Trip Reports - Venice Is Easier To Visit In Low Season

After visiting Venice once in high season and having learned my lesson
( one has to queu in the streets to go somewhere and though it is normally a 20 minute walk from the railway station to Piazza San Marco , it can take many hours in the July or August crowd. Finding a hotel room in the high season is also impossible.) I decided to visit it in off season.
Finding a hotel room was very easy and one could even get a discount. Queues in the streets to go somewhere, queues to the museums and important sights as well as to the vaporettos were normally non-existing.
One could meet people in the cafes and chat, normally impossible in the high season when everyone is in a rush. The weather also was quite pleasant
compared with high summer temperatures. OK when it rains there is some
flooding around, but it doesn't rain everyday.
Many years ago (some 20 or more years ago) The Italian Government had placed a limit on the number of tourists to visit Venice. But, apparently this is not a hard rule and was just a talk, as no tourist is turned away from Venice even in the peak summer season, thus adding to the uncomfort of the crowd visiting Venice. By the way I spotted a book titled THE SECOND VENICE by Askin Ozcan , a very humorous fantasy, where Pshht Cola and McBigBite build an imaginary second Venice for tourists - which is bigger and better- and thought it is appropriate to mention it here. I had enjoyed reading it very much.
Venice in the late autumn, winter and early spring with its many activities, festivals and non-existing tourist crowd is a better time to visit this beautiful
city...I think when I go again, I shall prefer the off season again.

I've booked a short break in Venice between Christmas and New Year. It will be my third visit in total, but the first in low season, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like with fewer tourists around.

I must admit I panicked just a little when I found out that the city is subject to occasional winter flooding :eek:

I've booked a short break in Venice between Christmas and New Year. It will be my third visit in total, but the first in low season, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like with fewer tourists around.

I must admit I panicked just a little when I found out that the city is subject to occasional winter flooding :eek:

I agree,winter is my favourite time for visiting cities normally crowded in summer.

Taking a pair of wellies would be handy.^

I must admit I panicked just a little when I found out that the city is subject to occasional winter flooding :eek:

The first time I was in Venice I saw what looked like low tables stacked up all over the Piazza San Marco and assumed they were for a market. I learned soon enough that they are foot bridges for when the square floods. I've been there a few times when I used the foot bridges, and generally the waters subsided fairly quickly. I've never been for severe flooding (have been when it snowed last year ^ ), but getting around during acqua alta is generally not a problem.

Here's a little more you might want to read on high water:
http://www.venicebanana.com/eng/acqua.htm

Here's a little more you might want to read on high water:
http://www.venicebanana.com/eng/acqua.htmGreat link - thanks!

I've booked a short break in Venice between Christmas and New Year. It will be my third visit in total, but the first in low season, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like with fewer tourists around.

It's a fantastic time of year - we've been there in December/January twice now - but it gets VERY cold. Take all the warm clothes you can.

It's a fantastic time of year - we've been there in December/January twice now - but it gets VERY cold. Take all the warm clothes you can.

I agree 100%. If you are lucky you can have sunny and cloudless days too. These pictures (http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=671717) say it all.

I agree that Venice is wonderful during low season. For several years we have spent the last 2 weeks of November in VCE. Sometimes we even manage to sneak in an extra visit in early spring. The city is not crowded, nor overwhelmed with tourists, the fish and autumn vegetables are delicious. The weather has always been cooperative. I have also visited in February and have never encountered bitterly cold days. Yes, one may encounter the occasional aqua alta but the city generally seems well prepared. On my most recent visit (I returned one week ago), the weather was cool but not cold during the day. Wool slacks, a cashmere turtleneck sweater and leather jacket worked well. In the evening when the temperatures dipped, I substituted a good lined all-weather coat for the leather jacket.
Last year I was there for a quick visit in June (in addition to Nov). It was unbearable. The Venice I knew and loved from my fall/winter visits was markedly different; hot, crowded and insufferable. To experience VCE, definitely go there during the low season.

I've booked a short break in Venice between Christmas and New Year. It will be my third visit in total, but the first in low season, and I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like with fewer tourists around.
I was in Venice in January a few years ago and it snowed. Not the sort of heavy snowfall I've seen here in the U.S., just light flurries. The streets and canals were empty; it was like all the tourists (not that there were many of them) rushed back into their hotels and the Venetians stayed home. I walked around, the sole person on many of the streets, and it felt magical.

Off-season is the best time to travel. I'm returning to Venice in March and hoping to keep my lucky streak of missing the acqua alta.

So when is a good time to visit before June? like April or May would that be good?

After visiting Venice once in high season and having learned my lesson
( one has to queu in the streets to go somewhere

Queues in the streets to go somewhere, .

what are you talking about ?????

I was there around Nov 10 and it was bloody packed as always and freezing

what are you talking about ?????

I was there around Nov 10 and it was bloody packed as always and freezing

I was there a week later and it was uncrowded and the weather was beautiful.^

October last year was fantastic. The heat had gone out of the air, not too crowded ... a wonderful city.