Where to Stay in Venice 2026: Best Hotels and Neighborhoods

Choosing where to stay in Venice is one of the biggest decisions you will make as you plan your trip to this city. The location of your hotel will have a big impact on your overall experience.

Venice is made up of neighborhoods, also called sestieri, and each neighborhood has its advantages and disadvantages for travelers. Some sestieri contain Venice’s most popular sites, but with that comes huge numbers of tourists and expensive prices. And in some sestieri, you will have a quieter experience, but you’ll also be walking and using public transportation more.

We’ve visited Venice three times, and each trip looked different. The first time, we were on a tight budget and stayed in Mestre, on the mainland. The second time, with a little more room to spend, we found a great place in Santa Croce. It was easy to reach by public transportation, though it’s a walk to the main sights. Most recently, we stayed in Dorsoduro and loved it: quieter, more local, and still reasonably priced compared to the more central neighborhoods.

Between the three trips, we’ve gotten a feel for what each part of Venice actually offers. That’s what we’re sharing here.

In this guide, learn about the different neighborhoods in Venice and get recommendations on where to stay in each of them, depending on your budget.

Where to Stay in Venice: The Quick Answer

If you want to skip over the overview of each neighborhood, here are the top properties we recommend. We have either stayed here or these hotels get an excellent review score.

Hotel American-Denisen: Canal Views Without Paying a Small Fortune

We stayed here on our most recent visit to Venice. Hotel American-Denisen is a 4-star hotel in Dorsoduro. The hotel sits on the San Vio Canal. Rooms are luxuriously decorated and some have a small balcony with a canal view. Crossing Ponte dell’Accademia, a historic bridge with gorgeous views of the Grand Canal, was a great way to start and end each day.

This hotel is a good pick for those who want to stay in an upscale property and have a canal view, without spending a lot of money.

Hotel American-Denisen

Novecento Boutique Hotel: Stay in the Heart of San Marco

This gorgeous hotel gets rave reviews. Prior guests state that this is one of their favorite hotels of all time. Novecento Boutique Hotel sits on a small canal, not far from the Grand Canal. Rooms are beautifully appointed and breakfast is served in the garden.

Hotels with a View of the Grand Canal

If you want a view of the Grand Canal, the Gritti Palace is one of the most luxurious hotels in Venice. It has amazing views of Basilica Santa Maria della Salute and from here, it’s just a short walk to most of Venice’s top attractions.

H10 Palazzo Canova is a more affordable, 4-star hotel on the Grand Canal, in the San Polo sestiere.

If you want a view of both the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge from your hotel room, take a look at The Venice Venice Hotel.

A view of the Grand Canal from Gritti Palace

Palazzo Odoni: Great Pick for Families

Located in Santa Croce, Palazzo Odoni is easy to get to and has a variety of rooms that can accommodate up to four people, making it perfect for families and small groups of travelers. This mid-range hotel also gets excellent reviews.

Hotel Olimpia: Mid-Range Hotel in Santa Croce

This is where we stayed on our second visit to Venice. We wanted a highly-rated mid-range place with a location near the parking garages in Santa Croce, since we were traveling with a car, and Hotel Olimpia ticked all of those boxes.

This hotel sits on a canal, so some rooms have a canal view. It’s just a 2-minute walk from Piazzale Roma bus station and a little bit farther from the train station.

For those who want a mid-range stay in a convenient location, and don’t mind a slightly longer walk to St. Mark’s Square, this is our top pick.

Hotel Olimpia

Venice Geography 101

Venice is built on a group of 118 islands and these small islands are linked with 400 bridges. These islands are located in the Venetian Lagoon, which sits just off of the mainland of Italy.

Venice is made up of neighborhoods, also called sestieri (singular sestiere). Some sestieri contain Venice’s most popular sites while others are quieter, where the locals live.

San Marco is the touristy heart of Venice and home to Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Square, and the Rialto Bridge. Most tourists spend the majority of their time here, along with Dorsoduro (Pont dell’Accademia, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute), and San Polo.

Santa Croce, located on the western end of Venice, is the main transportation hub. The bus station, parking garages, and train station are located here.

Cannaregio, Castello, and Giudecca are where many local Venetians live, but these sestieri make great places to go for a stroll if you want to escape the tourist crowds in the heart of Venice.

Finally, Murano, Burano, and Lido make great day trips from Venice, but you need to have at least three days in Venice in order to have enough time to do this. Since they sit so far from the main attractions, these also don’t make great locations to stay in, especially if it is your first visit to Venice.

Which Neighborhood in Venice is Right for You?

Not sure which part of Venice fits your trip best? Use this table as a quick guide, then read on for more detail on each traveler type.

Best Venice Hotels by Location

San Marco: The Touristy Heart of Venice
Dorsoduro: Quiet Neighborhood Near the City Center
Santa Croce: Venice’s Main Transportation Hub
San Polo: Central Venice
Cannaregio: Local Neighborhood with a Less Touristy Vibe
Castello: Off-the-Beaten-Path in Venice
Giudecca: Tranquility Across the Lagoon
Mestre: Best for Budget Travelers

San Marco

Stay in the Heart of Venice

San Marco is the touristy heart of Venice, home to St. Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto Bridge, and it’s easily the most crowded neighborhood in the city. You’ll pay a premium for a hotel here, especially for a canal or Rialto view, but in return you’ll be steps from Venice’s most famous sights.

Stay in San Marco if you want to be in the middle of it all, prioritize convenience over quiet, or are short on time.

Canal in San Marco

Gondolas

LUXURY: The Gritti Palace. If money is no object, take a look at the Gritti Palace. This hotel has a prime location, centrally located in San Marco. From your room, enjoy views of the Grand Canal. This is one of Venice’s most luxurious hotels.

UPSCALE: Novecento Boutique Hotel. This gorgeous hotel is located on a small canal and gets rave reviews. Many guests state it is one of their favorite hotels of all time. It is a hotel we would consider staying in on our next visit to Venice.

UPSCALE: B&B Bloom Settimo Cielo. Located right in the center of Venice, you get beautiful views of Santo Stefano Church and Campo Santo Stefano (a piazza). Rooms are beautifully decorated, some with wood beamed ceilings and exposed brick walls.

MID-RANGE: Hotel Montecarlo. For families who want to stay in the city center and not pay a small fortune, this hotel is a good pick, if you can get your hands on the two-bedroom apartment. This hotel also offers a longer list of double and triple rooms. Stay here and you’ll just be steps away from St. Mark’s Basilica.

MIDRANGE: Hotel Firenze. This boutique hotel is located very close to St. Mark’s Square. The rooms are elegantly decorated and you can enjoy breakfast from the rooftop terrace. They offer single, double, and triple rooms.

MID-RANGE: Dimora Marciana. This hotel gets excellent reviews and is just a 10-minute walk from the Rialto Bridge. Rooms look luxurious, decorated with traditional Venetian décor. This hotel also has a suite with two-bedrooms that can accommodate up to 4 adults, making it a good pick for families and small groups.

BUDGET: Hotel Serenissima. It is possible to find a budget hotel in San Marco! This hotel offers double rooms, triple rooms, and even a one-bedroom apartment at reasonable prices. Hotel Serenissima is located just a 5-minute walk from St. Mark’s Square. Rooms are decorated in a traditional Venetian style.

BUDGET: 40.17 San Marco. This affordable hotel is located in San Marco, near the Grand Canal. Room types range from double and triple rooms to junior suites with a canal view.

Dorsoduro

Quiet Neighborhood Near the City Center

This is a great place to stay in Venice. It’s close enough to central Venice that you won’t have to go far to see St. Mark’s Square or the Doge’s Palace. And it’s just far enough away that you don’t have to deal with huge crowds of tourists.

From the east side of the Dorsoduro neighborhood, it’s just a short walk to St. Mark’s Square and the main sites. Pont dell’Accademia connects Dorsoduro to San Marco and from this bridge you get a stunning view of Venice.

We stayed here on our most recent visit to Venice. We were able to get a hotel room with a canal view without paying a small fortune. We did a little more walking to get to the sights in San Marco, but a longer walk in Venice just means you get to see more of the canals and gorgeous architecture.

Stay in Dorsoduro if you want a quieter, more local base that’s still an easy walk to San Marco, enjoy art and a slower pace (the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Gallerie dell’Accademia are both here), or want a central location without San Marco’s price tag.

Dorsoduro

Dorsoduro

From the Dorsoduro neighborhood, it’s just a short walk to St. Mark’s Square and the main sites. Most likely, you will cross Pont dell’Accademia for a stunning view of Venice.

View from Accademia Bridge

UPSCALE: Palazzo Veneziano. This 4-star hotel is located right on the lagoon. They offer a wide variety of room types, with double rooms to Jacuzzi suites with canal views. Right outside of the hotel is a ferry stop, so getting around Venice is easy and convenient.

UPSCALE: Hotel American-Denisen. We stayed here on our most recent trip to Venice. This small hotel has a beautiful setting on the San Vio Canal and it is located just a short walk away from the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Rooms are luxuriously decorated and some have a small balcony with a canal view. If you are traveling as a family, the quadruple room can accommodate up to five people.

The location of Hotel American-Denisen

UPSCALE: Hotel Moresco. This hotel sits on the north side of Dorsoduro, just steps away from the Santa Croce neighborhood and Piazzale Roma. Because of its location, it’s possible to walk from the bus and train station to this hotel. Some rooms have a canal view and the Junior Suite looks amazing, with its vaulted ceiling. Hotel Moresco gets near perfect reviews.

UPSCALE: Ca Maria Adele. This boutique hotel is located in far eastern Dorsoduro, next to Basilica Santa Maria della Salute. It gets exceptional reviews and rooms range from standard double rooms to two-bedroom apartments.

MIDRANGE: Pensione Accademia – Villa Maravege. This hotel is located just steps away from the Grand Canal and Accademia Bridge. Getting around Venice from the Accademia water bus stop is easy and convenient.

MID-RANGE: iH Hotels Venezia Salute Palace. This hotel offers a wide variety of room types, including a family room that can accommodate up to four people. Rooms are modernly decorated and relatively spacious. This hotel is a short walk from the Salute water taxi station and Ponte dell’Accademia.

BUDGET: Hotel Ca’ Nobile Corner. This hotel is located on Santa Margherita Square, a very charming area to stay in Venice. From here, it’s a 10 to 15 minute walk to St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge.

Santa Croce

Venice’s Main Transportation Hub

Santa Croce is Venice’s main transportation hub. This is where you will find Piazzale Roma (the bus station), and numerous ferry terminals, with easy access to the vaporetto and water taxis. There are also giant parking garages, so if you have a rental car, this is where you will be parking your car during your stay in Venice.

There really aren’t many sites to visit in Santa Croce (so it’s cheaper to stay here!). To get to the heart of Venice, it’s a 20-minute walk or you can take the vaporetto.

Stay in Santa Croce if you are on a budget, want to stay in a non-touristy neighborhood, and like the convenience of staying near a transportation hub.

UPSCALE: Hotel Papadopoli Venezia – MGallery Collection. For those looking for a beautifully decorated hotel, located within walking distance of Piazzale Roma, with views of the Grand Canal, look no farther. Plus, this hotel gets wonderful reviews on Booking.com.

MIDRANGE: Hotel Olimpia Venezia. This is where we stayed on our second visit to Venice. The rooms are quiet and comfortable and breakfast is delicious. Hotel Olimpia is located just 2 minutes from the Piazzale Roma bus station, so getting here from the airport is quick and easy by bus or taxi. We really loved this place and recommend it for those who don’t want to spend a fortune on a water taxi.

Hotel Olimpia is the white building on the canal

MID-RANGE: Palazzo Odoni. For families and small groups (and those who want a top-rated mid-range hotel), this is one of our top picks. With rooms ranging from Junior Suites to two-bedroom king suites, there are many options for groups of 4 travelers. This hotel is located very close to Piazzale Roma and Giardini Papadopoli.

MID-RANGE: Hotel Antiche Figure. This hotel is located across the Grand Canal from the Santa Lucia train station and a short walk from Piazzale Roma. Some rooms have a view of the Grand Canal.

BUDGET: Hotel Dalla Mora. This hotel has an excellent location. It is less than a 10-minute walk from Piazzale Roma and a short walk to the Grand Canal. Rooms are basic but the hotel gets very good reviews. This is a great pick for budget travelers who want to be within walking distance of everything within Venice, including the bus and Santa Lucia train station

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San Polo

Stay in Central Venice

San Polo is one of Venice’s oldest and most central sestieri, sitting directly across the Grand Canal from San Marco and connected to it by the Rialto Bridge. This neighborhood is located east of Santa Croce and north of San Marco.

Despite its prime location, San Polo feels noticeably more local once you step away from the Rialto Bridge crowds. The Rialto Market has been trading fish, fruit, and vegetables here for centuries, and Campo San Polo, one of the largest squares in the city after St. Mark’s, fills with kids playing and locals sitting out in the evening rather than tour groups. The neighborhood is also known for its bacari, the small Venetian wine bars serving cicchetti (Venetian tapas), making it a good base if you want an authentic feel without giving up a central location.

Stay in San Polo if you want to be close to the Rialto Bridge and San Marco at a lower price point, enjoy wandering local markets and quieter campos, or want an easy walking base for most of Venice’s major sights.

The view from the Rialto Bridge

UPSCALE: H10 Palazzo Canova. If you want to stay in a hotel with a gorgeous view of the Grand Canal, take a look at the rooms at this property with canal views. This hotel has an excellent location, just steps away from the Rialto Bridge, giving you a short walk to St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. And you don’t have to spend extra to get a room with a canal view. The hotel also has a rooftop terrace where you can get the same, stunning view, plus a cocktail or glass of wine.

UPSCALE: Palazzo Morosini Degli Spezieri. This property offers various apartments. Take your pick from one, two, and three bedroom apartments that can accommodate up to six people. The apartments are large, wonderfully decorated, and some have a balcony with amazing views over the nearby canal. Plus, you are just several minutes away from the Rialto Bridge.

MID-RANGE: Antica Locanda Sturion Residenza d’Epoca. Just steps from the Rialto Bridge, this 3-star property occupies the third floor of a historic building (no elevator, so pack light). Rooms are decorated in an 18th-century Venetian style but come with modern touches like satellite TV, and the hotel has its own small multilingual library if you want to read up on Venice’s art and history during your stay. Book the Junior Suite with canal view if you want to wake up looking straight at the Rialto Bridge.

MID-RANGE: Palazzo dell’Albero d’Oro. Housed in a historic building right on the Grand Canal, this property is a good option if you’re traveling with family or a larger group. Choose from one-bedroom apartments up to four-bedroom suites, rather than a single hotel room. Having your own space and a kitchen is a nice change of pace if you’re spending more than a couple of nights in Venice.

BUDGET: Ca’ San Rocco. Located in the western side of San Polo, this small hotel is within walking distance of the Santa Lucia train station and Piazzale Roma, but it’s also within walking distance of the sights in San Marco. Take your pick between single and double rooms.

Canal in Venice

Cannaregio

Local Neighborhood with a Less Touristy Vibe

This is where many of Venice’s local residents live. Located north of the Grand Canal, this is the northernmost portion of Venice. Cannaregio is home to Venice’s Jewish ghetto and a handful of beautiful churches, and it has a noticeably quieter, more local feel than the sestieri across the Grand Canal. This is where you’ll find Venetians running errands and locals out for an evening drink rather than tour groups.

This is a very large sestiere, so from its farthest corners, you could have a long walk to central Venice. Most of the hotels we list are located closer to central Venice than the outskirts of this neighborhood.

Stay in Cannaregio if you want a quieter, more local feel, don’t mind a longer walk (or a vaporetto ride) to reach the main sights, and are looking for hotel prices a notch below San Polo or San Marco.

LUXURY: The Venice Venice Hotel. If you want a view of the Rialto Bridge from your room, check out the photos of this hotel. Some rooms have a small balcony overlooking the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge. This hotel gets exceptional reviews for its location, its views, and the impeccable service.

LUXURY: Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Nani. This 5-star hotel is located in western Cannaregio. The Guglie water bus station is right next to the hotel, making it rather easy to get to. Onsite are multiple restaurants, a sauna, a fitness center, and even a garden. Some rooms have a canal view.

UPSCALE: Ca’ Bonfadini. This 5-star, glamorous hotel is housed within a 16th century building in Venice. Prior guests rave about the gourmet breakfast, spacious rooms, and quiet location away from the busier areas of Venice.  

MID-RANGE: Hotel Abbazia. This 3-star hotel is located in far western Cannaregio, just a block away from the train station, making it easy to get to this hotel. Rooms range from double to triple and quadruple rooms, making it another good choice for families.

MID-RANGE: Arcadia Boutique Hotel. This small hotel is a short walk from the Santa Lucia train station. It is beautifully decorated with Venetian furnishings and looks more like a 4-star hotel.

MIDRANGE: Eurostars Residenza. Located in a quiet corner in Cannaregio, this hotel offers spacious rooms and a courtyard where breakfast and drinks are served. It’s a bit of a walk to get to the heart of Venice, but if you want a reasonably priced hotel in a quiet spot, this hotel may be perfect. This hotel is located in northern Cannaregio, so expect a longer walk to the sites in San Polo and San Marco.

BUDGET: Combo Venezia. This is one of the best budget accommodations in Venice. It is connected by water taxi to the main sites in Venice as well as Lido, Murano, and Burano.

Castello

Off-the-Beaten-Path in Venice

Castello is the largest sestiere in Venice. This is where locals outnumber the tourists and this is another spot to go off-the-beaten-path. This sestiere sits to the east of San Marco and St. Mark’s Square.

The area near St. Mark’s Square can be crowded and touristy, but if you go farther east you will leave most of the tourists behind.

You won’t find many of Venice’s biggest tourist attractions here. But you will find small churches and squares and authentic, less touristy Venice.

Stay in Castello if you want to get off the beaten path without leaving Venice, prefer a quieter, more local neighborhood over a touristy one, or don’t mind a longer walk to reach St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto.

Libreria Acqua Alta

LUXURY: Hotel Danieli. This is one of the most luxurious and most famous properties in Venice. Have you seen the movie The Tourist? This hotel was featured in the movie. Hotel Danieli is located right on the lagoon just steps away from the Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark’s Square. Staying here is like staying in a Venetian Palace. If you can’t afford to stay here, have a drink at Terraza Danieli, the rooftop bar, that offers awesome views of Venice.

Hotel Danieli

UPSCALE: Hotel Indigo Venice – Sant’Elena, an IHG Hotel. This hotel is located on the far eastern side of Castello, next to Giardini della Biennale. It’s about as far as you get in Castello from top sights in Venice, but there is a convenient water taxi station nearby. Prior guests rave about the gardenlike, peaceful setting, and if you want a quiet hotel, this is one of the best in Venice.

UPSCALE: Ruzzini Palace Hotel. This 4-star hotel is located in western Castello, near San Marco and a short walk from St. Mark’s Square. It sits on Campo Santa Maria Formosa, one of Venice’s largest and oldest squares.

MIDRANGE: Hotel Sant’Antonin. At this hotel, you are close enough to walk to St. Mark’s Square, but you also get to enjoy the quiet sculpture gardens. They offer economy rooms and rooms that can accommodate up to four people.

MID-RANGE: B&B S.Marco. Rooms are basic but the hotel gets wonderful reviews and has a convenient location.

BUDGET: Hotel La Residenza. This historic hotel (it was once a residence of the Gritti family) is centrally located in Castello, so you won’t have to walk far to get to St. Mark’s Basilica or Doge’s Palace.

Giudecca

Tranquility Across the Lagoon

Giudecca is grouping of several small islands in the Venetian Lagoon. It sits across the lagoon from San Marco and Dorsoduro.

If you really want to “go local” in Venice, consider staying here. Since it is not connected by bridge to rest of Venice, this island gets a lot fewer tourists. Plus, the views across the lagoon are stunning.

If this is your first time in Venice, this is not a great location to stay in, as you won’t be near any of the main sights and you will be spending a fair amount of time using the vaporetto and water taxis.

Stay in Giudecca if you want a peaceful, resort-like escape from the crowds, don’t mind relying on the vaporetto to get everywhere, or want sweeping views back across the lagoon toward central Venice.

Overlooking Venice and out to Giudecca Island from the Campanile.

Mestre

Best for Budget Travelers

Mestre is “mainland Venice.” If you are traveling on a budget and don’t mind spending extra time to get to the heart of Venice, staying in Mestre is a great option.

We stayed here on our first visit to Venice. We were on a trip around the world and we were on a very strict budget. By staying in Mestre, we could stay in a nice hotel but not spend a fortune. We took the bus to Piazzale Rome (€2, 30 minutes) and then walked to St. Mark’s Square.

Stay in Mestre if you are on a budget and don’t mind taking the bus or train into Venice.

Don’t stay in Mestre if you are short on time. It may be worth it to spend a little extra and stay in Santa Croce or Dors,oduro so you are not spending valuable time on the bus or train twice a day.

UPSCALE: Leonardo Royal Hotel Venice Mestre. This contemporary hotel has a very convenient location next to the Mestre train station. Prior guests rave about the location and the ease of getting into Venice.

MIDRANGE: Best Western Plus. A Best Western may not be the most exciting place to stay, but this hotel’s rave reviews combined with it’s great location next to the Mestre train station make this a brilliant place to stay in Venice. Get in and out of the heart of Venice easily and if you’re traveling by train through Italy, this location is hard to beat.

BUDGET: Villa Antica Graziela. This is where we stayed on our first visit to Venice. We had a four person room with a double bed, two bunk beds, and a private bathroom. Our only complaint is the slow wifi, but maybe things have changed since our stay in 2014.

Best Places to Stay in Venice: By Travel Style

With dozens of hotels spread across Venice’s eight neighborhoods, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are our top picks broken down by travel style, whether you’re chasing a five-star splurge, traveling with kids, celebrating a honeymoon, or trying to keep costs down.

Best Mid-Range: You’ve got two solid options here depending on what you want:

• Hotel Olimpia (Santa Croce) — we stayed here and had a great experience. A dependable mid-range pick if you want easy access to Piazzale Roma and the train station.
• Hotel Firenze (San Marco) — if you’d rather be centrally located near St. Mark’s Square and don’t mind paying a bit more for the location.

Best for Couples/Honeymoon: Three tiers depending on budget:

• The Junior Suite at Hotel Moresco (Dorsoduro) — a quieter, more romantic setting away from the San Marco crowds, at a reasonable upscale price point.
• H10 Palazzo Canova (San Polo) — central, elegant, and right in the mix if you want to be walking distance from everything.
• Hotel Danieli (Castello) — the ultimate splurge. A historic palazzo just steps from St. Mark’s Square, for couples who want the full Venice fairy tale.

Best Views:

• Venice Venice Hotel (Cannaregio) — for sweeping rooftop and canal views away from the busiest part of the city.
• H10 Palazzo Canova (San Polo) — if you’d rather have your view come with a more central location, doing double duty as a romantic pick too.

Best for Budget: Two very different profiles worth calling out separately:

• Villa Antica Graziela (Mestre) — the most affordable option on this list, and where we stayed on our very first trip to Venice. Best if saving money matters more than staying in the historic center.
• 40.17 San Marco (San Marco) — a budget pick without leaving the water, if you’d rather skip the mainland commute even on a tight budget.

Best for Families:

• Palazzo dell’Albero d’Oro (San Polo) — one-bedroom apartments up to four-bedroom suites right on the Grand Canal give you the space and kitchen a hotel room can’t, which makes a real difference on a longer family trip.
• Palazzo Odoni (Santa Croce) — easy to get to, with a variety of room configurations that can sleep up to four, making it built for families and small groups of travelers. This mid-range property also gets excellent reviews.

Best for Luxury:

• The Gritti Palace (San Marco) — Venice’s most iconic address, sitting directly on the Grand Canal just steps from St. Mark’s Square. If you want the classic five-star Venice experience, this is it.
• Venice Venice Hotel (Cannaregio) — a quieter, more design-forward luxury stay away from the San Marco crowds, with some of the best rooftop and canal views in the city.

How to Get to Your Hotel

Once you land at Marco Polo Airport, you have four main ways to reach your hotel, depending on your budget and how much luggage you’re hauling.

Vaporetto (via Alilaguna): The Alilaguna water bus is the most popular option for travelers who want to arrive by boat without paying water taxi prices. It runs several lines connecting the airport to stops throughout Venice, including San Marco, Rialto, and Guglie in Cannaregio. Expect to pay around €15–20 per person, with a travel time of 60–90 minutes depending on how many stops your line makes before reaching your hotel’s neighborhood.

Water Taxi: A private water taxi is the fastest and most scenic way in, dropping you (nearly) at your hotel’s door. It’s also the most expensive option, running roughly €100–150 for up to 4 people, with a travel time of about 30 minutes. Worth it if you’re arriving late, traveling with a lot of luggage, or just want to start the trip with a memorable ride down the canals.

Bus: The cheapest way in is by land bus (ATVO or ACTV) from the airport to Piazzale Roma, Venice’s only bus and car terminal. Expect to pay around €10 per person, with a travel time of about 20 minutes. From Piazzale Roma, you’ll still need to take a vaporetto or walk to reach your hotel, since no cars are allowed past this point.

Private Taxi/Transfer: If you’d rather skip sorting out tickets and timetables, you can prebook a private transfer that combines a car to Piazzale Roma with a private water taxi for the final leg into Venice. It costs more than the bus + vaporetto combination but removes the guesswork, especially useful if you’re traveling with young kids or arriving late at night.

Book your transfer ahead of time with these options from GetYourGuide. Options include a bus, shared water taxi, or private water taxi from Marco Polo International Airport to your hotel.

How Much Does It Cost to Stay in Venice?

During peak season, based on a double occupancy room with two people, a 2-star hotel will range from $50 to $150 USD per night, a 3-star hotel will range from $150 to $250 per night, a 4-star hotel will range from $250 to $500 per night, and a 5-star hotel will start at $500 per night.

These are just rough estimates. If you are making your reservations late (within three months of your visit), prices can be higher than this, as hotel occupancy begins to fill up.

Rooms such as suites, deluxe rooms, rooms with a canal view, and apartments can cost significantly more than the prices listed above, depending on the property, location, and time of year.

How Far in Advance Should You Make Your Reservation?

If you plan to visit Venice during the peak season, which is June through mid-September, we recommend making your reservations at least three months in advance, although 6 months is even better.

If you wait too long, you will have limited choices and may end up spending more to get a decent hotel.

Frequently Asked Questions about Where to Stay in Venice

Where is the best place to stay in Venice for first-time visitors?

San Marco, San Polo, and Santa Croce are the best choices for first-time visitors. San Marco puts you steps from St. Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace, and the Rialto Bridge, San Polo offers a similarly central location at a lower price point, and Santa Croce is the easiest to reach if you’re arriving by car, bus, or train. All three let you explore Venice’s major sights on foot without relying much on water transportation.

Is it cheaper to stay in Mestre than in Venice?

Yes, hotels in Mestre are significantly cheaper than anywhere in central Venice, since Mestre is on the mainland rather than on the islands themselves. The tradeoff is a 10–15 minute train or bus ride into Venice each day, so it’s a good option if you’re traveling on a tight budget and don’t mind the commute, but not ideal if you want to be able to walk back to your hotel after a late dinner.

What is the best neighborhood in Venice for families?

San Polo and Santa Croce tend to work well for families, since both offer larger apartment-style accommodations and easy access to Piazzale Roma if you’re arriving by car or bus. They’re also central enough that you won’t have a long walk back with tired kids at the end of the day.

How far in advance should I book a hotel in Venice?

Venice hotels, especially mid-range and budget options, book up quickly during peak season (April through October), so we recommend booking at least two to three months ahead. If you’re traveling during Carnival or the Venice Film Festival, book even earlier, since prices rise and availability drops fast around those dates.

Explore More of Venice & Italy

Planning the rest of your time in Venice or building a bigger Italy itinerary? These guides will help you make the most of your trip.

• Best things to do → Our Best Things to Do in Venice covers everything from St. Mark’s Basilica and the Rialto Bridge to museums, day trips, and a few hidden gems, based on three visits.
• Just one day? → Our One Day in Venice Itinerary gives you three different ways to plan your time, whether you want the top sights, the quiet canals, or a mix of both.
• New to Venice? → Our 2 Days in Venice Itinerary walks you through the best way to spend two days in the city, refined over three visits.
• Planning a longer Italy trip → Our 14 Day Italy Itinerary covers how to spend two weeks in Italy, including Rome, Florence, the Cinque Terre, and Venice.
• For all of our Italy content in one place → Visit our Italy Travel Guide.

If you have any questions about where to stay in Venice, let us know in the comment section below.

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