50 Best Hotels in Venice, Italy

With handblown chandeliers, sumptuous textiles, and sweeping canal views, this grande dame (whose history dates from 1525, when it was built as the residence of the prominent Gritti family) represents aristocratic Venetian living at its best. Although renovations have been done since the palace became a hotel in the 19th century, many original architectural details remain, including wooden ceilings, patterned flooring, and—depending on the room category—flourishes like 18th-century Murano wall lamps, silk damask Rubelli fabrics, and traditional Venetian stucco. If you enjoy executive chef Alberto Fol's locally influenced menus at one of the Grand Canal–view restaurants, you can enjoy a Chef's Table experience with the master himself. The Gritti Epicurean School hosts cooking classes and wine tastings. The treatments at the Gritti Spa -- Sisley Paris incorporate the Italian-made line's aromatic scents, each named after a different region of the country.

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.

Behind a brick wall, just over the bridge from the Frari church, this palazzo named "Beyond the Garden" is hard to find but well worth the effort: a sheltered location, large canal-side garden, and individually decorated guest rooms make it feel like a country house. Although furnished with antiques and other period touches, the prevalent white-and-pastel color scheme lightens the tone, making the hotel seem less formal than other Venetian lodgings. The owner's service is as conscientious as the renovation. As for pedigree, in the 1920s, Alma Mahler, a 20th-century femme fatale, lived here while she was married to author Franz Werfel.

The intimate upstairs terrace of this hospitable 16th-century palace inn is a perfect spot to survey the nearby Rialto scene while enjoying evening aperitivi and their fabulous homemade breakfasts. The interior, from the clubby yet cozy Venetian lounge-bar and library to the spacious guest rooms, is sumptuous, with brocade-tufted walls, period-style furniture, and hand-decorated exposed beam ceilings.

Just a short stroll from Piazza San Marco—though on a quiet side street that seems a world away—this charming hotel will please those seeking traditional, though freshly updated, Venetian decor in an ultraconvenient location. Each room is done up differently, though all feature period furnishings, Murano glass chandeliers, and patterned wallpaper. To truly feel like royalty, stay in the Sansovini Lagoon View or San Giorgio Terrace suites; they contain enormous private terraces where the views of rooftops and water last for miles. All gleaming marble and with double sinks, some bathrooms have deep soaking tubs or even double showers. Dellaluna bath products amp up the sophisticated feel. Canova Restaurant by Sadler offers a Venetian tasting menu with some creative flourishes as well as a vegetarian tasting menu, along with a large selection of à la carte dishes. There's also a brand-new spa with steam baths, a relaxation area, and massage rooms.

With amazing service, wonderful rooms, fab restaurants, and a large pool and spa—all just a five-minute boat ride from Piazza San Marco (the hotel water shuttle leaves every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day)—the Cipriani is Venetian luxe at its best. Those craving A-lister exclusivity can splash out on a lavish suite facing San Marco in the adjoining Palazzo Vendramin.

One of the city's most intimate and elegant getaways blends terrazzo floors, dramatic Murano chandeliers, and antique-style furnishings with contemporary touches, particularly in the African-wood reception area and breakfast room. Impressively, five dramatic "concept rooms" take on themes from Venetian history; the Doge's Room is draped in deep-red brocades, while the Oriental Room is inspired by the travels of Marco Polo.

One of the city's most famous lodgings—built in the 14th century and run as a hotel since 1822—lives up to its reputation: the chance to explore the wonderful, highly detailed lobby is itself a reason to book an overnight stay, plus the views along the lagoon are fantastic, the rooms gorgeous, and the food fabulous.

The elegant and refined facade announces a charming, and reasonably priced, place to stay; the hospitable staff, the tastefully decorated rooms, and the lovely garden, where guests can breakfast or drink, do not disappoint. After a long day of sightseeing, relax on a plush, velvet chair in the cozy bar or on a wrought-iron one in the garden beside a gushing fountain. The delicious sweet and savory breakfast buffet is a real treat. Family rooms are available.

A wall of windows soaks up extraordinary, sweeping views of the lagoon and the island of San Giorgio, enjoyed from many of the individually decorated guest rooms and suites, which have fine fabric, damask drapes, Biedermeier furniture, Venetian glass, and marble bathrooms. The downstairs restaurant is all glass, light, and water views, as are some of the neoclassical public rooms, with splashes of blue-and-green glass suggesting the sea. The vista must have been pleasing to Tchaikovsky, who wrote his Fourth Symphony here in 1877. The staff is top-notch, as are the restaurant and the bar.

Befitting its location on Murano, this well-situated hotel is in a former glassmaking factory and has vitreous works of art throughout; it also has spacious, contemporary guest rooms with dark-wood floors and brown-and-cream color schemes. The Osteriva restaurant, open for lunch and dinner daily, serves regional cuisine, and the Rivalonga Bar + Lounge is a delightful place for both guests and nonguests looking for an evening drink after sleepy Murano shuts down.

Right off Venice’s main shopping street and a stone’s throw from Piazza San Marco, the former 20th-century stock exchange now houses this supremely comfortable hotel with an art deco flair, charming rooms with private terraces, and a glittering enclosed rooftop pool. Guest rooms feature stucco marble and marmorino finishes, velvet couches and chairs, and Murano glass objects; some suites have terraces with Venetian rooftop views, perfect for enjoying an evening aperitivo. Elegant bathrooms are embellished with mosaic tiles and brass fixtures; some include deep soaking tubs. The colonnaded lobby invites lounging in its many comfy chairs and couches, while the Library Bar includes more than 4,000 carefully selected books (many of them about art) along with a frescoed ceiling. The Nolinski offers two restaurant choices, the courtyard Il Caffè, which makes a lovely setting for a lunch or dinner of Mediterranean cuisine, and the Palais Royal Restaurant, housed in a grand former auditorium. Perhaps the hotel’s pièce de résistance is the gold-tiled indoor rooftop pool, offering sublime Venice views, next to the treatment rooms of the Ottoman-inspired spa.

A stylish yet intimate retreat tucked away on a quiet calle (street) midway between Piazza San Marco and the Accademia Bridge offers exquisite rooms tastefully decorated with original furnishings and tapestries from the Mediterranean and Far East. In the warmer months, breakfast is served in the charming inner courtyard. In the winter, a roaring fireplace greets those who wish to quietly read in the sitting room. The hotel also organizes art exhibitions on its main floor, giving visitors who are around during an opening reception the opportunity to meet local and international artists.

Steeped in lavish Venetian ambience, junior suites are palatial, superior rooms comfortably sized, bright, and well appointed, and ornate frescoes, pastel bas-reliefs, and splendid coffered and carved beamed ceilings abound. What is not original is reproduced to seem so. Carrara marble lines bathroom walls hung with Venetian-style mirrors. After crossing the private bridge that leads to the hotel, guests are greeted with a glass of Prosecco in a green, open courtyard. Many of the common areas, including the spectacular breakfast area, overlook the courtyard. Ask for rooms with views over a quiet side canal. For even larger spaces, try the adjacent apartments, under the same ownership.

This opulently refurbished neo-Gothic palazzo features marble-column arches, terrazzo floors, frescoed ceilings, mosaics, and a charming carved staircase, and some rooms have tufted walls and parquet flooring. The street-level terrace that overlooks the Grand Canal is almost reason alone to stay here, beautiful for morning coffee or evening aperitivo, and if you are here on the first Sunday in September the terrace gives a front-row view of the boat procession and Regata Storica. From the rooftop terrace (which has a Jacuzzi) you get a classic Venetian view over the city's rooftops to the campanile of San Marco and even glimpses of the Dolomites on a clear day.

Whimsical design details evoking the Venetian landscape abound in this elegant, contemporary hotel constructed from five historic palazzi with phenomenal views onto the Grand Canal. Lovely guest rooms reflect the colors of the city at either dawn or dusk, and include such details as bed headboards echoing the curve of the gondolas and patterns on the bathroom mirrors reminiscent of Murano glass; some feature large furnished terraces with views of the canal and Santa Maria della Salute. Grey-and-white marble bathrooms include walk-in showers; some also have deep soaking tubs. Gio's Restaurant serves Venetian and Italian dishes, or try a seasonally changing cocktail indoors or out at one of the two bars, the St. Regis Bar or the Arts Bar. The compact yet well-stocked fitness room is open 24 hours a day, and spa suites are available for massages and facials.

Hoteliers Sara and Elena Maestrelli partnered with solely Italian designers on every aspect of their 17th-century palazzo-turned-hotel, from ceramics to window frames to wall paintings, in what they call an “Italian artisanal product,” overlooking Rio San Moise canal. Light and bright guest rooms range from cozy classic style to decadent suites with panoramic water views. Il Piccolo restaurant serves homestyle Venetian cuisine, with a strong focus on vegetables, while Il Piccolo Bar dishes out lighter meals of cicheti (also with a vegetarian version) and cocktails. This is one home-away-from-home you may never want to leave.

Traditional, tasteful Venetian decor takes on a Carnevale theme in cozy, well-appointed, and comfortable rooms are enlivened by fanciful wall murals. A relaxed atmosphere pervades at this hotel's divine hot breakfast, where it is common to become engrossed in conversation with other guests as gondolas glide lazily by the water-level windows: this lovely state-of-mind is created by the hotel's attentive staff (but can be ruined by a plague of singing gondoliers!). Common areas have warm mahogany paneling, tufted leather furniture, beamed ceilings, and tapestries.

A true Venetian institution, this small, historic hotel with a beautiful garden restaurant has hosted such famous guests as Gabriele D'Annunzio, Ezra Pound, Robert De Niro, and David Bowie. Works by many of the artists who stayed (or dined) here are displayed on the restaurant's walls, a remarkable gallery of 20th-century art. Modernization of the facilities hasn't altered its unabashedly old-fashioned atmosphere, and some of the rooms are, for Venice, surprisingly spacious.

A historic 13th-century palazzo near the Rialto markets is a welcome retreat on a tranquil corte (court), and individually decorated rooms have tufted walls and views of a lively canal or a quiet courtyard. The lofty piano nobile highlights architectural features including coffered ceilings, a massive trifora window, antique (reproduction) furniture, and Venetian terrazzo floors. Two exceptionally large rooms keep families comfortable. Note that the canal is a lively one, sometimes late into the evening.

A quiet courtyard secluded from the San Marco melee offers an island of calm in six guest rooms and two apartments (some with private terraces overlooking the Doge's Palace), which are individually decorated with contemporary furnishings and accessories. The public areas entice with classic Venetian elements like the marble stairway, exposed-beam ceilings, and mosaic tiles. Service is highly personal, and guests are often welcomed by one of the owners. There's a courtyard where you can enjoy breakfast or an evening interlude. One room has a Jacuzzi, and one attic apartment is available.

In a residential area off the tourist track, a thoroughly renovated 15th-century building offers pleasant accommodations and plenty of service. Front rooms have a wonderful view of the lagoon, and the 15-minute stroll along the waterfront between Piazzo San Marco and the hotel is through a genuinely "local" part of the city, with plenty of cafés and restaurants. One of the rear rooms has direct access to a pleasant rooftop terrace with tables.

Traditional Venetian style mixes with contemporary design: the clean white-marble entrance leading up to the luminous piano nobile (main floor) of the 15th-century palace gracefully contrasts with the opulent Murano chandeliers and rich wall brocades. Some rooms have canal views, bathrooms are large and modern, and a rich breakfast is served in a bright salon that overlooks a wide canal. The location, just off the Grand Canal near the Ca' d'Oro and a variety of good restaurants, is another plus.

This expansive palace has been the Sagredo family residence since the mid-1600s and has the decor to prove it: a massive staircase has Longhi wall panels soaring above it; large common areas are adorned with original art by Tiepolo, Longhi, and Ricci; and a traditional Venetian style dominates guest rooms, many of which have canal views and some of which have original art and architectural elements. Flooring might be Venetian terrazzo, wood parquet, or plush carpeting; one suite even offers a private rooftop balcony. Although the hotel website advertises antique furniture, most of the pieces are good modern copies—but there's no doubt about the 18th-century Venetian paintings.

Housed in a palace dating from 1272, with interiors updated by of-the-moment architect Patricia Urquiola, this deluxe hotel offers rooms with views of San Giorgio Maggiore island, two restaurants, and two internal courtyards, all within striking distance of the Venice Biennale grounds. The outdoor restaurant boasts lagoon vistas, and meals include vegetables grown in the attached garden. The reading room and private courtyards are ideal places to take a break after a hard day of sightseeing.

These ultramodern surroundings abandon all things traditionally Venetian, opting instead to create the air of a stylish residence with impeccable, minimalist decor and a contemporary, warmly romantic, and occasionally even dramatic atmosphere. Some rooms overlook small canals and side calli; apartment options with kitchenettes are available. The location is convenient to the Guggenheim, Accademia, and the Zattere. Art borrowed from neighboring museums is on display in common areas.

Cleverly converted from the former Convento dei Crociferi in 2012, Combo marries minimalist design with atmospheric cloisters and a gorgeous breakfast room--arts venue where a hearty buffet is served. There are a number of room options suited for singles, couples, and families on a budget; all have plain whitewashed walls, large beds, fridges, contemporary desks, and utilitarian bathrooms, some have quirky mezzanines, canal views, and kitchenettes. It's a good bet for those seeking unfussy decor and a hip, studenty Cannaregio bolthole with cultural events, a cafè, and restaurant.

Wooden beams and iron columns are some of the original details still visible in this redbrick former flour mill–turned-hotel, which also features sublime views across the lagoon to Venice, particularly from the lively rooftop bar. Rooms are spacious—some have beamed ceilings and chandeliers, while others are more modern—and have comfortable beds, though only some include water views. Italian food is available at the hotel's two restaurants, and you can’t miss the hotel's buzzy Skyline Rooftop Bar for tasty cocktails and fabulous sunsets. The well-stocked gym is open 24 hours a day, and the spa (for an extra fee) includes a sauna, whirlpool, and Turkish bath. There's also a delightful rooftop pool open from May through September.

Though the atmosphere of this 15th-century palazzo harkens back to Venice's connection with the Silk Road, the surroundings and amenities are everything you'd expect from a 21st-century establishment. Some rooms and suites overlook the expansive canal along the Fondamenta della Sensa, one of the bright, broad byways typical of the upper Cannaregio district. In good weather, you can also take breakfast or a Venetian spritz cocktail at a sunny table along the canal. Ask about the type and location of room you're reserving when booking; rooms overlooking the canal are especially pleasant.

If you're in Venice to see art, you can't beat the location of this hotel, where all the spacious rooms have brocade fabrics and Venetian-style lacquered furniture. A yellow plaster facade welcomes you, and a hall decorated with reproduction antiques and Oriental rugs leads to a breakfast room reminiscent of a theater foyer, with red velvet chairs and gilt wall lamps. The delightful roof terrace is a welcome oasis in summer, with a drink from the hotel's bar. Three adjacent apartments are also available.