4 star hotel offering Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas lunch (fantastic, also as this is usually a day of closures as Christmas in Italy is a family holiday)

The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, no need for introduction when it comes to the Gritti, one of the most famous and elegant hotels in the city, with once in a lifetime old world decor and welcome

Hilton Molino Stucky, a lovey hotel with great facilities that make it easy to explore Venice but also stay put and enjoy the hotel bar and restaurants (this hotel is very family friendly and one of the best hotels in Venice for families with kids)

Sample 4-Day Christmas Venice Itinerary

Here’s a sketch of how you might structure 3–4 days in Venice during Christmas:

Day 1

• Arrive, settle in, take the vaporetto line 1 or private water taxi to feel the City of Canals. If you can, I recommend investing in a water taxi: they are speed boats and an incredible introduction to Venice, you feel like a VIP!

• Gentle walk around your local neighborhood, soak in festive decorations

• Evening: free, relax with a Venetian dinner after a day of travel

Day 2

• Morning: Doge’s Palace & St Mark’s Basilica Basilica (book ahead) Tickets here | Good quality group tour I recommend | Best family tour for kids

• Afternoon: museums (Correr, Accademia, or Ca’ Rezzonico) or free wandering

• Evening: introductory food/cicchetti tour in hidden bacari

Day 3

• Full day to Murano and Burano; include glass museum, glass-blowing demo, stop for lace shopping

• Return by evening, attend a Christmas concert in a church or ensemble so you can rest your legs after a long day our

Day 4 (if time)

• Mask-making workshop in the morning

• Last-minute shopping in niche shops

• Gondola ride or quiet canal walk before heading home

This leaves room for spontaneous discovery, slowing down, and letting the city speak quietly to you.

Tips to Maximise a Christmas Venice Visit – summary

• Book ahead for Christmas period: which goes from the 23rd December to the 6th of January

• Check holiday & museum openings: Some places close on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Boxing Day/ St Stephen’s Day. Plan your must-visits accordingly.

• Dress for the cold: Good coat, wool, scarf, gloves, and waterproof outer gear. Boots are a great choice of footwear in winter in Venice

• Slow travel mindset: Don’t overschedule. One of the joys of winter Venice is pausing in quiet corners, sipping a warm café by canal, especially in the moody month of December

• Enjoy indoor escapes: Rain or cold? Head to museums, cafés, hidden churches, or your hotel’s cozy corners.

I hope you enjoyed this quick guide to Venice at Christmas and it helped you plan your trip. Safe travels!