2 Best Hotels in Venice, Italy

Background Illustration for Hotels

Venetian magic can still linger when you retire for the night, whether you're staying in a grand hotel or budget locanda (inn). Some of the finest Venetian hotel rooms are lighted with Murano chandeliers and swathed in famed fabrics of Rubelli and Bevilacqua, with gilded mirrors and furnishing styles from baroque to Biedermeier and art deco.

Though more-contemporary decor is working its way into renovation schemes, you still may find the prized Venetian terrazzo flooring and canal views in more-modest pensioni. Your window will open, sometimes onto a balcony, so you may enjoy gondoliers' serenades, watch the ebb and flow of city life in the campo (square) below, or simply contemplate what the lack of motor traffic permits you to hear, or not hear.

Even if well renovated, most hotels occupy very old buildings. Preservation laws prohibit elevators in some, so if climbing stairs is an issue, check before you book. In the lower price categories, hotels may not have lounge areas, and rooms may be cramped, and the same is true of standard rooms in more expensive hotels. Space is at a premium in Venice, and even exclusive hotels have carved out small, dowdy, Cinderella-type rooms in the "standard" category. It’s not at all unusual for each room to be different even on the same floor: windows overlooking charming canals and bleak alleyways are both common. En suite bathrooms have become the norm; they’re usually well equipped but sizes will range from compact to more than ample; tubs are considered a luxury but are not unheard of, even in less expensive lodging. Carpeted floors are rare, as they’re traditionally considered to be unhygienic. Air-conditioning is rarely a necessity until mid-June. A few of the budget hotels make do with fans. Mosquitoes can begin to pester in midsummer; turn lights off in the evening if you leave windows open, and ask the hotel staff for a Vape, an anti-mosquito device. The staff members at most Venetian hotels will be able to converse with you in English, and don’t be afraid to ask for anything you need or even to change rooms if you consider it necessary to do so.

Hotel al Ponte Mocenigo

$ | Santa Croce 1985, Venice, 30135, Italy Fodor's Choice
Hotel al Ponte Mocenigo, Santa Croce
Courtesy Hotel al Ponte Mocenigo

At this hotel—once home to the Santa Croce branch of the Mocenigo family, which counts a few doges in its lineage—a columned courtyard welcomes you, and guest room decor nods to the building's history, with canopied beds, striped damask fabrics, lustrous terrazzo flooring, and gilt-accented furnishings. Indeed, the whole interior has been meticulously renovated to incorporate exposed-beam ceilings, Murano chandeliers, fireplaces transformed into writing nooks, and other distinct architectural features. A sauna is nice for unwinding after a day of sightseeing. The hotel is on a side canal convenient to any number of sights, cafés, restaurants, and shops. It's deservedly very popular, so book well in advance.

Pros

  • Fantastic value
  • Friendly and helpful staff
  • Enchanting courtyard (the perfect spot for an aperitivo)

Cons

  • Beds are on the hard side
  • Standard rooms are small
  • Rooms in the annex can be noisy
Santa Croce 1985, Venice, 30135, Italy
041-5244797
hotel Details
11 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts

  • $

Hotel Canal Grande

$$$$ | Santa Croce 932, Venice, 30135, Italy
Ricardo Gomez Angel | Unsplash

Conveniently near the train station, this small hotel couples 18th-century elegance with modern amenities; the decoration, inspired by Venetian history, includes lush damasks, gold-framed mirrors, and plenty of Murano glass and Rezzonico-style floors. Even if you don't splurge for a room facing the Grand Canal, ask for a room with a view and avoid the annex. The breakfast room with its red-velvet chairs overlooks the Grand Canal. Guests can enjoy a drink on the scenic, albeit small, terrace.

Pros

  • Excellent position for those traveling by train
  • Grand Canal views
  • Helpful and informative staff
  • Free Wi-Fi

Cons

  • Far from Piazza San Marco
  • A little on the pricey side
Santa Croce 932, Venice, 30135, Italy
041-2440148
hotel Details
22 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

Quick Facts