One concern I had before heading to Venice for the weekend was that high tide might severely interfere with my visit. Just a few nights before, between November 12 and 13, 2019, Venice experienced record high tides that caused significant damage to the city, businesses, and tourist attractions.

Since my train tickets and hotel were non-refundable, I decided not to cancel my weekend trip and went ahead with my plan to explore the city. I’m so glad I did! With a little extra preparation, I was still able to see all the attractions I wanted and had a great time.

With these tips, I don’t intend to downplay the challenges the Venetians are facing during this period of weather-related crisis. On the contrary, I’m addressing those visitors who are unsure whether to cancel their trip to Venice or who want to receive helpful advice on how to navigate the frequent flooding in the city.

Wear Waterproof Shoes

Avoid wearing fabric shoes, tennis shoes, or suede. They will get ruined immediately, and you’ll end up with wet feet all day. Opt for waterproof boots or, even better, tall rain boots. Also, check that the soles are slip-resistant. In some areas, you may not need to cross puddles, but the floors could still be wet.
This advice might seem obvious, but I noticed a lot of tourists wearing canvas shoes, and besides having wet feet for sure, they struggled to keep their balance under the arcades in Piazza San Marco.

Visit the inner Streets in the Morning and Piazza San Marco in the Afternoon

With sustained high water levels (from 80 to 109 cm) or very high tide levels (from 110 to 139 cm), Venice is flooded by about 11% to 35%, meaning not all of the city is underwater.
The inner streets, farther from the lagoon, are accessible, while in the lower areas of the city, raised walkways are set up. The most critical levels are more frequent in the morning and evening due to high tide linked to astronomical (lunar phases) and meteorological factors.

Piazza San Marco, due to its proximity to the lagoon and its elevation, is often flooded in the morning and evening. In the afternoon, however, it’s much more likely to be dry or at least not completely flooded.

Download the High Tide App

To keep track of the high tide situation, download this app, which is a must-have for every Venetian. By checking it, you can organize your day better and try to avoid ending up in the water.

If possible, I recommend avoiding walking through the water. Instead, take the long way around and walk on the raised sidewalks (for example, along San Marco).
You should know what you’ll see isn’t just seawater; it’s mainly water coming from the sewers… what else can I say?

Walk on the Raised Walkways

The Venetians are very organized and set up walkways in the most critical and heavily visited areas of the city. You’ll notice they are perfectly walkable and safe. Of course, when there’s a high influx of tourists, it requires some patience since they are the only accessible paths.
It’s not recommended to linger on the walkways, and sitting is forbidden to facilitate pedestrian circulation.

Beware of the Siren!

The entire island is equipped with an acoustic alert system covering the entire city through speakers installed in bell towers that warn about the arrival of high water. It’s activated a few hours in advance and even works at night.
You can easily decode the expected water level using a simple code: a prolonged sound for up to 110 cm, two rising sounds for 120 cm, three sounds for 130 cm, and four sounds for 140 cm and above.

Use Plastic Shoe Covers

If you absolutely must walk through the water, you can buy special temporary plastic boots in every souvenir shop. They come in various colors and sizes (S, M, L, XL) at a cost of around 10 euros.
Although they’re definitely not the height of fashion, they do their job well for short walks in the water and even keep your legs warm. However, they are not suitable for prolonged use as the sole is fragile and might detach.

I hope these tips will be useful! If you have any questions or additional suggestions, leave me a comment below.

For all tourist information about the city of Venice, visit the official website Venezia è Unica by clicking here.
For information on local public transport in Venice, visit the official ACTV website.

If you’re in Venice for one weekend, don’t forget to visit the island of Burano!

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Go on traveling!

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