Venice may be magical, but elbowing your way through selfie sticks in St. Mark’s Square? Not so much.
The good news? With a little strategy, you can still enjoy La Serenissima without the chaos. I know because I’ve been there all different seasons and, for the most part, have avoided logjams.
This guide shows you how to dodge the cruise ship crowds, find hidden corners, and experience a quieter side of Venice, one that feels more local than theme park.
Don’t Travel In Summer
For all that is holy, don’t visit Venice in summer unless it’s absolutely the only time you can go. And I know that might be the case with jobs and kids.
Summer is one of the busiest times of year, especially June through early September. Popular sites like St. Mark’s Square, the Rialto Bridge, and the Grand Canal are packed from mid-morning to early evening.
Cruise ship passengers, tour groups, and day trippers flood the narrow streets, making it feel congested and sometimes claustrophobic.
So try to visit in the off season or shoulder season. The city is still busy, of course, especially around Easter and weekends.
But it’s far more manageable. You can actually walk through the alleys without shuffling behind giant tour groups.
Get Up Early Or Stay Late
Early birds and night owls will do well in Venice. Early morning and evenings are just more peaceful, even near major landmarks.
The city looks so beautiful then, and you’ll catch local people going to work in the morning.
Book Skip The Line Tickets
This is a super important tip for crowd control and avoiding lines in Venice. You must book major attractions online in advance.
If you don’t, you will be confronted with long queues or may not get in at all. That will inevitably cut into your sightseeing time and make you frustrated.
I advise booking skip the line tickets weeks in advance for these particular sites:
St. Mark’s Basilica: You absolutely must book a skip the line entry ticket. Be sure to get in the right line when you are lining up. You can also purchase an after hours ticket to access to some places you can’t see during the day.
Doge’s Palace: The Palazzo Ducale is one of Venice’s most iconic landmarks. The pink and white marble Gothic-Renaissance building was the official residence of the doges, who ruled Venice for more than 1,000 years.
You will definitely need a skip the line ticket to visit the palace. You can also buy a combination ticket that includes a skip the line ticket + the Venice Museum Pass.
St. Mark’s Campanile Climb: This is the tallest vantage point in Venice and the lines can seem endless. But you can book a reserved timed entry ticket on Tiqets, which will give you a 30 minute time slot to visit.
Peggy Guggenheim Museum: This fantastic museum will also be mobbed, so be sure to book a skip the line ticket.
If you don’t want to mingle with other tourists, then skip the main sites and tours.
Look for After Hours Tours
Another solid strategy to avoid crowds is to tour at night. Some museums and churches offer occasional evening access. These are pricier but much less crowded.
Here are some you might consider:
- highlights & hidden gems evening tour
- St. Mark’s Basilica night tour
- Doge’s Palace night tour
- evening chiccetti tour in Cannaregio (loved this!)
- sunset food and walking tour
Enter Basilica San Marco Through the Pala d’Oro Entrance
Most people queue up at the main door. But sometimes you can enter via the side door if you’ve booked a timed slot that includes seeing the Pala d’Oro.
It’s a useful workaround when lines are long.
Visit Neighborhoods Besides St. Mark’s
Not everything happens near St. Mark’s. Get out and explore some of the city’s other neighborhoods with fewer tourists.
San Polo is Venice’s smallest but most energetic district, where daily life mixes with iconic sights.
Art lovers can explore Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, with works by Titian and Bellini, and the dramatic interiors of Scuola Grande di San Rocco, filled with Tintoretto masterpieces. For a quieter stop, San Giovanni Evangelista offers a peaceful slice of Venetian architecture.
Dorsoduro is Venice’s artsy heartland, a laid-back neighborhood with a rich cultural pulse. Begin at Piazza Santa Margherita, a popular student hangout, then climb up to the Accademia Bridge for beautiful canal views and entry to the Gallerie dell’Accademia, one of Italy’s top art museums.
Don’t miss Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, a stunning Baroque church by the Grand Canal. Finally, walk along the Zattere waterfront. It’s a scenic spot for gelato, cicchetti, and views across the lagoon.
The Jewish Ghetto, located in the Cannaregio district, is another of the city’s most atmospheric and lesser-known areas. Established in 1516, it was the first official ghetto in Europe and remains a place of deep historical resonance.
Today, the neighborhood feels residential and authentic, with peaceful canals, tucked away courtyards, and a slower pace than the city’s tourist-heavy core. It’s also home to quiet canals, charming bridges, and a few understated churches
Visit Some Hidden Gems
Another way to avoid crowds is to check out some of Venice hidden gems. There are plenty of spots that tourist either don’t know about or don’t visit.
Here are some to put next your itinerary:
Frari Church
Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari is Venice’s grand Gothic basilica and a hidden art treasure trove in San Polo.
It houses Titian’s revered altarpieces—the Assumption of the Virgin and the Pesaro Madonna—in their original settings, alongside works by Bellini, Donatello, and stunning funerary monuments.
It’s s the second largest church in Venice. Its soaring brick vaults, 15th century choir screen, and magnificent rood screen make it both an architectural marvel and a must visit for art lovers.
Casa del Tintoretto
Located on Fondamenta dei Mori in Cannaregio, this Gothic style house was where Jacopo Robusti (Tintoretto) lived and worked.
A high relief of Hercules still adorns the facade to this day. You can’t go inside, but you can see where the master plied his trade so successfully.
Church of San Sebastiano
San Sebastiano Church may look plain from the outside. But step inside and you’ll find a stunning shrine to the painter Paolo Veronese. Over 30 years, he filled the interior with vibrant, dramatic paintings—his most defining body of work.
The main altarpiece depicts Saint Sebastian pierced by arrows, with saints gazing upward at the Assumption of Mary. Veronese is buried inside, near his own sculpted bust.
Stay In Venice, Don’t Day Trip
Stay overnight. Stay several nights. Learn the rhythm of Venice. Woo her with your time.
Last time I visited, I was there for a week and never got bored. Plus, there are some great day trips from Venice (Padua, Verona, Vicenza).
Visit Less Popular Islands
Everyone goes to Murano and Burano. They’ll be crowded, for sure. But there are other much less visited islands that are equally appealing.
Torcello
Torcello is a peaceful lagoon island near Murano and the oldest settlement in the Venetian Lagoon.
It’s home to Santa Maria dell’Assunta, a 7th century church with stunning Byzantine mosaics and a climbable bell tower. Nearby, you’ll also find the legendary Throne of Attila, an ancient stone seat wrapped in local lore.
Chioggia
Choggia is also well worth visiting. It’s often called “Little Venice” and has a charming, authentic feel without the crowds.
Located at the southern tip of the Venetian Lagoon, it has a working fishing port, colorful houses, and peaceful canals.
The vibe is relaxed, local, and far less touristed than Venice. Great for slow travel.
San Giorgio Maggiore
San Giorgio Maggiore is also absolutely worth visiting, both for its architecture and its art. Plus it’s one of the best “escape the crowds” spots in Venice.
The church itself was designed by Andrea Palladio, the great Renaissance architect. It’s one of his masterpieces. Pure, white, and harmonious.
Inside are some spectacular paintings by Tintoretto. And the campanile (bell tower) offers one of the best panoramic lagoon views in Venice.
And if you are an art lover, stop by the Fondazione Giorgio Cini to admire some unique Titian and Veronese paintings.
Take A Gondola Ride In Less Popular Spots
You can pretty much find a gondolier on every street corner in Venice. But everyone seems to get one near St. Mark’s.
Try the San Polo or Santa Croce districts. Look near San Tomà or San Polo Campo for gondoliers waiting.
Cannaregio is a great option too. A popular boarding point there is Campo del Ghetto Nuovo.
Even better, instead of a gondola ride, you can learn how to row a gondola!
Visit Lesser Known Museums
Florence might steal the spotlight, but Venice is an underrated goldmine for art lovers. Without the mob scene.
Sure, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection is iconic, but it’s also packed. If you’re not in the mood to shuffle through galleries shoulder-to-shoulder, consider these quieter gems:
Galleria dell’Accademia
This is the crown jewel of Venetian Renaissance art: Titian, Veronese, Bellini, and more. And somehow, it’s never crowded.
Ca’ Rezzonico
Step into 18th century Venice. This Rococo palace oozes faded grandeur, with Tiepolo ceiling frescoes and period rooms that feel like a time machine to the Republic’s twilight.
Scuola Grande di San Rocco
A Tintoretto fever dream. The artist spent two decades filling this confraternity hall with dramatic, larger-than-life canvases. It’s a full body experience.
Ca’ Pesaro
Modern art in Venice? Absolutely.
This grand canal-front museum is home to Klimt, Klee, Chagall, and Italian greats like De Chirico and Boccioni. Bonus: upstairs, one of Europe’s top Oriental art collections.
Pinault Collection
Housed in stunning spaces like Punta della Dogana and Palazzo Grassi, this rotating modern art collection brings a cutting edge jolt to Venice’s old world setting.
Museo Correr
Right on St. Mark’s Square, but often overlooked. Dive into Venetian history, see portraits of the doges, and admire works by Canova, Carpaccio, and the Bellinis.
Fortuny Museum
Tucked in a Gothic palace, this offbeat museum reflects the eclectic spirit of Mariano Fortuny—textiles, paintings, photography, and theater design. A must for design fans.
Avoid Weekends & Holidays
If you can swing it, try to visit Venice on a weekday. Weekends draw day trippers from nearby cities and cruise ship passengers.
Local tourism spikes on Saturdays. And Sundays are often busy with both tourists and locals out enjoying the city.
Avoid CarnivaI
I would also avoid visiting during carnival unless you have your heart set on participating.
Carnival typically draws around 3 million visitors each year. According to planners, it’s “extremely crowded,” especially in and around St. Mark’s Square during key events like the Flight of the Angel, parades, and costume showcases.
If you must go, be sure to book tickets to masked balls or mask workshops ahead of time. Other major Carnival events are free.
Visit Major Sites at Lunchtime
Many visitors break for lunch between 12:00 and 2:00 pm. That’s often the best time to visit places like the Basilica or Doge’s Palace with fewer people inside.
Use the Traghetto Instead of the Grand Canal Vaporetto
The vaporetto along the Grand Canal is always packed. A traghetto (gondola ferry) is a short ride across the canal for a couple of euros and far less crowded.
Skip Rialto Bridge At Peak Hours
It’s unavoidable to visit at some point, but try going early morning or in the late evening. Otherwise, you’re just navigating elbows and phones.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my tips for avoiding crowds in Venice. You may find these other Venice travel guides useful:
- 1 day in Venice itinerary
- 2 day itinerary for Venice
- Top attractions on the Grand Canal
- Top 10 sights in Venice
- Best museums in Venice
- History of Venice in a nutshell
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