10 Things to Do in Venice at Christmas

The whole of Venice is transformed during Christmas, from the historic centre to its less touristy neighbourhoods. The lighting and decorations make the city look different from the rest of the year and enhance its classic romantic atmosphere even more.

The lighting is not the only great reason to spend Christmas in Venice. In addition to the usual attractions of Venice, which can still be visited without any problems, there are a series of festivals, markets and traditions that transform its streets into a magical world to be discovered at a more leisurely pace than in summer.

One of the most established traditions in Venice during the Christmas season is the celebration of concerts. It doesn't matter if you're a classical music fan or not to attend one, as just seeing the ven ues where they take place makes it worthwhile. If you decide to attend one of these performances, you should plan ahead and buy your tickets well in advance.

Some of these concerts are held in churches in the city. You can choose from traditional Christmas music to, in some cases, more modern music. Without a doubt, the most important concerts are those offered at the Teatro La Fenice, a reference point in the world of opera throughout the world and well worth a visit. Although performances are continuous throughout the Christmas period, the highlight is at New Year's Eve, with a special concert.

Concerts can also be found in some of the city 's palaces or in some of the squares, such as the square of St. Mark's Basilica, where you can listen to unique Christmas compositions.

Those spending 3 days or more in Venice should plan a trip to the nearby islands of Murano and Burano. If you're visiting at Christmas time, the former will surprise you with a busy list of activities related to its most famous activity: glassblowing.

This festival, called Natale di Vetro, has been going on for several years now. The whole town is filled with events, exhibitions, sculptures and workshops on glass craftsmanship.

Several of the main squares are adorned with the most beautiful glass sculptures and several local workshops offer small classes for those interested in learning about traditional glassblowing.

If you want to see the arrival of Saint Nicholas in an original and different way, Venice is the place to be. Every year, on 23 December, the saint arrives in the city in the most typical way possible: by gondola. If you are going to Venice with children, they will love this experience, especially if they stay afterwards to enjoy the hot chocolate and sweets that are handed out to the little ones.

The arrival of Saint Nicholas takes place in Campo San Vio. To welcome him, all the gondoliers wear red hats and decorate their gondolas with cushions and other Christmas items. It's also one of the most endearing times to take a ride along Venice's canals while soaking up the Christmas spirit.

There can be few more special end-of-year celebrations than spending the end of the year in Venice. Winter may not be the best time to travel to Venice for many, but experiencing the countdown in St Mark's Square and then watching the fireworks reflected in the waters of the canals is an experience you'll never forget.

To start the evening, there's nothing better than listening to the choirs in St Mark's Square in a totally festive atmosphere. Afterwards, if you have taken the precaution of booking in advance, you should dine in a restaurant in Venice without missing the traditional lentils with which the Italians welcome the new year.

Around midnight, the best place in the city is once again St. Mark's Square. There, you will witness the countdown that marks the beginning of the new year. Between congratulations and kisses, a wonderful fireworks display will light up the sky and the canals. If you've been able to stay up all night or if you're up early, the traditional thing to do is to take the vaporetto or a water taxi to the beaches of the Lido. There, the bravest take their first swim of the year in defiance of the cold temperatures.

Not all of Venice's Christmas markets are outside. If you want to visit one inside a late 17th-century palazzo and browse the stalls dedicated to high-end craftsmanship, the one at Ca' Zenobio is the best choice.

In this palace, and for a few days in December, high-level artisans come together to offer their products. Obviously, the price is much higher than in the open-air markets, but the quality of the products on display is worth the price.

The Palazzo is not the only place to shop. During Christmas there are Christmas-themed cinema sessions, a perfume workshop, as well as animated reading for children and a Venetian mask workshop.

The Christmas lights in the city of Venice, in addition to their own beauty, have a spectacular effect as they are reflected in the canals. Strolling through the squares and streets and gazing at the historic buildings is a tourist attraction in its own right.

Although the most fabulously illuminated spot is St Mark's Square, the rest of the city is not far behind. You can't miss, among other things, the image of the illuminated Rialto Bridge on the Grand Canal

To see the illumination from a different point of view, I recommend taking one of the small cruises along the Grand Canal. From the boat you can see how the Christmas decorations adorn Venice's best bridges, churches and palaces.

One of the best things to do in Venice in December is to stroll through the Christmas markets that are set up in various parts of the city. As well as admiring the beauty of the decorations, you will be able to buy a large number of typical products, both decorative and food. Some of them include attractions so that children have an even better time.

The Venetian markets are full of Christmas spirit and human warmth, with an interesting mix of locals and Italian and international tourists. The best known is Campo Santo Stefano, although the markets in Campo San Bortolo, Campo dei Santi Apostoli and Mestre are not far behind in interest.

Those looking for a gift or a treat will be spoilt for choice, with everything from panettone to wine, Christmas decorations to Murano glassware and Burano fabrics. Or why not? Learn how to blow glass and take home your own souvenir piece.

After visiting Venice' s most famous monuments, you can try a fun and warm-up activity: ice skating. From the first days of December onwards, the second largest square in the city, Campo San Polo, has a large skating rink for children and adults to enjoy a good time.

Although the rink does not close very late (on the 25th at 20:00 and the rest around 19:00), spending a good time on it can be a great start to enjoy the Venetian night.

In addition to the skating itself, those who are up for it will be able to admire the beauty of the buildings that make up the historic square. Stalls selling food and drink are also set up in the area. So, when you leave the rink, you can try some good sweets accompanied by a vin brulè, a good mulled wine.

You might be strolling around Venice in mid-December and start to see a lot of people dressed up as Father Christmas (or Babbo Natale in Italian). Don't think there's anything strange going on: it's just the race that takes place every year in the city and you can take part if you want to.

This race has only been going on for a few years, but it has already become a must-attend event during the Venetian Christmas season. Its success has led to the participation of about 1000 people, both professionals and amateurs (including children and sometimes even dogs in costume). The idea is simply to have fun running through the centre of the city in this way.

Even if you don't dare to take part, the atmosphere in the street is fun enough to make it worth joining the party. The finish line is usually located in St Mark's Square, next to the basilica, and the image of hundreds of Father Christmas arriving there is a photo to show off to all your friends.

Another spectacle not to be missed during Christmas in Venice is the famous Befana Regatta. This takes place on 6 January, although you'll really notice when you start to see a large number of adults and children dressed up as an old woman. The Befana is an Italian tradition related to Epiphany. It is a witch who, flying on a broom, leaves presents for children who have behaved well and coal for those who have behaved "less well".

Venice, of course, has adapted this tradition to its own particular urbanism and every year a regatta is held in which all the participants dress up as Befana. The regatta, which is truly spectacular, takes place on the Grand Canal. Of course, there is no shortage of food and drink stalls, music and a festive atmosphere.

On the same day you can attend an exclusive event that only takes place twice a year. Around midday, the bell mechanism of the Torre dell'Orologio in St. Mark's Square is activated and the side panel opens. Through this panel appears a carousel of wooden statues depicting a Christmas pageant, with the Three Wise Men parading in front of the Virgin Mary.

The truth is that the Christmas weather in Venice is not one of the most attractive for travellers. For starters, temperatures are low, with the wind and humidity increasing the chill.

During this time of year, don't expect highs to rise above about 8 degrees Celsius, while lows are likely to be around 0 degrees Celsius. Of course, these are the most common averages, but I recommend that you always check the weather forecast shortly before travelling.

The Acqua Alta

On the other hand, in December, and therefore at Christmas, there can be an episode of acqua alta, i.e. a rising tide that floods part of the city. Most of the time, these floods do not exceed a few centimetres and the city is more than prepared for them.

Only on the occasions when the acqua alta is particularly damaging, with flooding that does affect the daily life of the city, do visitors have to stop their tours until everything returns to normal, in just 2 or 3 hours.

There is a website that warns of the possibility of this event and the degree of severity. Unfortunately, it is only reliable for 72 hours, so after that you will have to rely on your luck. When flooding is likely to be high, the city is warned by sirens that sound in the morning.

Pack your warm clothes if you are visiting Venice at Christmas. A thick jacket (waterproof if possible), several jumpers, a hat, gloves and a scarf are a must. If you're feeling chilly, you should also pack a thermal T-shirt.

Footwear should be comfortable, waterproof and warm. It's a good idea to bring a pair of wellies just in case.

Despite the weather, Venice is still a very attractive destination for Christmas. The advantages go beyond the price reduction on flights and hotels and will be felt during your stay.

For starters, the atmosphere you will find at Christmas is much less touristy. It's the Venetians who will fill the streets and enjoy all the events, something that is almost impossible to find in Venice in summer.

This smaller number of tourists brings with it another important advantage: avoiding the long queues to get into the main tourist attractions. So you'll be able to stroll around St Mark's, visit St Mark's Basilica or the Doge's Palace without the crowds.