Venice is calling, especially if your dream weekend break involves gondola rides, Baroque palazzi, canal-side sundowners and getting lost amid the city’s maze of calli and sotoportegi (alleys and covered passages). But if not, Italy‘s floating city still has something for everyone. Whether you’re seeking a secluded romantic hideaway, artistic inspiration, vibrant city adventures or spa spoiling, our guide to the best hotels in Venice will help you find your perfect fit among its ancient waterways.
FOR A HISTORIC HIDEAWAY
Palazzo Venart
In the historic Santa Croce neighbourhood, Palazzo Venart is one of the oldest in the city, dating back to the 15th century. The building was built by a noble family from Lucca who worked in the silk trade and it’s since passed through many of La Serenissima’s most distinguished families; a noble legacy glimpsed in the restored Renaissance fresco which adorns the lobby’s walls, showing convivial scenes of palace life.
When a fire broke out in 1845, the building’s original façade was destroyed — a happy accident, in hindsight, leaving space for the current canal-facing garden, one of very few left in the city and a fine spot for a sunny aperitivo. Interiors are Venetian through and through, with antique-scattered rooms where parquet floors, custom furnishings and rich velvet textiles have been restored by local specialists — each one named after an illustrious Venetian figure.
Best room for classic views The Deluxe Suite is named after Andrea Palladio, the Venetian architect who built San Giorgio Maggiore church, and has a spacious terrace that overlooks the city’s ancient terracotta rooftops.
Design details While the palazzo may be historic, there is a space in the lobby dedicated to showcasing the work of contemporary artists and architects, in sync with the Venice Biennale calendar.
Something to eat Set in a peaceful courtyard shaded by magnolia trees, the hotel’s Glam restaurant — conceived by multi-Michelin-starred chef Enrico Bartolini and resident chef Donato Ascani — serves jazzed-up Venetian fare like chargrilled cuttlefish and tubetti pasta with wasabi and Mitilla mussels.
See the sights Fondazione Prada, the Venetian outpost of Miuccia’s Milanese institution, is just around the corner in the equally historic Ca’ Corner della Regina.
FOR A ROMANTIC BREAK
Palazzo Garzoni
The views of Rialto Bridge from Palazzo Garzoni haven’t changed much since Canaletto’s 1725 painting The Grand Canal, Venice, Looking North East from the Palazzo Balbi to the Rialto Bridge. But the 15th-century palazzo that houses this dreamy, canalside stay has changed quite a bit, with frescoes swapped out for contemporary Italian pieces, Seventies-inspired wood-panelling and Fortuny textiles in its apartment-style dwellings.
The exception is the five-bedroom piano nobile (second floor), which has jawdropping levels of palatial opulence: Gothic windows, Carrara marbles, Murano chandeliers… Whatever apartment you choose, the palazzo is served by a private pontoon, a gondolier station and the Sant’Angelo vaporetto stop, so it couldn’t be a better base from which to explore Italy’s City of Love.
Best room for couples Dial up the romance in the tucked-away-in-the-beams Rialto apartment, which has sleek, modern furnishings and a private altana-style roof terrace, perfect for pre-date night aperitivi.
Design details The frescoed ceilings of the piano nobile‘s ‘salone’ are extraordinary, as is the sweeping marble stairwell, which features handpainted wallpaper by an artist who creates the scenery for La Fenice opera house.
Something to eat There’s no restaurant on-site, but the hotel is perfectly poised for a cicchetti crawl along the bacari-flanked, canalside drag of Fondamenta de la Misericordia.
See the sights One of the most eclectic buildings in Venice, Museo Fortuny, is a five-minute walk from the hotel, and presents the paintings, fabrics and furnishings of the Spanish fashion designer Mariano Fortuny.
FOR DESIGN LOVERS
The Venice Venice Hotel
Artists consistently challenge the status quo, and the creators behind The Venice Venice Hotel are no exception. Despite being housed in a grand 13th-century palazzo — once home to the noble Da Mosto family — the hotel is decidedly future-facing, redefining lagoon life with their sharp, self-proclaimed ‘post-Venetian’ aesthetic. Interiors pay homage to the city’s roots while creating something rebellious, dynamic and dreamlike; classic sculptures sit atop slabs of polished concrete; antique tapestries line a titanium bar encrusted with screens and speakers; and Brutalist furnishings sit under crumbling frescos.
Here, art is not an afterthought but a catalyst, with the owners’ personal collection of late-20th-century art dictating the tone of each room. Dine on a Pop-inspired menu of Venetian small plates under Byzantine arches, sip natural wines on the canal-facing terrace as gondelieri float past, or stock up on homewares and designer threads at Venice M’art, a chic boutique and gallery space styled like a 1960s minimart.
Best room for art enthusiasts Each room is your own private exhibition. You can wake up surrounded by Joseph Beuys, admire the canal in the company of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, or soak in side-by-side bath tubs while meditating on a John Cage sound piece.
Design details Keep an eye out for the iconic Carl Hansen & Søn CH20 chair, coated in liquid brass, and Pol Polloniato’s specially commissioned mirror made from five-centuries-old clay sourced from the palazzo’s foundations.
Something to eat For a day-time pick-me-up, order the kitsch-y Moka-coffee-cart service with sugary fried pastries. In the evening, go for something more grown-up, like the typically Venetian pea risotto or monkfish and green asparagus drizzled with beurre blanc.
See the sights Rise and shine early to catch the sounds and smells of Rialto fish market, just across the canal from the hotel. To reach it, catch a Traghetto gondola from the nearby Strada Nuova stop.
FOR SPA SPOILING
Nolinski Venezia
Set in the city’s former chamber of commerce, Nolinski Venezia’s striking façade is the first thing you’ll notice, decked in majestic, sea-inspired masonry (referencing the city’s major source of income at the time). But make your way through the art-lined hallways and mirror-clad eateries of the hotel and you may find yourself at the The Nolinski by myBlend treatment suite.
Here, soul-soothing massages and facials will leave you feeling so relaxed, you’ll glide through the rest of your trip like a gondola. Chase treatments with a stint at the hotel’s top-floor pool area, where a heated, Roman-style bath shimmers with Byzantine gold tesserae, offering a bird’s-eye view over the Campanile and Doge’s Palace.
Best room for spa-seekers Junior Suites have large bath tubs to soak in, and some come with private terraces complete with plush loungers.
Design details Be sure to look up — the ceiling in the hotel’s Library bar features a whimsical seascape mural by French artist Simon Buret.
Something to eat Go for the tasting menu at Palais Royal, the hotel’s Greek-inspired fine-dining spot, which is described as a ‘gastronomic opera’ due to the dining room’s Colosseum-like arches, velvet and chandeliers. For something more casual, Il Caffé serves fresh Mediterranean dishes like gnocchi cacio e pepe or salt-crusted sea bass.
See the sights The city’s historic opera house, Teatro La Fenice, is just a short stroll from the hotel; it’s pitch-perfect for evenings of old-world, gilded glamour.
FOR FAMILY GETAWAYS
Il Palazzo Experimental
Il Palazzo Experimental is a well-suited stay for making the most out of La Serenissima with little ones in tow. The hotel’s vibrant, pastel colours and shapely silhouettes by French designer Dorothée Meilichzon will delight the kids, while the inventive ground-floor cocktail club will please parents in equal measure(s).
The restaurant makes family dining easy with highchairs and a dedicated kids’ menu; there’s no need to skip date night, either — the hotel has a reliable roster of trusted, qualified babysitters for when you fancy some grown-up time. Strategically placed in the lively Dorsoduro district, the hotel’s just a stroll away from Venice’s main sights, with a vaporetto stop right outside that will ship you out to the beaches of the Lido in less than 30 minutes.
Best room for families The Dorsoduro suite is family-ready, with plenty of space, a separate living area and an extra bed available on request.
Design details Meilichzon’s delightful interiors blend seaside stripes, Scarpa-inspired terrazzo, candy hues and art deco details.
Something to eat The small plates at Adriatica restaurant are sure to include something to appease even the fussiest of eaters. Think stracciatella, pea and mint bombetta, beef carpaccio served with rhubarb and cashew caviar, and fried, parmesan-sprinkled polenta.
See the sights A couple of doors down, you’ll find Scuola Piccola Zattere, a non-profit art gallery, education and research space with a chic garden café designed by Fosbury Architecture.
FOR ALL-OUT LUXURY
Aman Venice
Picture the scene: you’re gliding across the Grand Canal in a vintage speedboat, being whisked toward a fresco-framed suite in 16th-century palazzo turned ultra-luxe hotel, Aman Venice, as your silver-screen fiancé George Clooney beams at your side. While we can’t really guarantee the latter, it’s easy to step into a world of fantasy when arriving in such dramatic style. Anyway, you’ll quickly forget about George when you’re sipping champagne in the hotel’s peaceful private garden, sampling refined Italian fare under an 18th-century painting or gazing over Venice’s glistening waters from your window.
The palazzo has amassed an impressive art collection in its time, having been owned by a succession of Venetian noblemen, and some attention-grabbing decor, too. Add to that an Asia-inspired spa, a hidden jetty entrance and top-tier service, and you’ve an A-list all-rounder.
Most extravagant room The expansive Alcova Tiepolo Suite is a one-of-a-kind stay, with 18th-century frescoes by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, gilded ceilings and tall windows framing the hotel’s gardens.
Design details Classic works of art are offset by the contemporary restraint of Jean-Michel Gathy’s signature Asian-minimalist interiors; Baroque details are balanced out with contemporary furnishings.
Something to eat Don’t miss the hotel’s Sunday brunch where dishes like lobster Benedict, braised veal or carbonara are served in Arva restaurant’s elegant, canal-gazing dining room.
See the sights Take a stroll through San Polo sestiere (neighbourhood) to Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari: a Gothic, 14th-century church with an awe-inducing Titian altarpiece and Bellini triptych.
FOR GRAND CANAL VIEWS
Palazzina Grassi
The first Italian hotel created by starchitect Philippe Starck, Palazzina Grassi is a glossy Venetian stay ferreted away behind a 16th-century façade. Here, you can sip champagne in the low-lit Krug Lounge, an alluring space full of objets d’art; or play Doge in decadent rooms with dazzling mirrored headboards and quirky design details.
Pull up the blinds and you’ll also find knee-weakening views of the Grand Canal, which, in some suites, can be enjoyed from your very own private terrace. And with the hotel’s prime perch just a stone’s throw from San Marco, you’re never too far from the action.
Best room for city views Set on the piano nobile with a private balcony, the Signature Grand Canal Suite is a large, open-plan space where guests can get an eyeful of canal action from the bed.
Design details Rooms offer an almost Kubrick-esque interpretation of Venetian style with mirrored headboards and mask motifs punctuating an otherwise dazzlingly all-white space.
Something to eat The dining experience at Palazzina Grassi is nothing short of theatrical, with an open kitchen where chefs slice and dice their way through dishes like red-tuna tartare and boneless Pata Negra pork rib.
See the sights The hotel’s noble neighbour, Palazzo Grassi, is a 17th-century palace turned contemporary art gallery curated around the expansive private collection of François Pinault, billionaire co-founder of luxury-goods group Kering.
FOR EXPLORING SAN MARCO
Violino d’Oro
Gucci and Valentino aren’t the only style giants you’ll find on Venice’s fashionable Calle Larga XXII Marzo — boutique stay Violino d’Oro has earned its place on the city’s designer strip with its sprawling suites and design by Sara Maestrelli and her aunt Elena, both of the respected Collezione Em hotel group.
Finding the right location for the hotel didn’t come easy. It took over six years of searching before they stumbled across the trio of 17th-century buildings that make up Violino d’Oro. But it was worth the wait; just steps away from San Marco, guests can spend their days exploring the gilded Doge’s palace, sampling splendid desserts in historic Florian café and surveying the city from atop St Mark’s Campanile, before retiring to Violino’s intimate lounge bar for a nightcap that hits all the right notes.
Best room for city slickers Book the Junior Suite Rio Moisè, which has views directly over the gondola superhighway of San Moisè Canal and a generously sized walk-in wardrobe for stashing all your souvenirs.
Design details The hotel is an ode to Italian craftsmanship. As such, you’ll find Rubelli-made brocades, Emilio Isgró artworks, Murano chandeliers and lighting by Martinelli Luce.
Something to eat The hotel’s intimate restaurant, Il Piccolo, lives up to its name with just nine tables and a menu of Venetian-grown veggies and lagoon-caught shellfish. We particularly love the beetroot spaghetti. Our white linens, not so much.
See the sights Palazzo Ducale and San Marco’s Basilica are the headline acts around these parts, though the ticket includes access to some lesser-known jewels of the Piazza, too. The Correr and National Archaeological museums and the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana are all worthy of a visit. As is the Carlo Scarpa-designed Negozio Olivetti, a typewriter-store-turned-museum.
FOR GOURMET GETAWAYS
Venissa
Of all the great Italian cities, Venice is perhaps lesser known for its food scene. But Venissa, an acclaimed restaurant-with-rooms on Mazzorbo Island — a 50-minute boat ride from the City of Sighs — is helping to change that. Its small restaurant feels very intimate, thanks to its open kitchen, where chefs Francesco Brutto and Chiara Pavan specialise in lagoon-fresh fare with a plant-based spin.
Since Venissa is owned by a family of Veneto winemakers — not to mention its setting in a historic walled vineyard — there are plenty of liquid lures to sample, too. In fact, the team here helped to rescue the rare and ancient dorona di Venezia grape variety from extinction. More reason to order a bottle, we think, before retiring to your lagoon-spying suite.
Best room for green views Opt for the Red Suite, which is set within the walled vineyard, overlooking the grapes.
Design details Crafted by its former residents, the Venetian Scarpa Volo family, the manor abounds with rustic details like exposed beams, hardwood floors, antique finds and colour-popping textiles.
Something to eat Francesco Brutto and Chiara Pavan’s plant-based cuisine is full of ever-changing, inventive surprises. Their aubergine cutlet is a particular favourite.
See the sights Hire a boat and explore the neighbouring islands, including Venice’s allotment, Sant’Erasmo; the lagoon’s once a thriving trade centre, Torcello; or the lesser-trodden San Francesco del Deserto, a peaceful island home to an ancient Franciscan monastery.
FOR BOUTIQUE BREAKS
Madama Garden Retreat
Nestled just behind the majestic Scuola Grande della Misericordia, Madama Garden Retreat offers a beautified boutique break in Venice’s loved-by-locals Cannaregio district. This canalside cocoon blends modern comforts with the grand, Gothic touches of the Doge’s Palace.
Inside, each of its uniquely designed rooms tells a tale of Marco Polo wandering along the city’s cobbled alleys; while some have rich hues and gilded accents, others evoke the pastel-hued charm of Burano Island or the blooms and bounty of San’Erasmo. But as the name suggests, the headline act of this independent stay is its serene secret garden, an oasis in a city where green spaces are a precious find.
Best dressed room The delightful Dahlia suite is dressed in yellow and pink tones with ornate murals, terrazzo tiling and a private entrance to the gardens.
Design details Interiors here draw inspiration from Italo Calvino’s poetic novel, Invisible Cities. You’ll discover patterned wallpaper adorned with motifs of exotic birds or lush plants, echoing his fantastical depictions of the city.
Something to eat Breakfast is dished out under the garden’s pergolas, but otherwise you’ll have to venture out for your meals. Luckily, some of the best restaurants are right on your doorstep. Head to neighbouring eatery Il Paradiso Perduto for fresh seafood and a lively atmosphere.
See the sights Head to Jacopo Robusti’s (aka Tintoretto) 16th-century townhouse, Casa del Tintoretto, before venturing to the Church of Madonna dell’Orto in his home parish, where his works still adorn the walls. Alternatively, explore the city’s Jewish Quarter and tour one of its five synagogues.
Now your digs are sorted, discover our top tips for how to spend 48 hours in Venice