November is a nasty month in Europe. The best of autumn is over and the best of winter hasn’t arrived. It’s a no-man zone for travelling in my mind. So where do you go if you don’t wan’t to take a hefty flight to somewhere far away? Is there anywhere that doesn’t feel slightly depressing? Venice! Yes, Venice in November is unique, atmospheric and beautiful, with a few extra surprises up its sleeve too. Not only do I prefer it to other European cities in November, but it’s so far been my favourite month to visit this magical city too. Here’s why…

 

#1 Less tourists

Venice is never tourist-free, but in November it’s as close to empty as it’s going to get. The main piazzas and streets still have a fair amount of people during the day, but nothing like the mania of summer. Then turn off one of the many backstreets and you’ll most likely find yourself alone – that’s right, alone in Venice! I walked through the many streets of Venice for hours and would only see some Italians and little pockets of tourists. Then there are no huge queues for any of the attractions, the restaurants aren’t all full, everything is just so easy and you’ll get a lot more done in your time here.

#2 Unique atmosphere

Venice in November is different. The tourist facade drops somewhat and you get to see more of the real city. It feels intimate and more genuine – like meeting a celebrity in their pyjamas at home on a lazy sunday. The atmosphere is calm and beautiful. It’s also a dream for photography; the light is soft and golden for most of the day and the sunrises and sunsets are stunning.

#3 It’s cheaper

The prices for accommodation and flights plummet. I got a return flight from London for £36. You won’t be fighting for accommodation, either – scarcely anywhere will be full. I had my whole B&B to myself and it was great. You can haggle down prices for other things too.

#4 The weather isn’t horrible

It’s totally possible to have temperatures up to a balmy 18 C with bright blue skies in Venice in November. Temperatures don’t drop too low, either, so you can still comfortably walk around for hours without getting cold. And because it’s cooler you can enjoy this beautiful city without that overbearing heat. Grey rainy days are more frequent, but this doesn’t spoil the beauty of Venice and there are plenty of indoor things to do too.

 

#5 Acqua alta

It’s common for Venice to flood in the winter especially, known as acqua alta (high water). This is largely due to the tides and winds as opposed to rainfall, which means that it can be a glorious sunny day whilst flooded. It can be a nightmare for locals (and visitors) of course, as the water can be up to several feet high in places. But for me it was a total draw.

An hour or so before it happens sirens blare out across the city. They sound like the air raid sirens from World War 2. And within half an hour or so the water silently creeps up. And because it’s normal the majority of Venice carries on in spite of it.

Can you imagine how unique it is to walk through one of the world’s most iconic cities when it’s a couple of feet underwater? The streets become even quieter and more atmospheric and it’s fun to just walk around and see what everything looks like. Then there are some amazing places to explore in Venice during acqua alta, including the Libreria Acqua Alta – a world-famous bookshop that embraces this phenomenon. The gondoliers carry on as normal too – though life is a little harder…

 

 

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