The 2025 edition of the Venice Architecture Biennale runs from May 10 until November 23. Curator Carlo Ratti has titled the exhibition ‘Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.’ and it’s all about rethinking architecture’s role in the face of climate change. For years, the focus has been on designing to reduce environmental impact, but now, it’s time to adapt to an ever-changing world. Carlo Ratti emphasizes that architecture needs to be as dynamic and flexible as the world it’s designed for. You can expect an exciting, thought-provoking experience!
The event is spread across two main locations, Giardini and Arsenale, along with several venues in Venice and at Forte Marghera. As the Central Pavilion is undergoing renovations, the city center will take on a more prominent role, with installations, prototypes, and experiments spread throughout. The large volume of pavilions, collateral events, and exhibitions can be overwhelming, especially if your time is limited. Unless you’re able to dedicate an entire week, you’ll need to make informed choices.
This post will help you prepare your visit, so you can focus on enjoying the Biennale instead of worrying about practical details like tickets, locations, and timings. For more information on curator Carlo Ratti, the exhibition theme ‘Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.’, and the national pavilions, check out my post ‘What to expect from the Architecture Biennale 2025.’
Tickets
There are various types of tickets, so be sure to choose the one that best suits your needs. The regular ticket costs 25 euros, or 20 euros for early-bird purchases (until March 31). This ticket grants you one entry to Giardini and one to Arsenale. You can visit these sites on two different days, though they don’t need to be consecutive. If you prefer more flexibility, you can opt for a 3-day ticket with unlimited access during three consecutive days (35 euros, or 30 euros for early-bird) or an accreditation for the full duration of the Biennale (75 euros, or 60 euros for early-bird). Several discounts are available (e.g., for children, seniors over 65, Venice residents, and groups). Note that most of the national pavilions and collateral events outside Giardini and Arsenale do not require tickets.
I recommend purchasing your regular ticket online via the official La Biennale website to avoid long queues, which can be quite lengthy on busy days. If you opt for a multi-access ticket or accreditation, remember that you will need to present a valid ID each time you enter. Alternatively, you could buy your ticket the day before your visit in the afternoon, when ticket booths tend to be much less crowded.
While you’re booking your tickets, take a moment to pay your ‘Venice access fee’ to the city (5 euros for one-day visitors if booked at least 4 days before arrival, 10 euros if booked within 4 days of arrival). If you’re staying overnight in Venice, you have to register for an exemption. The fee is applicable only on select days: April 18 to May 4, weekends in May, June, and July, and on June 2. Registration should be done via the Venezia Unica website.
Choosing your day
Once you’ve decided how much time to allocate for each site, it’s time to choose which day to visit Giardini and Arsenale. Here are some factors to consider:
- Monday is typically a closing day for most Biennale events, with a few exceptions for collateral events in the city. However, Giardini and Arsenale will be open on the first and last Mondays (May 12, November 17), as well as on June 2, July 21, September 1, and October 20.
- Weekends, especially long weekends, tend to be much busier than weekdays, as many Italians visit during these periods.
- The first week is also quite crowded, as many journalists and industry professionals attend the press preview (May 8-9). You’ll have the chance to mingle with architects, curators, and the press, but be prepared for more crowds. If you prefer a quieter experience, you may want to visit later.
- Weather can also impact your experience. On rainy days, Arsenale’s indoor spaces might be preferable, while Giardini involves more outdoor walking.
Opening times
The Architecture Biennale has different hours for the summer (May 10 to September 28) and fall (September 29 to November 23). In summer, it opens at 11 AM and closes at 7 PM (Arsenale stays open until 8 PM on Fridays and Saturdays). In fall, it opens at 10 AM and closes at 6 PM.
If you only have one day per site, I recommend starting as early as possible to maximize your time, as there’s so much to see. In Giardini, the crowds tend to thin out as you move further in, so I suggest starting on the opposite side of the canal for a quieter experience in the morning. At Arsenale, there’s a set walking order, but feel free to break from it and explore the pavilions at the Sale d’Armi before returning to the main corridor.
Lunchtime can get crowded at the food stands, so it’s better to either wait until after 2 PM or grab a bite when you pass one of the less busy stalls. At Giardini, the food stand between the German and Korean pavilions offers a great view of the lagoon, but it’s rather small.
Locations
The majority of the national pavilions are at the two main locations, Giardini and Arsenale, which are easily accessible from the Giardini or Arsenale vaporetto stop (more details in my post ‘A practical how-to guide on transportation in Venice‘). The walk between the two sites is about 5-10 minutes, depending on which route you choose, either the scenic lagoon-side path or the quicker route via Via Garibaldi.
Other national pavilions and collateral events are spread across Venice. These locations can be recognized by large signs outside on the street. So far, Forte Marghera is the only confirmed location outside the island. The full list of collateral events is not yet available, so some may be on the lagoon islands. I recommend setting aside an entire day to explore these venues, as travel time between locations takes time. Apps with maps of the different locations were available last year, and I will add more information here as soon as they are back online.
Some of these events do not run during the whole Biennale period. Several close on different days or as of September. Make sure to check upfront whether or not they will be open. You don’t want to walk to the other side of the city to find a closed pavilion.
Choosing pavilions and events
With so many installations and exhibitions to choose from, it’s important to prioritize what interests you most. I recommend reading up on the various pavilions beforehand so you can focus your visit on those that align with your preferences. As a starting point, you can read my personal must-see selection in ‘What to expect from the Architecture Biennale 2025’. Consider skipping the ones that don’t seem compelling, and use the extra time for those spontaneous discoveries that will leave you intrigued. This upfront planning is especially crucial for the collateral events in the city, which are spread out and sometimes far apart.
An overview of all national pavilions and collateral events is available on the Biennale website. The coinciding exhibitions, which are not part of the official Biennale organization, can be found through other resources like Venezia Unica.
INSIDER TIP: I will again publish a book with tips, must-sees, and background information on the Architecture Biennale 2025. ‘The insider guide to the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025’ will be available around May 25 after I have visited the different pavilions. Subscribe to my newsletter to be notified when the book is available.
For those who prefer not to prepare but still want to learn about the exhibits, I recommend joining a guided tour (with reservation) via the website of La Biennale. These tours, available in both English and Italian, take place twice a day and cost 6 euros (excluding your entrance ticket). Reservations can be made online. Alternatively, you can ask questions directly to the guides and hosts at each pavilion.
I hope this guide helps you prepare for your visit to the Architecture Biennale. Don’t forget to check out my post ‘What to Expect from the Architecture Biennale 2025’ for more details on curator Carlo Ratti, the theme ‘Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.’ and the national pavilions. Stay up to date by following The Venice Insider on Facebook or subscribing to my newsletter.
Enjoy your visit!