Venice

A visit to Venice is memorable at any time of year, though summer brings both stifling heat and the thickest crowds -- the Adriatic Sea does provide a cooling breeze, but humidity climbs quickly once the tourist season peaks. Winters rarely freeze but turn damp and chilly.

The best months to visit, weather-wise, run from mid-March to May and from September to mid-November. Visiting in fall or winter also means the canals take on a quieter, more mysterious atmosphere, with a fraction of the usual crowds -- you may almost have the place to yourself.