I’m not alone in saying that visiting Venice is one of the most interesting and unique travel experiences I’ve ever enjoyed. There is so much to see and do in this city of water and history that at times it all can be overwhelming.
As much fun as it is during the day, I think Venice in the evening is often even better. Gone are the heat and huge daytime crowds. Things slow down and people seem more relaxed as they head to their hotels or homes.
Piazza San Marco is a good example of this. During the day it’s so busy and crowded that it can be hard just to walk around the square. Thousands of people wait to crowd into St. Mark’s Cathedral, the Doge Palace, or the museums around the square. At night you’re dealing with maybe a hundred or so people at most.
One of the entertaining aspects of visiting the square at night is to listen to the “dueling bands”. Two of the restaurants feature bands in an effort to draw customers in. They’re both quite good and fun to listen to. If you buy a glass of wine you can get a front row table and enjoy the music and ambience for hours if you want. Food in the Piazza is not cheap but if you keep your order modest it’s a great entertainment value.
