Italy
Venice in December
🧥 WinterCold and some showers. Watch for hazy air.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings · N95 mask for hazy days
Why December scores 7.4What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.3
- !Cold (8°C highs / 1°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 2°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~50 mm rain)
- Air quality5.0
- !Unhealthy for sensitive groups (PM2.5 ~40 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | Sep | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.4 Good | 9.4 Excellent |
| Season | 🧥 Winter | 🍂 Autumn |
| High / low | 8° / 1° | 24° / 15° |
| Rain | 50 mm | 73 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 2° | dew pt 15° |
| PM2.5 | 40 µg/m³ | 8 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Venice weather-station normals. Rainfall: Venice weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Immaculate Conception (8 Dec)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore VeniceEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyA city of canals and islands in northern Italy's lagoon, known for St Mark's Square, gondolas, Renaissance art and its Carnival.
Acqua altaDate variesUsually autumn and winter
High tides that flood parts of the city.
Why go: MOSE flood barriers now often prevent it, but bring waterproof boots.
Where: Low areas such as St Mark's Square
Coming up later
Carnival of VeniceDate variesUsually about two weeks ending on Shrove Tuesday, January to March
Costumes, masks and events.
Why go: Crowds and hotel prices are very high.
Where: St Mark's Square and across the city
Venice BiennaleDate variesUsually April or May to November; art and architecture alternate years
A major international art or architecture exhibition.
Why go: Allow a full day for the main venues.
Where: Giardini and Arsenale
Festa del RedentoreDate variesThird Sunday of July, fireworks on the Saturday night
A pontoon bridge is built to the Redentore church and fireworks light the lagoon.
Why go: Locals watch from boats; book waterside spots early.
Where: Giudecca and St Mark's Basin
St Mark's Basilica
A Byzantine-style cathedral with gold mosaics on Piazza San Marco.
💡 Shoulders and knees must be covered.
Doge's Palace
The Gothic palace of Venice's rulers, connected to the prison by the Bridge of Sighs.
Grand Canal
The main waterway, lined with palaces and seen best from a vaporetto.
💡 Vaporetto line 1 runs the full length slowly.
Rialto Bridge and Market
The famous stone bridge and the fish and produce market beside it.
💡 The fish market is closed Sundays and Mondays.
Gallerie dell'Accademia
A museum of Venetian painting from the 14th to 18th centuries.
Murano and Burano
Lagoon islands known for glassmaking and colourful houses with lace-making.
Cicchetti
Small bar snacks eaten with a glass of wine (ombra).
💡 Bacari (wine bars) around Rialto and Cannaregio
Sarde in saor
Sweet-and-sour sardines with onions, pine nuts and raisins.
💡 Bacari and trattorias
Risotto al nero di seppia
Rice cooked with cuttlefish ink.
💡 Trattorias
Fegato alla veneziana
Calf's liver with onions.
💡 Traditional restaurants
Spritz
The aperitivo of Prosecco with Aperol or Select, popular in the Veneto.
💡 Bars across the city
Murano glass
Handmade glass from Murano; look for the official Vetro Artistico Murano mark.
💡 Murano workshops and certified shops
Carnival masks
Handmade papier-mâché masks.
💡 Mask-making workshops
Burano lace
Handmade lace from Burano; much sold is imported, so ask.
💡 Burano