Carnival of Venice
Carnevale di Venezia · Venice, Italy
Put on a mask and a cloak, and step into the old Venetian Republic in St Mark's Square.
Know before you go
- Don't push or tug at people's costumes
- don't stop on bridges or in narrow lanes and block the flow
- don't occupy bridges for long photo sessions
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
The Venice Carnival is held before the start of Lent and is famous for its masks and costumes. Masks once let people of different classes set aside their identities during the festival. Common traditional masks include the 'Bauta', which covers the whole face, the black oval 'Moretta' and the long-beaked plague doctor mask.
Local customs
- The traditional 'Festa delle Marie' ends with a costumed parade and a contest
- costumed people posing in the square are often happy to be photographed with visitors
Religion & beliefs
Rooted in the Catholic calendar: the last revelry before Lent, which begins after Fat Tuesday (Martedì Grasso).
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Italy: don't drive into historic-centre limited traffic zones (ZTL)
- Park outside restricted zones and walk into town
- Driving into a ZTL zone without a permit
You will be fined.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Italy travel advice
Italy: validate your ticket before boarding
- Validate your ticket in the machine before using public transport
- Travelling with an unvalidated ticket
Inspectors will fine you on the spot.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Italy travel advice
Italy: don't buy from unlicensed street vendors
- Shop at proper stores
- Buying from unlicensed street vendors
It is illegal, and local police may stop and fine you.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Italy travel advice
Italy: rules around monuments and fountains
- Keep the area around monuments clean and quiet
- Going into or splashing in public fountains (Florence, Rome and elsewhere)
- Swimming in Venice's canals
- Eating and drinking next to major churches, monuments and public buildings
- Sitting on monument steps, littering, or scratching or writing on monuments
All are local offences; urinating in public can bring a fine of up to €10,000.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Italy travel advice
Rome's Spanish Steps: no sitting, eating or drinking
- Walk up the steps and keep moving after your photo
- Sitting, resting, eating or drinking on the steps
Banned by Rome's urban police regulations since 2019; media report fines of €250, rising to €400 for dirtying or damaging the steps.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: ANSA: Rome bans sitting on the Spanish Steps (2019)
Don’t DON'T
- Don't push or tug at people's costumes
- don't stop on bridges or in narrow lanes and block the flow
- don't occupy bridges for long photo sessions
Locals appreciate DO
- Locals appreciate visitors who buy locally handmade masks (papier-mâché, hand-painted) rather than cheap plastic ones
- greet costumed people before photographing them and thank them afterwards.
Plan your visit
Practical info
| 2027 dates | January 23 – February 9, 2027 |
|---|
Travel tips
- The 2027 carnival runs from 23 January to 9 February (as published on the official website)
- weekends are busiest, and weekday mornings are more relaxed for photography
- the Venezia Unica city pass covers museums and transport
2027 schedule
The official website gives 23 January – 9 February 2027, with Fat Tuesday on 9 February.
Photos
Photos
Lucarelli · CC BY-SA 3.0
Lucarelli · CC BY-SA 3.0
Sources & verification notes
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