Something in the water: Why February is the best time to visit Venice

Venice, The Floating city: one of the most picturesque and romantic places in the world. It’s irresistibly stunning all year round, but for us, February is the best time to visit Venice. Carnival is in town, and the city’s canals and narrow streets are adorned with festive decorations.

There’s an intangible energy in the air, and the white winter light creates an almost ethereal atmosphere as it reflects off the water. Here are a few other reasons why we believe February is the best time to visit Venice.

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The beauty of visiting in February is you can pick the kind of Venice you want to experience. Earlier in the month the city is empty, giving you a blissful serenity that’s a far cry from the overcrowded spring and summer months. With more space, you can enjoy all the sights and insights of the city’s stunning architecture, rich history, and romantic spirit in peace.

Perhaps you’d like to visit St. Mark’s Square, one of the most famous squares in the world, admiring the beautiful Byzantine architecture of St. Mark’s Basilica? Or climb to the top of the Campanile bell tower to take in gorgeous vistas of the city, standing where Galileo Galilei made his groundbreaking observations of Jupiter’s moons? If you’re interested in the city’s wealth of art and culture, you’ll enjoy a more peaceful, less crowded visit to The Peggy Guggenheim Collection; a must-visit for modern art lovers, or the Accademia Gallery, home to an incredible collection of Renaissance art. If you just want to relax and enjoy the city’s subtle charm, a simple sit down in one of the city’s charming squares for a spritz or two will do.

Alternatively, if you want to experience the city at its liveliest, then make sure you’re there at the latter end of the month when carnival-craze takes over.

Lasting for two weeks in late February, Venice’s Carnival is one of the most famous and ancient carnivals in the world.

Expect harlequin masks, costumes, music, lavish food, and fantastic festivities where the entire city is transformed into a lively party. During this period, you can experience a range of events with masquerade balls, concerts, and parades turning the floating city into a floating festa.

Of course, the carnival is also a stage for Italy’s most elegant and chic to strut their stuff and show off their fantastic costumes. For the curious traveler looking for truly unique travel experiences, especially those that exude style and charm, carnival makes February the absolute best month to visit Venice.

With temperatures ranging from 40°F – 50°F (4°C to 10°C), there’s no ignoring the fact you’ll want to wrap up warm. But Venice is a city for walking, and its narrow streets are lined with cosy little restaurants and wine bars (bacari), where you can duck in to warm up.

But, rather than avoiding the outdoors, we say embrace it. In February, there is an undeniable magic to the low mist and the milky winter light that will live long in the memory. Walking along the Grand Canal, you’ll seen church domes silhouetted against a white gold sky.

Coupled with the floating city’s atmospheric canals and innate romance, February imbues Venice with an ethereal, dreamlike tonality that can only be experienced this time of year.

No matter when you go to Venice, it can be an overwhelming place to visit. Leave all the research and planning to our Destination Experts, who’ve carefully curated unique itineraries using their intimate knowledge of the city and region. So experience all the sights and insights by taking an Insight Vacations tour to Italy, seeing the very best of what Venice has to offer.

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