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Your ultimate Christmas 2025 travel guide to Venice

Christmas in Venice adds a gentle touch of festive charm to the city. Expect decorated piazzas, seasonal menus, and holiday services throughout the city. With fewer tourists and a quieter winter pace, the experience feels more intimate and pleasantly magical.

Why spend Christmas in Venice?

Christmas in Venice - Why Spend Christmas in Venice?
  • Quieter, more romantic Venice: Fewer tourists and softer winter light make Venice feel calmer and more intimate, ideal for slow walks, cozy cafes, and scenic canals.
  • Christmas markets & craft shopping: Browse festive stalls at Campo Santo Stefano and smaller pop-ups around the city. Expect Murano glass ornaments, artisanal gifts, and warm seasonal treats.
  • Festive lights & decor: Streets and bridges glow with elegant lights, especially around Rialto, St. Mark’s Square, and the Grand Canal, creating a warm holiday atmosphere.
  • Holiday church services: Historic churches, including St. Mark’s Basilica, host Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services that are culturally and spiritually significant for visitors.
  • Seasonal menus and local traditions: Restaurants present winter menus and seafood-based holiday meals, while neighborhoods display nativity scenes and bakeries sell festive sweets rooted in Venetian tradition.
  • Unique winter scenery: Clear winter light, fewer boats, and quieter canals create excellent conditions for photography and relaxed scenic walks along the waterfront.

Top 9 things to do during Christmas in Venice

Christmas in Venice - Christmas markets

1. Attend Christmas Mass at St. Mark’s Basilica

St. Mark’s Basilica holds Christmas services in a solemn, reflective setting enhanced by the shimmering gold mosaics. Attending Mass here is a uniquely Venetian experience, so arrive early, as seating is limited and queues can form even in quieter winter weeks.

Book tickets to St. Mark's Basilica
Christmas in Venice - Christmas concerts

2. See the lights in St. Mark’s Square

St. Mark’s Square turns warm and inviting during the holidays, with elegant lights draping the arcades and surrounding buildings. It’s a great place to start your Christmas walk, enjoy slow-paced sightseeing, and capture festive photos without the usual summer crowds.

Explore St. Mark's Square
Christmas in Venice - Campo San Polo ice rink

3. Attend a Christmas concert

Churches like San Vidal and Santa Maria della Pietà often host classical concerts during December. Expect chamber orchestras, Vivaldi tributes, and seasonal choral performances in candlelit settings, adding a meaningful and atmospheric way to enjoy Venice in winter.

Christmas in Venice - See the sights of Venice

4. Visit the Christmas markets

Campo Santo Stefano usually hosts Venice’s main Christmas market, featuring small wooden stalls selling local crafts, ornaments, artisan chocolates, textiles, and glass souvenirs. It’s ideal for thoughtful gift-shopping and browsing Venetian holiday specialties in a relaxed, scenic square.

The other Christmas markets of the season are in:

Christmas in Venice - Santa Claus run

5. Enjoy seasonal Venetian treats

Winter menus feature comforting favorites like fritelle (sweet fried pastries), hot chocolate, baicoli biscuits, and holiday breads panettone and pandoro. Pair them with a warm vin brulé (mulled wine) while strolling through softly lit alleyways and squares.

Some must visit eateries include:

Christmas in Venice - Pandoro

6. Explore Venice’s nativity scenes

Many Venetian churches display beautifully crafted presepi (nativity scenes), ranging from traditional wooden figures to more intricate artistic interpretations. Walking between them offers a calm, cultural way to appreciate Venice’s spiritual heritage during Christmas.

7. Take a winter canal ride

A gondola or vaporetto ride feels quieter and more intimate in winter, with misty canal views and slower-paced traffic. If weather and time allow, extend the experience with a relaxed visit to Murano (glassmaking) or Burano (colorful houses), both atmospheric in the winter light.

Book a gondola ride

8. Go ice skating at Campo San Polo

If the seasonal rink is set up, Campo San Polo becomes a fun skating spot surrounded by cafe terraces and lively crowds. It’s a cheerful break from church visits and sightseeing, especially enjoyable in the late afternoon when the lights switch on.

9. Watch the Santa Claus Regatta

Each December, Venice hosts a playful regatta where locals row traditional boats along the Grand Canal dressed as Santa. Spectators line bridges and canalsides to watch the colorful parade and take photos. It’s a light, cheerful event that adds a fun touch to the season.

Your perfect Christmas itinerary

Day 1 - December 24 (Christmas Eve)

Morning

  • Begin early in St. Mark’s Square, enjoying the calm before daytime crowds.
  • Visit the Doge’s Palace to explore its grand halls, the Golden Staircase, and cross the Bridge of Sighs.
  • Walk to the Rialto Bridge and browse nearby artisan and confectionery shops for seasonal sweets and small gifts.

Afternoon

  • Wander to Campo Santo Stefano to explore the Christmas market and try frittelle or vin brulé.
  • Take a relaxed vaporetto ride along the Grand Canal, soaking in winter lagoon views.

Evening

  • Attend a Christmas Eve concert at San Vidal or Santa Maria della Pietà.
  • Enjoy a traditional Venetian seafood dinner, following local Christmas Eve customs.
  • End with a quiet walk through softly lit bridges and narrow calle.

Day 2 - December 25 (Christmas Day)

Morning

  • Join Christmas Mass at St. Mark’s Basilica if you want to experience the local tradition.
  • Otherwise, take a slow walk along the Zattere or through Dorsoduro for peaceful lagoon views.

Afternoon

  • Take a leisurely boat tour to Burano or Murano.
  • Enjoy Burano’s colorful houses in winter light or observe glassmaking in Murano’s workshops.
  • Expect limited hours but fewer tourists.

Evening

  • Return for an early holiday meal as many restaurants offer set Christmas menus with dishes like ravioli in broth, capon, and pandoro.
  • Stroll back to St. Mark’s Square or the Grand Canal for nighttime lights and calm reflections on the water.

Know Before You Go: Venice at Christmas

  • Book early: Reserve Christmas Eve dinners and St. Mark’s Basilica services well ahead as they fill up quickly.
  • Holiday hours: Shops and attractions may close early on Dec 24 and remain closed on Dec 25. Plan flexible, outdoor-friendly activities.
  • Dress warm: Expect cold, damp weather (1°C–7°C). Bring a thick coat, scarf, gloves, and waterproof shoes.
  • Mind the tides: Acqua alta can affect low-lying areas. Check forecasts and consider light waterproof shoe covers.
  • Walk the city: Venice is calm and walkable in winter; vaporettos run, but slow strolls are a highlight.
  • Seasonal treats: Enjoy pandoro, fritelle, vin brulé, and creamy hot chocolate from cafes and festive stalls.

Extend your visit to New Year’s Eve

If your schedule allows, stay in Venice through New Year’s Eve. The city hosts open-air celebrations in St. Mark’s Square, live music, and a midnight countdown over the lagoon. Expect a warm, communal atmosphere rather than a loud party scene. Restaurants offer special dinner menus, so booking ahead is essential.

Frequently Asked Questions About Celebrating Christmas in Venice

Is Christmas a good time to visit Venice?

Yes, Christmas is a great time to visit Venice. The city is quieter, beautifully decorated, and offers seasonal events, markets, and holiday menus without heavy summer crowds.

What is Venice like at Christmas?

Expect a calm, atmospheric city with festive lights, decorated squares, church services, and winter menus. The pace is slower and more intimate compared to peak months.

Are things open on Christmas Day in Venice?

Major sights may close on December 25, while many restaurants operate with special menus. Always check opening hours and book meals in advance.

Does it snow in Venice during Christmas?

Snow is possible but uncommon. Expect cold, damp weather with temperatures around 3°C–7°C. Warm layers, scarves, and waterproof shoes are useful.

Are the Christmas markets open every day?

The main market at Campo Santo Stefano generally runs through December, but opening dates vary each year. Confirm schedules closer to your travel dates.

Is Venice crowded during Christmas?

Christmas sees more visitors than early winter but far fewer than summer. You’ll still find quiet canals, calmer walkways, and easier access to top landmarks.

Can I take a gondola ride in winter?

Yes, gondolas and vaporetti run year-round. The experience is peaceful and scenic in winter, just bundle up for colder, sometimes misty canal conditions.

Are restaurants open and serving festive meals?

Many restaurants offer special Christmas Eve or Christmas Day menus. Reservations are highly recommended as dining spots fill quickly during the holiday period.