Practical box
- Transport
- Vaporetto (water bus) is the standard Venice transit. Carnival pricing: EUR 9.50 single, EUR 25 day pass, EUR 65 three-day pass. Walking is the practical alternative. The Piazzale Roma is the only mainland entry point; arrive by train or bus.
- Costs
- Hotels in Venice during Carnival EUR 280-1,200 per night, around 3x off-peak. Cicchetti (Venetian small plates) EUR 2-5 each. Carnival-week restaurant dinners EUR 65-285. Masks EUR 35-1,500.
- Safety on the night
- Venice is genuinely safe. Pickpocketing in Piazza San Marco crowd. The acqua alta (high tide flooding) happens in late January and February; wet feet are likely. Pack waterproof shoes.
- Dress
- Cold (3 to 8°C, often damp and foggy). Coat. Carnival dress: a mask is the minimum tradition; a full Venetian costume is the polished version. Costume rental EUR 95-450 per day at various shops.
- Ticketing
- Masked balls via the ball operator's site (Ballo del Doge, Casanova Ball). Volo dell'Angelo grandstand via the Venice Tourism Board. Free events walk-up.
Where to go on the night
The named venues and zones that anchor the event. Prices are peak-night, paid at the door or for an advance ticket. Outside the event week these same venues run at a fraction of the cost.
Festa Veneziana sull'Acqua
Carnival's opening procession on January 31. A water parade along the Grand Canal starting at Punta della Dogana. Multiple decorated boats with costumed performers.
Where
Grand Canal, between Punta della Dogana and Rialto
From
Free
Volo dell'Angelo
The Flight of the Angel, the signature Venice Carnival event. A costumed performer descends on a wire from the Campanile (bell tower) into Piazza San Marco in front of around 80,000 spectators. February 8 at noon.
Where
Piazza San Marco
From
Free; grandstand seats EUR 50-200
Masked balls
Venice's exclusive masked balls happen at the city's historic palazzos. The Ballo del Doge at Palazzo Pisani Moretta is the most prestigious. The Casanova Grand Ball at Palazzo Dandolo, the Tiepolo Ball at Hotel Danieli, and dozens of smaller masked dinners.
Where
Various palazzos along the Grand Canal
From
EUR 250-2,500 per ticket
Mask shops along Calle Larga XXII Marzo
The traditional Venice mask shops sell hand-painted Venetian-style masks (volto, bauta, colombina, plague-doctor). Mid-tier masks EUR 35-95; high-end hand-painted masks EUR 200-1,500. Buy on Calle Larga XXII Marzo or at La Bottega dei Mascareri near the Rialto Bridge.
Where
Calle Larga XXII Marzo, San Marco
From
EUR 35-1,500
Carnival of Venice: The 18-Day Festival
Carnival of Venice 2026 runs Saturday January 31 through Tuesday February 17 (Shrove Tuesday). The 18-day festival is the longest Carnival in Europe and one of the most distinctive globally. The character is mask-and-costume rather than the parade-and-street-party format of Rio or Salvador; the city of Venice (population 50,000 permanent residents) absorbs around 3 million visitors over the 18 days.
The festival operates on three parallel scenes. The free public events (water parade, Flight of the Angel, daily St. Mark's Square performances) are accessible to anyone visiting Venice. The exclusive masked balls at the historic palazzos are the polished, expensive, ticketed experiences. The personal-costume tradition (everyone wearing a mask or full costume) runs across both scenes.
The Volo dell'Angelo
The Flight of the Angel, Venice Carnival's signature event. A costumed performer descends on a wire from the Campanile (bell tower) into Piazza San Marco. The modern version happens on the first Sunday of Carnival (February 8 in 2026) at noon in front of around 80,000 spectators. Free; grandstand seats EUR 50-200 through the Venice Tourism Board. The tradition dates from the 16th century.
Masked Balls
The Ballo del Doge at Palazzo Pisani Moretta runs the most prestigious masked ball at EUR 1,500-2,500 per ticket. Multi-course Venetian dinner, period costumes mandatory (rentable from the ball operator for EUR 350-650 separate), 18th-century chamber music. The Casanova Grand Ball at Palazzo Dandolo runs EUR 850-1,800. Smaller balls at Palazzo Zen, Palazzo Mocenigo, and various other historic palazzos at EUR 250-650.
Costume rental for non-ball wear from shops along Calle Larga XXII Marzo EUR 95-450 per day. Mask purchase from La Bottega dei Mascareri or any of the traditional shops EUR 35-1,500.
The Acqua Alta Reality
Around 40 percent of Carnival days see some level of acqua alta (high tide flooding) with St. Mark's Square partially flooded. The flooding is usually 10-50 cm deep and lasts 2-4 hours per tidal cycle. Waterproof boots or knee-high waders (sold at every Venice shop EUR 15-25) are the practical purchase. The Venice Tourism Board publishes daily tide forecasts; check before walking St. Mark's.
Practical Venice Carnival Numbers
Hotels in Venice during Carnival EUR 280 to EUR 1,200 per night, around 3x off-peak (Venice's normal tourist season is May-October; February is normally off-peak, but Carnival reverses that). The premium hotels (Gritti Palace, Belmond Cipriani, Aman Venice) at EUR 850 to EUR 3,500. Apartments via Airbnb EUR 195-450. Many travelers stay in nearby Mestre (mainland, 10 minutes by train to Venice) for cheaper rates. Book by mid-October.
Vaporetto (water bus) is the standard Venice transit with Carnival pricing: EUR 9.50 single, EUR 25 day pass, EUR 65 three-day pass. Walking is the practical alternative for short distances. The Piazzale Roma is the only mainland entry point. Late January and February overnight temperatures at 3 to 8°C, often damp and foggy; warm coat and waterproof footwear mandatory.
Where to stay in venice during Carnival of Venice
Rooms in the core event neighborhoods sell out months ahead and run double the off-peak rate. The map below shows what's still available within walking distance of the action.
Year-round context for venice
This page covers the event week specifically. For the broader picture, legal framework, nightlife districts, and year-round venues, see the main TDG venice page and Italy country guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
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