Venice · Month comparison

August vs September

September ranks #1 overall vs August at #6. The best month — Film Festival ends, crowds thin, the golden light of autumn Venice begins

Venice in August with gondolas and summer light on the lagoon

August

#6 of 12 months

Best match

Venice Film Festival and summer heat — the red carpet glamour arrives but tourist saturation continues

  • Venice International Film Festival (late August-early September) at the Lido — paparazzi, stars and screenings
  • August afternoons in the lagoon islands (Torcello, Sant'Erasmo) dramatically less crowded than the main city
Venice Grand Canal in golden September autumn light

September

#1 of 12 months

Best match

The best month — Film Festival ends, crowds thin, the golden light of autumn Venice begins

  • Warm 19–24°C with summer humidity gone; the canals smell better and the light is extraordinary
  • Hotels 40% cheaper than August; the sestieri accessible without the tourist crush
FactorAugustSeptember
Weather score
7
8
Value score
3
5
Crowd score
9
6
Events score
7
6
Atmosphere
6
8
Avg high temp28°C24°C
Monthly rain67mm70mm
Daily sunshine10hrs8.5hrs

August trade-offs

  • Still extremely hot and crowded; Ferragosto (August 15) actually slightly quieter as tourists thin and locals leave
  • Film Festival drives accommodation to premium levels on the Lido

September trade-offs

  • First autumn rain possible from mid-September; acqua alta beginning to return
  • Biennale crowds if it's a Biennale year; otherwise September is the best month to visit
Scores compare months within Venice. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →