Venice vacation part deux: Is going in August a terrible idea?

January 30, 2013 6:16 AM

For a variety of reasons, the second half of August is turning into a better time for us to take a vacation than October, as we had originally planned. We are hoping to go to Venice. We're OK with heat and humidity. Is there some other dealbreaker I'm not aware of?

August appears to be low season for Venice, at least as far as airfare and hotels go. I assume there must be a reason. Is it just the weather, or something else?

Hubs and I live in a very hot, humid climate--Venice averages about 10 degrees *cooler* than our hometown in August--and we aren't too worried about coping with that part of it.

But I know August is the traditional European vacation month. Will many things be closed? Mostly we just want to walk/float around and look at art and churches and eat gelato, and maybe spend a day at the beach or see the Dolomites.

Also, "low season" seems to imply fewer tourists. Is that correct?

posted by elizeh to travel & transportation around Venice, Italy (10 answers total)

I would not expect fewer tourists - based on my experience in Florence, Italy is packed with tourists in late august all the way into October. Venice is still pretty awesome. Get away from the Rialto and San Marco, and the crowds thin out considerably.
posted by florencetnoa at 6:35 AM on January 30 [1 favorite]

I've been to Venice twice - in October, and early February. October was still very touristy and very busy - I wouldn't assume August to be any less. Early February felt very deserted (and awesome). A lot of things were closed, but it had a much more mystical and otherworldly feel than October - which was kitschy and kind of circus-y. Weather will always vary - I remember it being quite warm during my October visit. fwiw Feb was about 35-45 Fahrenheit when I went - cool, but not freezing or snowy.
posted by raztaj at 6:42 AM on January 30

But I know August is the traditional European vacation month. Will many things be closed?

Everything will be open. And packed. But hell, as long as you can roll with that, it shouldn't be a stopper for you. Think of every line as an opportunity to really take a look at the art and architecture that's right there that normally you'd be jamming right by on your way to the next Important Place.
posted by Etrigan at 6:52 AM on January 30

My aunt lives in Venice, so this is all second hand information, but the city is beautiful and it will be packed pretty much no matter when you go. The heat and humidity in August, though, tend to make the city damn stinky.
posted by lydhre at 7:01 AM on January 30 [1 favorite]

The Feast of the Assumption is in the middle of August, and pretty much everything is closed then. It's hard to find a restaurant, though the bars that cater to tourists stay open. It would be an excellent day to go to the beach.
posted by Francolin at 7:15 AM on January 30 [1 favorite]

If you can snag a hotel at a decent rate in August then I'd say go for it. For the reasons you have anticipated (school holidays, height of summer, particular compulsion to take a holiday in July or August for many European countries) it will be packed. But the only time Venice is not packed (perhaps about now) it can also be cold.

One trick for dealing with the crowds and the heat is to get up very early in the morning and do some of your sightseeing then. If I were going back in August I would try to see if I could get on a sea kayak tour of the city.
posted by rongorongo at 8:41 AM on January 30

If you can spare the time, take a ride out to see the Cathedral of the Assumption on Torcello. Gorgeous and uncrowded, and the English tour is excellent. Bring a picnic lunch!

Maybe also look at other not-A-list-touristy places around the region: Trieste, Padua, Lake Garda, and the Dolomites are all great places to sneak away overnight.

Finally, go to GROM (they're all over Italy, but are fabulous) for your daily gelato fix.
posted by mdonley at 10:11 AM on January 30 [1 favorite]

How long is the trip? Assuming you're traveling from the US, and that you're doing the standard week or ten day trip, I would spend only a couple or three days in Venice and then find somewhere in the surrounding area to hole up.

Ideally you want either a beach type area -- when in Italy, do what all the Italians are doing, right? -- or somewhere in the hills that will likely be a few degrees cooler (the Italian alps would be perfect). But there are plenty of smaller cities in that part of Italy that would also be more enjoyable bases of operations than Venice. I really enjoyed Verona and Trieste, Ravenna is supposed to be beautiful, and there are plenty of other options depending on what you like to do and how far off the tourist track you want to get.
posted by Sara C. at 10:28 AM on January 30

I have been to Venice in mid/late August and it is packed with tourists. We found Venice to be a bit of a let down after Rome I think because it feel and looks like a tourist trap/movie set. But we really enjoyed the islands around venice. One of our nicest days was spent on the island of Lido at a rented beach cabana. Perfect weather, beautiful sites. I hope that you enjoy your time there. We found that 3 or 4 days was just the right length of time for us to visit.
posted by saradarlin at 11:54 AM on January 30

Od course, Venice will be packed with tourists at all times, but August is particularly busy. If it is the only time you can make it, then you should see Venice before you die. If there is an option of another time, then I'd certainly opt for that.

August is vacation month, and even though tourist sites are going full steam, you'll often find that in places like Florence that the locals not involved in tourism have escaped for the coast (or, to a lesser degree) the mountains, not even leaving newspaper kiosks open on the fringe of tourist central.

This frequently means that getting food in restaurants that aren't wholey geared to this demographic is difficult.

Do keep in mind Ferragosto on August 15. Frequently there will be some great parades and celebrations, although at the expense of things being open. Worthwhile considering if you are on a tight schedule.

And whenever you decide to go too, check for when the tides are most likely to swamp St MArks Square!
posted by Flashduck at 6:27 PM on February 12