how crowded is Venice these days?

When is this trip? It matters a LOT.

Duh, of course dates are important. The end of May, probably28, 29 and 30.

End of May is peak tourist season, therefore the crowds will be intense.

The university area is not necessarily the source of drunks and bad behavior since binge drinking is not part of the Italian culture much, especially in the university students' circle where students are more serious than the typical US college fraternities, most drunks are actually students visiting from other shores (especially from American shores).

If you want to avoid crowds stay away from the major "calli" where visitors tend to congregate. Basically the main calli connecting San Marco to Rialto to the S. Lucia station, and also the calli connecting San Marco to the Accademia or to the Basilica dei Frari. As you walk away from the Grand Canal, in either direction, the crowds will be less. The Sestiere di San Marco is the one with the most crowds. So you can stay in the other sestieri but away from the Grand Canal. The Sestiere di Castello, east of San Marco toward the Arsenale, is the one that has a lot of local residents feel and where not too many tourists venture into.

"If you don't like Venice, you stayed in the wrong neighborhood and tried to cram too much in."
-I don't know who said this, but it's so true.

We love the Cannaregio neighborhood, on the quiet back canals, where there are NO crowds. The area has a nice energy, with shops and restaurants, and one can take sunset pix without a soul spoiling the frame. The area is a 15 minute walk from the train station, and an eight minute walk to a vaporetto stop on the Grand Canal.
We stay at Hotel Ai Mori d'Oriente, which has its own dock.

We go back every few years, and never go near St Marks Square. I have never seen the drunkenness that you described.
I hope you have a great experience.

I agree with Pat. We stay in Santa Croce, just west of San Polo. It's very quiet, but the areas that are more lively are filled with families! Kids playing soccer, adults lined up volunteering at a local food bank...

Sure, there are plenty of tourists, especially at the restaurants, but on the whole it's a lovely, peaceful place to stay.

Many thanks for these quick responses.I am encouraged to return. I agree the city is lovely.

How many angels fit on a pin head? As a person we become part of a “crowd.” To avoid such as a 1st worlder, one must stay home or travel in wilderness. As an experienced 15+ time Euro traveler, I appreciate the privilege of being part of the crowd wherever I am, city squares or back streets. Encourage all to embrace that privilege. (Enjoyed a few days in Venice July 26). ab

We were in Venice in April 2024 and October 2025. Both times, the crowds were ridiculous during the day, but mostly along the major street from the train station down to St Mark's Square. As soon as you get a couple streets away from St Mark's, or that main thoroughfare, it becomes much calmer and enjoyable. There are so many areas to wander through where you can stay away from the crowds.

I suggest wandering around the less touristy areas during the day (i.e. Cannareggio, Castello, the park, anything out on the water, etc.), and doing anything high crowd related in the evenings(St Mark's, Rialto, etc.) St Mark's Square is much nicer after most people have gone for the day- it might have been around 5-6pm that we noticed a difference. Still crowded, but not elbow to elbow.

When choosing a place to stay, I consider transportation needed to get there (proximity to vaporetto stop, cost for private taxi boat, number of bridges we'll have to haul luggage over, etc.) and try to stay away from bars/restaurants that will be open late.

My family was there in July and, while crowded, the only placed it felt packed was San Marco district and St. Mark's Square.

As another commenter suggested, stay in Cannaregio. Lively but not rowdy and plenty of serene areas to chill.