Venice, Florida travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Venice is a city in Sarasota County, in Southwest Florida. It was voted as one of the top ten Happiest Seaside Towns by Coastal Living.

3 things to do · 3 places to eat · 2 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Venice

Oscar Scherer State Park

Venice Theatre

Curry Creek Preserve

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Oct–May. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 52°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Aug and Jun.

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
SRQ Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, Sarasota/Bradenton — 22 mi away (major hub). Directions
PGD Punta Gorda Airport, Punta Gorda — 30 mi away. Directions

Highways include US-41 and I-75, which go north-south, although I-75 is a short distance east of the city.

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Sample 1-day itinerary

Day 1

Morning Oscar Scherer State Park, Curry Creek Preserve
Lunch San Marco
Afternoon Venice Theatre
Dinner Soda Fountain

Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.

Food for you

Cuisine (tap to filter)

What to ask about, for your diet

Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder

Photos

Map

Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.

Understand

With a population of 20,000, Venice is known for its large "snowbird" population. Snowbirds are older people who spend their winters in Florida to escape the cold winters in Northern states including New York and Pennsylvania.

The city was incorporated in 1927 and has since become the location of several structures and areas on the National Register of Historic Places. It's also known for the Venice Theatre, the largest per-capita community theater in the United States with an operating budget of almost three million dollars, and its reputation as the "Shark's Tooth Capital of the World" due to the annual Shark's Tooth Festival.