Last Updated on August 5, 2024 by Jo
NEWS for 2024: The Venice Entry Fee applies if you visit Venice on specific dates from April to July 2024. Dates listed in the calendar below. More info: Venice Entry Fee 2024 – Everything You Need to Know
Whether you’re planning to visit Italy’s sparkling wine region to go wine tasting, planning a trip to Italy more generally, or looking for a good excuse to drink Prosecco, here are the key dates, holidays and timings to keep in mind. Note: we focus on activities and events in the north of Italy, specifically the Veneto region. However, many of the holidays listed below are national and will apply to the whole of Italy.
Dates: We have included a specific date where the holiday happens on the same date each year. Where the date changes each year, we have intentionally left out the specific dates so the calendar remains relevant each year. A quick search online will give you the correct date for the year you’re visiting.
Tour Blackout Dates 2024
Due to public holidays and local events, we don’t offer tours on these dates:
31 March
1 May
23 May (contact us)
2 June (contact us)
15 August
29 September
25 – 26 December
January
1 January, New Year’s Day – Like many countries around the world, New Year’s Day is a National holiday with many businesses and restaurants, including the wineries, closed so that people can rest after New Year’s eve celebrations.
6 January, Epiphany – Epiphany is a National Holiday in Italy. The Epiphany feast, known locally as La Befana is a religious holiday with a weave of folklore involving a witch flying on her broomstick, searching for baby Jesus and delivering presents to children. Many businesses, including the Prosecco wineries close on this day.
January, many wineries, hotels and restaurants are closed during the first week of January in the Prosecco region. It doesn’t make a trip impossible – just do your research. If you book a tour with us, your driver will do all the planning for you.
2024 Venice Carnival takes place from 27 January to February 13. It’s earlier than usual in 2024 since Easter is earlier. More at: Venezia Unica.
February
Mid-February to early March, Venice Carnival – the famous Venice’s carnivale has been running annually since the 11th century. While it’s a glorious event, crowds can make accommodation and restaurants very busy. Plan ahead. Carnival take place in the two weeks leading up to Shrove Tuesday. Want some calm after the crowds of Venice carnival? Why not book a relaxing trip out to the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene region – only an hour away from Venice.
2024 Venice Carnival takes place from 27 January to February 13. It’s earlier than usual in 2024 since Easter is earlier. More at: Venezia Unica.
March
24 March, European Gelato Day – a day when artisanal gelato is officially tasted in the European Parliament, we don’t think this special day should just be for the politicians. Grab yourself a scoop. Or two. Read more: Gelato vs Ice Cream vs Sorbet – What’s the Difference?
22 March to 25 April, Easter – Easter, that wandering religious holiday, is a national holiday in Italy, with businesses, including the wineries closing on Easter Sunday. Although the dates wander, the holiday falls on the Friday and following Sunday between 22 March and 25 April. Check for annual dates.
2024 Good Friday is 29 March and Easter Sunday 31 March. Wineries are closed on Easter Sunday 31 March and we’re not running tours. We are running tours the rest of the Easter period including Good Friday.
March to June, Primavera del Prosecco – Spring in Prosecco (Primavera del Prosecco), is a magical time in the region. As the region springs back to life, expect local events from exhibitions, wine tastings and cultural tours of the area. Special packages are available from some hotels, B&Bs and agriturismi. More info at: Primavero del Prosecco.
April
Venice Entry Fee 2024: applies to everyone who visits Venice on 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 April 2024. You must get a QR code to enter the city.
25 April – Liberation Day. A national holiday in Italy celebrating the anniversary of WWII resistance and liberation.
March to June, Primavera del Prosecco – Spring in Prosecco continues. More info at: Primavero del Prosecco.
May
Venice Entry Fee 2024: applies to everyone who visits Venice on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26 May 2024. You must get a QR code to enter the city.
1 May, May Day / Labour Day – the first day of Spring is a national holiday in Italy, as it is across Europe. Known in Italy as Calendimaggio or cantar maggio. We do not runn tours on 1 May as the wineries are closed.
12 May 2024 – Feast of Ascension (La Festa della Sensa (festa dell’Ascensione)) is an event in Venice celebrating the city’s 1,000 year old Maritime history and relationship with the sea. The festival includes a boat parades and a “wedding of the sea” ceremony.
23 May 2024, Giro d’Italia – Giro d’Italia is a three week cycling race through Italy. On 23 May, the race travels through the region. Local roads are closed. Contact us as we have a few wineries that may be able to offer tours, subject to availability.
🇬🇧 23 – 24 May 2024 – Liverpool Prosecco Festival (UK) – Try a selection of fizz, gins, cocktails and Prosecco at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. Tickets at: Prosecco Festival.
March to June, Primavera del Prosecco – Spring in Prosecco continues. More info at: Primavero del Prosecco.
June
Venice Entry Fee 2024: applies to everyone who visits Venice on 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30 June 2024. You must get a QR code to enter the city.
2 June, Republic Day – Festa della Repubblica is Italian National Day. This holiday celebrates the signing of the Referendum in 1946, which led to the creation of Italy as a republic. The main celebrations take place in Italy’s capital, Rome, businesses are closed throughout the country. We are running tours on 2 June but please contact us.
March to June, Primavera del Prosecco – Spring in Prosecco continues. See March for details.
7 June to 7 September 2024 – Verona Opera Festival – held in the Arena di Verona, a Roman Amphitheatre that was built in 30AD, the Verona Opera Festival is a not-to-be-missed event in Verona. You can find out more and buy tickets on the official website: Verona Opera Festival.
🇬🇧 14 – 15 June 2024 – Winchester Prosecco Festival (UK) – Try a selection of fizz, gins, cocktails and Prosecco at Winchester Guild Hall. Tickets at: Prosecco Festival.
July
Venice Entry Fee 2024: applies to everyone who visits Venice on 6, 7, 13, 14 July 2024. You must get a QR code to enter the city.
25 July, National Wine and Cheese Day – another great US national holiday we’ve fully embraced. Read more in our guides to: Italian cheeses | Parmesan Cheese | Italian Wine
July and August, Peak Season – Peak travel season starts in July, especially after the schools finish for summer. While it’s a fun and vibrant time to visit Italy, with excellent sunshine, accommodation and wine tours get busy. Try to book several months ahead. Read more: Where to Stay in Venice | Where to Stay in the Wine Region
7 June to 7 September 2024 – Verona Opera Festival – See June for details.
August
13 August, National Prosecco Day – Pop some corks, your favourite Italian Sparkling wine has a national holiday. Celebrate it, but most of all drink it. Try our Easy Prosecco Cocktail Recipes. Or find out How To Choose The Best Prosecco.
15 August, Ferragosto – The Assumption of Mary, Ferragosto, is another National Holiday in Italy that has religious origins. This catholic holiday coincides with the end of summer and is a celebration of the Virgin May. Businesses and the wineries close for the celebration. We don’t run tours on this date.
28 August – 7 September 2024, Venice Film Festival – for 10 days, Venice turns into a premier cinematic destination. Located on Venice Lido island, the city is packed with celebrities and film screenings. You can also expect plenty of crowds, so plan ahead for accommodation.
28 August – 29 September 2024, Sound of the Dolomites (I Suoni delle Dolomiti) – this month-long music festival has one of the most dramatic locations in Italy. An event where music and nature combine. There’s a packed schedule. Combine it with one of our Dolomites Tours. Or turn it into a multi-destination trip – Italy’s Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco region is a few hours away by car or train.
July and August, Peak Season – See above.
Late August, Pre-Harvest Beak – Many of the wineries close for a quick break ahead of the harvest in September. Some wineries remain open so if you book a tour with us, you can leave it to our drivers to know where is and isn’t open each day.
National Peach Month – a great national holiday celebrated in the USA and a perfect excuse to blitz up a Bellini. Here’s our Bellini cocktail recipe and some variations. Interestingly, white peach season in Italy falls earlier, in June and July.
7 June to 7 September 2024 – Verona Opera Festival – See June for details.
September
September and October, Grape Harvest Season – The vines are at their most beautiful in September just before the grapes are picked. Typically they are harvested from the vine late September (though it changes yearly depending on the weather). Processing the picked grapes happens throughout October. In short, it’s a unique and spectacular time to visit the wine region. It also makes it two of our busiest months for tours. Meanwhile, the wineries are super busy tending their crops and many close to focus on the harvest. While we can typically find wineries to visit, we recommend you book ahead.
29 September 2024, Gran Fondo Prosecco – Gran Fondo Prosecco is another bike race that takes place in the Valdobbiadene region. Many of the local roads are closed so we’re unable to offer wine tours.
28 August – 7 September 2024, Venice Film Festival – See August for details.
28 August – 29 September 2024, Sound of the Dolomites (I Suoni delle Dolomiti) – See August for details.
Valdobbiadene Jazz Festival, September and October – annual jazz festival with events over 3 weeks. See the Valdobbiadene Jazz festival page for full details.
7 June to 7 September 2024 – Verona Opera Festival – See June for details.
October
September and October, Grape Harvest Season – see above.
October to January, Acqua Alta – You may be aware that Venice is sinking but that isn’t what’s behind Acqua Alta, the regular tidal flooding of Venice. When high tides, plus low pressure and winds coincide, Venice can find itself submerged in water. Historically, this has meant visitors have faced buying or renting thigh-high wading boots to get around the city. However, The Mose Seawall Project was implemented in 2020 to try and prevent acqua alta and has so far been successful. We’d still recommend checking before you go but, hopefully, acqua alta is now a thing of the past. Read more: Things To Do In Venice | Venice Day Trips | To Venice From The Airport
Valdobbiadene Jazz Festival, September and October – See September for details.
November
November, Shoulder Season – November is a great time to visit the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene W region. The crowds are fewer, the restaurants less busy and there’s more availability at the wineries. Take advantage of great prices.
1 November, All Saints Day – All Saints Day is an international holiday celebrating saints. It’s also known as All Hallows’ Day and, in Italy, as Tutti i santi / Ognissanti. Tours run as normal.
December
8 December, Immaculate Conception – The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is an important day in the Roman Catholic calendar. It’s known as Immacolata Concezione in Italy. Tours run as normal.
24 December, Christmas Eve – some wineries are open for tasting in the morning. Plan ahead and book early.
25 December, Christmas Day – the wineries are closed for this National Holiday. If you’re planning to visit Italy over the Christmas period, consider a hotel that has a restaurant attached as many independent restaurants will close on 25 and 26 December.
26 December, Boxing Day / St Stephen’s Day – as with Christmas Day, the wineries are closed for this National Holiday.
31 December, New Year’s Eve – some wineries are open on the morning of New Year’s Eve. Get in contact early if you want to plan a wine tasting.
December, Christmas Markets – Italy has some wonderful Christmas markets and there are several in or close to the region. You can find a list of the local Christmas markets here.
Booking A Tour
If you’d like to visit the Prosecco region on your trip to Italy, here are our Wine Tours as well as our Italy Tours. For more information, please see our FAQs and Reviews.
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