Where to buy or rent a Venetian mask and costume

Want to experience the Venice Carnival with a real mask, or even a full costume for a masked ball? Here's a practical guide to where to find them, how much they cost and whether it's better to buy or rent — without falling for the plastic imitations.

🛍️ Buying an authentic mask

Real masks are bought in the artisan workshops of the mascareri, scattered across Cannaregio, San Polo and San Marco. An authentic mask is made of hand-worked papier-mâché, often signed by the maker: you can tell it by the care of the finish, the gold leaf, the decorations. Prices vary widely: from a few tens of euros for a simple mask to several hundred for elaborate collector's pieces.

⚠️ Beware of the plastic masks on tourist stalls: they're cheap but have nothing of Venetian craftsmanship. A papier-mâché mask is a souvenir that lasts a lifetime.

👗 Renting a full costume

If your dream is to parade in costume or attend a masked ball, the way to go is renting: several Venetian ateliers hire out full historical costumes, with gown, mask and accessories, often crafted in exquisite eighteenth-century detail. It's ideal for a special occasion, without having to buy (and carry home) a bulky outfit.

In season, demand is very high: book your costume well in advance, even weeks before Carnival, and arrange sizes and pick-up.

⚖️ Buy or rent? How to choose

• Buy if you want an authentic keepsake to take home: an artisan mask looks beautiful even hung on a wall.
• Rent if you need a full costume for an evening or a ball: you spend less and aren't left with a bulky outfit.
• The ideal mix: rent the costume and buy the mask — so you go home with a real souvenir.

💡 Practical tips

• Book rentals early: during Carnival the best costumes go fast.
• Look for the real craftsman: ask whether the mask is made in the workshop, in papier-mâché.
• Try the mask on: it should be comfortable if you wear it for hours.
• Mind the transport: ask for a rigid box to carry the mask home without damaging it.

Read more: the history and types of Venetian masks and our guide to the Venice Carnival (dates and events).

In Venice for Carnival

Stay in Cannaregio, close to the workshops and the water festival. Send a request well in advance for your dates.