It’s commonly said that the secret to a successful interlude in Venice is to get lost. Stray from the grandeur of the Piazza San Marco and the Rialto, and wander quiet canals, pausing from time to time in churches, or in neighbourhood osterie and bacari for a Bellini here and a Vivarini there, and you’ll start to feel the real atmosphere of this magical city. An atmosphere that our recommendations for the best places to stay in Venice is built around. We’ve sought out hotels with charm and history, as well as comfort and location, to recommend. If you're not sure where you want to be based, check out neighbourhood guide to point you in the right direction.
Some of our Venice Collections:
One of the limiting factors about Venice is space, and that’s a huge part of the charm and challenge of this city. Both for the founders, who basically built an elegant marble city on a tiny, low-lying island in a lagoon, and for visitors looking for somewhere to stay, because there just aren’t that many options. Even allowing for the fact that so many of Venice’s gorgeous palazzos have been converted into hotels and guesthouses there’s still a limit.
But if you come for the day you’ll really be missing out, because, despite its limitations, it’s really worth staying in Venice proper to hear the wake up call of the gondoliers, watch the sun set over the lagoon, and experience the real uniqueness of this place.
The other limiting factor about Venice is the cost, and it’s common for people to make the mistake of choosing a hotel that’s inconvenient or expensive to get to. We’ve tried to limit the number of hard-to-reach hotels on our list of recommendations, but it does come down to how long you have to spend here to really calculate what’s going to be inconvenient or expensive for you. So even once you’ve picked out your favourite from our list of the best hotels in Venice, it’s still worth checking how you’re going to travel to and from the hotel during your stay. And don’t underestimate the number of visitors there might be. For the same reason, this is one of the destinations that we really want to stress is worth booking well in advance. This will also give you the best chance of booking a room with a view.
Our pick of the best places to stay in Venice is a wide ranging mix with plenty to suit all tastes and budgets, just don't forget get organised and book well ahead.