The days between Christmas and New Year are a secret season in Venice. Not quite Christmas, not yet New Year’s Eve — and for Venetians, one of the most magical weeks of the entire year. The crowds thin, the lagoon breathes, St. Mark’s Square glows under winter light, and the city drifts into a dreamy stillness that feels centuries-old. For those who know Venice only in summer, this week reveals an entirely different city: quieter, deeper, more intimate, and full of rituals and small seasonal pleasures that never appear in tourist guides.
Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning for a winter escape, this guide shows you everything you can do in Venice between December 26 and December 31 — from concerts in ancient churches to winter island explorations, from artisan visits to local feasts, from romantic boat rides to insider-only experiences Venetians actually enjoy this week.
This is your complete TLV-style guide: long, warm, local, elegantly written, Discover-friendly, and fully optimized for travellers who want to feel the real Venice — not the postcard version.
The Atmosphere of Venice Between Christmas and New Year
Before we dive into events, one thing must be said: this week has a unique atmosphere. Venetians call the days between Christmas and New Year “la settimana sospesa” — the suspended week. Schools are closed, offices slow down, and the city lives in a calm made of long walks, warm bacari, soft lights, and family gatherings. For travellers, it’s the perfect moment to see Venice at its most authentic. Here’s what makes it special:
- Early morning mist drifting along the canals
- Silent campi dotted with Christmas trees
- Warm church interiors filled with nativity scenes and soft candlelight
- Winter sunsets that last longer than summer’s
- Christmas lights reflected on wet stones like a postcard
- Quiet vaporetto rides offering unforgettable views
Venice becomes a city of beauty and calm. It’s the perfect time to walk everywhere, taste winter dishes, and see the lagoon at its softest and most poetic.
What’s Open in Venice Between Christmas and New Year?
Almost everything. Shops reopen on December 26 (Santo Stefano), restaurants and cafes operate normally, museums stay open every day except the occasional reduced hours on December 31. Churches welcome visitors with nativity scenes and Christmas concerts. Even artisan studios reopen for the end-of-year shopping season.
The city works. The lagoon works. And the experience is far more pleasant than in high season.
Events and Things to Do Between December 26 and December 31
1. Visit the Murano Chandeliers in St. Mark’s Square
This year (2025–2026), St. Mark’s Square hosts one of the most spectacular winter exhibitions Venice has seen: Murano Illumina il Mondo. Twelve monumental chandeliers — each one created by a different artist in collaboration with a legendary Murano furnace — light up the square like an open-air gallery. They turn on at dusk, illuminating the marble, arches and mosaics of the piazza with warm lagoon light. Admission is free, and the atmosphere is extraordinary.
Stroll here at 5 PM or 6 PM, when the sky turns indigo and the chandeliers begin to glow. It’s Venice at its most romantic, and one of the best moments you can experience this week.
2. Explore Churches and Nativity Scenes (Presepi)
Venetians take nativity scenes seriously. They’re not loud displays — they’re hidden treasures in the city’s churches, chapels and sacristies. Between Christmas and New Year, this tradition is at its peak. Visit:
- San Zaccaria — beautiful, atmospheric
- Santa Maria dei Miracoli — marble perfection
- San Giacomo dall’Orio — local, warm, intimate
- San Francesco della Vigna — Franciscan simplicity and elegance
Every church offers a different interpretation. Some use Murano glass stars. Others recreate lagoon villages or miniature Venice scenes. And the soft, winter light makes these visits unforgettable.
3. Attend a Christmas Concert in an Ancient Church
One of Venice’s greatest winter experiences: listening to classical music inside a centuries-old church. Between Christmas and New Year, several venues offer concerts featuring Vivaldi, Mozart, Baroque ensembles and sacred music.
Recommended performances include those at San Vidal, San Teodoro and La Pietà — Vivaldi’s own church. For guaranteed entry, consider securing a Vivaldi Four Seasons ticket.
4. Take a Winter Islands Tour (Burano, Mazzorbo, Murano)
The northern lagoon in winter is a dream. Burano becomes quieter, its colors softer under the winter mist. Mazzorbo feels like a vineyard floating in silence, its footpaths empty and serene. And Murano — with its furnaces glowing in the cold air — becomes the perfect place to watch artisans at work.
If you want to explore the islands in a genuine way, this is the best possible moment of the year. Fewer people, more atmosphere, and sunsets that feel like paintings.
To experience these islands with a local guide, you can join our Lagoon Tour, which showcases authentic artisans, glass studios and island life away from the tourist routes.
5. Join an Artisan Experience (Murano, Masks, Ceramics, Fabric, Printing)
Winter is the ideal season for artisan workshops — warm studios, quieter schedules, and more time for you to interact with local masters. Between Christmas and New Year, Venice’s craftsmen are fully at work preparing for Epiphany and the start of Carnival season.
You can:
- Create a Murano glass bead with a lampwork master
- Craft your own Venetian mask in an artistic atelier
- Visit the Tessitura Bevilacqua weaving rooms
- Learn traditional marbled paper
- Experience a letterpress printing workshop in a centuries-old studio
For hands-on activities, our curated workshop experiences are available here: Venice Hands-On Workshops.
It’s one of the best ways to take home something meaningful — made by your own hands, guided by a Venetian artisan.
6. Walk Through Venice’s Christmas Lights
Between December 26 and December 31, Venice’s Christmas lights are at their brightest and most photogenic. The streets glow in gold and white, with garlands stretching from calle to calle. The best routes for evening walks are:
- Mercerie → St. Mark’s Square
- Strada Nova → Ca’ d’Oro
- Accademia Bridge → Zattere
- Campo San Polo → Rialto
- Dorsoduro’s Calle de la Toletta
The lights reflect on the wet stones after rain and create some of the most beautiful photography conditions you’ll ever find in Venice.
7. Enjoy Warm Bacari and Winter Venetian Food
Venice eats differently in winter. The dishes become richer, warmer, and more comforting. Between Christmas and New Year, these foods are at their seasonal best:
- Baccalà mantecato — creamy cod mousse
- Sarde in saor — marinated sardines
- Bigoli in salsa — wholewheat pasta in anchovy sauce
- Fegato alla veneziana — liver with onions (winter specialty)
- Radicchio tardivo risottos and pastas
- Hot chocolate at historic cafes
- Panettone from artisan bakeries
December is also the best moment to visit Venice’s cicchetti bars. If you want an insider tasting experience, our Cicchetti & Wine Tour is especially beautiful in winter — warm interiors, fewer crowds, more atmosphere.
8. Visit Museums With Zero Crowds
This week is one of the best opportunities of the entire year to visit Venice’s museums without chaos. The most rewarding ones include:
- Doge’s Palace — magnificent and quiet
- Accademia Gallery — Tintoretto, Bellini, Carpaccio
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection — modern art, garden views, winter serenity
- Ca’ Rezzonico — 18th-century Venice at its peak
- Querini Stampalia — Carlo Scarpa’s masterpiece
If you prefer to skip the lines, secure a Doge’s Palace & Basilica skip-the-line tour, as December afternoons can still be busy around St. Mark’s Basilica.
9. Take a Grand Canal Boat Tour at Sunset
Winter sunsets in Venice are surreal. The cold air sharpens the colors, and the palaces along the Grand Canal glow pink and orange. Between December 26 and December 31, sunsets are early (around 4:25–4:35 PM), which means you can enjoy a magical boat tour before dinner.
Our Private Grand Canal Boat Tour is especially beautiful this time of year — quiet canals, soft light, and a romantic atmosphere unlike anything else.
10. Explore Cannaregio, Dorsoduro and Castello (Local Venice)
Between Christmas and New Year, Venice’s residential districts shine. Cannaregio’s narrow streets, Dorsoduro’s artisan ateliers, Castello’s hidden gardens — all are perfect for slow exploration.
If you’re looking for a real Venetian walk, our Off-the-Beaten-Path Tour is designed exactly for this moment of the year. We take you through empty alleys, local markets, artisan shops, and corners only Venetians know.
11. Visit the Winter Markets
Campo Santo Stefano hosts a charming Christmas market that remains open during the final week of December. Expect wooden chalets with:
- Handmade crafts
- Murano ornaments
- Local honey and preserves
- Venetian sweets
- Warm mulled wine
It’s small, elegant and full of atmosphere — very Venetian.
12. Taste Panettone and Seasonal Pastries
Venice has exceptional bakeries, and December is the best time to taste their creations. Look for artisan panettone from pastry chefs like Daniele Mascia at Pasticceria al Theatro, or try tiramisù, frittelle, almond biscuits and festive pastries that only appear during the holidays.
These days between Christmas and New Year are perfect for café-hopping: try Florian, Marchini, Tonolo, Majer, or small local pastry shops in Cannaregio.
13. Enjoy Aperitivo on the Lagoon
Winter aperitivo hits differently in Venice. Order a spritz, select cicchetti, sit by the canal, and enjoy the cold air of the lagoon combined with a warm drink and soft lights. The best areas include:
- Zattere
- Fondamenta Misericordia
- San Giacomo dell’Orio
- Campo Santa Margherita
It’s the perfect pause between long walks and evening concerts.
14. Go Shopping in Artisan and Boutique Stores
Shops reopen on December 26, and this is when Venetians buy gifts for Epiphany (January 6). It’s a great time to shop for:
- Murano glass
- Handmade masks
- Artisanal leather goods
- Luxury ceramics like Stylnove
- Designer perfumes like The Merchant of Venice
- Local food products
Dorsoduro, San Polo and Castello offer the best artisanal shopping routes.
15. Enjoy Venice at Night (A Winter Dream)
Between Christmas and New Year, Venice at night feels like an 18th-century painting. The lights are golden, the canals still, and the silence absolute. Take a walk through:
- Campo Santa Maria Formosa
- San Giovanni e Paolo
- Rialto at 10 PM
- San Marco after dinner
- Dorsoduro’s quiet alleys
If Venice has ever felt like a dream, it’s during these nights.
Local Tips for the Best Experience
- Start early — Venice is breathtaking at dawn in winter.
- Avoid long vaporetto rides at rush hour — mornings around 8:30 and evenings around 6 PM.
- Dress in layers — humidity makes cold feel colder.
- Book restaurants in advance — Venetians go out often this week.
- Walk as much as possible — the city is your museum.
- Try local winter wines — Refosco, Raboso, Amarone.
FAQs
Are shops and restaurants open between Christmas and New Year?
Yes. Almost everything is open from December 26 onward, including boutiques, museums, markets and most restaurants.
Is Venice crowded during this week?
Much less than summer. Mornings and evenings are quiet, and even the busiest areas feel surprisingly peaceful.
What’s the best thing to do this week?
A combination of winter island visits, artisan workshops, evening walks under the Christmas lights, and a Grand Canal boat ride at sunset. For an insider introduction, consider the Off-the-Beaten-Path Tour.
