A trip to Venice to behold stunning sights such as Piazza San Marco and the Rialto Bridge tends to make it onto every traveler’s list. While strolling through the streets of Venice, it’s easy to see why riding a gondola is on everyone’s bucket list. What better way could there be to see this magical city than to cuddle in a boat with your sweetheart while gliding along the canals below the many famous bridges of Venice?
The problem is that approximately 110,000 tourists per day flood Venice’s narrow streets during the summer months. The city itself is considered one of the most romantic in the world, but we can say from experience that swimming through seas of fellow travelers in the late July heat is definitely not romantic. That’s why travel expert and TV personality Rick Steves has a clever travel tip to avoid crowds and make the most out of your visit to Venice: explore it during the night.
Steves says in his blog that the romance returns to Venice “near the end of the day, as hordes of day tourists retreat to their cruise ships and hotels.” Once the throngs of day-tripping tourists leave the city, a beautiful stillness blankets the once buzzing and packed streets, leaving it feeling and looking like the quietly mysterious Venice of yesteryear.
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When the sun sets, romance awakens in Venice
An empty street along a canal with a bridge at night in Venice – Jorg Greuel/Getty Images
Once the tourists have departed for the day, Venice transforms into a serene haven. With the streets returning to their quiet state, locals emerge to enjoy the allure of Venice glistening under the street lamps. The sounds of clinking cutlery fill the air just as much as the scents of food waft from the canal-side trattorias.
In the evening hours, the moonlight sparkles on the canals and the streets get quiet. Lots of tourists take gondola rides during the day, but the crowds on the bridges snapping photos can kind of ruin the mood. At night, it’s a whole different vibe. The buildings are gently lit, the water’s calm, and it feels like you and your sweetheart have the canals all to yourselves — the perfect setting for a dreamy, romantic gondola ride or an evening wine bar crawl, which Rick Steves says the Venetians call a giro d’ombra.
Enjoy an evening out with dinner and drinks in a setting rich with history and atmosphere. While many visitors end up making their way to the iconic Harry’s Bar, famed for its Bellini cocktails and deep connection to Ernest Hemingway, consider heading to the The Library Bar instead. Its warm, intimate ambiance, complete with bookshelves and a beautifully painted ceiling, offers a more subdued and refined experience. If you’re looking for something friendlier on your wallet, stop by Tango Bar Venezia set beside a picturesque canal, the perfect spot to unwind and take in the evening charm of Venice.
Dreamy strolls and cultural nights in Venice
Venice at night with a pink sunset sky – Faust__/Getty Images
For music lovers, Rick Steves calls an evening at the historic Teatro La Fenice “a treat,” and it’s easy to see why. The wow factor of La Fenice, the Venice opera house, paired with world-class performances makes for a night that you’ll remember for years to come. Not an opera fan? No problem. Venice is also home to a surprisingly lively jazz scene. Steves recommends Gran Caffè Chioggia, a charming spot where you can sip a reasonably priced drink and listen to music. This is a great place if you’re traveling on a budget but still want to soak in Venice’s vibrant after-hours atmosphere.
Piazza San Marco and Palazzo Ducale are two destinations in Venice that are typically overflowing with visitors during peak hours of the day. An uncrowded way to experience some of these popular attractions is to book the Exclusive Alone in St. Mark’s Basilica After Hours tour, and you’ll be guided through these iconic landmarks in relative peace while basking in the soft evening glow. Tours are around $140 per person and offer a rare chance to take in the charms of Venice at night.
Getting lost in the quiet streets of Venice in the moonlight is a pleasure that many tourists don’t get, unless they are staying the night. With over 400 bridges connected by 118 islands that make up Venice’s blueprint, Venice by day is beautiful, but seeing the empty streets with reflecting lights on the still waters of the canals is a luxury. Wander past the Bridge of Sighs, the Grand Canal, and the Rialto Bridge and you’ll feel like you’re on your own private tour of the city.
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