{"id":12659,"date":"2018-10-14T09:30:18","date_gmt":"2018-10-14T07:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehappyjetlagger.com\/?p=12659"},"modified":"2026-01-08T21:12:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T20:12:23","slug":"summer-in-venice-italy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/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

\"vacations<\/figure>\n\n

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

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

\u279c Find all tips for Italy in 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 center of<\/strong> Venice and an absolute must. By day as well as by night. Many vaporetto lines stop here, so there’s a good chance you’ll pass by anyway. <\/p>\n\n

\"venice<\/figure>\n\n

On St. Mark’s Square<\/strong> you’ll find St. Mark’s Basilica<\/strong> (note: admission is free, but you’ll still have to queue depending on the number of visitors), the Doge’s Palace<\/strong> with its wonderfully romantic fa\u00e7ade, the Campanile<\/strong> (which you can climb for a few euros) and various old-established caf\u00e9s such as the Caff\u00e9 Florian, where you can enjoy what is probably the most expensive cappuccino of your life and in the evenings you’ll be treated to stirring melodies from the in-house orchestra. Sounds corny, but it is. But there’s just an undeniable charm to sitting in that pompous seat and listening to the strings play Schlageroldies. By the way, if you don’t want to afford the seat, just stand at the edge of it. <\/p>\n\n

\"Doves<\/a><\/figure>\n\n
\"St.<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

On the other side of the Doge’s Palace is the Bridge of Sighs<\/strong>, one of the most famous bridges in Venice. And with hundreds of bridges, that’s saying something. <\/p>\n\n

\u279c Visit Doge’s Palace without queuing<\/a>*<\/p>\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 lifeline Grand Canal<\/strong>: In Venice, instead of roads there are only canals, and the main means of transport are boats in all variations. In this sense, the Grand Canal is the expressway that runs through the entire city. You’ll probably drive along here one way or another at some point, but it’s worth taking a vaporetto early one day and riding the entire Grand Canal and watching the city awaken. Contrary to my expectations, Venice is an early riser city, nothing with Italian sedateness. Venice is also rather quiet at night, after the daytime visitors have disappeared, there is not much in the way of lively nightlife. Also nice on the Grand Canal: watching sunsets. <\/p>\n\n

\"viewTip:<\/strong> It’s best to time it just right, and go up to the terrace of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi<\/strong> right next to the Rialto Bridge at sunset. Admission is free, but you can only stay on the terrace for 15 minutes – so timing is everything. <\/p>\n\n

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

But when I was there, you could just go up to the roof terrace without a ticket. I just had to put up with a bit of a wait. But the fantastic view over the Grand Canal is definitely worth it! <\/p>\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, similar to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence. Small stores line the bridge to the right and left. On the outside, you have a great view over the Grand Canal – if hundreds of selfie sticks don’t block your view. <\/p>\n\n

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

Right next to the Rialto Bridge is the Rialto Market<\/strong>, where you can buy fruit and vegetables in the traditional way. All very traditional, very nice to look at. And the fish hall first, directly on the canal, under centuries-old arcades – come early is worth it! <\/p>\n\n

\"Red<\/a><\/figure>\n\n
\"Empty<\/a><\/figure>\n\n

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

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

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

Just opposite the Doge’s Palace is the promontory Punta della Dogana<\/strong> – and here you can best see the size of the entrance to the Grand Canal, through which all merchant ships used to enter. Next door is the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute<\/strong>, where works by Titian hang. <\/p>\n\n

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

Even if you’re not a church fan, you can’t avoid seeing the inside of a few of these impressive churches in Venice. Many of them house works by the most famous Venetian painters – so you get a visit to the museum for free. <\/p>\n\n

\"church<\/figure>\n\n

Here in Dorsoduro<\/strong> there are plenty of museums<\/strong> in general, and those who are interested in art can occupy themselves here in the small space for at least a whole day.<\/p>\n\n

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