By day, Venice’s streets are bustling with tourists exploring this stunning city's landmarks, attractions, and museums. But at night, the city has a much slower pace, so you can unwind after a busy day of sightseeing.
Bar culture in Venice is one of the city’s defining features, being the home of cocktails like the spritz and bellini. Enjoy your drink of choice with some cicchetti (bar snacks) whilst you mingle with the locals in canalside bars or admire the city skyline at night from a rooftop terrace.
Looking for something a little more lively? Head for the clubs in Lido and Mestre to dance all night long.
Whatever your idea of the perfect night out is, Venice’s varied nightlife scene has something for everyone. Our guide to the best things to do in Venice at night includes:
Where in Venice has the best nightlife?
You don’t have to go far in Venice to find a great bar where you can enjoy a glass of locally produced wine or the region’s famous prosecco. Whilst there aren’t many clubs in the city centre, Mestre on the mainland and the island of Lido di Venezia are easy to reach using public transport.
Ultimately, the best nightlife in Venice will depend on your preference. We’re here to guide you to the best bars, pubs and clubs in each area so you can plan your evening from start to finish.
Dorsoduro
Dorsoduro is home to many of Venice’s main attractions, like the Gallerie dell’Accademia and Santa Maria della Salute. It’s also close to the San Marco area, where you’ll find St. Mark’s Square, Teatro La Fenice and the city’s most popular shopping areas.
After you’ve finished sightseeing for the day, why not head to the bars, pubs and clubs in Dorsoduro? Some of the best spots in this area are:
- Corner Pub
- Caffe Rosso
- Enoteca Schiavi
- El Chioschetto
- Experimental Cocktail Club
- Osteria al Squero
- Bar ai Artisti
- Osteria ai Pugni
- Venice Jazz Club
Dorsoduro is a 23-minute walk from Venezia Santa Lucia station. Staying elsewhere in Venice or on one of the Venetian Islands? The nearest vaporetto stops to these bars are Ca’Rezzonico, Accademia and Zattere.
Cannaregio
Venice’s second largest sestiere (district), Cannaregio, boasts some of the best nightlife in the city. This neighbourhood is the Jewish quarter of Venice. It’s also home to many beautiful churches, narrow streets, and quieter residential areas away from the Grand Canal.
Spend an afternoon exploring the history and culture in this area before heading for a drink at one of Cannaregio’s best bars. Some of the top spots include:
- Vino-Vero
- Time Social Bar
- Birreria Zanon
- Ae Bricoe
- Al Timon
- Mezzopieno
- Il Santo Bevitore
- Profondo Rosso
- Birre da Tutto al Mondo
Travelling to Venice from the mainland for an evening in the city? Venezia Santa Lucia train station is located in the Cannaregio district. From the station, you can walk to the heart of this neighbourhood in just 10 minutes.
San Polo
San Polo is Venice’s oldest and smallest sestiere, but there’s plenty of nightlife to enjoy in this area! Sip a spritz alongside the Grand Canal, sample local wines at a traditional vineria or experience unique flavours at an experimental cocktail bar.
The centrally-located neighbourhood of San Polo can easily be reached from San Marco via Rialto Bridge. Here you’ll find some of the city’s best bars, including:
- All’Arco
- Il Mercante
- Al Merca
- Adagio
- Vineria all’Amerone
- La Bottiglia
- Cantina Do Mori
- Brillo Parlante
San Polo is a 14-minute walk from Venezia Santa Lucia station, making it the ideal location to head to if you’re spending an evening in Venice.
Castello
Although Castello is the largest sestiere in Venice, it’s also one of the most peaceful.
Home to the Biennale Gardens, where the city’s famous La Biennale art exhibitions are held, and the Arsenale dockyards, you can experience Venice at a slower pace here.
Discover quiet squares to sit and enjoy a drink in the sun or head here in the evening to escape the hustle and bustle of neighbouring San Marco. The best bars in Castello are:
- Alla Rampa
- Bacaro Risorto
- Al Vecio Calice
- El Refolo
- La Barrique
- Basegó
- Salvmeria
Castello is the furthest district away from Venezia Santa Lucia station, nearly a 50-minute walk or a 40-minute ride on the 4.1 ferry from Piazzale Roma E to Arsenale stop.If you want to see more of Venice en-route to Castello or go bar hopping around the city, take the number 2 vaporetto from Ferrovia B outside the station to Rialto stop, a 10-minute journey. Then walk 27 minutes through San Marco to reach the heart of this neighbourhood.
Campo San Bartolomeo
A stone’s throw from Rialto Bridge, Campo San Bartolomeo is the ideal place to stop for a few mid-afternoon drinks whilst you’re exploring Venice. Located in the busy San Marco district, the square is mostly home to shops. You’ll find plenty of bars and live music venues nearby, including:
- Mille Vini
- Devil’s Forest Pub
- Ai Stagneri
- Sepa
- Bacarando in Corte dell’Orso
- Bacaro Jazz
Campo San Bartolomeo is a 22-minute walk from Venezia Santa Lucia station via Rialto Bridge. Or get there in just 12 minutes when you take the number 2 vaporetto from Ferrovia B, outside the train station, to Rialto stop.
Campo San Luca
When you need a break from shopping or sightseeing, sit down and enjoy a few drinks near Campo San Luca. Located close to the main shopping streets in Venice’s San Marco district and some of the city’s most popular attractions like Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica, head here to escape the crowds:
- Enoteca al Volto
- Black Jack
- Teamo Wine Bar
- Ae Veste
- Ten
- Bar Chiaranda
The Campo San Luca area is a 26-minute walk from Venezia Santa Lucia station. Get there in just 14 minutes when you take the number 2 vaporetto from Ferrovia B to Rialto, then walk.
Giudecca
When you want a change of pace, head over to the island of Giudecca for the evening. Here you’ll find plenty of low-key bars along the waterfront and rooftop bars where you can take in the stunning views across to San Marco and spot all the city’s best-known landmarks.
- Bar da Monica
- Skyline Rooftop Bar
- Osteria da Moro
- Majer
- La Palanca
Arriving in Venice by train? Take the number 4.1 vaporetto from Piazzale Roma E outside Venezia Santa Lucia station to get to Giudecca in 20 minutes. If you’re staying in Venice, walk to the Zattere stop in Dorsoduro, where you can get a ferry across the water to Giudecca in 4 minutes.
Lido
The longest island in the Venetian Lagoon, Lido, is known for its sandy beaches. Thanks to the many beach clubs and bars, it becomes Venice’s party hotspot by night. Spend a day at the beach before watching the sunset over a few drinks, then dance into the early hours.
These are the best places to spend an evening in Lido:
- Bar 9
- Essentiale
- Nave d’Oro Vineria
- Blue Drop
- No Pasa Nada
- Da Cri Cri e Tendina
- Blue Moon
- Pachuka Beach Club
To get to Lido from Venice’s centre, take vaporetto 6 from Piazzale Roma B near Venezia Santa Lucia station, or pick it up en-route at Zattere or Spirito Santo. The journey takes around 30 minutes by ferry from Santa Lucia.
You can take the A or B bus from the Santa Maria Elizabetta stop, right by the Lido ferry stop if you're heading to the beach. This takes just 6 minutes, or it’s a 43-minute walk if you fancy exploring the town and the island en-route.
Mestre
Staying on the mainland? There’s still plenty of nightlife to enjoy in Mestre! Here you’ll find more clubs than you will in Venice, alongside bars, pubs and live music venues. Check out these places in Mestre if you’re planning a night out:
- Alai Bar
- AquAlta
- Al Distributore
- Le Colonne d’Ercole
- Corte dei Matti
- Ca’ di Mat
- Giro de Ombre
- Plan B
- AltaVoz
- Area City
The train to Mestre takes just 10 minutes from Venezia Santa Lucia. The bus from Libertà Santa Chiara or Piazzale Roma is a 15-minute journey. You can get to Mestre from Marco Polo Airport in 20 minutes by train.
Best nightlife areas near Venice
Fancy spending an evening out of Venice? Head to the nearby beach resort of Jesolo or the beautiful city of Padua to discover more nightlife.
Jesolo
The lungomare (promenade) in Lido di Jesolo is dotted with beach clubs, cocktail bars and pubs. You’ll also find more nightlife in the town centre. Bookmark these locations if you’re planning a night out in Jesolo:
- Cipetteria
- Amadeus Pub
- Totem Bar
- Bariole
- The QC
The easiest way to get to Jesolo from Venice city centre is by bus. Take the 10a bus from Piazzale Roma, an hour’s journey.
Padua
The picturesque city of Padua boasts some of the best nightlife in Veneto, thanks to its large student population and proximity to the wine-making areas of this region. Be sure to check out these places if you’re spending an evening in Padua:
- La Moscheta
- Canenero
- Bar Code
- Corte Sconta
- Enoteca Ombre Rosse
- Enoteca Il Tira Bouchon
- Il Gottino
The fastest trains from Venezia Santa Lucia to Padua take 26 minutes, so you can easily spend a night out in this beautiful Italian city during your trip to Venice!
Getting around Venice
The best way to get to the main nightlife areas in Venice is by walking or vaporetto. If you’re heading to Giudecca, Lido or one of the other Venetian Islands, be sure to check the ferry timetables to avoid getting stranded, as some routes stop around midnight.
Venturing further afield for a night out in Mestre, Jesolo or Padua? Trains and buses depart from Venezia Santa Lucia and Piazzale Roma, so it’s easy to get to the mainland. Plan your journey in advance as most services don’t run throughout the night.
Looking for more inspiration for things to do in Venice? Our dedicated guides to the best restaurants, shopping, markets and attractions will help you plan your visit.
Travelling by train to Venice?
If you're planning to visit Venice, why not travel by train? Travelling to Venice by train is easy due to the high-speed rail connections operated by Trenitalia and Italo. You can travel to Venice from some of the most popular locations in Italy, including Peschiera del Garda to Venice (1h 16m), Verona Porta Nuova to Venice (1h) and Trieste Centrale to Venice (1h 37m).
Need more information about travelling to Venice by train? Check out our dedicated page to trains to Venice.