Venice · Month comparison
May vs September
September ranks #1 overall vs May at #3. The best month — Film Festival ends, crowds thin, the golden light of autumn Venice begins
May
#3 of 12 months
Best match
Venice Biennale (odd years) — the art world descends on the city's gardens and arsenale
- ↑Venice Biennale (odd-numbered years, May opening): the world's most important art exhibition in the Giardini and Arsenale
- ↑Warm 18–23°C and still manageable before peak summer
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
| Factor | May | September |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 8 | 8 |
| Value score | 5 | 5 |
| Crowd score | 7 | 6 |
| Events score | 5 | 6 |
| Atmosphere | 7 | 8 |
| Avg high temp | 22°C | 24°C |
| Monthly rain | 68mm | 70mm |
| Daily sunshine | 9.3hrs | 8.5hrs |
May trade-offs
- ↓Biennale opening drives significant crowds; not the best month for avoiding tourists
- ↓Prices rising ahead of summer; popular hotels need booking well in advance
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 →