Venice, with its dreamlike ambiance, romantic allure, and breathtaking scenery, is truly awe-inspiring. Nestled amidst the waters of the Adriatic Sea, this enchanting cluster of islands boasts a lack of roads yet an abundance of exploration opportunities. From its charming canals to its intricate architecture, from its art-laden museums to its delectable cuisine, Venice beckons visitors to immerse themselves in its wonders. May, with its perfect weather and fewer crowds, offers ample opportunities for diverse activities, allowing visitors to fully appreciate the timeless beauty that Venice exudes.
What makes Venice in May Special?
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- Best of both worlds: Enjoying the best of both seasons, Venice bids farewell to winter while summer lingers just a month away. Enhanced by the spring air, radiant sunshine, and vibrant blooms, the city's enchantment reaches new heights.
- Just before the tourist influx: With May heralding a respite from the peak tourist season, visitors can savor a more tranquil exploration of Venice and its environs, free from the summer crowds.
- Walking around the city: Exploring Venice on foot unveils its myriad wonders, from charming canals to captivating Venetian architecture. May's idyllic weather sets the stage for an immersive experience, offering the perfect blend of comfort and adventure.
- Water activities: As temperatures rise, both locals and tourists alike eagerly embrace water activities to cool off and add excitement to their visit. Whether indulging in thrilling water sports or simply enjoying a leisurely ride on gondolas, jetties, or ferries, there's no shortage of aquatic adventures to discover in the city.
Weather in Venice in May
In May, Venice typically boasts sunny skies and pleasant temperatures, with highs averaging around 21°C and lows hovering around 12°C. Daylight extends gradually each day by approximately 2.1 minutes, providing around 15 hours of sunshine on average. Rainfall averages about 69 mm during this period.
Venice in May: Top Experiences
1
Doge’s Palace
The opulent Doge’s palace was once the residence of the Doge of Venice and now boasts one of the must-visit museums of Venice. Everything from its grand Venetian Gothic architecture to its intricate frescoed walls, from its grand staircases to the ornate-gilded ceilings, is equal parts intriguing and beautiful.
May Timings
Everyday 9.00 am – 6:00 pm
Piazza San Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia VE,
Italy
Getting There ›
2
St. Mark’s Basilica
With its origin dating back to the 9th century A.D. Saint Mark's Basilica amalgamates religion, history, art, beauty and luxury into an extravagant Italo-Byzantine architecture. Perfect for a visit in May as the bright sun manifolds the beauty of one of the most iconic and loved sights of Venice.
May Timings
Monday - Saturday - 9.30 am – 5.00 pm
Sunday and holidays - 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Merceria Orologio, 30124 Venezia VE,
Italy
Getting There ›
3
The Venetian Islands of Murano, Burano, Torcello
Just a boat ride away from Venice, lies these three intriguing islands of the Venetian Lagoon. Each one famous for some unique quirk - Murano for its glassmaking, Burano for intricate lace making and Torcello for its invaluable archaeological heritage. Additionally, May’s pleasant weather allows you to explore the Islands comfortably.
May Timings
Depends upon your itinerary or the tour chosen
30141 Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice,
Italy
Getting There ›
4
Teatro La Fenice
Teatro La Fenice boasts the honor of hosting many major compositions of Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi, which is why it is considered as the most famous and renowned landmarks in the history of Italian theatre and opera. You can avail a guided tour or watch any of their May offerings.
May Timings
Daily, 9:30 am – 6:00 pm
Check up-to-date timings here.
Piazza San Marco, 1965
30124 Venezia VE
Italy
Getting There ›
5
A Gondola Ride
Before the weather becomes scorchingly hot and before the hordes of tourists hinder your fun quotient, May poses as the perfect time to maneuver through the City of Canals in a gondola. A quintessential activity when touring Venice, you can choose a gondola tour of your liking amidst various options.
30100 Venice, Metropolitan City of Venice,
Italy
Getting There ›
6
Jewish Museum
Founded in 1953 by the Jewish Community of Venice, this small but extensive museum preserves Jewish artifacts from books, gold articles to textiles, dating back to the 16th and the 19th centuries. Situated between the two most ancient Venetian synagogues, you can couple a synagogue tour along with the museum tour.
May Timings
Museum - 10.00 am – 5.30 pm, daily
Synagogue - 10.30 am – 04.30 pm, daily
The last tour on Friday could be cancelled for ritualistic reasons.
Campo di Ghetto Nuovo, 2902/b, 30121 Venezia,
Italy
Getting There ›
7
Venice Walking Tour
There’s something intimate about getting to know a city on foot and especially a city like Venice that offers plethora of nuances to be observed and cherished. Add in May’s pleasant weather, a few like-minded tourists or locals and a professional guide for a perfect Walking Tour of the Venice city.
May Timings
Depending upon tour selected
Venezia,
Metropolitan City of Venice,
Italy
Getting There ›
8
Magical Art of Glassblowing
Glassblowing has been part of Murano’s culture from as early as 1291, and of course, they have mastered the art to perfection. Explore the traditional process, history and trivia of the magical art of glassblowing, see the masters of trade in action and best of all take a special glass souvenir home.
May Timings
Daily, One batch at 12.00 p.m. and another one on 5:00 p.m.
St Mark's Square, Clock Tower Near Exchange Office, Venezia,
Italy
Getting There ›
Venice in May: Events to Look Out For
Venice Biennale
20 April to 24 November, 2024
Curated by the art director of São Paulo Museum of Art in Brazil, the 60th International Art Exhibition will be open to public at the Giardini and the Arsenale venues. This year's theme is 'Foreigner's Everywhere' and focuses on promoting artists from diverse backgrounds.
Labor Day and Festa Della Sparesca
1 May, 2024
While not much is made about the Primo Maggio, i.e the labour day in Venice, the city lights up with the festivities of the Festa Della Sparesca. It is a gondolier regatta to celebrate the new season’s asparagus, held at Cavallino, in the lagoon where this crop is grown.
Mare Maggio
Mid May
A 3-day festival that celebrates Venice’s love for maritime culture. A plethora of events are hosted across the city, spanning from exhibitions showcasing old ships and relics of ships to water-sports workshops and racing events, from modern time marine clothing and accessories to traditional maritime food and drinks.
Festa Medioevale del vino Bianco di Soave
Mid May
Just an hour and a half away for Venice, Soave celebrates the Medieval Feast of the White Wine of Soave with full fan-fare. From historical theme parades to exhibition on ancient crafts, from musical and theatrical performances to sporting events, there is a lot to see, experience and enjoy.
Venice in May: 3-day Itinerary
3 Days In Venice
1
Venice in May: Essentials
LanguageItalian
Time zoneGMT+2
Country Code+39
Socket Type C, F and L
CurrencyEuro (€)
Venice Weather in May
In May, the arrival of summer is palpable as temperatures start to climb. It's usually a warm and sunny month, boasting around 15 hours of daily sunshine. Daytime highs hover around 21°C, while nighttime lows dip to about 12°C. Expect approximately 69 mm of rainfall spread over 13 days throughout the month.
Venice Accommodation In May
Venice, for all it uniqueness, invites hoards of tourists and thus offer a plethora of accommodation options ranging from luxury hotels to hostels, that are spread evenly across the city, making it easy to find a space that fits your budget and your itinerary. Mentioned below are a few options for staying in Venice –
- Luxury Hotels - Hotel L'Orologio, Luna Hotel Baglioni, Palazzo Sant'Angelo, The Gritti Palace
- Mid-Range Hotels - LaGare Hotel, Hotel Le Isole, Campiello Zen, Rosa Salva Hotel
- Budget Hotels - Residenza de L'Osmarin, We Crociferi, Generator Venice, Hotel Casa Linger
Venice Packing List for May
When traveling to Venice in May, it's essential to pack a selection of lightweight cotton clothing, including pants, shorts, skirts, dresses, and tops. Don't forget to bring sunny day essentials like sunglasses, sunscreen, and either a hat or a light scarf. Be sure to carry an umbrella for potential rain showers and a light cardigan for cooler evenings. Perhaps most importantly, invest in a comfortable pair of shoes and sandals to ensure you can enjoy long walks exploring Venice's museums, markets, and charming streets.
Getting Around Venice in May
As a pedestrian-centric city, Venice prohibits cars and motorized vehicles on the island, necessitating travel by foot or watercraft. Despite this, the city maintains connectivity with the mainland and major airports through bus services operated by ACTV and ATVO.
Venice boasts an array of water-based transportation options, making watercraft the primary mode of travel. Choices include ACTV's Vaporettos ferry service, water taxis, gondolas, jetties, motorboats, and battelli foranei. To economize on transportation expenses, visitors can purchase passes providing discounted access to all modes of transportation offered within the city.
Venice in May: Seasonal Delicacies
An extremely simple yet superbly delicious recipe, Venetian shrimps are boiled and dressed with olive oil and lemon juice. The key to this dish is to have the fresh shrimps and as the shrimp season peaks in late spring/ early summer, May is one of the best times to try Scampi alla veneziana.
Where to eat: Bistrot de Venise, Gino's
An extremely simple yet superbly delicious recipe, Venetian shrimps are boiled and dressed with olive oil and lemon juice. The key to this dish is to have the fresh shrimps and as the shrimp season peaks in late spring/ early summer, May is one of the best times to try Scampi alla veneziana.
Where to eat: Ostaria dai Zemei, Trattoria al Gatto Nero
One of the most important traditional foods in Venice, dating back to 1431 when the shipwrecked sailors discovered the lure of dried stockfish. Dried and salted Baltic codfish is soaked, poached and blended into a smooth mousse seasoned with olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper and parsley, typically served with white polenta.
Where to eat: Trattoria Baccalà Divino, Vittoria Restaurant Pizzeria
An antipasto dish featuring sharpness from sardines, onions and balsamic vinegar, and sweetened with pine nuts and raisins. Originally conceived in the middle ages as a preservation technique, its unique sweet, sour and tangy flavours have established Sarde in saor as a modern-day venetian appetizer, a favourite of both tourists and locals.
Where to eat: Ristorante Rosa Rossa, Cantina Do Spade
An ancient regional specialty of Venice that is so famous that most Venetian restaurants and homes readily offer this dish to their guests. A mix between soup and thick risotto Risi e bisi is made from fresh peas and rice. Never eaten alone, seafood, sausages or beans are often added to the dish.
Where to eat: Trattoria Alla Rampa, Osteria da Alberto
Tips for Visiting Venice in May
- Don’t miss seafood: Made up of 118 smaller islands, Venice has an extensive range of seafood and an equivalent amount of traditional seafood recipes. With May being the high season for a bunch of them, don’t miss a chance of experiencing some fresh catch, i.e. if you eat seafood.
- Pre-book in advance: May marks the onset of tourist season in Venice, so ensure that you plan ahead and pre-book hotels and flights, as the prices starts to shoot-up fast as the month progresses.
- Clothing restrictions: The only restriction Venice has in terms of clothing is at the religious places. They do not entertain bare knees or shoulders and can stop you from entering the main prayer area.
- Exploring Venice: Being a city whose every nook and corner could be converted into a beautiful painting or picture, Venice invites you to explore as much as you can. Given May’s weather condition and comparatively lesser tourists, you can comfortably breath in the beauty of Venice.
- Plan your itinerary: Venice and the surrounding areas offers ample number of activities to keep you entertained, so much so that it can become daunting. Thus we suggest planning your itinerary, so you can make the most of your trip to this magical city.
Month-By-Month Guide To Visiting Venice
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