10 Things to Do in Venice at Christmas

All of Venice is transformed during Christmas, from the historic center to its less touristy neighborhoods. 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 lights aren’t the only great reason to spend Christmas in Venice. In addition to the city’s usual attractions—which you can still visit without any trouble—there’s a series of festivals, markets, and traditions that transform its streets into a magical world to explore at a more leisurely pace than in summer.

One of the most established traditions in Venice during the Christmas season is the celebration of concerts. It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of classical music or not—just seeing the venues where they take place makes it worth the trip. If you decide to attend one of these performances, you should 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 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 season, the highlight comes on New Year’s Eve with a special concert.

It’s 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 about 3 days or more in Venice should plan a trip to the nearby islands of Murano and Burano. If your visit takes place during Christmas, the first of these locations will surprise you with a packed schedule of activities related to its most famous craft: glassblowing.

This festival, known as Natale di Vetro, has been held for several years now. The entire 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 local workshops offer short classes for those interested in learning about traditional glassblowing.

If you want to witness the arrival of St. Nicholas in a unique and different way, there’s no doubt that Venice is the place to be. Every year on December 23, 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 afterward to enjoy the hot chocolate and sweets handed out to the little ones.

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

There are few more special ways to end the year than spending it in Venice. While many may consider winter not the best time to visit Venice, 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. Afterward, if you’ve been wise 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 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. Amid congratulations and kisses, a spectacular fireworks display will light up the sky and the canals. If you’ve managed to stay awake all night or if you’re an early riser, the tradition 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 want to visit one located inside a late 17th-century palace and browse the stalls dedicated to high-end crafts, the Ca’ Zenobio market is the best choice.

In this palace, for a few days in December, top-tier artisans gather to offer their products. Obviously, the prices are significantly higher than at the open-air markets, but the quality of the items on display is worth the cost.

At the Palazzo, you won’t just be able to shop. During the Christmas season, they organize everything from Christmas-themed movie screenings to a perfume workshop, as well as animated storytime for children and a Venetian mask-making workshop.

The Christmas lights in Venice, in addition to their own beauty, create a spectacular effect as they reflect off the canals. Strolling through the squares and streets while admiring 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 no slouch. Don’t miss, among other sights, the view of the Rialto Bridge illuminated over the Grand Canal

To see these lights 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 most beautiful bridges, churches, and palaces.

One of the best things to do in Venice in December is to stroll through the Christmas markets set up at various locations throughout the city. There, in addition to admiring the beauty of the decorations, you’ll be able to buy a wide variety of traditional items, both decorative and edible. Some of them even feature attractions to make the experience even more fun for children.

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

Those looking for a gift or a little treat for themselves will be able to choose from a wide variety of products, ranging 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 piece.

After visiting Venice’s most famous landmarks, why not try a fun activity that will also help you warm up: ice skating. Starting in early 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 8:00 PM and the rest around 7:00 PM), spending some time there can be a great way to kick off your evening and then enjoy the Venetian nightlife.

In addition to skating itself, those who come will be able to admire the beauty of the buildings that make up the historic square. Food and drink stands are also set up in the area. So, when you leave the rink, you can try some delicious pastries paired with a vin brulè, a delicious spiced 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 happening: it’s just the race that takes place every year in the city, and you can join in if you’d like.

This race has been held for just a few years, but it has already become a must-see event during the Venetian Christmas season. Its success has drawn around 1,000 participants, ranging from professionals to casual enthusiasts (including children and, sometimes, even dogs in their own costumes). It’s simply about having fun running around downtown dressed up like that.

Even if you don’t dare to participate, the atmosphere on the street is fun enough to make it worth joining the party. The finish line is usually located in St. Mark’s Square, next to the basilica, and the sight of hundreds of Santa Clauses crossing it makes for a photo worth sharing with all your friends.

Another spectacle you can’t miss during Christmas in Venice is the famous Befana Regatta. It takes place on January 6, 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 associated with Epiphany. She is a witch who, flying on a broomstick, leaves gifts 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, truly spectacular, takes place on the Grand Canal. Of course, there’s no shortage of food and drink stands, music, and a festive atmosphere.

On that same day, you can attend an exclusive event that takes place only twice a year. Around noon, the chiming mechanism of the Torre dell'Orologio in St. Mark’s Square is activated, and the side panel opens. Through that 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 Venice’s Christmas weather isn’t the most appealing for travelers. For starters, temperatures are low, with the cold feeling intensified by humidity and wind.

During this time, don’t expect highs to rise above about 8°C, while lows will hover around 0°C. Of course, these are the most common averages, but I recommend that you always check the weather forecast shortly before traveling.

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 don’t exceed a few centimeters, and the city is well-prepared for them.

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

There is a website that warns of the possibility of this event occurring and its severity. Unfortunately, it is only reliable 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 warm clothes if you’re visiting Venice at Christmas. You’ll definitely need a thick jacket (waterproof, if possible), several sweaters, a hat, gloves, and a scarf. Those who feel the cold easily should also bring a thermal shirt.

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

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

For starters, the atmosphere you’ll find at Christmas is much 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 smaller number of tourists brings another major advantage: avoiding the huge lines to enter the main tourist attractions. This way, you’ll be able to stroll through St. Mark’s Square, visit St. Mark’s Basilica, or the Doge’s Palace without large crowds.