Have you noticed that almost none of the photos on our website have people in them? There really are times of the day or year where you can enjoy Venice without the crowds!

Venice can get packed, especially in the key tourist spots (Piazza San Marco, Rialto Bridge etc). However, it is good to know that the number of visitors rises sharply during the day due to cruises ships, bus tours, and boats arriving for day trips from the mainland. You can avoid the crowds by being smart about where you go and when you go. 

In the morning and late evening Saint Mark’s is almost completely empty. Until 9am there is almost no one on the bridge overlooking the Bridge of Sighs – a complete contrast to midday when it is so busy you cannot move. At 9am the boats from the mainland dock on the waterfront near San Marco and the streets and bridges are suddenly packed with huge tour groups following their guide in a massive pack. If you want to see local Venetians going about their business get up early and walk round for an hour from 8am. You probably won’t see any tourists at all and you can get a real flavour of what it is like to live in this city. 

Stroll round Saint Mark’s square in the evening and you will be amazed at how peaceful it is. Another trick to avoid the crowds is simply to move away from the main tourist sights. If you walk in the backstreets of Arsenale, Giudecca, or explore the residential areas around Celestia waterbus stop you will get a taste of true Venetian life.