I hope this question doesn't offend anyone but I've heard the canals in Venice have, well, an odor in the summer. If so, is the smell strong enough to interfere with one's enjoyment of the city? We are planning an August visit for anywhere from three to five nights.

Venice in August will be hot and humid. And if you pass any backwater areas (canal corners where stuff has piled up) there may be a local, unpleasant odor - but nothing large-scale or that should affect your enjoymnet of the city overall.

Miranda, if you do a text search on this topic, you will find many recent posts that most people notice no odor in Venice during any season of the year.

We were there in July, it was quite warm, and we never had a problem. Sure, you might get a whiff of the sea at times, or notice a slight smell if they have cleared out and are working in any canals, but it's not very noticeable in all honesty.

I had the same concerns as you since we were renewing our vows on a gondola while there, but I never gave it a second thought after we arrived.

Go and enjoy!

August in Venice = terrific. Go.

It depends on your idea of what hot is. I lived an hour from Venice for 3 1/2 years and wouldn't say that it really got to hot. September was my favorite time to take a little train trip to Venezia.

Hi Miranda,

Congratulations! You are the 1,000,000 th person to ask this question.

As a prize, you will receive, via email, a clothes pin to put on your nose.

Italy is hot in August, but Venice is not as hot as many other areas; e.g., Florence, which can be brutal.

Very funny, Ira! I'm glad you said it and I didn't. Sure don't want to give ChubNuts another reason to be obsessed with me and show off her bitter, spiteful, unhappy self.

Thanks for the laugh.

I would be more concerned about the crowds affecting the ambiance than I would about odors.

We were there in July. Hot, yes, smelly no. You MUST book a hotel with Air Conditioning!!!