Best hotels in Venice: 10 charming locations in the elegant city on the water

There are many destinations in Italy that delight with beauty and amazing sights but few can compete with La Serenissima. Venice is a unique place that has no alternatives in the world. With 400 bridges, 150 canals, incredible exquisite palazzos and romantic squares of the XVI and XVII centuries, the Floating City is considered the most beautiful in Europe for a reason. It is natural that guests will find the best hotels in Venice, with baroque bedrooms draped in decadent velvet, or, on the contrary, ultra-modern accommodations with high-end amenities and unique decor that attract a flock of creative people from all over the world.

The city in northeastern Italy offers a classic vacation experience, with museums, palaces, and numerous tourist activities to suit all tastes. From the Dorsoduro art district and the Biennale Di Venezia, located on the edge of the lagoon, you will definitely want to return here for more high culture experiences. As a rule, you can avoid locations that are overly crowded with tourists but some of them are still a must, such as the extremely expensive espresso at Caffè Florian in Piazza San Marco or the signature Bellini cocktail at Harry's Bar.

As befits such a popular destination, there are plenty of luxurious places to stay, from VIP seats in the front row of the Giudecca Canal to charming boutiques hidden among the narrow, pretty streets. The following list of the top 12 best hotels in Venice will help you choose the best option for your trip without any hesitation.

Baglioni Hotel Luna

In terms of location, you will hardly find anything better than Baglioni Hotel Luna. One of the highest-rated hotels in Venice is literally around the corner from St. Mark's Square. In addition, there is a private canal for the arrival of water taxis, and the gondola stop is literally at arm's length. It is also the oldest hotel in the city, dating back to 1118, so guests get everything they would expect from an authentic Italian brand. As soon as you enter the room, you are greeted by the bright glow of original Murano wood chandeliers, silk brocade walls, and antique furniture.

The exquisite, stylish rooms are not to be missed, with gilded bed frames, tasseled pendant lights, artwork on the walls, and spacious bathrooms, all of which are marble. Breakfast is served in the majestic hall every morning, the ceiling of which is decorated with elegant frescoes.

Before heading to the restaurant, first visit the ground floor bar for an hour of aperitif, making sure to order a glass of Cantine Ferrari. Afterwards, you will have dinner at Canover, a traditional but unexpected menu designed by Claudio Sadler, a Michelin starred chef, and Gennaro Balice. In particular, we recommend trying the cappellacci stuffed with shrimp caught in the nearby lagoon and Venetian-style bull meat. Regardless of the choice, guests are always delighted with the dishes.

Nolinski Venice

Among the best hotels in Venice, it is impossible not to mention the new Nolinski Venice, which occupies the former stock exchange building on Calle Larga XXII Marzo. This street is located next to Piazza San Marco, attracting connoisseurs of expensive purchases as it is here that the largest number of luxury boutiques are concentrated.

The hotel is owned by the French hospitality brand Evok, so guests will enjoy the group's exceptional sensibility and sense of style. The interior design was developed by Yann Le Coadic in collaboration with Italian Alessandro Scotto, using refined Art Deco elements and mid-century modern and industrial details as a tribute to the majestic Liberty building. Particular attention is paid to textures and tones: rusty red, powder pink, and deep blue are complemented by strict metallic geometry and soft wavy lines. All this can be found in a spectacular library bar with a variety of velvet and plush, the walls of which are lined with more than four thousand books, and the ceiling is a hypnotic painting by Simon Buret.

Ca'di Dio

A water taxi takes guests directly to the pier of this beautiful Venice hotel, so you don't have to cross any stairs or bridges. Ca'di Dio is located directly in front of the Arsenale ferry terminal on the St. Mark's Basin waterfront. From the bus stop, you only need to take a few steps to get to the lobby filled with real jewels. Multicoloured Murano glass, luxurious leather and velvet seats: thanks to Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola, the interior has gained new accents in a retro-modern style in 2021.

The hotel has 66 rooms. Some of the apartments offer beautiful views of the lagoon, while others boast wooden beamed ceilings. However, each of them is illuminated by light through Art Deco glass. Only small touches indicate that Ca'di Dio was once a simple medieval pilgrimage shelter.

For the comfort of guests, there are two traditional roof terraces, as well as three cosy patios, the largest of which is immersed in lush greenery. If the weather permits, you can enjoy breakfast (perfectly fried bacon, organic eggs, freshly squeezed juice) in the open air or wait for an aperitif hour.

Palazzina Grassi

The entrance to the Palazzina Grassi is marked by only two potted palm trees, which is a testament to the brand's sensible approach. At the same time, this hotel in Venice, Italy, was designed by Philippe Starck himself, an outstanding French designer, a real star on a global scale. Originally an ordinary family house, it is now a stylish hospitality establishment with a large number of mirrors that reflect images from different angles, and blood-red curves of the famous Murano glass.

You can book either a standard room or one of the five Palazzina Grassi suites, which showcase ultra-modern Venetian style. The suites include TVs disguised as mirrors, textured lamp shades that add cosiness, bathrooms with neon lighting, and pleasant music. In addition, guests can count on full-size Diptyque products, state-of-the-art Dyson hair dryers, and breakfast served until noon.

Cipriani, Belmond Hotel

"A home and garden of earthly pleasures" is one way to describe Belmond Cipriani, but even this is hardly enough to understand its full appeal. A vintage motorboat made of lacquered wood (the last word in Venetian nautical chic of the 70s!) will pick you up from the crowds of Piazza San Marco or the ferry terminal. Guests are immediately taken to the hotel, where they are personally greeted by the charming Roberto, as a symbol of sustainability and prosperity. Unlike other luxury complexes that occupy historic palazzos in accordance with strict rules, the Belmond Cipriani building was custom-built in 1958 on three acres of land that at the time belonged to the Guinness family. Harry's Bar, located in the heart of the city, and its owner, Giuseppe Cipriani, created a brand new hotel.. The result exceeded all expectations. One of the best hotels in Venice is imbued with a hedonistic charm, with a homely atmosphere of tranquility and a sense of exclusivity; this is successfully emphasized by the attentive and friendly staff, ready to help at any time.

Hilton Molino Stucky Venice

Hilton Molino Stucky Venice is deservedly included in the list of the best hotels in Venice. Located on the southern tip of the island of Giudecca opposite the lagoon in a former mill, it is the perfect place to escape from the bustling crowds of tourists. Decorated in the traditional French toile de jouy style, with wooden floors and beamed ceilings, the apartments combine rustic and modern elements, and arched windows fill the rooms with shimmering light reflecting off the emerald waters.

This hotel is perfect for both a romantic Italian weekend and a family vacation. Families will especially appreciate the following amenities:

• small size bathrobes and slippers;
• toys on the beds and high chairs in the bathroom;
• a kids' club open until 19:00.

While the kids are having fun under the supervision of qualified staff, adults have the opportunity to enjoy one or more Bellinis at Skyline. This is the highest bar in the city and also includes a swimming pool, which has been open to guests since May. The reopened Aromi restaurant is also worthy of note. The restaurant is run by chef Ivan Fargnoli, who spent almost 20 years in China; this allowed him to give the Mediterranean menu a special richness of flavours and bright notes. You just have to try the ribeye wagyu, sparkling pink, as well as the duck consommé with black tagliatelle. The perfect culmination of the meal will be handmade sweets made of dark chocolate and Sichuan pepper for a special spice.

Casa Burano

An excellent hotel in Venice with modern rooms and all the necessary amenities, as well as locally made furniture, is a great choice to stay here while travelling in Italy. Every morning, guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast delivered directly to the apartment in a basket, including jam, croissants, homemade yogurt, and plenty of aromatic espresso. However, what attracts the most is the very affordable price, especially for such a popular tourist destination. There's no reception, so you can immediately relax in the Burano island neighbourhood, with its brightly coloured houses, fine lace, and the best fish restaurants in town, as well as the famous S-shaped Bussolai cookies that can't be found anywhere else. Everything around you is so beautiful and unrealistically decorative that it seems like you are on a movie set.

St Regis

If you plan to visit Venice for the Biennale, the best choice is the St Regis, where every guest has the opportunity to immerse themselves in the modern and creative art scene before they even leave the lobby. In particular, you can see works by famous artists on the walls, made in collaboration with the Berengo glass studio, and in the gallery, special attention should be paid to "Reclining Nocturne 3" by Karen LaMonte.

The history of the hotel dates back to 1895, the same year that the first Biennale was held in Venice. However, the hotel reopened in 2019 after a large-scale two-year renovation, which added a library, a ballroom, and a picturesque garden with views of the Grand Canal.

JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa

Isola delle Rose, one of the largest islands in Venice, stood abandoned for decades until 2015 when the JW Marriott Venice Resort and Spa, designed by the design and architecture firm Matteo Thun & Partners, appeared here. The hotel's interiors are extremely modern, especially for a medieval city, not overflowing with details but also not minimalistic. Some of the rooms offer amazing views of the lagoon, the Neo-Romanesque Catholic Church, or the millennial olive groves. This creates the feeling of being in a Mediterranean resort, luxurious and elegant.

On the fourth floor of one of the best hotels in Venice, there is an atmospheric rooftop bar as well as a large swimming pool, making the JW Marriott Venice Resort and Spa truly special. Do not miss a visit to the Dopolavoro Venezia restaurant, which presents the concept of fine cuisine by Fabio Trabocchi, a Michelin-starred chef.

Ca Sagredo Hotel

A ceremonial marble staircase, original frescoes by Pietro Longhi and Giambattista Tiepolo, an elegant music room of the XVIII century: all this can be found in a luxurious palazzo of the XV century, located on the Grand Canal and recognized as a national monument. The chic five-star hotel has undergone a long way of careful restoration over seven years as it consists of four apartments of historical significance at once. In particular, one part is the former library of Count Sagredo, where Galileo once studied, and on the fourth floor, you will find beautiful terraces with equally beautiful views.

Novecento

This beautiful Venice hotel is a good demonstration of what a boutique townhouse should be: eclectic, homely and nicely worn around the edges. On the ground floor of the Novocento is a breakfast room decorated with oak beams. Sometimes exhibitions of glassware or photography are organized here, and the charming patio serves coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice, croissants, and fruit in good weather.

The hotel has only nine suites, individually decorated with Balinese, Indian and sometimes Venetian furniture. Rooms include premium bedding, spacious bathrooms, quality toiletries, air conditioning, etc. The service is attentive and friendly, yet unobtrusive without the arrogant attitude that can sometimes be felt in expensive hotels.

Corte 1321

A cosy and small bed and breakfast jointly run by a daughter and mother, hidden behind a deep blue door behind Sant'Aponal in the lively San Polo neighbourhood. Corte 1321 occupies part of the ground and first floor of the 15th-century Palazzo Bernardi. You can book one of four spacious rooms decorated in warm colours, with wooden floors, low ceilings with beams. The apartments are decorated with silk pillows, oriental carpets, and beds and textiles from Bali.