HV1651263723
Italian Alps
Italian Alps
Winter in the Dolomites
An infinity pool, heated all year
The Hidden Voyage guide
Venice
Private palazzi and apartments on the canals of the most unique city in the world.
Best months
Apr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
Ideal stay
4 nights
Fly into
VCE · TSF · VRN
Getting around
No car: water taxi and vaporetto
Our villas here
22 private villas
Why go
Why choose Venice
There is nowhere quite like Venice: a city of 118 islands where boats replace cars, palaces rise straight from the water and every bridge frames a new view. Behind the famous sights lies a quieter Venice of hidden gardens, neighbourhood bacari and silent canals at dusk. A private palazzo apartment or villa on the lagoon lets you experience it as Venetians do, after the day visitors leave.
Venice suits romantic escapes, art and architecture lovers, families captivated by boats and islands, and returning travellers keen to explore the lagoon. It is a city to wander slowly, ideally for several nights, so that early mornings and late evenings can be enjoyed at their most magical.
Ideal for: Couples, Culture, Short stays · Unhurried, on foot and by boat
Our villas of the month · October 2026
Chosen this month by our team
HV1557152267
Colfosco
Italian Alps
Winter in the Dolomites
Twenty six skiers, one chalet
HV1651263719
Italian Alps
Italian Alps
Winter in the Dolomites
Your own spa, in Cortina
Getting there
Airports and arrivals
VCE
Venice Marco Polo
about 30 minutes by water taxi to the historic centre, about 20 minutes by car to Piazzale Roma
Main international gateway, with the Alilaguna water bus to the city and islands
TSF
Treviso Antonio Canova
about 40 minutes by car to Piazzale Roma
Smaller airport used mainly by European low cost carriers
VRN
Verona Valerio Catullo
about 1h30 by car to Piazzale Roma
Alternative gateway, convenient when combining Venice with Verona or Lake Garda
- Trains arrive at Venezia Santa Lucia, on the Grand Canal: Frecciarossa services take about 2h from Florence, about 2h30 from Milan and about 4h from Rome.
- From Piazzale Roma and Santa Lucia, continue by private water taxi or vaporetto to your accommodation; porters can be booked for luggage.
- Large cruise ships no longer sail through the Giudecca Canal and St Mark's Basin.
We arrange private transfers, drivers, boats and helicopters for every villa.
Where to stay
Choosing your base
San Marco
First time visitors
Venice's grand heart, with the Basilica, Doge's Palace and elegant hotels. Busy by day, beautiful by night.
Dorsoduro
Art lovers, couples
Galleries, the Zattere promenade and a relaxed, artistic atmosphere.
San Polo and Santa Croce
Food lovers
Around the Rialto market, lively with bacari and authentic everyday life.
Cannaregio
Longer stays, families
A residential district of long canals, the historic Jewish Ghetto and evening wine bars.
Castello
Returning visitors, calm
Quieter lanes and gardens towards the Arsenale and the Biennale pavilions.
Giudecca and the Lido
Families, privacy
Island bases with views back to the city, gardens and, on the Lido, beaches.
Positions are approximate: the exact address is shared once your stay is confirmed.
What to see
The highlights
01
St Mark's Basilica
A shimmering Byzantine church covered in golden mosaics. Booking a timed entry avoids long queues.
02
Doge's Palace
The seat of Venetian power, with vast council halls and the Bridge of Sighs. Secret itineraries tours reveal hidden rooms and prisons.
03
Grand Canal
Venice's main waterway, lined with palaces; a ride on the number 1 vaporetto or a private boat is unforgettable.
04
Gallerie dell'Accademia
The great collection of Venetian painting, from Bellini to Titian and Tintoretto.
05
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Modern masterpieces in a canalside palazzo with a sculpture garden.
06
Scuola Grande di San Rocco
A building covered with dramatic paintings by Tintoretto.
07
Rialto Market
The morning fish and produce market, a living part of Venetian life.
08
Torcello
A near deserted island with an ancient cathedral and magnificent mosaics.
What to do
Experiences worth planning for
Private gondola at dusk
Glide through quiet canals as the city lights come on.
Rowing lesson in voga alla veneta
Learn to row standing up, as Venetians do, with a local association.
Bacaro crawl
Hop between traditional wine bars for cicchetti and an ombra of wine.
Murano and Burano by private boat
Watch glassmakers at work and see Burano's colourful houses and lace.
Mask and fabric workshops
Meet artisans making Carnival masks and handmade textiles.
Lagoon picnic
Explore the northern lagoon's salt marshes and abandoned islands by boat.
By the sea
Beaches and coves
Lido di Venezia
Long sandy beaches with classic striped cabanas, a short vaporetto ride from San Marco.
Alberoni
A quieter beach with dunes and pinewoods at the southern end of the Lido.
Pellestrina
A thin fishing island with a sea wall and an authentic atmosphere.
Giardini della Biennale
Shady gardens and waterfront paths in Castello.
Sant'Erasmo
The lagoon's garden island, ideal for a gentle bike ride among vegetable fields.
Where to stay
Private villas in Venice
At the table
Food and wine
What to eat
Cicchetti
Small bites served in bacari, from creamed salt cod on bread to fried seafood.
Sarde in saor
Fried sardines marinated with onions, vinegar, pine nuts and raisins.
Bigoli in salsa
Thick wholewheat pasta with an onion and anchovy sauce.
Risi e bisi
A spring dish of rice and young peas, between a soup and a risotto.
Fegato alla veneziana
Calf's liver cooked slowly with onions.
Tiramisù
The famous coffee dessert, from the Veneto region.
What to drink
Spritz
The Venetian aperitivo, made with prosecco and a bitter liqueur.
Prosecco
The local sparkling wine, served in every bar.
Soave
A classic dry white from near Verona, ideal with seafood.
Beyond the villa
Day trips
Padua
about 30 minutes by train
Giotto's frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel and the historic university.
Verona
about 1h10 by train
The Roman Arena and the city of Romeo and Juliet.
Riviera del Brenta
about 30 minutes by car
Palladian and Baroque villas along the canal that linked Venice to Padua.
Prosecco Hills
about 1h by car
UNESCO listed vineyards and tastings around Valdobbiadene.
When to go
The year, season by season
April to June and September to October. Winter is magical and quiet; high tides are most frequent in autumn.
Spring
Mild weather and long days, though Easter is busy. A lovely time for walking and island trips.
Summer
Hot and humid, with crowds in the centre. Evenings on the Lido or the lagoon are a cool escape.
Autumn
Soft light and calmer streets. Acqua alta can occur from October to winter.
Winter
Misty, romantic and quiet, with Carnival in February. Pack waterproof shoes.
Weather month by month
Bars: hours of sunshine a day. Above: average daytime high. Below: sea temperature. Shaded: the best months.
Full weather table
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime high, °C | 8 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 22 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 24 | 19 | 13 | 8 |
| Night low, °C | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 6 | 1 |
| Sea, °C | 9 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 19 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 11 |
| Sunshine, hours a day | 2.6 | 3.8 | 4.6 | 5.8 | 7.4 | 8.1 | 9.3 | 8.3 | 6.6 | 4.9 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Rainy days | 6 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Dry days | 25 | 23 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
Air: averages 1991 to 2020, Venice weather station. Sea: average surface temperature at Venice Lido. Dry days have less than 1 mm of rain.
Events through the year
February
Carnival
Masked balls and costumed parades in the weeks before Lent.
Third weekend of July
Festa del Redentore
A night of fireworks over St Mark's Basin, watched from boats and terraces.
Late August to early September
Venice International Film Festival
Premieres and red carpets at the Lido.
First Sunday of September
Regata Storica
A historic regatta and procession of boats on the Grand Canal.
21 November
Festa della Madonna della Salute
A temporary bridge of boats crosses the Grand Canal to the basilica.
Spring to autumn
La Biennale
The art exhibition takes place in even years and architecture in odd years.
Planning Venice?
Tell us your dates and the group: we reply with availability and the full price, usually within one working day, and arrange transfers, chefs and boats.
Good to know
Practical tips
- On selected peak days in spring and summer, day visitors to the historic centre must pay an access fee; in 2026 it applied on 60 days between 3 April and 26 July, from 8.30am to 4pm, at €5 if booked at least four days ahead or €10 otherwise.
- Guests staying overnight in Venice are exempt from the access fee because they pay the tourist tax, but they should still register their stay online.
- Water taxis are the fastest and most comfortable way to arrive with luggage; agree the fare in advance or book through your concierge.
- Acqua alta can flood low areas in autumn and winter; the city has sirens and an app warning of high tides.
- Book St Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace and the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua ahead.
- Modest dress is required for St Mark's Basilica, and sitting or eating on monuments and bridges can be fined.
Questions
Venice: frequently asked
Do you have to pay to enter Venice?
Day visitors pay an access fee on selected peak days, set annually by the city. Overnight guests are exempt but must register online.
How do you get from Venice airport to the city?
A private water taxi takes about 30 minutes to the centre. The Alilaguna water bus and buses to Piazzale Roma are slower but cheaper.
How many days do you need in Venice?
Three to four nights allow you to see the main sights and the islands without rushing.
When is the best time to visit Venice?
Spring and autumn offer pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds than summer. Winter is quiet and atmospheric.
Is Venice good for families?
Yes: boats, islands and the Lido beaches delight children. Choose accommodation near a vaporetto stop.
Travel advisors, wedding and event planners
Share this guide with your clients
Register as a trade partner for your private area, villas of the month and quotes in one place.
More guides in Venice and the North