Venice
Venice in the rain
Rain falls on five to nine days a month and is spread across the year. A wet day suits the Accademia, the Doge's Palace, the Peggy Guggenheim, Ca' Rezzonico, the Frari and the Scuola di San Rocco. The basilica interior is dry but the queue outside is not, so book a slot. High water is mostly an autumn to spring problem, and waterproof shoes help.
- Stops under a roof: 9
Data checked on October 5, 2026
A rainy day, stop by stop
A day built only from stops that are under a roof, in an order that keeps the walks short.
Day 1
St Mark's Square · Dorsoduro
3 stops · 6 h of visits · 11 min on foot
Open this day's route in Google Maps-
9:30 am12:30 pm
Doge's Palace
The seat of the Venetian Republic, with the state rooms, the Great Council Hall and the Bridge of Sighs. The ticket also covers the Correr Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the Marciana Library rooms.
Go at opening. The big halls are far easier to take in before the first tour groups arrive.
The palace recommends reservations. It now also sells tickets without a fixed entry time, so booking ahead does not tie you to a slot.
Open daily 09:00 to 19:00 from 1 April to 31 October and 09:00 to 18:00 from 1 November to 31 March. Last admission is one hour before closing, and closing procedures start 30 minutes before. Closed on 25 December and 1 January.
Source: Palazzo Ducale (Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia), checked October 5, 2026
- 2 min walk
- Lunch break
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2:00 pm4:00 pm
St Mark's Basilica
The Byzantine basilica covered in gold mosaic, begun in 828 to house the relics of St Mark. Entry is by booked time slot, and the Pala d'Oro, the museum and the loggia over the porch cost extra.
Book the first slot of the day, then walk straight on to the Doge's Palace while its queue is still short.
Tickets are named from the moment you book, and you can only enter in the slot you chose, with five minutes of tolerance. Book on the official ticket site. A slot showing zero is sold out.
Monday to Saturday 09:30 to 17:15, Sunday and religious holidays 14:00 to 17:15. Last entry is 16:45. On Sundays the museum and the loggia open from 09:30 while the basilica itself waits until the afternoon. Times can change with events and services.
Source: Procuratoria di San Marco, checked October 5, 2026
- 9 min walk
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4:09 pm5:09 pm
Santa Maria della Salute
The domed baroque basilica at the mouth of the Grand Canal, built as a thanks offering after a plague. The rotunda is free to enter, and the sacristy with Titian's paintings needs a ticket.
Visit in the late afternoon, when the white stone catches the sun and the wide steps are a good place to sit.
The basilica is open daily 09:00 to 17:30 and may close briefly for services. The sacristy is closed on Mondays and open 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 on other days.
Source: Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, checked October 5, 2026
- Running late? Drop Santa Maria della Salute first. Nothing is booked there.
Every stop under a roof
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St Mark's Basilica
The Byzantine basilica covered in gold mosaic, begun in 828 to house the relics of St Mark. Entry is by booked time slot, and the Pala d'Oro, the museum and the loggia over the porch cost extra.
Source: Procuratoria di San Marco, checked October 5, 2026
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Doge's Palace
The seat of the Venetian Republic, with the state rooms, the Great Council Hall and the Bridge of Sighs. The ticket also covers the Correr Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the Marciana Library rooms.
Source: Palazzo Ducale (Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia), checked October 5, 2026
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Gallerie dell'Accademia
The main collection of Venetian painting, from gold ground altarpieces of the 14th century to Titian, Tintoretto and Veronese. The rooms are compact enough to see in a morning.
Source: Gallerie dell'Accademia di Venezia, checked October 5, 2026
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Santa Maria della Salute
The domed baroque basilica at the mouth of the Grand Canal, built as a thanks offering after a plague. The rotunda is free to enter, and the sacristy with Titian's paintings needs a ticket.
Source: Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, checked October 5, 2026
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Basilica dei Frari
A large Gothic Franciscan church with Titian's Assumption over the high altar. It sits in San Polo, away from the main crowds.
Source: Basilica dei Frari, checked October 5, 2026
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Peggy Guggenheim Collection
A modern art museum in an unfinished palace on the Grand Canal, with Cubist, Surrealist and Abstract Expressionist work and a sculpture garden.
Source: Peggy Guggenheim Collection, checked October 5, 2026
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San Giorgio Maggiore
A church by Palladio on its own island opposite St Mark's, three minutes by vaporetto. Entry to the church is free, and the bell tower is closed for works.
Source: Abbazia di San Giorgio Maggiore, checked October 5, 2026
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Scuola Grande di San Rocco
A confraternity hall decorated with Tintoretto's paintings from wall to ceiling. Allow time to look up.
Source: Scuola Grande di San Rocco, checked October 5, 2026
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Ca' Rezzonico
A baroque palace on the Grand Canal that now houses the museum of 18th century Venice, with period rooms, ceiling frescoes by Tiepolo and paintings by Guardi and Longhi.
Source: Ca' Rezzonico (Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia), checked October 5, 2026
Rainy days by month
Climate averages: Servizio Meteorologico dell'Aeronautica Militare / ISPRA, 1991-2020 normals.