Yes, Venice in summer. And yes, it’s still worth every sun-dappled step along the canals. While the midday heat may tempt you into long lunches and shaded courtyards, there’s something undeniably magical about La Serenissima in July — the shimmer on the lagoon, the clink of glasses at twilight, the quiet thrill of turning down an unknown alley. Whether you’re floating toward the Lido for a morning swim or slipping into a silk dress for seafood and sunset, IRMA has curated the perfect Venice guide to help you keep cool, stay curious, and capture the city’s timeless allure in your own rhythm.
A Riva Ride Through the Lagoon
There is simply no finer way to discover Venice and her shimmering Lagoon than by water — ideally aboard a timeless Riva Aquariva. With its gleaming mahogany and glinting chrome catching the morning light, the boat becomes your polished stage as La Serenissima reveals herself, scene by scene, like the opening credits of a Fellini film. Drift past floating palazzi, slip into hidden canals, and set course for the storybook isles of Burano, Torcello, and the monastic sanctuaries beyond. Let the seasoned Venetian captains regale you with tales that echo through time. The Gritti Palace has the most beautiful Riva.
Book through the Gritti Palace Concierge.
The Lido Before Noon
Take the vaporetto and head straight to the Lido while the sand is still cool. Claim a striped cabana, order a Bellini, and watch the Adriatic come to life. The façade of the Grandhotel Excelsior, with its Moorish arches and Belle Époque glamour, feels like a Fellini daydream.
View details at Grandhotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort.
Dress Light and Wander Slow
Venetian summers ask for fluid fabrics, linen-blend skirts and flat mules. The architecture provides fleeting shade as you pass through secret alleys and sun-washed courtyards. Let intuition, not Google Maps, guide you.
Pack the IRMA way: natural fibres, large sunglasses, and an easy crossbody bag. Less is more.
A Pause at the Guggenheim
Behind a wrought-iron gate in Dorsoduro lies the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice’s most intimate art sanctuary. Take a moment in the courtyard under the olive trees, where the sun carves shadows on the tiles and Calder’s red sculpture captures your gaze. It’s a place to breathe, not rush.
Visit the Guggenheim Collection.
Visit the Arsenale, Skip the Crowds
While the Giardini often buzz with Biennale fatigue, the Arsenale offers a quieter, more contemplative setting. Stone walls and calm waters frame some of the most avant-garde installations—art meets reflection. During the Architecture Biennale, this space transforms into a vast, immersive narrative. The 2025 edition, themed “Reimagining Habitats: Architecture in the Age of Climate Migration”, plays out with striking clarity here. From floating dwellings to modular eco-shelters built from reclaimed materials, the Arsenale becomes a laboratory of ideas—where architecture doesn’t just imagine the future but constructs it, room by room.
Da Celeste on Pellestrina: Seafood Supper by the Sea
Perched on the edge of Pellestrina’s sleepy waterfront, da Celeste serves up Adriatic seafood with unfussy perfection. The fish is as fresh as the lagoon breeze, the tables dressed in white linen, and the mood deliciously timeless. Arrive by boat or from the Lido by bike, bus or car. Order the mussels—use your hands. Here, the elegance is quiet, the pace unhurried. Think salt-kissed skin, pearl studs, and a silk blouse catching the last of the evening light.
Aperitivo on the Grand Canal
Unwind with the Basil-ica Cocktail at the Riva Lounge as the day comes to a close. Set on the terrace of the Gritti Palace, overlooking the Grand Canal, this elegant spot captures the magic of twilight. Watch gondolas glide by as the evening gently takes its course. Inspired by the nearby Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, the Riva Lounge honours its splendour with a refreshing basil-infused signature drink.
