10 Things to Do in Venice at Christmas

The whole of Venice is transformed at Christmas, from the historic centre to its less touristy neighbourhoods. The lights and decorations make the city look different at this time of year compared to the rest of the year, further enhancing its classic romantic atmosphere.

The illuminations aren’t the only great reason to spend Christmas in Venice. Alongside the city’s usual attractions, which remain easily accessible, there’s a host of festivals, markets and traditions that transform its streets into a magical world to be explored at a more leisurely pace than in summer.

One of the most established traditions in Venice during Christmas is the holding of concerts. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a fan of classical music or not to attend one, as simply seeing the venues where they take place makes it worthwhile. If you decide to go to one of these performances, you must plan ahead and buy tickets well in advance.

Some of these concerts are held in the city’s churches. Here you can choose from traditional Christmas music right through to, in some cases, more modern music. Without a doubt, the most important concerts are those held at the Teatro La Fenice, a world-renowned opera house well worth a visit. Although performances run continuously throughout the Christmas period, the highlight comes on New Year’s Eve, with a special concert.

It is also common to find concerts in some of the city’s palaces or in certain squares, such as St Mark’s Square, where you can listen to unique Christmas compositions.

Those planning to spend three days or more in Venice should plan a trip to the nearby islands of Murano and Burano. If your visit coincides with Christmas, the first of these locations will surprise you with a packed programme of activities centred on its most famous craft: glassblowing.

This festival, known as Natale di Vetro, has been held for several years now. The whole town is filled with events, exhibitions, sculptures and workshops on glass craftsmanship.

Several of its main squares are adorned with the most beautiful sculptures made from this material, and various workshops in the area offer short courses for those interested in learning about traditional glassblowing.

If you want to witness the arrival of St Nicholas in an original and unique way, there’s no doubt that Venice is the place to be. Every year, on 23 December, the saint arrives in the city in the most traditional way possible: by gondola. If you’re visiting Venice with children, they’ll love this experience, especially if they stay afterwards to enjoy the hot chocolate and sweets handed out to the little ones.

St Nicholas’s arrival takes place in Campo San Vio. To welcome him, all the gondoliers don red hats and decorate their gondolas with cushions and other Christmas decorations. It is also one of the most charming times to take a trip through the canals of Venice whilst soaking up the Christmas spirit.

There are few more special ways to see out the year than in Venice. Many may consider winter not the best time to visit Venice, but experiencing the countdown in St Mark’s Square and then watching the fireworks reflected in the waters of the canals is an experience you’ll find hard to forget.

To start the evening, there’s nothing better than listening to the choirs in St Mark’s Square in a truly festive atmosphere. Afterwards, if you’ve been sensible enough to book in advance, you should have dinner at a restaurant in Venice, making sure to include the traditional lentils with which Italians welcome in the New Year.

As midnight approaches, the best spot in the city is once again St Mark’s Square. There, you’ll witness the countdown marking the start of the New Year. Amidst good wishes and kisses, a spectacular fireworks display will light up the sky and the canals. If you’ve managed to stay awake all night or have got up very early, the traditional thing to do is to take the vaporetto or a water taxi to the beaches of the Lido. There, the bravest take their first swim of the year, braving the cold temperatures.

Not all of Venice’s Christmas markets are held outdoors. If you’d like to visit one set inside a late 17th-century palace and browse stalls dedicated to high-quality craftsmanship, the Ca’ Zenobio market is the best choice.

For a few days in December, this palace hosts top-tier artisans showcasing their wares. Obviously, the prices are considerably higher than at the open-air markets, but the quality of the items on display is well worth the asking price.

At the Palazzo, you won’t just be able to do your shopping. Over the Christmas period, events range from Christmas-themed film screenings to a perfume workshop, as well as an animated reading for children and a Venetian mask-making workshop.

The Christmas lights in Venice, as well as being beautiful in their own right, create a spectacular effect as they reflect off the canals. Strolling through the squares and streets, taking in the historic buildings, thus becomes a tourist attraction in its own right.

Although St Mark’s Square boasts the most fabulous lighting, the rest of the city is not far behind. Don’t miss, amongst other sights, the view of the Rialto Bridge lit up over the Grand Canal

To admire the illuminations from a different perspective, I recommend booking one of the small cruises along the Grand Canal. From the boat, you’ll be able to see how the Christmas decorations adorn Venice’s finest bridges, churches and palaces.

One of the best things to do in Venice in December is to stroll through the Christmas markets set up in various parts of the city. There, as well as admiring the beauty of the decorations, you’ll be able to buy a wide range of traditional products, both decorative and edible. Some of them feature attractions to make it even more fun for children.

The Venetian markets are brimming with Christmas spirit and warmth, with an interesting mix of locals and Italian and international tourists. The best known is the one at Campo Santo Stefano, although those at Campo San Bortolo, Campo dei Santi Apostoli and Mestre are just as interesting.

Those looking for a gift or a treat for themselves will be spoilt for choice with a wide range of products, from panettone to wine, Christmas decorations, Murano glassware and Burano textiles. Or why not learn how to blow glass and take home your own souvenir?

After visiting Venice’s most famous monuments, why not try a fun activity that will also help you warm up: ice skating. From the beginning of December, a large ice rink is set up in the city’s second-largest square, Campo San Polo, for children and adults to enjoy for a good while.

Although the rink doesn’t close very late (on the 25th at 8 pm and on other days around 7 pm), spending some time there can be a great start to enjoying the Venetian night.

As well as the skating itself, visitors will be able to admire the beauty of the buildings surrounding the historic square. There are also stalls selling food and drink in the area. So, when you leave the rink, you can try some delicious pastries accompanied by a vin brulè, a lovely mulled wine.

You might be strolling peacefully through Venice in mid-December and start coming across lots of people dressed as Santa Claus (or Babbo Natale in Italian). Don’t think anything strange is going on: it’s simply the race that takes place every year in the city and which, if you like, you can take part in.

This race has only been held for a few years, but it has already become a must-see event during the Venetian Christmas season. Its success has attracted around 1,000 participants, ranging from professionals to amateur runners (including children and, occasionally, some dogs in their own costumes). It’s simply about having fun running around the city centre dressed up like that.

Even if you don’t dare to take part, the atmosphere in the streets is lively enough to make it worth joining the party. The finish line is usually in St Mark’s Square, next to the basilica, and the sight of hundreds of Father Christmases crossing the line makes for a photo worth showing all your friends.

Another spectacle you mustn’t miss during Christmas in Venice is the famous Befana Regatta. It takes place on 6 January, though you’ll really know it’s here when you start seeing large numbers of adults and children dressed up as an old woman. The Befana is an Italian tradition linked to Epiphany. She is a witch who, flying on a broomstick, leaves presents for children who have been good and coal for those who have behaved ‘less well’.

As you’d expect, Venice has adapted this tradition to its unique urban landscape, and every year a regatta is held in which all participants are dressed as the Befana. The regatta, which is truly spectacular, takes place on the Grand Canal. Of course, there is no shortage of food and drink stalls, music and a festive atmosphere.

On the same day, you can attend an exclusive event that takes place only twice a year. Around midday, the chiming mechanism of the Torre dell’Orologio in St Mark’s Square is activated and the side panel opens. Through this panel appears a carousel of wooden statues depicting a Christmas procession, with the Three Wise Men parading before the Virgin Mary.

The truth is that the Christmas weather in Venice isn’t the most appealing for travellers. To begin with, temperatures are low, with the cold feeling intensified by the humidity and wind.

During this time of year, don’t expect maximum temperatures to rise above around 8°C, whilst minimum temperatures will hover around 0°C. Of course, these are the most common averages, but I recommend you always check the weather forecast shortly before travelling.

Acqua Alta

On the other hand, in December, and therefore at Christmas, there may be an episode of acqua alta, that is, a high tide that floods part of the city. Most of the time, these floods are no more than a few centimetres deep and the city is well prepared for them.

Only on occasions when the acqua alta is particularly severe, with flooding that does affect daily life in the city, do visitors need to halt their sightseeing until everything returns to normal, which usually takes just 2 or 3 hours.

There is a website that warns of the possibility of this happening and the severity of the situation. Unfortunately, it is only reliable up to 72 hours in advance, so after that you’ll have to rely on your luck. When flooding is expected to be severe, the city issues a warning via sirens that sound in the morning.

Pack some warm clothes if you’re visiting Venice at Christmas. You’ll definitely need a thick jacket (waterproof, if possible), several jumpers, a hat, gloves and a scarf. Those who feel the cold easily should also bring a thermal top.

As for footwear, it should be comfortable, waterproof and warm. It’s always a good idea, in any case, to pack a pair of wellies just in case.

Despite the weather, Venice remains a very attractive destination for Christmas. The advantages go beyond lower prices for flights and hotels and will be noticeable throughout your stay.

To begin with, the atmosphere you’ll find at Christmas is far less touristy. It’s the Venetians who will fill the streets and enjoy all the events, something that’s almost impossible to find in Venice during the summer.

This lower number of tourists brings another major advantage: avoiding the huge queues to get into the main tourist attractions. So, you’ll be able to stroll through St Mark’s Square, visit St Mark’s Basilica or the Doge’s Palace without large crowds.