{"id":12659,"date":"2018-10-14T09:30:18","date_gmt":"2018-10-14T07:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/?p=12659"},"modified":"2026-09-21T12:48:36","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T10:48:36","slug":"summer-in-venice-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neu.thehappyjetlagger.com\/en\/summer-in-venice-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Enjoy Venice in Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You really have to want to go to Venice a lot if you dare to travel there in August. In general, all of Italy is on the verge of absolute vacation collapse around August 15, the most important and significant of all Italian holidays for travel. On the Assumption of Mary, “Ferragosto”, all of Italy is on vacation – and this does not go unnoticed in Venice. Small stores lower their shutters, quickly written notes announce company vacations (“siamo di ferie”) and wish a nice summer. <\/p>\n\n

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Venice in August: vacation mood in Italy<\/h2>\n\n

Instead, the rest of Italy will be visiting Venice, or at least part of it. But they are not really noticeable, because in addition to Italian tourists, half the world from near and far is still a guest. Not to mention the day-trippers from the huge cruise ships that invade Venice every day – yes, you just have to say it. Everything must be seen before the ship departs, quickly a photo between the pigeons in St. Mark’s Square, a short gondola ride with one of the beautiful gondoliers and absolutely an ice cream, in the wafer, with scoops piled so high that the photo of it becomes particularly instagrammable – although it is far too much ice cream for so little time.<\/p>\n\n

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\"Vaporetto<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

You can find more tips for Italy on the Italy Blog<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Especially when the mass of visitors and the summer heat make sightseeing even more arduous. Venice in one day is an impossibility<\/strong> anyway. Therefore, I wouldn’t exactly recommend high summer as a travel month – but still: Even tourist crowds and summer heat couldn’t spoil Venice for me. I just wanted to go to Venice so badly – because although I’ve been around Italy quite a bit professionally and privately, I only knew the city from stories. <\/p>\n\n

Sightseeing in Venice – the tips: Where to start?<\/h2>\n\n

There is much to discover in Venice, art, history, architecture; and the fascinating geographical location with all the canals does her by the way. Seeing it all in a few days is a challenging undertaking, there are still the islands around Venice like Burano or Murano or the city beach on the Lido to discover. <\/p>\n\n

\"Seagull<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

St. Mark’s Square, St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace in San Marco<\/h2>\n\n

The heart<\/strong> of Venice\u2014an absolute must-see, both day and night. Many vaporetto lines stop here, so chances are you\u2019ll pass by anyway. <\/p>\n\n

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In St. Mark\u2019s Square<\/strong>, you\u2019ll find St. Mark\u2019s Basilica<\/strong> (note: admission is free, but you\u2019ll still have to wait in line depending on the number of visitors), the Doge\u2019s Palace<\/strong> with its beautifully romantic fa\u00e7ade, the Campanile<\/strong> (which you can climb for a few euros), and various long-established caf\u00e9s like Caff\u00e8 Florian, where you can enjoy what\u2019s probably the most expensive cappuccino of your life and, in the evening, be treated to sentimental love songs performed by the caf\u00e9\u2019s own orchestra. It sounds cheesy, and it is. But there\u2019s just an undeniable charm to sitting in this magnificent square and listening to the string section play old-school pop hits. By the way, if you don\u2019t want to pay for a seat, just stand at the edge. <\/p>\n\n

\"Doves<\/a><\/figure>\n\n
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By the way, on the other side of the Doge’s Palace is the Bridge of Sighs<\/strong>, one of Venice’s most famous bridges. And with hundreds of bridges, that’s really saying something. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u279c Visit Doge’s Palace without queuing<\/a>*<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\"Bridge<\/a><\/figure>\n\n
\"San<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Finding the way to St. Mark’s Square in Venice is easy even without Google Maps: on many street corners and in many alleys the way to Piazza San Marco is marked, “La Piazza” is simply the central orientation point in the thicket of Venetian alleys and canals.<\/p>\n\n

\"Gondolier<\/a><\/figure>\n\n
\"Sign<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Grand Canal: Venice’s biggest street<\/h2>\n\n

The Grand Canal<\/strong>: Venice\u2019s Lifeline: Instead of streets, Venice has only canals, and boats of all kinds are the main mode of transportation. In that sense, the Grand Canal is the highway that runs through the entire city. You\u2019ll probably end up traveling along it at some point anyway, but it\u2019s worth taking a vaporetto early in the morning to travel the entire length of the Grand Canal and watch the city come to life. <\/p>\n\n

Contrary to my expectations, Venice is actually a city of early risers\u2014no trace of that typical Italian leisureliness. Even at night, Venice is rather quiet; once the day-trippers have left, there isn\u2019t much of a bustling nightlife. Another lovely thing to do on the Grand Canal: watching the sunsets. <\/p>\n\n

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Tip:<\/strong> It\u2019s best to time your visit just right and head up to the terrace of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi<\/strong>, right next to the Rialto Bridge, at sunset. Admission is free, but you\u2019re only allowed to stay on the terrace for 15 minutes\u2014so timing is everything. When I was there, you could just walk right up to the rooftop terrace without a ticket. I only had to wait a little while. But the fantastic view over the Grand Canal is definitely worth it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can book tickets online in advance here<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

\"Roof<\/a><\/figure>\n\n
\"View<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

By the way, the (luxury) department store is also beautiful from the inside, the building used to be, as the name suggests, the trading place of the German merchants in Venice and later the main post office of the city.<\/p>\n\n

Rialto Bridge and Rialto Market<\/h2>\n\n

The Rialto Bridge<\/strong> is both a bridge and a shopping street, much like the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Small shops line the bridge on both sides. From the outer edges, you have a great view of the Grand Canal\u2014unless hundreds of selfie sticks are blocking your view. <\/p>\n\n

\"Rialto<\/a><\/figure>\n\n
\"Gondolier<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

Right near the Rialto Bridge is the Rialto Market<\/strong>, where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables the old-fashioned way. It\u2019s all very traditional and a delight to behold. And don\u2019t miss the fish market, right on the canal under centuries-old arcades\u2014it\u2019s worth getting there early. <\/p>\n\n

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\"Empty<\/a><\/figure>\n\n
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Next door at Naranzaria, right on the waterfront and with the Rialto Bridge just around the corner, you can take a break with an Aperol Spritz and watch the gondoliers glide back and forth on the Grand Canal. More Venice is almost impossible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t miss this enchanted highlight of Venice: the Acqua Alta bookstore<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

Dorsoduro: Punta della Dogana, Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and lots of museums<\/h2>\n\n

Directly across from the Doge’s Palace is the Punta della Dogana<\/strong> headland\u2014and this is also the best spot to appreciate the sheer size of the Grand Canal’s entrance, through which all merchant ships used to sail. Next door is the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute<\/strong>, which houses works by Titian. <\/p>\n\n

\"santa<\/figure>\n\n

Even if you\u2019re not a fan of churches, when you\u2019re in Venice, you simply can\u2019t help but take a look inside a few of these impressive churches. Many of them house works by the most famous Venetian painters\u2014so you get a free museum visit thrown in. <\/p>\n\n

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There are plenty of museums<\/strong> here in Dorsoduro<\/strong>, and anyone interested in art can easily spend at least a whole day exploring them all in this small area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most important museums in Dorsoduro:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n