Venice Entertainment & Night-life

There is always something to do in Venice no matter the time of year. That said, there are particularly busy times in the Italian city when it may not be a matter of finding something to do but choosing between the many different events occurring on a single night! Even on the quiet evenings in Venice it's easy to find a bustling restaurant serving speciality dishes and playing host to an accordionist or guitarist. Below are a selection of the best events to try and include during your visit:

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Carnivale

If you are in Venice in the months of March or April chances are you will be caught up in the Carnivale festivities. Held in the two weeks leading up to Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, Carnivale is a celebration of excess. Parties and banquets are held every night and performers and artists in full costume circulate the city each day for tourist photos. It is not uncommon to sit down to a meal in a restaurant and find that the table next to you is occupied by Doges and Queens. There are a number of masked balls held during the Carnivale period, some of which are open for public attendance (you will have to pre-book your tickets however!).

Concerts

Many of the churches and piazzas in Venice are used for staging concerts, generally of the classical or operatic varieties. Although the performances tend to lean in favour of famous Italian operas (Puccini is eternally popular), it is not uncommon to come across more modern styles of music being featured.

Venice Film Festival

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One of the most popular film festivals in the world, Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica di Venezia is often attended by the world's biggest movie stars and directors. Held in late August or early September each year, the festival sees Venice become crowded with star-struck admirers and celebrities.

Venice Biennale

Occurring once every two years, this contemporary art festival is a major event on the international art calendar. Generally being held for several months of the year, the festival has been extended to include architecture, dramatic performance, dance and music.