Anyone visiting the lagoon city, particularly between October and March, should allow for a few grey, wet days. Yet there are plenty of things to do in Venice when it rains, and the city arguably takes on an extra layer of charm.
With fewer people about in the sunshine, museums can be explored at a gentler pace, churches reveal details that might otherwise go unnoticed, and historic cafés become a welcome shelter.
Here are some of the best places in Venice to escape the rain so you're never short of things to do in Venice.
St Mark’s Basilica
There is one place in Venice that merits a visit whatever the weather: St Mark’s Basilica. Inside the church, the ceilings and walls tell biblical stories and reveal curiosities in astonishing detail. The soft light of a rainy day, rather unexpectedly, brings out the golden reflections of the Byzantine mosaic tiles.
Along with the mosaics, the terrace is worth visiting for its elevated view over the square, as are the Treasury and the Pala d’Oro, a masterpiece of medieval goldsmithing decorated with enamel and precious stones.
Doge’s Palace
A short walk from the basilica, Doge’s Palace is another essential stop for anyone looking for things to do in Venice in the rain. The visitor route passes through the Doge’s rooms, the chambers of the Great Council and the rather unsettling prisons linked by the famous Bridge of Sighs.
The Secret Itineraries tour is also worth considering, revealing rooms normally closed to the public, including the Inquisition’s offices and the cell that Giacomo Casanova escaped from.
Gallerie dell’Accademia
For art lovers, or simply anyone wanting to spend a couple of hours out of the rain in a worthwhile way, the Gallerie dell’Accademia is Venice’s leading museum. It holds the largest collection of Venetian painting produced between the 14th and 18th centuries.
Walking through its rooms brings you face to face with works by Bellini, Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto and Canaletto, tracing the development of art in La Serenissima, the former Republic of Venice.
Ca’ Rezzonico
Another gem sits in Dorsoduro and makes an excellent rainy-day stop. Ca’ Rezzonico is an 18th-century palace overlooking the Grand Canal and home to the Museum of 18th-Century Venice.
Its interiors are richly decorated, with frescoes by Giambattista Tiepolo, period furniture, Murano-glass chandeliers and a faithful recreation of Venetian aristocratic life during its most lavish period.
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Anyone in the mood for 20th-century art will find one of Italy’s leading modern art museums at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Housed in Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, also in the sestiere of Dorsoduro, the museum contains works amassed by the celebrated American collector during decades spent between Europe and the United States.
La Fenice Theatre
If rain sets in during the late afternoon or evening, La Fenice Theatre can turn a damp day into a memorable experience. As one of the world’s best-known opera houses, it offers two options.
A daytime guided tour allows visitors to explore the theatre, learn about its turbulent history and take in the architectural details up close. Alternatively, there may be an opera performance or concert on the programme.
Libreria Acqua Alta
Libreria Acqua Alta is far more than a bookshop. It is a spontaneous art installation, a refuge for book lovers and one of the city’s most photographed spots. When acqua alta, Venice’s seasonal high water, reaches the sestiere of Castello, owner Luigi Frizzo protects the books in gondolas, bathtubs and canoes.
The result is a maze of volumes stacked up to the ceiling in unlikely containers, with cats dozing among the piles and a staircase made of books at the back overlooking a canal.
Things to do with children in Venice when it rains
Travelling with little ones and being caught in the rain in Venice can seem challenging. In practice, the city has several activities for children that still work well in poor weather.
A vaporetto ride along the Grand Canal
Line 1 runs along the entire Grand Canal, linking Piazzale Roma and St Mark’s Square in either direction, and is an experience that tends to appeal to children and adults alike.
The vaporetto, Venice’s public water bus, passes palaces, bridges and gondolas, along with the steady movement of working boats. The journey takes around 45 minutes.
Venetian mask-making workshops
Bringing creativity and tradition together, Venetian mask-making workshops allow children, as well as adults, to paint and decorate a mask by hand with help from an artisan. Several botteghe, or traditional workshops, in the historic centre offer the experience, which usually lasts between one and two hours. It is an engaging way for younger visitors to get acquainted with the traditions of the Venice Carnival and the place masks hold in local culture.
Natural History Museum
Overlooking the Grand Canal in the sestiere of Santa Croce, the Natural History Museum of Venice occupies the striking Fondaco dei Turchi and is one of the city’s more enjoyable surprises for families.
The exhibition is designed to spark curiosity, moving through prehistory before reaching the biodiversity of the Venetian Lagoon, with clear panels and modern displays. The seven-metre skeleton of Ouranosaurus nigeriensis is the most exciting stop for younger visitors.
Living in Venice
Living in Venice means having access to a more comprehensive range of services than many people expect. In terms of transport, ACTV vaporetti link every sestiere and the lagoon islands, with frequent services running until late evening.
For those working on the mainland, the Ponte della Libertà connects the historic centre with Mestre in a few minutes by train or bus, while Venezia Santa Lucia station has direct connections with Italy’s main cities.
The city’s higher education offering is another often-overlooked advantage of living in Venice. Four institutions are concentrated within a small area:
- Ca’ Foscari University, with degree programmes in economics, languages, science and the humanities
- IUAV, specialising in architecture, design, urban planning and fashion
- The Academy of Fine Arts
- The Benedetto Marcello Conservatoire
There are also schools at every level in the historic centre, neighbourhood markets such as the one at Rialto, supermarkets within walking distance, and a broad network of local services, covering everything from GPs and pharmacies to post offices and public libraries.
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