Venice: Stroll the City at Night
Updated: May 2023
First, you will need a good pair of very comfortable shoes, something light and cool. Venice is a car-free city, so the streets are all you have if you want to discover the heart and soul of the place.
Walking along the narrow alleys (called ‘calle’) during the day, you will discover small squares where Venetians go with their children and pets. You will also come across small shops and cafes not even mentioned in guides and brochures. At night, the city’s charms sharpen.
Strolling through the city at night can be a wonderful experience. Begin at the alley next to St. Mark’s Basilica in St. Mark’s Square. There will be people, restaurants, bridges, gelato stands, phone booths, and the dazzling back view of the Bridge of Sighs. (Dress warmly in winter, the nights can be bitterly cold.)
The famous bridge is lit at night, and if you’re lucky, a musician might be playing – a Venetian moment you will treasure forever. Another lucky night would be watching the moon rise, its image shimmering in the water all around – an event in itself.
Venice after dark is not a party town, but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it. Stroll around, look into the little shops, and maybe enjoy some drinks at shops that are still open. The area surrounding Ponte di Rialto has the largest concentration of popular bars.
Many of these bars tend to peak at around 8 pm and close at 10:30 pm because many restaurant workers live in Mestre and other mainland towns and need to catch the last train or bus back home.
Some places, like Tortuga Pub (off Fondamente Nuovo), are open until 1:00 am and play rock music. They also serve food even at these early hours. During the Christmas season, many stalls are still open selling hot mulled wine – the one near Scalzi Church is good.
On regular days, some classical music concerts are advertised around, but you can treat yourself to dinner or drinks at Florian’s or Quadri’s while listening to live orchestras. Although quite expensive, the experience is something for the books.
Vaporettos (water buses) run through the night in Venice. You can travel to one of the islands for a meal and drinks and return via these unpretentious buses that travel by water.
If the Grand Canal is enchanting by day, riding a vaporetto by night and seeing the view of the Grand Canal and its surroundings is totally worth it. The view of the city lit up at night is an enthralling experience.
Of course, exploring the canals by gondola is a more expensive way to travel. If you’re romantic, you won’t mind the astronomical fare – especially if your gondolier isn’t shy about singing his way through the whole trip. (Of course, it’s only right that you give him a big tip.) Other practical tourists go in groups of six to share the charges.
Whether strolling on foot through the city streets, drinking at pubs or gliding along canals by gondola, Venice by night can fill a traveler’s senses with memories that last a lifetime.
