The Best Time In Venice Is Between 5.30 AM To 8.30 AM

Leisurely ride on the local vaporetto

The vaporetto is the public water bus service in Venice and is operated by ACTV. There are several vaporetto stands in Venice and you are likely to find one 5–10 minutes from any hotel at which you’re staying. Tickets can be purchased by a machine at the vaporetto stand and are validated by an electronic machine before entering the waiting area, before boarding the water bus. We suggest that you purchase a one-day ticket for 7.50 EUR (9 USD) as it’s the most cost effective.

During the daytime, the vaporetto can be extremely crowded and your chances of getting a seat at the back of the boat (which is open and has about eight seats) is pretty slim. If, however, you follow our advice and head out at 5.30 am, your chances of getting a seat at the back are pretty much guaranteed. You will see that those on the vaporetto at this time tend to be locals out and about and en route to work.

You can use the vaporetto (the best lines are one and two) to travel down the Grand Canal and see the jaw-dropping palaces and famous guest houses that line it. It is only at this time in the morning that you will find the waters are almost wave-less and the canal feels more like a mirror to its gorgeous surroundings.

A photographer’s paradise awaits you

Whether you’re a professional photographer or are a seasoned smartphone photoholic, then Venice from 5.30 am is one of the most picturesque places to be on this planet. No tourists crowding areas; no noise from all the hustle and bustle everywhere. Instead, all you have is tranquility and locals starting their day. This really is the perfect time to take photographs whether you’re on the vaporetto or wandering around by foot.

You will have unobstructed views of major sights and the beautiful colors of the buildings and nature around it will make for postcard perfect pictures. Early risers benefit from being able to take their time when taking photographs. There is no pressure or rush; if one shot isn’t great, you can try again and perfect it. With Venice also being such a safe destination, you can travel in every nook and cranny so that you can take some really special photographs. Venice is indeed magical, so go on and capture it.

Familiarise yourself with narrow streets and bridges

Trying to familiarise yourself with the streets of Venice when the masses are trawling around everywhere is a mission. However, from 5.30 am–8.30 am, there will be so few people out that you will have a chance to get more to grips with the city in which everyone seems to get lost for most of their trip. Stroll the maze of narrow alleys, cross the bridges and little canals whilst on your wander. See if you can spot any private gardens, as Venice has very few of them, and it’s hard to see with many tourists around everywhere in the daytime. You can also look above and enjoy what is above street level without fear of tourists bumping into you from every angle. Above street level is where you can see the different types of windows of people’s homes, the washing lines that are hung up and the different types of statues and symbols that are imposed on and around the buildings.

In addition, you can spot something that’s rather quite important: the street signs. This is because there are a few yellow street signs around Venice which help by indicating which direction to go for which area; however, these signs are not always in the most obvious place, so use your time in the morning wisely to learn about which directions to go in, when its busy in the daytime.

Cross the Rialto Bridge and see locals at the Rialto Market

The Rialto Bridge is only one of four bridges that can be crossed to access each side of the Grand Canal. It is the oldest bridge and is full of history including the number of times in which it has collapsed. The bridge was most recently made in 1951 and was designed by Andrea Da Ponte. It is considered to be an architectural marvel and alongside St. Mark’s Square, it is one of the most visited spots in Venice. Now, we’re sure that you can imagine that during the daytime, this bridge is barely crossable because of the amount of human congestion from every part of it.

Between 5.30 am–8.30 am, however, it is near empty, which means that it is the perfect time to walk across and enjoy the incredible views of Venice. The photographs from the bridge are priceless and a chance to take photographs in the early morning with few other tourists around is a treat. Take selfies to your heart’s content without the fear of an unknown person popping up in your snap. As the most admired bridge in Venice, we recommend that you see it by boat and also by foot. In the vicinity of the Rialto Bridge is also the Rialto Market and we suggest that you go and watch the locals unloading from their boats and setting up their stalls. See real Venetians working hard and in action.

See San Marco Basilica and Doge's Palace on St. Mark's Square

Take joy in the calmness of St. Mark’s Square, which is usually heaving with tourists everywhere. St. Mark’s Square is the only piazza in the entire city, as all the other squares are known as campos. It can become obscenely crowded after 8.30 am, so it’s a great idea to visit it beforehand. You can see the historical San Marco Basilica and Doge’s Palace from the outside as well as note everything that this beautiful square has to offer. This includes looking closely at the designs on the buildings such as the beautiful columns on Doge’s Palace.

The rising sun illuminates these buildings and the entire square is so peaceful and calm. With the exception of cleaners and a few people taking wedding pictures, there are very few individuals that wake up to embrace this place early in the morning. St. Mark’s Square really is breathtaking and full of positive energy, so it’s a great place in which to start your day.

If you’re still in the square past 8.30 am and want to sit down at around 9.30 am, then we recommend that you visit Caffe Florian, which is based on the square. It is a historical and monumental café where you can have a hot drink and pastry and treat yourself after your exciting early morning experience of Venice.