Things to Do in Venice in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Venice
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Dramatically fewer tourists than summer months - you'll actually have space to photograph the Rialto Bridge without elbows in your frame, and St. Mark's Basilica queues drop from 90 minutes to about 20-30 minutes
- Accommodation prices fall by 30-40% compared to peak season, and you can negotiate walk-in rates at smaller hotels near Cannaregio or Castello that would ignore you completely in July
- Acqua alta high tide flooding creates surreal photo opportunities when St. Mark's Square becomes a reflecting pool - typically happens 2-4 times in November, and locals set up elevated walkways so you can still get around
- Venetians return to their city after tourist season - neighborhood bacari wine bars fill with actual locals, markets like Rialto operate at full capacity with seasonal ingredients like radicchio and pumpkin, and you'll hear more Italian than English in most sestieri
Considerations
- Acqua alta flooding can disrupt plans unpredictably - when tides exceed 110 cm (43 inches), which happens maybe 3-5 days in November, ground-floor shops close, vaporetto routes change, and you'll need rubber boots to move around St. Mark's area
- Days are short with sunset around 4:45pm by late November, so you lose 3-4 hours of sightseeing time compared to summer and need to pack more into morning and early afternoon
- The damp cold at 6-13°C (42-55°F) with 70% humidity feels colder than the thermometer suggests - it's the kind of chill that seeps through cotton layers and makes you understand why Venetians drink so much coffee and grappa
Best Activities in November
St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace morning visits
November transforms these normally mobbed attractions into manageable experiences. Arrive right at 9:30am opening and you'll have 45-60 minutes before tour groups arrive. The low-angle autumn light through St. Mark's mosaics is actually better than summer's harsh overhead sun. Doge's Palace Secret Itineraries tours run with smaller groups in November and guides have more time for questions. The courtyards and outdoor areas are perfectly comfortable at 10-12°C (50-54°F) midday temperatures.
Venetian bacari wine bar crawls in Cannaregio and Dorsoduro
November is when locals reclaim their neighborhood wine bars after tourist season. Between 6pm-8pm, bacari fill with Venetians doing the giro de ombra - the traditional wine and cicchetti small plates circuit. The cool weather makes hopping between warm, crowded bars actually pleasant instead of sweaty. Seasonal cicchetti feature game meats, radicchio from Treviso, and pumpkin preparations you won't find in summer. You'll hear Venetian dialect and see how locals actually socialize.
Outer island day trips to Burano, Torcello, and Murano
November weather is actually ideal for island hopping - cool enough that walking around doesn't make you sweat, and the softer light makes Burano's painted houses photograph beautifully without harsh shadows. Vaporetto rides across the lagoon are atmospheric in the mist. Crowds thin dramatically so you can watch Murano glassblowers without being crushed, and Torcello's Byzantine mosaics in the basilica feel properly contemplative with maybe 10 other visitors instead of 100. The 12-line vaporetto runs every 30 minutes even in November.
Gondola rides during late afternoon golden hour
November gondola rides avoid the summer circus atmosphere when canals feel like traffic jams. Late afternoon around 3-4pm gives you golden light without the heat, and the cool air means you'll actually want the blankets gondoliers provide. Mist rising off canals adds atmosphere. Prices drop slightly in low season and gondoliers are more willing to negotiate for longer routes through quieter residential canals in Cannaregio or Dorsoduro instead of just the Grand Canal loop.
Rialto Market early morning food experiences
November brings peak season produce to Rialto Market - radicchio varieties, winter squash, wild mushrooms, and game that you won't see in summer. The fish market operates Tuesday-Saturday with morning catches from the lagoon. Arriving around 8-9am puts you among restaurant chefs doing their shopping, and the cool weather means seafood stays fresh on ice displays longer. Market tours that include cooking classes work well in November because you're not overheated from walking around in humidity.
Venetian art galleries and Biennale venues off-season
November is perfect for Venice's art scene - Gallerie dell'Accademia, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and Palazzo Grassi have minimal crowds so you can actually contemplate the art instead of fighting for viewing space. The Biennale Architecture exhibition runs through late November in even years including 2026, with venues across Arsenale and Giardini much less mobbed than summer. Indoor time is welcome when afternoon rain rolls in, and the 12-13°C (54-55°F) temperatures make walking between galleries comfortable.
November Events & Festivals
Festa della Madonna della Salute
November 21st is one of Venice's most authentic local festivals, when Venetians make a pilgrimage across a temporary pontoon bridge built over the Grand Canal to the Salute church. The festival commemorates the end of a 1630 plague outbreak. You'll see locals lighting candles, and food stalls sell castradina, a traditional mutton and cabbage stew eaten only on this day. This is genuinely for Venetians, not tourists, which makes it fascinating to witness.
Venice Marathon
Typically held the last Sunday of October or first Sunday of November, this marathon route runs from Stra on the mainland through Venice itself, crossing multiple bridges and finishing near the Giardini. Even if you're not running, watching thousands of people navigate Venice's narrow streets and bridges is entertaining, and the city has a festive atmosphere all weekend. Expect some vaporetto route disruptions race morning.