Last updated: December 01, 2024
Discover the charm of Christmas in Venice with our complete guide to festive events. The lagoon city transforms during the holidays, offering a rich program of traditional and modern events for visitors and residents.
St. Mark's Square hosts the traditional Christmas market, while the campos and alleyways come alive with local craft stalls and Venetian gastronomic specialties. From the Rialto Bridge to the Arsenal, the lights create an evocative atmosphere, accompanied by concerts in historic churches and nativity scene exhibitions in Venetian palaces. Nearby Murano presents its Christmas-themed glass creations, reachable in just 20 minutes by water bus.
Contact information and details below.
Christmas markets with handmade products and culinary delights.
The Christmas Markets in Campo Santo Stefano offer a variety of handmade products and culinary delights, creating a welcoming atmosphere for families and tourists.
Where: Venice | More Info: Venice Christmas Market
Market with colorful wooden huts and an illuminated Christmas tree.
The Mestre Christmas Market offers a wide range of handmade products and gourmet delicacies, with colorful wooden huts and a large illuminated Christmas tree.
Where: Mestre | More Info: Mestre Christmas Market
Stalls with handmade products and local specialties.
The Christmas Markets of Campo San Bortolo offer a variety of stalls selling handmade products, local specialties, and Christmas decorations. The square transforms into a festive village with events and activities for children.
Where: Venice | More Info: Christmas Market at Campo San Bortolo
Display of artisanal holiday products with entertainment for children and adults.
The Christmas Market in Campo Manin offers a wide selection of artisanal holiday products, accompanied by entertainment, games, and music.
Where: Venice | More Info: Christmas Market at Campo Manin
Creative workshops for children
The Mercato dei Portici di via Palazzo is an event featuring handmade artisans, OPI makers, and illustrators showcasing their selected products. There will be entertainment and street music, as well as creative workshops for children.
Where: Mestre | More Info: Mestre Portici Market
Colorful wooden stalls open daily.
The Christmas Market in Via Allegri offers a wide range of artisanal products and seasonal delicacies, accompanied by the scent of cinnamon and mulled wine, open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM.
Where: Mestre | More Info: Christmas Market in Via Allegri
Baroque concert with prestigious original period instruments.
The Interpreti Veneziani offer a baroque concert at the Church of San Vidal, performing music by Vivaldi and Bach in a unique historical and artistic setting.
Where: Venice | More Info: Christmas Concert at Santa Maria della Pietà
Religious ceremony with festive decorations in St. Mark's Basilica.
The Christmas Mass at San Marco is a religious event celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ in St. Mark's Basilica, with a solemn ceremony and festive decorations.
Where: Venice | More Info: Christmas Mass at St. Mark's Basilica
Tunnel of Lights and glassworks regatta.
Natale di Vetro in Murano is an annual event that celebrates glass art with various activities, including concerts, art exhibitions, and glass workshops for children.
Where: Murano | More Info: Murano Glass Christmas
Sea marriage ceremony with the throwing of a golden ring.
The Festa della Sensa is a traditional Venetian event that celebrates the millennial history of the Serenissima and its intimate relationship with the sea. The ceremony includes the procession of traditional boats, the regatta, and the ceremony of the sea marriage, symbolizing Venice's dominion over the sea.
Where: Venice | More Info: Saint Nicholas Festival
On-site skate rental.
The ice skating rink at Campo San Polo is open daily from December 2, 2023, to February 13, 2024. The rink offers 1.5-hour sessions with 30-minute breaks. Skates can be rented on site, and gloves are mandatory.
Where: Venice | More Info: Ice Skating Rink at Campo San Polo
On-site skate rental.
The ice skating rink at Piazza Ferretto is open daily from November 23, 2023, to January 7, 2024. The rink features sessions of approximately one and a half hours with a 30-minute break in between. Skates can be rented on site, and gloves are mandatory.
Where: Mestre | More Info: Mestre Ice Skating Rink
Rowing race with athletes dressed as Befana.
The Regata delle Befane is a historic event held annually in Venice to celebrate Epiphany. Five athletes from the Reale Società Canottieri Bucintoro, dressed as Befana, compete in a rowing race along the Grand Canal, starting from San Tomà and ending under the Rialto Bridge.
Where: Venice | More Info: Epiphany Regatta
Guided tour of the islands Murano, Burano, and Torcello with multilingual commentary.
This boat tour takes you to discover the three most famous islands of the Venetian Lagoon: Murano, Burano, and Torcello. Departure can be from Venice Santa Lucia Railway Station or San Marco Giardinetti. The guided tour offers a unique experience, visiting Murano for its handmade glass production, Burano for its ancient lace-making and colorful fishermen's houses, and Torcello for its history and architecture.
Where: Venice | More Info: Boat Tour to Murano, Burano, and Torcello