Everything you Need to Know about Visiting Venice at Christmas

When I first visited Venice in Spring 2010, it felt like something straight out of a dream. Growing up, I listened to a book on tape called Vivaldi’s Ring of Mystery, the story of a young girl who uncovers a secret linked to one of Vivaldi’s missing violin concertos. Ever since, I’d dreamed of seeing this city with my own eyes. To me, Venice was a place woven with magic, music, mystery, and wonder. My first visit to Venice is still one of my most treasured travel memories, so when the chance to return came up, I couldn’t help but worry, could it possibly live up to that first magical experience? But the idea of seeing Venice at Christmas, with twinkle lights dancing on the quiet canal waters, was just too tempting to resist.

Venice has seen a surge in tourism since my last visit. However, when I stepped off the boat this time, I found a city that still shimmered with that same magical, dreamlike atmosphere, its usual crowds having quietly drifted away with the colder weather, leaving the canals calm and shimmering under soft winter light. Twinkling lights and festive touches bring a cozy charm to every bridge and piazza. If you’re hoping for a European holiday with fewer tourists and more local soul, Christmas in Venice might just steal your heart.

Is Venice worth visiting at Christmas?

Absolutely, yes, it’s worth it. Before I went myself, I struggled to find many first-hand accounts of what Venice is like at Christmas. And since it doesn’t have the big-ticket Christmas markets or flashy events you’d find in larger cities, I was a bit hesitant. I wondered if it might feel too quiet, too shut down, maybe not worth the trip. But I was so pleasantly surprised. December in Venice offers a rare chance to see the city at a quieter, more intimate pace. The festive lights are tasteful and twinkling, and not overdone. The usual tourist bustle softens, replaced by the rhythm of local life. Christmas concerts echo through centuries-old churches, and cozy cafés become havens from the chill. Wine flows freely, and even the grumpiest locals seem to warm up, offering a cheerful “Buon Natale” as you pass by.

Why Spend Christmas in Venice?

Christmas in Venice isn’t about spectacle, it’s about atmosphere. Imagine wandering fog-shrouded alleys under strings of glowing lights, stepping into a candlelit church as a choir begins to sing, or sipping mulled wine on a quiet campo.

Venice in December feels like stepping back in time. Even during busier seasons, if you can look past the crowds, the city has a timeless quality, as if it’s been quietly drifting through history, unchanged. But when the crowds are quiet, this eternal quality is brought right to the front. If you’re after reflective beauty, history, and the warmth of local traditions, Venice offers a Christmas experience unlike any other. Venice is the perfect place to spend the holidays if you’re hoping to escape the over-commercialism and over-the-top festivities of other cities. I found a kind of peace here I’ve never experienced anywhere else at Christmastime. And you can experience different holiday events that are unique to this special time of year.

What is the weather like in Venice in December?

Expect a damp chill, with average temperatures between 0–8°C. Snow is rare but possible. More often, you’ll get morning fog over the canals, which only adds to the city’s dreamlike feel. Dress for damp: waterproof boots, a warm coat, and plenty of layers are a must. Bring gloves and a hat, especially for evenings. Consider bringing extra socks and a portable umbrella.

If you’re looking for tips on what to bring, have a look at our Winter Packing Guide for Venice, it’s full of helpful advice to keep you warm, dry, and stylish.

Will there be acqua alta (flooding)?

Acqua alta literally means “high water” which is a seasonal phenomenon in Venice when unusually high tides cause parts of the city, especially low-lying areas like St. Mark’s Square, to flood. It usually happens in autumn and winter, triggered by a combination of high tides, low atmospheric pressure, and strong winds pushing water into the lagoon. So visiting in December does mean you have a good chance of experiencing an acqua alta. But don’t let the sound of that worry you! The city is well prepared for this to happen, and raised walkways are installed when needed. You can also get yourself some waterproof boot covers to wear over your shoes to give yourself some extra protection. You can track forecasts online. Most of the time, it’s a mild inconvenience rather than a trip-ruiner. And honestly, if you were to experience such a unique phenomenon, count yourself lucky as you get to experience a natural part of living in Venice!

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Do You Have to Pay a Tourist Tax in Venice at Christmas?

The Venice Tourist Tax was introduced to help manage over-tourism and support the city’s preservation efforts, especially as Venice faces the challenges of mass day-trip crowds. If you’re staying overnight (in Venice proper, the islands, or even in Mestre), you’ll pay a small tourist tax added to your hotel or Airbnb bill. It’s usually a few euros per night, depending on where you’re staying and the type of accommodation. You won’t pay it for more than five nights, and kids often get a discount or are exempt. Nothing to stress about, your host will sort it all out and include it in your final bill.

Now, if you’re just coming for the day, Venice has recently introduced a new “access fee” for day-trippers on certain busy dates. But the good news? Christmas isn’t one of them. That fee usually kicks in during spring and summer, when the city sees peak crowds. So if you’re visiting during the festive season, all you need to worry about is the usual overnight tax, and you can skip the access fee entirely. Just one more reason why Christmas might be the perfect time to visit.

Are there Christmas Markets in Venice?

There’s a lot of misinformation floating around about Christmas markets in Venice. While planning my own festive trip, I kept coming across mentions of the Campo Santo Stefano Christmas Market on nearly every blog about Italian Christmas events. But when I checked the official City of Venice events website, I couldn’t find any reliable details about it. And sure enough, when I arrived, I discovered it was closed and, in fact, hasn’t operated in several years.

Thankfully, I was still able to track down the real Christmas markets that are open in Venice during the holiday season. Most of the Venetian Island Christmas Markets take place during the first few weekends of December. So if visiting a traditional Christmas market on the islands is high on your list of things to do in Venice at Christmas, plan your trip early in the month.

There are also several pop-up or one-off Christmas markets that open on select weekends in December. However, if you’re looking to guarantee a festive market experience, your best bet is to hop on a train to Mestre, just ten minutes away. As part of the greater Venice metropolitan area, Mestre hosts one of the region’s main Christmas markets, which runs all month long.

For a full guide to the festive season, check out my complete blog post on Christmas Markets in Venice, including dates, locations, and insider tips for making the most of your holiday visit.

If you’re craving a bigger Christmas market experience, hop on a quick 25-minute train to Padua. There, you’ll be welcomed by a classic festive vibe, glowing market stalls, steaming mulled wine, handcrafted gifts, and a cheerful holiday energy, all set in one of Italy’s most beautiful and historic university cities.

What is there to see and do in Venice at Christmas?

Some of the most memorable moments in Venice come from the simplest pleasures, wandering without a plan, following the scent of something delicious, and letting the city guide you. Venice at Christmas rewards those who embrace its quiet, understated magic. Still, it would be a shame not to share the many unique and festive experiences waiting to be discovered throughout the city during the holiday season.

• Watch the Santa Claus Regatta: One of Venice’s quirkiest traditions, this festive boat parade features dozens of rowers dressed as Santa gliding down the Grand Canal, it’s joyful, bizarre, and very Venetian.
• Corsa dei Babbi Natale: Join the Santa Claus Race on December 8, as you watch Venice fill with red as hundreds of Santas jog, stroll, and dash through the city streets and canals. This cheerful 5km route winds around Venice, starting in the Campo Santa Margherita.
• Walk beneath the Christmas lights: Venice’s festive glow is subtle and elegant, with lights strung along narrow alleys, bridges, and canals. Take an evening stroll through Dorsoduro or Cannaregio and feel like you’re walking through a dream.
• Attend a Christmas concert: Whether in an ornate theatre or a centuries-old church, Venice is full of seasonal music events.
• Ride a gondola on Christmas morning: It’s quieter than you can imagine, and the experience feels utterly timeless.
• See the giant glass chandeliers in Campo Santo Stefano, part art installation, part festive flair.
• Browse markets: While Christmas-specific markets may be closed in late December, daily local markets are still lively with seasonal produce and treats.
• Go shopping for unique gifts: Venice has no shortage of beautiful independent shops, ceramics, handmade paper, books, jewellery, that go well beyond the usual tourist trinkets.
• Try Christmas pastries: Enjoy seasonal sweets like panettone or frittelle with a strong espresso or creamy hot chocolate.
• Escape to a quiet museum: Many museums remain open and blissfully uncrowded.
• Catch the early sunset with cicchetti: Golden hour arrives early in winter, pair it with a glass of wine and Venetian bar snacks.
• Sample winter seafood: Cold waters mean fresh, flavourful catches. Try the seasonal fish dishes at local osterie.
• Warm up in a cozy café or wine bar: Seek out snug corners with a view and linger over your drink.
• Admire nativity scenes: Many churches and even shop windows create beautiful presepi (nativity displays).
• Experience Christmas in St. Mark’s Square: Even if you don’t go to Mass, simply standing in the square on Christmas Eve or morning is a moment to remember.
• Visit the skating rink: Campo San Polo sometimes hosts a seasonal ice rink, a fun activity if you’re travelling with kids or just feel like gliding through Venetian winter.

Can you ride a Gondola in winter?

Yes! Gondola rides are available year-round. In winter, gondoliers may offer blankets, and the canals are less crowded. It can be a chilly ride, but also a deeply romantic one, especially in the misty early evening light. Just dress warmly. We actually took our gondola ride on Christmas morning! It was an unforgettable experience; they even sang as we glided through the silent canals. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Are museums and tours running in December?

All the museums in Venice are open in December; however, during the winter, they generally run on reduced hours. Despite the shorter window to enter, you’ll be rewarded with shorter lines, smaller crowds and sometimes even empty galleries!

In 2024, all the Musei Civici of Venice remained open to the public from Monday, December 23rd to Monday, January 6th. And the Doge’s Palace and Museo Correr offered special evening programming from December 20th to January 4th, staying open until 21:00 (with last entry at 20:00) every Friday and Saturday night. And on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, both the Doge’s Palace and the Natural History Museum will open their doors at 10:00 am.

What is Open in Venice on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day?

On Christmas Eve, many shops, galleries, museums, and restaurants do close early, but we found that most places were still open, albeit on a reduced schedule. It’s crucial to make reservations during this time to ensure you don’t miss out on anything.

Museums & Galleries

On Christmas Day, most private museums and attractions, like the Gallerie dell’Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection (Closed December 23rd to the 25th), are closed. However, in 2024, Venice’s Civic Museums announced extended holiday hours! This means that they remained open to the public from Monday, December 23rd, to Monday, January 6th. This means you can spend Christmas Day exploring the Doge’s Palace, the Museo Correr, the Natural History Museum, or even wander through the galleries of Ca’ Pesaro. Having spent Christmas in cities around the world, I can say this is a rare treat; most places completely shut down for the holidays, but Venice keeps a gentle pulse of life going.

Churches

In addition to the museums, many of Venice’s historic churches, including Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Santa Maria della Salute, and Chiesa di Madonna dell’Orto, remain open and host beautiful Christmas services. While these are not times for quiet sightseeing or snapping photos in an empty nave, visitors are warmly welcome to attend the festive Masses and join the joyful locals celebrating. St. Mark’s Basilica is also open for Christmas Masses and offers a truly breathtaking setting for a holiday service. We attended the Christmas Eve service, and it was one of the most awe-inspiring evenings of our trip, sitting inside a building nearly as old as the city itself, gazing up at the shimmering gold mosaics as Christmas blessings echoed through the domed basilica.

Restaurants

From Christmas Eve until December 26th, many restaurants remain open, especially those associated with hotels. Even if you’re not staying inside these luxury hotels, you can still book a reservation for one of their special Christmas menus.​ It’s essential to book in advance to secure a spot.

Surprisingly, we found that December 26, known in Canada as Boxing Day but celebrated in Italy as St. Stephen’s Feast Day, came with more closures than we anticipated. Since many restaurants stayed open for Christmas Eve and Day, they instead chose St. Stephen’s Day as their main holiday break, closing up shop for some well-earned rest.

Public Transporation

Vaporettos (Venice’s public water buses) do operate over the holidays, but on a reduced schedule on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. If you’re planning to use them, it’s a good idea to double-check the timetables in advance, as some routes may run less frequently or skip certain stops. Water taxis are available year-round, with many private services offering 24/7 operation. That said, it’s wise to book ahead during the holidays, as demand can be higher. But since Venice is such a walkable city, the reduced vaporetto schedule won’t slow you down too much.

Visiting the Islands

Since the Vaporettos are still running, albeit on a reduced schedule, visiting Murano or Burano on Christmas Day can be a wonderful way to spend the holiday, especially if you’re looking for a quiet, scenic escape from the main city. The islands tend to be much less crowded this time of year, and the slower pace adds to the peaceful, almost storybook atmosphere.

Murano, known for its centuries-old glassblowing tradition, offers a more local, lived-in feel during winter. You might catch glimpses of artisans at work or simply enjoy wandering its calm canals and bridges without the usual bustle. Burano, with its brightly coloured houses and sleepy lagoon views, feels like stepping into a painting. On a crisp December day, the contrast of vivid buildings against a soft winter sky is truly magical.

Skating Rinks

If you’re looking to do some skating on Christmas, the Campo San Polo Skating Rink is generally open on December 24th from 11 am to 5 pm, and December 25th from 11 am to 8 pm. In Venice, the skating rinks set up during the Christmas season aren’t made of real ice, as winter temperatures rarely drop low enough to keep the ice frozen. Instead, they use high-quality synthetic ice panels that mimic the smooth glide of real ice while being eco-friendly. If you’re only used to skating on real ice, this can take some getting used to, but it’s still a fun experience if you’ve never been on one before. This location offers skate rentals, because, let’s be honest, it’s unlikely you managed to squeeze a pair of skates into your suitcase.

Venice Movie Theatre

One of our favourite Christmas Day traditions while travelling is catching a movie at the local cinema. In many cities, almost everything shuts down for the holiday, and the theatre often becomes one of the few places still open. If you’re lucky enough to find a festive film playing, it’s a wonderfully cozy and relaxing way to spend part of the day, especially after a morning of exploring or a big Christmas lunch. Plus, they are super comfortable on those cold or rainy days. The biggest movie theatre with the best chance of an English-language film in Venice is the Multisala Rossini. Although the cinema was closed on Christmas Eve, it reopened on Christmas Day with showings of Conclave, a film set in Italy, which made it an especially fitting and enjoyable choice for the occasion. For updated films and times, check out their website.

Libreria Acqua Alta at Christmas

If you’re spending Christmas in Venice, one spot that’s well worth a visit, especially for book lovers, is the Libreria Acqua Alta. This whimsical, one-of-a-kind bookshop stays open even through the holidays, offering a cozy escape from the winter chill.

On December 24, the shop welcomes visitors from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and on Christmas Day, it opens again from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. It’s the perfect place for a quiet wander among overflowing stacks of books, gondola-shaped shelves, and resident cats. Whether you’re picking up a Venetian souvenir or simply soaking in the atmosphere, visiting Libreria Acqua Alta at Christmas feels like stepping into a storybook come to life.

Are there Special Christmas Concerts?

Yes, many! Churches throughout Venice host concerts featuring sacred music, especially in the weeks before Christmas. Check posters or ask locals for upcoming events, or go to Venice’s Official Event Website for the most up-to-date information.

Some of the various concerts include:

• Big Vocal Orchestra!
• Avvento in Musica Festival
• Christmas Concert by the Pueri Cantores del Veneto
• Vivaldi at San Vidal Church

What to Eat and Drink in Venice at Christmas?

In Venice, Christmas brings a delicious mix of traditional Venetian flavours and classic Italian holiday favourites. On Christmas Eve, many locals follow the custom of avoiding meat, so you’ll often find dishes like bigoli in salsa (thick pasta in a savoury anchovy and onion sauce) or baccalà mantecato, a creamy whipped salt cod spread served on toasted bread or polenta.

Seafood plays a starring role in festive meals, with options like risotto de gò, made with goby fish from the lagoon. In winter, you may also find moeche, small soft-shell lagoon crabs, which are considered a delicacy when in season. While their prime season is typically in spring and autumn, some fishermen still catch them in early winter, and if you’re lucky, you might spot them on a traditional holiday menu. On Christmas Day, the table usually shifts to heartier fare such as roast lamb, pork loin, or stuffed guinea fowl, often served with winter vegetables and creamy polenta.

For dessert, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without panettone and pandoro, sweet, fluffy cakes that fill every bakery window. Torrone, a chewy nougat with nuts, is another festive favourite, often wrapped up as a gift. To warm up, sip on vin brulé (mulled wine) or a thick, velvety cioccolata calda. And of course, a glass of local Prosecco is the perfect way to toast the season, Venetian style.

Visiting Venice at Christmas is an experience like no other. The city slows down, the crowds thin, and its timeless beauty feels even more enchanting under soft winter light. From festive markets and concerts to quiet walks along misty canals, every moment feels steeped in warmth and wonder. Whether you’re sipping hot chocolate by the Grand Canal, listening to carols in a centuries-old church, or watching Santas row past in the regatta, Christmas in Venice is about simple joys and heartfelt connections. It’s a reminder that the magic of the season doesn’t come from grandeur, but from the quiet glow of a city that has always felt a little bit like a dream.

If you have any other questions, feel free to comment and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible to help you plan the perfect Christmas in Venice!

Happy Travels, Adventurers