Carnival in Venice is planned to be held from Friday February 14th to Tuesday March 4th in 2025. The weekends of February 22–23 and March 1–2 are the best days to travel to the Venice Carnival in 2025. Many interesting events will take place these days.
This is one of the most popular events of the year in Venice. Are you planning to visit the carnival? We decided to clarify what you should pay attention to when preparing for a trip to Venice.
🎭 Although the program of the carnival has not yet been published, the dates of the main events are already known, and you can already plan your trip to the Venice Carnival.
☝ Keep in mind! This is a very popular event. Hotels and tickets start to book long before the carnival. Late arrivals get the worst places.
Although it may seem like there is still a long time before the carnival starts, you need to start planning your trip to the carnival now.
Here's what you need to do:
- Decide which days you would like to be at the ditch (which weekends).
- Buy air tickets for the selected dates.
- Start choosing a hotel and book as soon as you make your choice.
- Order a costume or carnival mask from the studio.
- Book your ticket for the costume dinner as soon as reservations open.
Dates of trip
Carnival will last more than three weeks. Few of us can afford to stay in Venice during this entire period. The most interesting events will be held mainly on weekends, on Saturday and Sunday. You can choose any one carnival weekend if you can't stay in Venice for three weeks. Let's see what are the best days to travel to the Venice Carnival 2024.
The most interesting events are held on weekends. You should choose which days you would like to be in Venice.
The first weekend of the carnival will be Saturday January 27 and Sunday January 28, 2024.
On Saturday, the Grand Opening of the Carnival is usually held.
The water parade is traditionally the main event on the first Sunday.
It will be held in the Canaregio area (near the train station).
The "La Festa Veneziana" festival has been held on the first carnival weekend before. Perhaps the event will return to us next year.
The second weekend of the carnival will be Saturday February 3 and Sunday February 4, 2024.
The main events of the carnival usually begin on the second carnival weekend: the competition for the best carnival mask, the Festival of Mary (Festa delle Marie).
The "Flight of the Angel" traditionally took place in St. Mark's Square on the second Sunday of the carnival, but we do not yet know whether this event will be held in 2024.
Also, many events will take place in different parts of the city.
The third weekend of the carnival will be Saturday February 10 and Sunday February 11, 2024.
The third weekend is usually full of interesting events. These can be, for example: Wagon parade in Marghera, Mestre Carnival Street Show, "Flight of the donkey", competition for the best carnival mask, Festa delle Marie.
Also, many events will take place in different parts of the city: San Marco square, Mestre, Lido, Arsenal.
Tuesday February 13, 2024 will be the last day of the Venice Carnival. The traditional event on the last day is the Crowning of Mary. The Flight of the Lion (Svolo del Leon) is the symbolic closing of the carnival.
Wednesday February 14th is Valentine's Day. Perhaps the Venetians will organize something interesting for us on this day too?
Also during the days of the carnival there are several costumed balls (dinners). You need to buy a ticket in advance if you want to attend such an event.
Recommendation: do not remain only a spectator, become a participant in the carnival. To do this, it is enough to buy (make it yourself) a carnival mask, or rent a real carnival costume.
Book a hotel
If you are determined on which days you would like to visit Venice, then it's time to book your hotel. Where it is better to stay in Venice? The most convenient for tourists’ hotels are located next to St. Marko Square and on the banks of the Grand Canal. It is also convenient to choose a hotel near the train station. The central part of Venice is quite small, and it is not difficult to reach most places in the city from most hotels. Part of the city west of the Grand Canal is connected to the eastern part by only a few bridges. If you decide to stay in this part of the city, then better to choose a hotel that is located near the bridge. St. Mark's Square is located in the eastern part of the city (east of the Grand Canal).
- The first weekend of the carnival: Saturday, January27 and Sunday January 28, 2024.
- The second weekend of the carnival: Saturday February 3 and Sunday February 4, 2024.
- The third weekend of the carnival: Saturday February 10 and Sunday February 11, 2024
Sometimes it is more convenient for tourists to choose a hotel on the mainland of Venice. It is believed that the prices here are somewhat lower. Probably, you should not book a hotel on the islands that do not have connections to the city center (Giudecca, Lido).
Book a flight
Tickets for an airplane, bus or train you can buy yourself on the Internet (or sometimes at ticket offices). We suggest using one of the air ticket search services to find the flight that suits you. From many cities in Europe Venice can also be reached by bus and by rail.
Going to Venice on your car is not the best idea. You, most likely, will have problems with parking. You will have to walk on the central part of Venice on foot or by water transport.
Look also - Venice Marco Polo Airport.
What to do in Venice
What do you plan to do during the carnival in Venice? Most of the tourists walk along the embankments of the canals, inspect the sights, take pictures of interesting places and people in carnival costumes and make selfies. But there are more interesting proposals.
Create your carnival costume or carnival mask and take part in the competition. Participation in the competition is free of charge. The costume should match the theme of carnival. You must first register as a member.
The Journey of Marco Polo will be the theme of the Venice Carnival in 2024. So if you want to create your own mask or if you want to enter a competition, then it would be good if your mask and your costume matched the theme of the carnival.
Several costumed dinners and ball-masquerades are held in the days of the carnival in Venice. Tickets for these events should also be bought in advance.
You can buy a mask on the street in Venice and become a participant in the carnival. You can also buy or rent a carnival costume from a specialized company and walk along the embankments in such a suit. (Information on where to buy or rent a suit.)
Weather
The Venetian carnival takes place in the winter. This means that you should be dressed warmly enough. Frosts are possible in Venice at this time of year (sometimes). Do not forget take an umbrella (you can buy it on the place if necessary). The average daily air temperature in Venice in February is about 5°C.
Prepare for your trip to Venice:
- Book a place to stay in Venice (hotels, hostels, apartments).
- Buy a plane ticket to Venice.
- Book a transfer from the airport (port, train station).
- Buy (rent) a carnival costume.
- Venice Carnival 2025 - information for tourists.