There are few cultural festivals more elaborately celebrated than the Venice carnival in Italy.
People from all over the world travel to this annual event. Some to participate in the costumed revelry, others to sight see and troll for photo opportunities.
The city is picturesque enough in its own right. Add in the gilded masks, beaded dresses and ornately-decorated hats, and it can begin to feel as though you’ve stepped back in time.
If you’ve never experienced the Venice carnival before, then you’re in for a real treat.
Here are several of my top tips for fully enjoying the experience.
Carnival in Venice takes place during the winter, so you’ll need to stay warm
Layered clothing, along with a warm coat, scarf and gloves are necessary, especially if you’re traveling to Venice from a warm climate. You may see costumed revelers without them, but it’s likely they have a place in the city where they can go to warm up. You’re going to be there for the full day, so dressing lightly is not a good idea.
Get a Costume
Get into the Carnival spirit by buying or renting a traditional costume or classic Venetian mask, joining one of the parades or street parties, and sampling traditional Carnival foods such as frittelle, a traditional sweet donut made only during the festivities.
Get Your Camera Ready
Within your first few minutes at the Venice carnival, you’ll be bombarded with photo ops.
This means you’ll want to show up the best camera you can afford. If your time at the carnival of Venice ends up being your one and only chance to witness the event, you’ll want the best pictures you were able to obtain as your lifelong souvenirs.
Download or Buy a Map
You’d be surprised how many people show up without ever having obtained a map of Venice, Italy. This is a bad idea for any first time visitor, let alone when during your very first carnival in Venice. Whether you are using a map on your smart phone, or navigating with the old-fashioned paper variety, it’s critical to have some frame of reference. The streets will be jam-packed, and a wrong turn during the Venice carnival can be extremely difficult and time-consuming to undo.
While I appreciate the appeal of relying only on your iPhone, I’m of the opinion that you’ll want a paper version that’s at least as large as the pages in your guide book, if not the large folding variety. Venice is a city that’s difficult to get your bearings in unless you have a visual on large portions of the city.
It pays to keep an eye out while enjoying the Venice carnival
Remember that there aren’t exactly a large number of guard rails on the streets of Venice. This means it’s extremely easy to simply step off into the drink. Especially with crowded streets and impatient tourists pushing others out of the way to get where they’re going.
Cold canal water and a ruined phone can ruin an otherwise good time. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for the costumes of the revelers. These getups are extremely expensive to purchase and time consuming to create. Navigating around costumed carnival goers carefully as you snap your photos will be much appreciated by those who have dished out for more elaborate outfits.
Sightseeing
While there are many things to do in Venice, touring traditional venues may prove difficult.
The city will be literally elbow-to-elbow thick with tourists in many sections, making it frustrating to get close to museums and smaller churches you might otherwise enjoy visiting.
My advice? If the Venice carnival is your first time in the city, keep your visit all about the carnival this time. It’ll take enough problem solving to find your way around and make your way through the crowds. Besides, there’ll be enough to see with all of the costumes and piazza performances.
This really is one of the best carnivals in the world and seeing it live is a life experience worth having. A little bit of preparation and a sense of adventure will take you a long way. View more recommendations on my Italy travel guide.
