How to Time Your Trip to Venice

Experience "la dolce vita" in this Northern Italian city, famed for romance, Tintoretto paintings, canals and festivals. But try to bypass the droves of tourists.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Travel Clothes
• Italian Phrase Books
• Local Guidebooks To Italy
• Maps
• Airline Tickets
• Passport Services
• Travel Services
• Cameras
• Film

General Considerations

1. Decide what time of year you'll be visiting. For the best weather, visit in April, May, September or October.
2. Figure out when you might want to avoid Venice. Carnival is a lot of fun, but not if you're hoping to see Venice without the crowds. And during Easter, many Venetians leave for resorts, only to be replaced by hordes of tourists.
3. Investigate any festivals or events that you'd like to attend (see Section 2, below).
4. Seek out inexpensive flights, transportation and accomodations. You will not want a car unless you plan to leave Venice and explore the countryside.
5. Check the weather forecast shortly before leaving, and pack accordingly. Summer weather tends toward the muggy, but be sure to bring a sweater for air-conditioning and possible chilly evenings.

Seasonal Events and Attractions

6. Swallow your pride, feel like a romantic fool, and pay the big bucks for a gondola tour of the Grand Canal.
7. Soak up the art and atmosphere of the Basilica di San Marco, gorge yourself on the art of the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace), then feed the pigeons in the piazza outside.
8. Lose yourself in the narrow alleys and byways of the city, pausing only to feel the magic of the canals or to stop for gelato or espresso.
9. Wander through the various Murano glassworks and watch a centuries-old tradition in the hands of masters.
10. Take a look inside the Peggy Guggenheim Gallery to see the late heiress' incredible collection of modern and avant-garde art, along with her pet cemetery.
11. Find the most elaborate mask that you can, and take part in Venice's justly famous, centuries-old, 10-day Carnival celebration in February or March.
12. Don't forget about the International Art Biennale (every other summer) and the star-studded Venice Film Festival (late August and early September), which also attract thousands of visitors.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid visiting in August, when Italians often take their vacations and shut down their businesses.
• Italian families flock to resorts and beaches at Easter, while the main cities see huge influxes of tourists.