10 Things to Do in Venice in October

The attractions of Venice are almost impossible to list, starting with all the canals that run through it. Practically every month of the year the city offers its inhabitants and tourists a series of events that increase the possibilities of enjoying the trip even more.

In the case of October, in addition to not finding the same crowds as during the high season, Venice allows its visitors to attend spectacular events such as an opera at La Fenice, learn about its wine at the wine fair or attend one of the most famous art festivals in the world.

If you travel to Venice in October you'll be lucky enough to coincide with the start of the city's opera season. Attending one, even if you're not a big fan, is an experience you won't forget and is certainly one of the best things to do in Venice at night.

Although in dispute with the Italian city of Florence, Venice is considered to be the birthplace of opera. Since 1792 it has also boasted one of the most mythical theatres in this art form, La Fenice, which is well worth a visit.

La Fenice Theatre has suffered two major fires in its history, the last one in 1996. However, it has managed to rise from the ashes to remain one of the world's temples of opera.

Taking advantage of the end of the high season in Venice to take a trip to the islands of Murano and Burano is one of the best things to do if you're in the Italian city in October.

Both islands, located in the lagoon itself, have enough attractions to make them a must-see at any time of year. The problem is that in July and August in Venice, a large number of tourists disembark on the islands, making it difficult to see what they have to offer.

• Murano: Murano is known the world over for its glasswork. Its artisans have maintained some of the traditional glassblowing techniques and there are several glassblowing demonstration workshops that allow visitors to see their art. In October, you will be able to enter without any problems and see their work more directly.

• Burano: the textile works are the most renowned. However, the city also stands out for its beautiful and colourful houses. According to legend, it was the sailors who painted them so that they would be visible from the sea.

Although you can take gondola rides on Venice's canals all year round, this activity is a must if you travel in October for two main reasons: because no one can pass through the city of canals without getting on one of these boats and because doing so in the beautiful autumn light makes it one of the best times to experience it.

Also, traffic on the canals is much reduced at this time and the gondoliers usually provide some blankets to keep you warm during the ride. This makes the trip much more intimate and romantic. All in all, the perfect time for couples.

My advice is to go for this ride in the early evening, as autumn is the time when the light starts to fade and the city is enveloped in a magical halo.

Venice's Halloween is, unsurprisingly, more sophisticated and the famous Venetian masks make their appearance in its streets. Certainly, its architecture, bridges, alleys, corners and canals play a fundamental role in giving the city a spooky atmosphere.

Many shop windows in the city are decorated to celebrate this date and numerous costume parties are organised in Venetian discos, bars and restaurants. The best known of these take place on the Lido, but there are other places for more terrifying experiences.

Among these is the Doge's Palace, which hides within its walls several secret corridors, cells and a creepy torture chamber where prisoners were interrogated back in the day.

Venice, like the rest of Italy, is famous for its gastronomic offer. However, the image of pasta and pizza falls far short of what you can really find in its restaurants and taverns. If you travel in October, there is one dish, moeche, which may not appeal to you at first, but I advise you to overcome that first idea and try it.

Moeche is a type of crab that loses its shell in October and November, as well as in spring. In the few days when this happens, they become an exquisite delicacy, tender and very tasty. In fact, their name in Venetian dialect means "soft"

The difficulty of catching the crabs during this moulting season explains the high price of the product: between 35 and 70 € per kilo. They are usually eaten fried and accompanied by a typical Venetian side dish, polenta. To eat them, you'll have to look for them in Venice's restaurants, as not all of them work. In Burano, on the other hand, they can be found in many places.

You've probably seen pictures on TV of Venice completely flooded. The phenomenon is known as acqua alta (high water) and can occur from October until the end of winter.

When it happens, it is enough to wear wellies to continue walking around the city. However, sometimes the floodwaters exceed normal levels and almost 60% of the historic centre is completely flooded, but a few years ago a system of dykes was put in place to prevent this from happening again.

While this is obviously a negative phenomenon and one that greatly affects the lives of Venetians, watching the normal acqua alta (not the big floods) is truly unique. If it happens when you are in Venice, don't hesitate to go to the square to take a photo of the reflection of St Mark's Basilica on the ground.

At the beginning of October many Venetians leave the city for Sant'Erasmo, the largest island in the Venice lagoon. The reason is the celebration of the Sagra del Mosto, a fair dedicated to wine when it has not yet fermented.

Those who come to this fair do so with the intention of tasting the new products presented there, especially a type of white wine, somewhat cloudy and slightly fizzy, called torbollino. As it's not just food and drink, although that's what most visitors and locals do, there's also a mixed rowing regatta and performances by some local musicians during the festival.

To get to the island, just take the number 13 vaporetto and if you want to visit something else you can go to the Torre Massimiliana, a defensive structure built by the French and home to some cultural activities.

Even if you're not taking part, the Venice Marathon makes for a festive atmosphere in the city and a day worth joining the Venetians and enjoying the atmosphere surrounding the event.

This marathon was born as a race from the nearby Brenta River to Campo Santi Apostoli, where the church of the same name stands, which I recommend you visit. Over time, it became an annual tradition that turns the run through the city into a real festival.

The Venice Marathon normally takes place on the fourth Sunday of October. Nowadays, both the start and finish line are located in St. Mark's Square and the route includes such fantastic places as the Ponte della Libertá, one of Venice's bridges linking Venice to the mainland, and San Giuliano Park, one of the city's main green spaces.

Most tourists choose to climb the bell tower (campanile) of St Mark's Square to enjoy the view. However, just opposite, there is another viewpoint that many consider to be the best in Venice: the Campanile di San Giorgio Maggiore. In autumn, you will also have the opportunity to see the Doge's Palace, a large part of the Grand Canal and, if you are lucky, the snow-capped Alps.

You will also be able to enjoy the sight of the palace as if it were emerging from the mist, a phenomenon that usually occurs at this time of year and which gives the city a ghostly appearance. There is a practical lift to the bell tower that makes the task much easier.

Apart from the views, this church is really interesting to visit because of the four large columns on its marble façade and its spectacular interior. October, apart from the lower intensity of the light when looking down from above, also offers the advantage of not having to queue as much as in summer in Venice and in spring.

If you think that the famous Venetian gelato is only eaten in the summer months, you'd be very wrong. This product, which is said to have been reintroduced to Italy by the Venetian Marco Polo, can be found all year round and, in fact, October is a great time to try it as you won't have to wait in long queues outside ice cream parlours in the high season.

As befits the fame of gelato in the city, you'll find numerous places serving all kinds of varieties. If the weather is fine, I recommend sitting on the terrace or on a bench to eat it. Otherwise, do it inside the ice-cream parlour. However, my advice if you are in Venice is that you should never fail to try it...and more than once.

The Venetian month of October can be quite rainy. Temperatures start to drop, which is more noticeable as the month progresses. However, mornings can still be expected to be mild.

Daily highs tend to stay around 15°C and rarely drop below 12°C. Lows, on the other hand, can be expected to be around 15°C and rarely drop below 12°C. Lows, on the other hand, stay around 8°C, with some days reaching as low as 4°C.

In any case, I advise you to check the weather forecast shortly before your trip so that you can adapt your luggage and tour to the weather conditions.

For many years now, it has been difficult to say when the low season starts in Venice. The city is visited by millions of people every year and events such as the Biennale attract many tourists even in autumn and winter.

However, there is a noticeable drop in visitors from October onwards. The queues in front of the main Venetian monuments are no longer so long and you can even stroll around the more central streets at your leisure.

Joaquín's Traveller Tip:

If you have enough time, I recommend adapting your timetable in case a cruise ship arrives. This way, you can avoid the thousands of tourists who disembark at the same time and cause crowds at the main tourist attractions.

The main problem with packing your suitcase when travelling to Venice in October is that the weather can be quite unpredictable. To get it right, I'd recommend packing clothes that you can layer on top of each other (the famous "onion" style) and that will work both when the temperatures are mild and when it cools down.

As it's a rainy month, you should also pack a waterproof jacket. Of course, footwear should have the same characteristics, but without forgetting comfort.