How many times have you heard a city call itself the “Venice of the (geographical region)“? Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but we can positively tell you there’s nothing like the original. Famous for being one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Venice is known for its winding canals sprinkled with gondolas, gorgeous squares, palaces, churches and bridges. A major cultural centre in Italy, the “Floating City” is also home to important museums, art galleries, theatres and, of course, world-renowned festivals like Carnevale di Venezia, the Venice Art Biennale and the Venice Film Festival.
Located in northeastern Italy, on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals in the Venetian Lagoon, Venice is the capital of the Veneto region. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, it is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Europe. Some of its most popular attractions include Piazza San Marco, the Doge’s Palace, Rialto Bridge and Saint Mark’s Basilica. Considered one of the most romantic cities in the world, Venice is home to a broad offer of small luxury hotels. That said, this Italian city also features some budget accommodation options.
It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time visiting Venice or if you’re looking for that one special romantic area, keep reading this article to find out more about our top picks of the best areas to stay in Venice for tourists.
Accommodation Options in VeniceIf you don’t have the time or the patience to read the full post, here is a quick summary of our recommended quarters to stay in Venice. Keep reading to find out more information about each of these areas.
- Best area for sightseeing: Centro Storico (Historic City Centre)
- Most exclusive area in Venice: San Marco
- Most charming area to stay: Dorsoduro
- Best quarter for a short visit: San Polo
- Best area for a honeymoon or romantic trip: Canal Grande (Grand Canal)
- Best area for shopping: Calle Larga XXII Marzo (San Marco)
- Cheapest areas to stay in Venice Old Town: Cannaregio | Santa Croce
- Cheap area to stay near Venice: Mestre
- Best location for Venice Biennale: Castello
What’s the Best Area to Stay in Venice?
The best area to stay in Venice is Centro Storico, particularly if it’s your first time visiting the city. This area, located on both sides of the Canal Grande, is made up of dozens of islets and canals connected by bridges. Most of Venice tourist attractions, Rialto Bridge and Saint Mark’s Basilica and Square, and Teatro La Fenice are located in this district, which is also home to the best-rated hotels in Venice.
Find Available Accommodation in Centro Storico.
Best Hotels in Venice City Centre
- Best five-star hotel: The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel
- Best four-star hotel: Al Ponte Antico
- Best three-star hotel: Rosa Salva Hotel
- Best budget hotel: Hotel Bartolomeo
- Best B&B: Friendly Venice Suites
Where to Stay in Venice for Sightseeing
As we’ve mentioned above, Centro Storico is the best location for tourists in Venice. Venice’s Historic City Centre is divided into six sestieri (literally ‘sixths’), each one with a different flavour and attractions. These are some of the most interesting:
- While it is not not an official district, the Grand Canal is the main waterway of Venice. Nicknamed “The Most Beautiful Avenue in the World,” Canal Grande flows next to some of Venice’s most popular attractions, bridges and palaces. Some of the best-rated canalside hotels in Venice include the 4-star Egò Boutique Hotel The Silk Road and Al Ponte Antico,
- Considered Venice’s true heart, the San Marco quarter is where you’ll find the famous Piazza San Marco, Doge’s Palace and Duomo di Venezia. Some great properties here include The Gritti Palace and Corte di Gabriella.
- Across from San Marco lies San Polo. This charming little quarter holds the Rialto Bridge and Campo San Silvestro and is also home to lovely boutique properties like Hotel L’Orologio and Grifoni Boutique Hotel.
- Located on the city’s east end, Castello, also known as the Biennale quarter, is home to most of the city’s festival venues including the Venetian Arsenal and the Giardini della Biennale. Some of the best hotels in Castello include Ruzzini Palace Hotel and Hotel Ai Cavalieri di Venezia.
- Cannaregio, home to Santa Lucia railway station and the Old Jewish Ghetto is a charming and not-so-touristy area packed with small locande (B&Bs) such as Casa Colleoni and Scalon del Doge.
- Another great district for tourists in Venice is Santa Croce. Home to the central bus station, Santa Croce is also where most budget hotels in Venice are located. Some great affordable hotels in Santa Croce include Hotel dalla Mora and Hotel Locanda Salieri.
The Best Areas for Tourists in Venice: District by District
1. San Marco: Best Location for a Luxury Trip to Venice
Home to some of Venice’s most visited tourist attractions, San Marco is the quintessential Venetian sestiere and the best area to stay in Venice to be near the action.
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Why is this the best area to stay in Venice:
- Heart of the city
- Great area for sightseeing
- Piazza and Basilica San Marco
- Doge’s Palace
- Luxury hotels, restaurants and shopping
- Calle Larga XXII Marzo
- Teatro La Fenice
Centred around the namesake piazza and located on the Grand Canal’s east side, sestiere San Marco is considered Venice’s heart.
Piazza San Marco, often referred to as St. Mark’s Square in English, dates back to the 12th century and is home to iconic Venetian sights including St. Mark’s Basilica and its Campanile, the Doge’s Palace, Torre dell’Orologio, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Venezia
and the Bridge of Sighs.
Being the epicentre of tourist activity in the city, the streets around the square are packed with snack bars and souvenir shops. Not far, Salizada S. Moise and Larga XXII Marzo streets are lined with upscale fashion boutiques. Situated right at the district’s geographical centre, Teatro La Fenice is an 1800s-style grand opera house where many famous premieres were performed.
When it comes to accommodation, San Marco is, understandably, one of the most elegant and upscale areas to stay in Venice. While there are a few budget properties in the area, this quarter is famous for its luxury hotels.
Best Hotels in Sestiere San Marco
2. San Polo: Best Location for a First-Time Visitor to Venice
Across the Grand Canal from San Marco, sestiere San Polo is a very central district in Venice and the best area for first-time visitors to the city.
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Why is this the best area to stay in Venice:
- Rialto Bridge
- Super central location
- Near San Marco and Santa Croce
- Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
- Variety of accommodation
- Rialto Market
Home to the world-famous Rialto Bridge, San Polo is arguably the best-located quarter in Venice. This lively Venetian district, the smallest in the city centre, is located between the San Marco, Cannaregio, Santa Croce and Dorsoduro sestieri and, as such, is the best quarter to stay close to everything. It is a particularly convenient area to base yourself when visiting Venice for the first time or if you only have one or two days to discover the city.
The western part of sestiere San Polo is known for its many squares and churches, while the eastern part, sometimes referred to as the Rialto, is known for its lavish palaces.
Other than Rialto Bridge, San Polo hosts several popular Venetian attractions like the Rialto Market, as well as beautiful squares like Campo San Polo, Campo San Silvestro and the romantic Campo San Tomà. The Church of San Giacomo di Rialto is said to be the oldest in the city and the 14th-century Gothic-style Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari hosts Titian’s tomb and a couple of his paintings. Meanwhile, the Ponte delle Tette (Bridge of the Breasts) is famous for being the heart (and boobs) of the city’s former red-light district.
San Polo is home to a broad offer of accommodation properties ranging from luxury canalside palaces on its eastern end to small B&B and mid-range hotels as you move west away from Rialto.
Best Hotels in Sestiere San Polo
3. Castello: Best Location for Biennale di Venezia & Venice Film Festival
Sestiere Castello is a quiet, upscale area on Venice’s east end.
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Why is this the best area to stay in Venice:
- Venetian Arsenal
- Public gardens & parks
- Luxury hotels
- Riva degli Schiavoni
- Best area for the main cultural events in Venice
- Museo Storico Navale di Venezia
Castello is the largest sestiere in Venice. Located north of the Grand Canal and east of San Marco, this expansive district is home to the Venetian Arsenal, a former complex of shipyards founded in the 12th century used for exhibitions, trade fairs and cultural events including the Venice Film Festival and the Biennale.
Although Castello is not the most central district in Venice, its western portion, bordering St. Mark’s Square, is very lively (albeit touristy) and home to a large number of upscale shops, eateries and accommodations. However, as you move east, away from San Marco, the vibe gets more and more laid back. The area around Via Garibaldi offers cool nightlife venues and restaurants, while Giardini della Biennale park, surrounded by charming canals and low rise buildings, has an almost suburban feel to it.
In line with its position as Venice’s major event district, hotels here are for the most part luxurious. The area bordering Piazza San Marco hosts many 4 and 5-star palazzo-style properties, while the district’s outer sections are home to a few budget hotels, B&Bs and tourist apartments.
Best Hotels in Sestiere Castello
4. Dorsoduro: Quiet & Romantic Location in Venice
Located in Venice’s southern end, Dorsoduro is a quiet area to enjoy the esence of Venice away from the masses.
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Why is this the best area to stay in Venice:
- Most charming quarter in Venice
- Alternative area
- Great nightlife and restaurants
- Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
- Inexpensive accommodation
- Gallerie dell’Accademia
- Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Sestiere Dorsoduro, (literally “hard ridge”) is situated in the south end of Venice’s Centro Storico and west of the Grand Canal. Traditionally the city’s university district, this area is known for its lively food scene and nightlife, particularly around Campo Santa Margherita, as well as for being home to important museums.
Perhaps the most visited attraction in Dorsoduro, the Gallerie dell’Accademia hosts an extensive collection of pre-19th-century Venetian and European masterpieces including works by the likes of Canaletto, Leonardo da Vinci, Tintoretto and Titian. Meanwhile, the waterside Peggy Guggenheim Collection houses contemporary works by artists such as Duchamp, Dalí, Miró, Picasso, Kandinsky and Magritte.
Situated in Punta della Dogana and completed in 1681, the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute was built as a votive offering for the city’s deliverance from a bubonic plague outbreak. This Baroque-style church, highly visible from the Grand Canal, inspired artists like Canaletto and Francesco Guardi, who portrayed it on many of their cityscapes.
Although it is true that Dorsoduro hosts many important attractions, most of its tourist activity is focused on its eastern side. As you move west, away from the Grand Canal, you’ll discover this sestiere is indeed a lovely and quiet district full of charming little canals, off-the-beaten-path squares and churches, and some of the most authentic restaurants in town.
Best Hotels in Sestiere Dorsoduro
5. Santa Croce: A Very Convenient Location in Venice
Santa Croce is a great location in Venice for all types of travellers and budgets.
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Why is this the best area to stay in Venice:
- Near Santa Lucia railway station
- Piazzale Roma Bus Terminal
- Most convenient area if you travel by car
- Closest area to the cruise and ferry port
- Varied accommodation
- Giardini Papadopoli
- Chiesa di San Simeon Piccolo
Santa Croce is located south of the Grand Canal, across from Cannaregio and Santa Lucia railway station.
One of the oldest districts in Venice, Santa Croce’s eastern portion is mostly medieval in origin, while its easternmost area (which includes the cruise and ferry port and the Tronchetto island) is mostly made up of reclaimed land.
Piazzale Roma, located near the railway and bus terminals, is home to the city’s car parks. Cars are strictly banned in Venice; there are no roads, just footpaths and canals, and tourists arriving by car via Ponte della Libertà must park in one of the authorised facilities for the duration of their stay.
Tourist attractions in this area can be found mostly in the quarter’s eastern part. These include the Fondaco dei Turchi, home to the Natural History Museum of Venice, Palazzo Ca’ Pesaro and the Museum of the History of Fabric and Costume at Palazzo Mocenigo.
The accommodation found in Santa Croce is very varied; while the area around the bus station is home to a wealth of budget properties, the canalside eastern portion houses impressive 4 and 5-star hotels.
Best Hotels in Sestiere Santa Croce
6. Cannaregio: Best Location for a Cheap Holiday in Venice
Cannaregio is a well-connected, centrally-located and budget-friendly quarter to stay in Venice.
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Why is this the best area to stay in Venice:
- Santa Lucia Station
- Well-connected by vaporetto
- Old Jewish Ghetto
- Cheapest area to stay in Venice
- Budget restaurants and bars
- Casa del Tintoretto
Cannaregio is the northernmost of the six central sestieri of Venice. The most populous area in the historic centre, this large district is home to Stazione di Santa Lucia, the city’s main railway station and transport link between Venice and the mainland. Other than the Grand Canal, which borders it to the south, the main waterway in the district is Canal de Cannaregio, the only other canal crossed by vaporetti (steamboats).
Traditionally one of the poorest areas in Venice and somewhat out of the typical tourist trail, Cannaregio today is a very interesting area with many untouched canals, narrow streets, small bars and restaurants, and artisan workshops. Perhaps more importantly, this sestiere is the cheapest area to stay in central Venice, with dozens of small locande and budget hotels.
While not as visited as San Marco and San Polo, sestiere Cannaregio has a lot to offer. At its heart lies the Old Ghetto of Venice, the city’s historic Jewish quarter is home to two synagogues, kosher shops and the Jewish Museum of Venice. Another attraction in this lovely Venetian district is the 16th-century former townhouse of Tintoretto.
Best Hotels in Sestiere Cannaregio
7. Giudecca: Most Peaceful Area to Stay in Venice
Separated from the main island by the namesake canal, Giudecca seems a world away from Venice’s overcrowded central quarters.
The island of Giudecca is located on the far south edge of Venice, from which it’s separated by the Giudecca Canal.
This quiet island used to be one of the main industrial districts in the city before WWII. Today, Giudecca is largely residential and a resort town known for its long dock and its churches, including Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore.
There are no bridges between Giudecca and the rest of the city, so the main mean of transportation to get around is the vaporetto. While this can be a huge inconvenience for some visitors, its relative isolation makes it the best area to stay in Venice for those looking for peace and quiet away from the thousands of tourists swarming the centremost districts of the city.
Best Hotels in Giudecca
8. Mestre: Cheapest Area to Stay near Venice
While not nearly as interesting or beautiful as Venice, Mestre offers budget accommodation and convenient train connections to Santa Lucia railway Station.
Mestre is the most populated town of the comune of Venice. It is located on the mainland, some 10 kilometres away from Centro Storico, to which it is connected by buses and trains.
Frequent Trenitalia regional trains connect both cities. The journey from Venezia-Mestre to Venezia-Santa Lucia stations takes approximately 9 minutes. Alternatively, bus line B1 and tram line T1 also travel between Mestre and Venice.
The main reason to choose Mestre when deciding where to stay in Venice is the fact that Mestre is much more affordable than Central Venice.
An upscale hotel in Mestre can have the same price (or even be cheaper) as a 1-star in Venice!
Best Hotels in Giudecca
Where to Look for Accommodation in Venice: Useful Info
Because of its popularity among travellers from all around the world and the fact that the Venetian accommodation is not exactly cheap, it is very convenient to start thinking about where to stay in Venice as soon as you make the decision of visiting the city. Here you will find a small guide with the best areas to stay in the city, as well as the top neighbourhoods for a great holiday.
As is the case in most must-see cities around the world, Venice has a wide range of places to stay for every type of traveller. From small, family-owned pensions to the swankiest of luxury hotels by the Canal. As mentioned above, it is good noticing that Venice is by no means cheap, so it is better to start planning ahead and try to book your accommodation well in advance.
So, in order for you to get a clearer idea about where to book your accommodation in Venice, we will show you here some of the best areas to stay in Venice and around with a hand-picked selection of our favourite budget, mid-range and luxury hotels in each area.
Generally speaking, rates at Venice hotels are quite expensive and the quality of the accommodation here is usually not the best. Before you get to your hotel to find that you have paid a small fortune for a hole in the ground, it is best to take a look at the comments of other customers who have stayed there.
Obviously, the best area to stay in this city is the city itself and the closer to the centre, the better.
However, for reasons of hotel availability, as well as for economic reasons, you may want to rethink where to stay during your trip. As you will discover as you read further, you also have the possibility to stay in other places near the island, such as Mestre and Lido.
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Next time I go to Venice, I’ll definitely take one of your suggestions. Went there once. I stayed at Hotel Padana and my friend stayed in hotel Diana. Considering they are in the same hotel chain and are in the same area and have the same staff, I can definitely generalize. Those hotels are awful, STAY AWAY from them. The rooms are pretty old, outdated, really small and cold. The heating wasn’t working and after asking for help in the reception, they turned it on, but after sometime they were turning on and off the heating. My friend slept in cold and I also had the same “luck”. The room is full of mosquitoes. The staff is rude and avoid at all costs to talk with the clients. The manager is the worse. He is always with a bad attitude, being agressive and almost screaming at you even if you are just asking for an information. Even if you speak with them in Italian, they seemed annoyed and try to end the conversation as soon as possible (they do this by being rude, “making a call” or moving pappers to pretend they are doing something and are busy or just pretending that they don’t know or don’t understand what you are saying). Speaking with them in other language is almost impossible. There is no comfort in the rooms and you can barely sleep. If you want to leave your luggage with them, they will put it under the stairs with many other luggages. Everyone has free acess to those luggages and none of the people who works in the reception pay attention to see if people are getting their luggages or somebody’s else luggage. If a luggage disappears, they dont even move a finger to see what’s going on. In fact, they never move a finger to anything. Those hotels are extremely overpriced and definitely there is no cost benefit. Breakfast is awful. It’s very poor and the little food that it has is in bad condition. Do yourself a favour and stay somewhere else. Trust me, not even the location makes it worth it. My best friend had such a bad experience there that he had to move to another hotel because of the neglection from one of this hotels. Hotel diana and hotel padana?? Never again!