Venice is a must-see destination in Italy, and even in Europe. Because of its popularity with tourists, but above all its very particular layout, choosing where to stay in Venice is essential to a successful stay. Between the local experience and optimizing your budget, it’s important to know which are the main areas to stay in and around Venice.
In this guide, we help you make your accommodation selection for a trip to Venice. We present the different areas where you can stay. On the main island of Venice, but also those around it, as well as the adjacent town at the entrance to the lagoon.
For each, we go back over the advantages and disadvantages of their location. We also share our recommendations for hotels and rental apartments, sorted by budget.
Things you need to know
Before going into detail on each area to help you decide where to stay in Venice, here are some key things you need to know about the city. This’ll give you a better idea of the city.
Our favorite places to stay
If you’re in a hurry, here are our top places to stay in Venice:
- $ This well-located and inexpensive guest house: good value for money for a cheap stay in Venice
- $$ This hotel, located in a former palace
- $$$ This upmarket establishment, on the banks of the Grand Canal is one of the best places to stay in Venice if your budget allows.
Map of different areas to stay in Venice
Here’s a map which includes our picks of hotels and flats. You can also use this map to pinpoint the different areas we’ll cover in this guide.
We’ve used the following colour code: green for budget hotels, blue for mid-range hotels and red for luxury hotels.
Essentials to stay in Venice
Areas where to stay in Venice
Let’s get to the heart of the matter with a review of the main areas where we recommend staying in Venice. We’ll also take a look at the best islands to stay on in the lagoon.
San Marco, stay in the heart of Venice
Located in the very heart of Venice, San Marco is named after the city's patron saint and is one of Venice's most popular tourist spots. It's one of the smallest districts, but also home to many of the most famous landmarks. It's also centrally located.
The must-visit spot in San Marco is the famous Piazza San Marco, the only one to be given the name “Piazza”, the other squares being called “Campo”. This square is home to Venice's two major attractions: St. Mark's Basilica, with its five superb domes, and the Campanile, whose ascent offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding area.
Beyond that, San Marco is also home to the Doge's Palace, the Bridge of Sighs, the Clock Tower and the Correr Museum, among others.
Its central, touristy location makes it one of Venice's most popular spots for cafés, restaurants and hotels. It's also one of the most expensive districts in which to stay or eat. With a special mention for Caffé Florian, located directly on Piazza San Marco, where the coffee is unbelievably expensive!
If your budget allows, and you plan well in advance, this is the area to look for accommodation during your stay. There's a wide range of accommodation in the area, from hotels to tourist rentals. This is also where you'll find most of Venice's luxury establishments.
Best addresses in the Venetian district
With its excellent location, this establishment is housed in an ancient building dating back to the 16th century. With a small inner courtyard and rooms overlooking the canal, it is a great place to stay in the heart of Venice. Breakfast is included in the room rate.
This 5-star hotel, set in a magnificent period building, renovated and decorated with Venetian-style furniture, is one of the most prestigious in Venice. Right on the Grand Canal, a ten-minute walk from St. Mark's Square, it has its own restaurant and beautiful views.
Staying in the San Polo district
Like San Marco, San Polo is located in the center of Venice. It's the city's smallest district, but also one of its oldest.
Its small size doesn't prevent it from being home to one of the world's best-known historical relics: the Rialto Bridge, one of the four bridges that cross the Grand Canal. San Polo is also home to the Basilica of Santa María Gloriosa dei Frari and the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, one of Venice's best-decorated buildings.
San Polo is a lively place, with many restaurants, especially in the eastern part, close to the Grand Canal. Depending on where you're staying, you can walk to Saint Mark's Square in around 10-15 minutes, via the Rialto Bridge.
San Polo's central location makes it, like San Marco, a rather expensive place to stay in Venice. There are a few good hotels here, but above all, there are tourist apartments to rent. It's a good alternative to San Marco, but still close to it and in a similar atmosphere.
It also has the advantage of being close to the train and bus stations, from which the airport shuttles depart and arrive. A 10-15 minute walk. This is an advantage for a very short stay when you need to optimize your travel time.
Accommodation recommendations
Staying in Venice in Castello
Venice's largest district is Castello. It stretches across the eastern part of the city, from Piazza San Marco to the eastern end. Given its size, it's home to a wide variety of atmospheres. But above all, if you choose to stay here, you'll have to walk to get to the center. Or take the vaporetto.
Castello is home to the great arsenal building known as the Arsenale. This was once the factory for merchant and military fleets, and for centuries was the economic heart of the city. For those interested in history, this is a must-see.
There are also many churches to visit. Here you'll find the Basilica Santi Giovanni e Paolo, considered to be the city's largest church. But also one of the most beautiful.
Generally speaking, Castello is a rather quiet place. There's no shortage of places to stay, including a number of luxury establishments.
Good addresses
Accommodation in Cannaregio
To the north lies the Cannaregio district, one of the largest in Venice. Cannaregio also has the distinction of being one of the most densely populated areas, and home to many historical figures, including Marco Polo. The painters Tintoretto and Titian are also among its illustrious inhabitants.
Cannaregio's tourist interest is relatively limited compared with the rest of the city, but you can discover the many synagogues to be found in the heart of the alleyways. The old Jewish ghetto is also a center of interest, with an atmosphere unlike anything you'll find in the rest of Venice.
St. Mark's Square is a 30-minute walk away. Staying in Cannaregio therefore means walking to the center morning and evening, or taking the vaporetto.
Due to the low number of tourist attractions, Cannaregio is one of the most affordable places to stay or eat.
However, because it's so far from the main points of interest, and apart from the economic aspect, it's not necessarily the best place to stay in Venice.
Lodging recommendations
This luxury establishment is one of the best 5-star hotels in Venice. It is elegantly furnished, with a restaurant and spa centre. A little out of the way, you come here mainly for the experience. It is nevertheless well located for visiting the city.
Stay in the south, near Dorsoduro and Giudecca
Dorsoduro lies to the southwest. This district is attached to Giudecca, an island located a little further south. The center is easily reached on foot via the Accademia Bridge, making it an interesting alternative for accommodation in Venice.
Dorsoduro is mainly home to university establishments. This makes it one of Venice's favorite student entertainment districts. So if you want to see a bit of entertainment, this is the place to go. But you can also go there if you appreciate art and culture, since Dorsoduro is home to two art galleries, including the famous Peggy Guggenheim collection.
The Church of Santa Maria della Salute and the Palazzo Ca' Rezzonico, one of the most beautiful in Venice, are two other important landmarks.
Dorsoduro is undoubtedly a lively area, but you can still find a few places to stay in quiet streets. Sleeping is therefore possible, but you need to be careful when booking.
Preferred accommodation
Staying in Santa Croce
The Santa Croce district is located in the northwest. It's one of the least touristy areas. And for good reason: it's the only area where road traffic is allowed. It's also where you'll find the bus station, which is particularly handy if you want to transfer between the city and the airport: buses run all day long. There's also a train station.
From a tourist point of view, Santa Croce is of little interest, although the eastern part may be worth a few minutes to explore some of the narrow streets. The churches of San Giacomo dell'Orio, San Nicola di Tolentino and San Simeon Grando are also worth a visit.
Santa Croce's off-center location makes it one of the most affordable places to stay. Numerous accommodations offer attractive rates. In short, the main reason for staying here is to get the best value for money, while remaining within easy walking distance of the heart of Venice (about half an hour's walk).
Recommendations
Stay in Mestre, a good plans for small budgets
Mestre is not part of the city. It's a bit like the gateway to the Venice lagoon. To be perfectly honest, there's clearly nothing to do there. However, its location and affordable accommodation make it a good alternative for staying close to the City of the Doges without breaking the bank. Many travellers on a budget choose accommodation in Mestre.
If you're planning to stay here, you'll be able to get to Venice quickly:
- take the train from Mestre to Santa Lucia station (which is Venice's main railway station), or
- or by taking a bus to Piazzale Roma, very close to the above-mentioned station.
In both cases, you can reach the Serenissima in 10 to 20 minutes. It's a perfectly acceptable location for staying on the outskirts of the City of the Doges and saving on your overall travel budget. In terms of accommodation, there is a wide range on offer. There are affordable hotels and hostels, as well as a number of 3 and 4-star establishments.
If you're going away for 2 or 3 nights and are planning to stay in Mestre, try to choose a hotel close to the station. This is the quickest way to get to Venice from Mestre. For such a short stay, saving 15 to 20 minutes in the morning and evening is not insignificant!
Accommodation in mestre
Stay on Lido Island
The island of Lido is a popular summer destination for Italians. It is made up of almost 12 kilometres of beach, and its proximity to Venice makes it a very popular spot. It can be reached by car, bus or vaporetto.
On the other hand, it offers little in the way of cultural interest, unless you visit between the last week of August and the first week of September. That's when the famous Venice Film Festival takes place, bringing together the biggest names in the film industry every year. Make sure you book your accommodation well in advance if you want to see the festival!
The Lido's out-of-the-way location makes it an affordable place to stay. Even more so if you're looking for comfortable accommodation. There's a wide range of accommodation on offer, from hotels to tourist rentals (particularly villas and flats by the sea). However, you should bear in mind that you'll need to take the vaporetto every morning and evening toget to the heart of Venice, which will add to your transport budget.
The main reason for staying on the Lido island is to enjoy the beach. This is not necessarily the norm for a standard trip to Venice. It is therefore more suited to locals who come to recharge their batteries than to travellers who come to discover the riches of the City of the Doges.
Hotels on the lido
This hotel complex is set in a large park with a swimming pool, at the foot of the Lido beach. It offers rooms of varying sizes that can accommodate families. It also has a spa service and its own car park. This is a good place to stay in Venice for those who want to combine relaxation with cultural visits.
Burano: should you stay on the lagoon's famous colorful island?
Situated in the Venetian lagoon to the north of Venice, the island of Burano is well worth a visit, and only takes a few hours. To get there, you need to take a vaporetto.
The LN line from Fondamenta Nuove or San Zaccaria takes around 45 minutes. But you can take the direct line to Torcello to shorten the journey considerably. But either way, it's still a long way from the centre. All the more reason to make it your base for a stay in Venice.
Burano is best known for its magnificent colourful houses, which you can discover along the narrow streets and canals. It is also known for its world-renowned production of thread lace.
The very limited size of the island means that it is not renowned for the number of its hotels or restaurants. There are, however, a number of establishments where you can sleep in peace and quiet, with all the comforts of Italian hospitality. Because of the scarcity of accommodation, prices are pushed up despite the remoteness of the island. As you can see, apart from the atypical aspect, this is not necessarily the best option for accommodation in Venice.
Murano, another island where you can stay overnight
The island of Murano is so well known because it produces the famous Murano glass. Without necessarily looking for a place to stay, this little corner of the world north of Venice is well worth a few hours' visit. The atmosphere in Murano is much calmer than in Venice. Although it is visited by tourists during the day, it is emptied of tourists in the evening.
Murano is famous for being home to the Basilica of Santi Maria e Donato, one of the oldest churches in the entire Lagoon. But its main tourist attraction is the Glass Museum, a must-see in Murano.
To get there, you also need to take the vaporetto. The journey takes around twenty minutes from the north of Venice. If you add in the journey to the departure pier and the waiting time for the boat, you can reach the centre of Murano from the heart of Venice in around 45 minutes.
Because of this inconvenient distance and the size of the island, there is very little accommodation on Murano. However, if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the heart of Venice, even for just one night, it is advisable to book well in advance.
Accommodation recommendations in Murano
As we’ve seen, Venice has a very particular layout. Sprawling with canals, you can get around on foot or by vaporetto for longer distances or to reach other islands in the lagoon. Choosing the right accommodation in Venice is therefore an important part of making the most of your trip.
The best places to stay in Venice are in or near the center of the main island. They have the disadvantage of being booked up well in advance, and of being more expensive of course.
It’s not necessary to change accommodation during your stay in Venice. It’s best to choose just one and explore the city from there. An exception may be made if you want to experience something different, for example, by spending a night or two on the islands of Murano, Burano or the Lido to enjoy the beach.
In any case, Venice is an ultra-touristy destination, all year round. As soon as you know the dates of your stay, book your accommodation as soon as possible!