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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.
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.
Some pleasant if generic guest rooms overlook a sunny fondamenta and canal, and others a spacious private garden, where breakfast is served in good weather. The interiors are pleasant and comfortable, with traditional furnishings that complement the Venetian terrazzo or parquet flooring. Young owners Matteo and Mattia are attentive and helpful, and the location is around the corner from campos Santa Margherita and San Barnaba, convenient for exploring the sights from San Marco to the Zattere, with easy vaporetto access, too.
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.
If you're looking to escape the 18th-century-style decor that predominates in Venetian lodging, check out these spacious, carefully renovated rooms where ceramic lamps, tapestries, and carved platform beds are combined with standard Venetian features such as beamed ceilings and parquet flooring. Unwind in an intimate, interior courtyard and garden after a day of exploring, sharing discoveries with other guests or checking email using the free Wi-Fi. Mother-daughter owners Deborah and Amelia (of Italian-American descent) provide efficient, personal service. Make sure you get detailed directions and cross-check on a good map before arriving.
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.
Once the home of Marino Faliero, a 14th-century doge who was executed for treason, this palazzo has been attentively "modernized" in elegant 18th-century Venetian style: all rooms are adorned with brocades, damask-tufted walls, gilt mirrors, and parquet floors—even the breakfast room has a stuccoed ceiling and Murano chandelier. Some guest rooms have baldacchini (canopied beds) and courtyard views; the suite and two superior rooms have canal views. The location, on the main thoroughfare from the station to San Marco, is handy but can stay quite lively well into the night, especially during festivals. An ample buffet breakfast is served.
"All rooms with a view" touts this pensione (modest lodging)-turned-four-star-hotel—and the views are indeed expansive: from the hotel's waterfront location near lively Via Garibaldi, your windows swing open to a panorama that sweeps from the Lido across the basin to San Giorgio and San Marco; upper-floor vistas are particularly inspiring. Decor could be termed "understated maritime," meaning deep mahogany wood tones, brass accents, and nautical appliqué abound, from railings to reading lamps to hallway lighting. Enjoy breakfast, a sunset aperitivo, or a nightcap on the quayside terrace.
Conveniently near the train station, this boutique hotel couples 18th-century elegance with modern amenities; the decoration, inspired by Venetian style, 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.
An oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Venice embodies the glamour and elegance of the mid-20th century: excellent service, elegant, peaceful rooms that blend historic and contemporary styles, some with spectacular views of the lagoon, and a heated salt-water swimming pool. Red-clay tennis courts and a wellness center round out the resortlike facilities, and the grounds truly are splendid: enjoy a restful afternoon poolside, or have an aperitivo at one of the attractive bars while listening to live jazz music. A free shuttle brings guests to St. Mark's Square every 15 minutes.
Welcoming guests with one of the most sumptuous, quintessentially Venetian loggia-lobbies (part of the late-14th-century Palazzo Dandolo, built by the family of the doge who conquered Constantinople), this fabled monument of Venetian history retains much of its luxury luster, with marble columns here, carved archways there, and plush furniture everywhere. Guest rooms are decorated in 18th-century Venetian fashion—many contain authentic period furniture. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Danieli was the principal Venetian stopping place for literary and musical notables such as Goethe, Wagner, and George Sand; in fact, you can stay in the room where Sand and Alfred de Musset carried on their love affair in 1833–34. Best of all, if you stay in one of the lagoon-view rooms, you can delight in a most inspiring panorama: over St. Mark's basin to Palladio's San Giorgio, Longena's Salute church, and the mouth of the Grand Canal. The same view is available, plus a view of the Dolomites on a clear day, from the rooftop dining terrace.
Built in 1908, this grand hotel with Moorish decor has old-fashioned charm and loads of amenities—from a private beach with white cabanas and a seasonal bar and restaurant to a swimming pool, gym, and tennis courts (though, oddly, no spa). Though most rooms are rather dated, 15 seaview suites were renovated in 2023 and offer a more refreshed look, though at a higher price.
Venetian grandeur meets a modern, relaxed ambience in this extensively renovated 16th-century palazzo overlooking the Grand Canal and bustling Campo Santo Sofia. Two rooms have balconies overlooking the campo and two plush suites lord over the Canale Grande, while the rooftop terrace offers truly spectacular Venetian vistas.
Set in a quiet corner of Cannaregio, with an attractive pool, courtyard, and guest rooms accented with rich Venetian furnishings and gold-leaf flourishes, this is a decent option, especially if the Superior Deluxe rooms are on offer. Some may find the decor a tad cliché, but there's much to enjoy here, including rare outside hotel space, a garden room, and a billiard salon. Rooms vary considerably in size and have either rooftop or courtyard views, so book early and ask about the size and view.
Set in a quiet campo, this renovated 15th-century Gothic-Byzantine palazzo has simple but spacious rooms and lovely public spaces filled with chandeliers, 18th-century paintings, and period reproduction furnishings. Breakfast is served in the main common area, with its high ceilings, stunning pastel stuccowork, Venetian terrazzo floors, and Murano glass chandeliers.
Of-the-moment Parisian designer Dorothée Meilichzon composed the striped pastel color palette at this hip boutique hotel—the first Experimental Group property in Italy—hidden inside a Renaissance palazzo facing Giudecca Canal. Spacious rooms in soothing colors feature terrazzo floors and minibars filled with local products and ready-made Experimental Cocktail Club cocktails; some have balconies with fabulous canal views, while others overlook the back garden or, sometimes, adjacent buildings. The in-house Ristorante Adriatica serves coastally inspired cuisine, and you’d be remiss to stay here and not sample an inventive drink at the attached Experimental Cocktail Club. Some of Venice’s top art stops—the Accademia, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and Punta della Dogana—are just a stroll away.
Many notables (including Victorian-era art critic John Ruskin) have stayed at this hotel, though they might not recognize it after its series of upscale renovations; it has an enviable location along the sunny Zattere, as well as comfy rooms and apartments with parquet floors, original 19th-century furniture, and firm beds. You can reserve the rooftop altana (wooden terrace) for sunbathing or a private retreat, or enjoy an afternoon tea in one of the lounge's quiet corners with flickering candlelight.
If eclectic Venetian charm is what you seek, this luminous residence near the Rialto has it: each of the individually decorated guest rooms has its own theater-theme wall painting by a local artist. The furnishings might be traditional, but the amenities are all contemporary, with signature linens, free Wi-Fi throughout, a kettle in every room, and a complimentary kimono in every bathroom. Every bed is king-size. Larger rooms have Venetian parquet flooring; the two upstairs "garret" rooms feature electronically controlled skylights.
The idea that the Campanati sisters named the 15 rooms in their renovated 17th-century locanda after the stars and constellations of the highest magnitude in the Northern Hemisphere says something about how personally this place is run. That's a real plus, as is the location on one of the brightest, most tranquil canals in the Dorsoduro area, but only two minutes from the Salute, the Accademia, and the Guggenheim Museum, and also handy to the Zattere promenade. The cheeriest rooms are on the top floor overlooking the canal.
Neatly decorated and light-filled rooms between St. Marks Square and the Rialto Bridge offer guests something rare in Venice—a central yet quiet base from which to explore the city. Five of the seven rooms have their own en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning, two have a shared bathroom and ceiling fan, and a few have canal views. A simple breakfast is served in a cheery breakfast room that overlooks a canal. The hospitable owner is around during the day to answer questions and offer restaurant suggestions; during the night, you are on your own.
Pastel lacquered furnishings and mock-flock wallpaper pay tribute to 18th-century Venetian style in the six bedrooms of this small pensione on a charming Castello campo; ask for one that overlooks the neighborhood life out front. You'll easily spot the canopied entrance, flanked by two topiaries and umbrella-topped café tables where you can take your breakfast or sip a late afternoon Prosecco in the sunshine.
Founded by Giuseppe Cipriani in the late 1920s, this intimate locanda (inn) on the island of Torcello remains in the Cipriani family and retains the simple, classy character of the period. The lovingly furnished rooms have large beds, plush armchairs, vaulted ceilings, and modern amenities—but absolutely no televisions; instead, each room comes with a well-stocked library. The in-house pastry chef provides a fresh breakfast each morning in either the dining room or in the garden under a pergola of roses; guests can also choose to dine at the locanda's excellent restaurant. Ernest Hemingway stayed in one of the comfortable rooms while writing "Across the River and Through the Trees."
Tucked behind Campo San Stefano in a charming little courtyard, this oasis offers small but peaceful rooms decorated in 18th-century Venetian style. Palazzo Grassi, Museo Fortuny, and the Accademia Museum are just steps away; San Marco and Rialto are both about a 15-minute walk. In the warmer months, breakfast is served alfresco amid the flowering garden overlooking Campiello Novo. Discounts are given for payment in cash.
You'll find enough classic Venetian characteristics to remind you of where you are, but not so many as to be stuffy or ostentatious. The homey yet elegant feel is accentuated by period furniture, parquet and Venetian terrazzo flooring, and tall windows, some of which open onto small balconies (ask for a room with a canal view). While you're not "steps from San Marco," you are still handy to some major tourist attractions, in addition to the characteristic shopping, eateries, and residential ambience in San Polo and Santa Croce. Service is personal, thorough, and thoughtful. There's no elevator, but all rooms are on one level, one flight up.
Up a narrow calle and across the bridge from the bustling Strada Nova, this 15th-century palazzo sits by a tranquil canal and an evocative little campo; inside you'll find traditional Venetian decor and guest rooms featuring silk damasks tufted onto multiwindowed walls. Standout options include a suite with a columned balcony overlooking the Priuli Canal, or the hideaway attic mansarda, with sloping ceilings and a rooftop view from several windows.
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