In the Veneto water is everywhere: the Venetian lagoon, the Po Delta, Lake Garda, the Dolomite lakes and the Brenta. Here you will find the best spots for Venetian rowing, canoeing, rafting and windsurfing, with the level required, the right season and the rules to know.
Each number matches a spot in the list.
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For each spot: level, best time and the winds that make it calm or best avoided.
Learn to row standing up and facing forward, like the gondoliers: Venice's rowing associations teach anyone, on traditional boats, through the canals and the lagoon.
Windyes Windless days · no Strong bora and scirocco, acqua alta
Full details →Paddle through the reed beds, floodplains and inlets of Italy's largest delta, with herons, egrets and flamingos taking off in front of the canoe.
Windyes Early morning, no wind · no Bora, strong wind, midday heat
Full details →The Brenta channel between Valstagna and Bassano has been a canoeing and rafting training ground for decades: fun rapids, clear water and the valley villages looking out over the river.
Windyes Intermediate · no Flooding after rain
Full details →A lake at the foot of the Alpago where a steady breeze picks up every summer afternoon: the Veneto's best-kept secret for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Windyes Afternoon thermal for windsurfing and kitesurfing; calm mornings for SUP · no Thunderstorms
Full details →The Verona shore of Lake Garda beneath Monte Baldo: SUP on the calm lake in the morning, windsurfing on the Ora in the afternoon, with Malcesine's Scaliger castle in the background.
Windyes Pelèr in the morning, Ora in the afternoon · no Summer thunderstorms
Full details →Before choosing a spot, check where the wind is coming from: the same cove can be a swimming pool or a place to avoid.
Lakes and rivers have different rules from the sea: they are set by municipalities, river basin authorities and park managers. Here is the general picture: before going in the water, always check the local rules.
In the city, navigation on the canals is regulated: SUPs and kayaks are banned or restricted on some canals, including the Grand Canal. To paddle or row, it is best to go with the rowing associations and on guided trips in the lagoon.
In the delta you can canoe on the secondary branches and in the inlets, taking care with the currents of the main branches and with bird nesting areas, where access may be banned in spring.
Rafting and canoeing on the Brenta are done with local schools and clubs; the river level changes with rainfall and dam releases.
Scheduled ferries and motorboats ply the large lakes: in a kayak or on a SUP stay close to shore, away from landing stages and ferry routes, and only cross where the lake is narrow.
Always wear a life jacket in a kayak and a leash on a SUP: if you fall off, the wind pushes the board away faster than you can swim.
Alpine lakes and streams stay cold even in high summer: falling into water below 15 °C saps your strength within minutes.
Many Alpine rivers are controlled by hydroelectric plants: the level can rise suddenly when dams release water or after a storm upstream. Go rafting and canyoning only with licensed guides.
Single emergency number: 112.
