In winter, Venice reveals its truest self. Mist drapes over the lagoon, candlelight warms wood-panelled trattorias, and gilded mosaics gleam in the hush of half-empty basilicas. From November’s fog to February’s carnival masks, this is the season to experience La Serenissima at its most romantic.
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November — Mist and Mystery
The first chills of the season wrap Venice in fog, transforming the city into a dreamscape of quiet canals and silver light.
What to See
- Doge’s Palace — wander through frescoed halls and cross the Bridge of Sighs.
- Museo Correr — civic history and Venetian art overlooking Piazza San Marco.
- Scuola Grande di San Rocco — Tintoretto’s vast canvases glow in the softened light.
Info:
- Doge’s Palace — Piazza San Marco. Daily 9:00–18:00. Tickets from €25.
- Museo Correr — Piazza San Marco 52. Daily 10:00–17:00. Tickets from €20.
- Scuola Grande di San Rocco — San Polo 3054. Daily 9:30–17:30. Tickets €10.
Where to Stay
- Aman Venice — frescoed palazzo with a private garden on the Grand Canal.
- Il Palazzo Experimental — design-driven boutique stay in lively Dorsoduro.
Info:
- Aman Venice — Calle Tiepolo 1364. Doubles from €1,200.
- Il Palazzo Experimental — Fondamenta Zattere 1419. Doubles from €220.
Where to Eat
- Trattoria Antiche Carampane — beloved for authentic Venetian seafood.
- Osteria La Zucca — a cosy, vegetable-focused classic.
Info:
- Antiche Carampane — San Polo 1911. Tue–Sat, lunch & dinner. Tel. +39 041 524 0165.
- La Zucca — Santa Croce 1762. Closed Wed. Tel. +39 041 524 1570.
Four Days in November
- Day 1: St. Mark’s Basilica → Doge’s Palace → dinner at Antiche Carampane
- Day 2: Museo Correr → Rialto Bridge → cicchetti crawl in Cannaregio
- Day 3: Fog photography at dawn → Scuola Grande di San Rocco → dinner at La Zucca
- Day 4: Vaporetto to Burano → lace museum → sunset spritz in Dorsoduro
December — Festive Glow
The city shimmers with Christmas lights. Campo Santo Stefano fills with markets, and Campo San Polo opens its skating rink.
What to See
- St. Mark’s Basilica — mosaics glitter under winter sun.
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection — modern art inside an unfinished palazzo.
- Ice skating at Campo San Polo — a Venetian holiday tradition.
Info:
- Basilica di San Marco — Piazza San Marco. Daily 9:30–17:15. Free entry.
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection — Dorsoduro 701. Wed–Mon 10:00–18:00. Tickets €16.
- Campo San Polo Ice Rink — mid-Dec–late Feb. Entry €12 incl. skates.
Where to Stay
- Hotel Danieli — opulent, cinematic, and iconic.
- Baglioni Hotel Luna — richly decorated, moments from San Marco.
Info:
- Hotel Danieli — Riva degli Schiavoni 4196. Doubles from €700.
- Baglioni Hotel Luna — San Marco 1243. Doubles from €600.
Where to Eat
- Terrazza Danieli — candlelit fine dining with lagoon views.
- Cantina Do Spade — centuries-old bacaro near Rialto.
Info:
- Terrazza Danieli — inside Hotel Danieli. Dinner €100+.
- Cantina Do Spade — San Polo 859. Tel. +39 041 521 0583.
Four Days in December
- Day 1: St. Mark’s Square → Basilica → dinner at Terrazza Danieli
- Day 2: Peggy Guggenheim → stroll Dorsoduro → evening skating at Campo San Polo
- Day 3: Murano glassblowing → Burano’s painted houses → Christmas market shopping
- Day 4: Teatro La Fenice tour → gondola ride at dusk → cicchetti at Cantina Do Spade
January — Quiet Elegance
The coldest, calmest month: Venice belongs to locals and to you. Pale skies and empty alleys frame museum days and slow evenings.
What to See
- Teatro La Fenice — gilded opera house, still glowing.
- Palazzo Mocenigo — costume, textiles, and Venetian perfume.
- Natural History Museum — quieter, atmospheric, perfect for grey days.
Info:
- Teatro La Fenice — Campo San Fantin 1965. Tours daily 9:30–18:00. €12.
- Palazzo Mocenigo — Santa Croce 1992. Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00. €8.
- Natural History Museum — Santa Croce 1730. Tue–Fri 9:00–17:00. €8.
Where to Stay
- The Gritti Palace — aristocratic grandeur.
- Londra Palace Venezia — refined with lagoon views.
Info:
- Gritti Palace — Campo Santa Maria del Giglio. Doubles from €850.
- Londra Palace — Riva degli Schiavoni 4171. Doubles from €500.
Where to Eat
- Osteria alle Testiere — seafood only, intimate, reservations essential.
- Bistrot de Venise — Venetian recipes revived from history.
Info:
- Osteria alle Testiere — Calle del Mondo Novo 5801. Tel. +39 041 522 7220.
- Bistrot de Venise — Calle dei Fabbri 4685. Tel. +39 041 523 6651.
Four Days in January
- Day 1: Teatro La Fenice tour → evening concert → dinner at Bistrot de Venise
- Day 2: Palazzo Mocenigo → cicchetti crawl in Cannaregio
- Day 3: Natural History Museum → lagoon vaporetto ride → dinner at Osteria alle Testiere
- Day 4: Jewish Ghetto stroll → café afternoon → aperitivo at Londra Palace
February — Carnival Splendour
Masks, music, and midnight balls: Carnevale transforms Venice into theatre.
What to See
- Carnevale di Venezia — masked parades and performances.
- Ca’ Rezzonico — 18th-century Venice in all its opulence.
- Murano Glass Museum — artisans at work.
Info:
- Carnevale di Venezia — late Jan–Feb. Mix of free and ticketed events.
- Ca’ Rezzonico — Dorsoduro 3136. Daily 10:00–17:00, closed Tue. €10.
- Murano Glass Museum — Fondamenta Giustinian 8. Daily 10:00–17:00. €10.
Where to Stay
- Belmond Hotel Cipriani — timeless glamour on Giudecca.
- Ca’ Sagredo Hotel — a palace-hotel of frescoed splendour.
Info:
- Belmond Hotel Cipriani — Giudecca 10. Doubles from €1,000.
- Ca’ Sagredo Hotel — Campo Santa Sofia 4198/99. Doubles from €400.
Where to Eat
- Osteria all’Arco — legendary cicchetti bar.
- Antiche Carampane — seafood and tradition, always worth returning to.
Info:
- Osteria all’Arco — Calle Arco 436. Open daytime, standing only.
- Antiche Carampane — San Polo 1911. Tel. +39 041 524 0165.
Four Days in February
- Day 1: Ca’ Rezzonico → Grand Canal stroll → dinner at Antiche Carampane
- Day 2: Murano glass museum → Burano afternoon → cicchetti at Osteria all’Arco
- Day 3: Carnevale events in San Marco → mask-making workshop → evening masked ball
- Day 4: Gondola at sunrise → coffee in Cannaregio → departure by vaporetto
Practical Notes
- Weather: 5–10°C by day, colder at night. Pack coats, scarves, waterproof boots.
- Daylight: Sunset before 5 pm in Dec–Jan.
- Transport: Vaporetti run year-round; gondolas available with blankets.
- Reservations: Book hotels, fine dining, and Carnevale events well in advance.
Winter is Venice unveiled — less crowded, more intimate, infinitely more magical. Whether it’s the silence of January or the splendour of Carnevale, every month wears its own mask.
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