Venice in March

So this is not about a visit to Venice, but a visit to Milan, Venice, and as yet unnamed places in between? How many nights do you plan in Italy? The same places mentioned in your 2017 thread still hold true- Verona, Vicenza, and Padua. Otherwise, there are frequent direct trains between Milan and Venice taking only 2 hrs 15 min

Here is your previous thread with lots of suggestions
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/venice-in-early-spring

Hello maggiecohn1, I was in Venice in March this year and I thought it was wonderful. It was definitely the coldest place we were in March but the weather really was pretty mild.

What was best about it was how ordinary everything was - bars were filled with people coming home after work or going out for the night with friends joking and laughing. People walking dogs were hailed by shop owners and vice versa just like in any small Italian town, but to see everyday life in Venice was great. The weekend days did swell with day-tripppers - even the Venetians were surprised at the crowds - but the mornings, evenings and outer areas are still there to enjoy.

The best meal I had in Venice was at Ai Mercanti which is walking a very fine line between fine dining with matching service and an easy going feel. Had a nice experience at Ristorante Agli Artisti which is pretty approachable and a bit expensive for what it is, but it is family run and has a good feel.
Wine Bar 5000 was a great little find on a quiet side canal with wine (obviously) and wine bar food. I really liked OZIO on Campiello Santa Maria Formosa if you find yourself over there. (Note that the owner is fiercely local Venice so don't engage in boorish tourist behavior and you be fine.) I also liked the tiny and busy Bacaro Risorto on the main drag near Campo San Zaccaria but mostly for its fiercely local vibe and gang of regulars vibe. It is on the cross roads from San Marco as well as San Zaccaria vaporetto stop so it has a lot of people just off work passing by traffic.

If you provide a list of your interests it will be easier to suggest towns to stop in along the way. The obvious ones are Bergamo, Brescia (which I really liked), Verona, Padua/Padova but Bologna and the Po valley famous foodie destinations are easily reachable too depending on what you are interested in. The lakes are all in there but are probably out in March for most lake activities.

March in northern Italy is the transition from winter to spring and Tuscany we saw the trees green up noticeably day by day. Landscapes are not as lush and some tourist things are not yet operating - the Campanile in San Marco was not doing nighttime hours yet - but there were virtually no tourists and locals were busy enjoying the new spring.

Hope that helps,
=Tod

Well, it’s a little embarrassing to find that my brain is revisiting thoughts from three years ago — I’m going to take that to mean it’s an idea we should see through to a conclusion — an actual trip!

FYI, Ash Wed is in Feb and Easter is the end of March 2027 so keep that in mind.

I noticed that -- what do you think it would be like to be in Italy (Venice or elsewhere on Ash Wednesday and/or Easter Sunday? Should I delay until 3/29?

The crowds will only increase after Easter

Ash Wednesday is in early February. You said you wanted to visit Venice in March. You haven't said how long you plan on being in Italy, but if you are still planning on the same 2 weeks as in your post from 2017, then you have ample time to finish your visit before Holy Week.

If your plans have changed and you are planning an extended stay, Ash Wednesday is not a public holiday. It's a regular business day. Observant Catholics will attend Mass and begin their Lent abstinence. There are no disruptions to normal life during Holy Week until Easter Sunday and Monday when offices and banks will close. Some stores may close. Public transportation may run on reduced schedules. Major tourist attractions will be open. Restaurants may be busier on Easter Sunday, so advance reservations would be wise.