10 Best Things to in Venice at Night

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Exploring Venice at night and looking for the best things to do and see? Discover it all below!

Venice is one of the world’s most magical cities and easily one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It is super unique due to its small size, a plethora of canals, and small streets to explore. By day Venice is a vibrant city full of people mulling about going to markets, cafes, museums and more. By night Venice is romantic and hauntingly beautiful.

Discover the 10 best things to do in Venice at night for the perfect way to end the day.

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10 Best Things to do in Venice at Night

Sail in a gondola along Venice at night’s moon-lit canals

Gondola near Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy

Venice is known for its picturesque waterways and the exquisite, Venice-only watercraft, the Gondolas. But it is at night that you grasp the sheer potency of the city’s allure. Sail in a gondola on the picture-perfect canals that are beautifully illuminated by the moonlight. Go alone or with your loved ones and completely surrender to the Venetian charms.

Under the cover of darkness, Venice at night glows with its twinkling lights, with its palaces reminding you of the great balls of Venice’s glorious past. Going on a gondola ride after hours promises a night of adventure and magic.


Enjoy a Late Night Walking Tour

Venice canals at night
Venice canals at night

A late night walking tour in Venice is something you don’t want to miss. The city offers various late night walking tours ranging from ghost tours to mystery tours and more! This is one of the best things to do in Venice at night to show you a whole different side of the city and surely get your adrenaline pumping!


Try your luck at the Venice Casino Ca’ Vendramin Calergi

Head to the Venice Casino in the 1481-built Ca Vendramin Calergi, with its stunning Renaissance rooms, a royal garden, and a unique feel of somewhat carnivalesque joie de vivre.  Here you can enjoy the charms of Venice while playing french roulette, chemin de fer, or punto banco, in company with other lovers of Venice.

Keep in mind that the palace was once home to the famous Richard Wagner, who died here. Its mezzanine floor is now a museum dedicated to the famous German composer, and the locale features a number of Wagner-devoted events such as Richard Wagner Honorary Concerts, and of the world’s best music festivals, Wagner Days.


Go to the Opera Performance at Teatro La Fenice

Teatro La Fenice
Teatro La Fenice

One of the best things to do in Venice at night is to go to Teatre La Fenice, the world-renowned opera house. Here you can immerse yourself into the one-of-a-kind atmosphere of the Italian theatre and contemplate not only the performance on the scene but also the enigmatic choreography of the spectators themselves.

As Joseph Brodsky wrote, “Venice is a city where you must match the beauty of your surroundings”, so don your best attire and head to see and be seen in one of the best sites to visit in Venice at night.


Walk Around Iconic Venice Attractions

Grande Canal at night

Head to the majestic Rialto, flooded with light and set out on a quest for Venice at night’s beauty. Even though Rialto is truly the best place to visit in Venice at night, you really should see more than this. Have a look at this historical commercial and financial district with its stunning Rialto Bridge over the vast Grand Canal and start hunting for Venice at night’s hidden gems.

Escape the night-lusting tourists by the bridge and dive into the narrow alleys separating it from the Basilica di Marco and Palazzo Ducale. Then head to Riva Degli Schiavoni, where you can go on a gondola tour, and then proceed along the waterfront towards Giardini Della Biennale. 

This is the best way you will see the vast Venice at night’s waterscape and feel the magnetic infiniteness of the night, twinkling with lights from Venice at night’s best landmarks across the lagoon.


Pay a night-time visit to Libreria Acqua Alta

One of Venice at night’s best locales, Libreria Acqua Alta is a veritable treasure for all the bookworms. The bookstore features not only unique vintage books but also cats & some truly nonpareil displays, making it one of the best places to go in Venice at night.

Keep in mind that the bookshop closes shortly after sunset, at 7.30 so it is best to start your nightly promenade from here.


Go to Venice Jazz Club

One of the best things to do in Venice at night is to go to its famous jazz club, where music flows, gregarious travellers and cheery locals mix up in a tribute to the magic of jazz.

The cozy, somewhat dimly lit establishment features jazz performances by Venetian Jazz Club quarter and guest acts, and a great bar leading one to reminisce about the beauty already seen, dream of more to come or plainly appreciate the moment.


Head for a Musical Performance at Musica a Palazzo

Venice at night

Housed inside Palazzo Barbarigo Minotto, on the Grand Canal, the Musica a Palazzo is one of the best places to go to in Venice at night to delight in its opera by Verdi and Rossini. Soak in the beautiful baroque setting in a splendid Renaissance palace for a night to remember.


Explore St. Mark’s Square

One of the world’s most spacious squares, St. Mark’s Square is one of the best places to visit in Venice at night. Here, you can not only gaze at the magnificent Palazzo Ducale, the Duke’s Palace, but also visit St. Mark’s basilica.

You can book an evening tour of St. Mark’s Basilica with a visit to Doge’s Palace priced in. Keep in mind that at night the crowds are significantly thinner and it is much more pleasant to marvel at the best landmarks in Venice at night.


Splash out at Caffe Florian

Cafe Florian

Venice’s oldest café, Caffe Florian is one of the chicest locales you can go to in Venice at night.  Known for its ornate design highlighting the Venetian penchant for all things opulent, it is one of the best spots to contemplate Venice’s café society while sipping on your espresso. Keep in mind that going to Café Florian regularly can be a real drain on your budget.  

Where To Stay in Venice

Booking.com

Travel to Venice to indulge in its twilights, soirees, and nights, when crowds are sparser, and the silhouettes of Europe’s most prized architectural jewels are outlined with superb lighting. Pack up and don’t forget that the true charm of Venice can be appreciated at night only when each new turn promises something unknown.

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SSW