Mazes of canals, historic architecture, and delicious local cuisine are some of the many things that draw tourists to Venice. Every year, millions of tourists visit this popular destination, many of whom visit during the busy season between April and October.
But a few years ago, I saw firsthand how overwhelming the city can feel when it’s bursting with crowds under the summer heat. So, when my husband and I decided to return in 2024, we visited during the winter holidays instead, and it turned out to be a completely different experience.
Here’s why I loved visiting Venice in the winter.
The city seemed much quieter in the winter months
When visiting in the winter, the first thing I noticed was that the crowds were visibly smaller. All the experiences tourists come to Venice for, from gondola rides to touring the Doge’s Palace, were accessible and could still be booked during our visit.
During our summer trip, however, tickets for the Doge’s Palace had to be secured weeks in advance, and even then, the queues to enter were long. But in the offseason, the lines were shorter, and the entire city seemed calmer.
We even had a meal at a local restaurant and were able to strike up conversations with gondoliers. I doubt this would’ve been possible during the busier summer months.
One night, when we passed Venice’s iconic Rialto Bridge, we saw a small group of travelers congregated there. However, it still wasn’t the packed Rialto we had come to expect during our first trip to the city.
Venice felt magical at night
I’ve always thought Venice was beautiful at night, especially after many daytrippers return to the mainland. However, it felt even more magical in the winter. A hush fell across the canals, which sparkled in holiday lights.
But it wasn’t just Venice’s hidden canals or remote nooks and alleys that were transformed. Many of the city’s most iconic monuments looked different, too.
For example, during my visit, a gigantic Christmas tree rose above Piazza San Marco, all decked in festive lights. It was a view of Venice’s iconic square that I had never experienced before.
The churches were peaceful and beautifully decorated
The hush in the air and the spirit of Christmas combined uniquely inside Venice’s churches. Nativity scenes were displayed during our trip, accentuating the beautiful Venetian Gothic architectural style.
And although St. Mark’s Basilica is one of the most popular options in Venice, we found that all the city’s churches really seemed to come alive at this time of year.
We even got to witness a mass in progress at Chiesa di San Simeon Piccolo, a Venetian church built almost 300 years ago. The congregation here was mostly made up of locals, and the quiet spirituality I felt was different from the glossy, touristy version of Venice I’d grown used to.
We spent a lot of time in the quiet museums and art galleries, too
Although many tourists are drawn to exploring Venetian art through a tour of the Doge’s Palace, we found our most memorable experiences were in the city’s lesser-visited locales.
The queues at the Doge’s Palace were definitely shorter than what we experienced in peak season, but other museums and art galleries, like the Scuola Grande di San Rocco and the interactive Da Vinci museum, were completely empty.
This meant we had rooms filled with incredible Venetian art to ourselves, sometimes for the entire afternoon.
The cooler weather made exploring Venice more enjoyable
Although snow is rare in Venice, we found the misty winter weather added its own charm to the city.
Plus, it was a nice reprieve from the blistering summer heat I experienced on my last visit. This time, wandering around the city was much more enjoyable. I just carried an umbrella and wore a warm jacket to keep out the cold wind.
Traveling to the city at this time of year truly gave me a glimpse of Venice that the brochures never told me about.
Read the full article here
