Venice · Month comparison
September vs May
September ranks #1 overall vs May at #2. The best month — Film Festival ends, crowds thin, the golden light of autumn Venice begins
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
May
#2 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
| Factor | September | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 8 | 8 |
| Value score | 5 | 4 |
| Crowd score | 7 | 8 |
| Events score | 7 | 6 |
| Atmosphere | 9 | 7 |
| Avg high temp | 24°C | 22°C |
| Monthly rain | 70mm | 68mm |
| Daily sunshine | 8.5hrs | 9.3hrs |
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
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
Scores compare months within Venice. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →