Venice is brimming with beautiful boutique and luxury hotels, but which to choose?
Venice Canal (Photo: Kit Suman via Unsplash)
Venice is one of the world’s most enchanting cities. A rich treasure trove of art, fine dining and palaces, the city is actually a collection of tiny islands connected by pretty bridges and waterways, floating in more than 150 canals. It’s picture-perfect. Thankfully, there are dozens of hotels as good-looking as the city. And, while luxury travellers will have no trouble finding opulent luxury hotels and palazzi to rest their heads, cash-strapped travellers will find plenty of affordable boutiques too. We’ve scoured the city for ten of the best luxury and boutique hotels in Venice, Italy.
Ca’ Pisani Hotel
Set away from the main throng in a charming 14th-century palazzo, Ca’Pisani is conveniently located in the quieter Dorsoduro district. Billed as the first design hotel in Venice, the space is adorned with original antiques and furnishings, as well as works by Fortunato Depero. Rooms range from the 28 sq. meter Junior Suite to the ‘Romantic Experience’, a loft complete with flowers, perfume, entrance to the Turkish baths and breakfast in bed. The onsite La Rivista Restaurant is a destination in its own right too. From €100 per night.
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Hotel San Cassiano
Rooms overlook the canal (Photo: Booking.com)
Travellers looking for the real Room with a View experience will be hard-pressed to find better than Hotel San Cassiano. The four-star hotel is housed in the former home of 19th-century painter Giacomo Favretto, overlooking the Grand Canal. It’s just a few minutes walk to Rialto and Erbaria, home to some of Venice’s best-loved bacari (wine bars) and cicchetti (Venetian snacks). Rooms are cozy but comfortable, with large beds, plush bedding and a TV. Guests can choose from single, double, twin, triple and quadruple rooms. From £107 per night.
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Hotel Flora
This family-run hotel is in a prime position immediately west of St Mark’s Square. It even has a garden courtyard, ideal for those balmy summer evenings. The hotel’s 40 rooms are small but stylishly appointed, with well-equipped bathrooms, comfy beds and air conditioning. A buffet breakfast is included in the price and there’s an onsite bar too. If you’re travelling with children, stick around for afternoon tea. The concierge team can help you book tickets for museums and plan your trip ahead of your stay. From €150 per night.
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Cima Rosa
A suite at Cima Rosa (Photo: Cima Rosa)
Set in an exquisitely restored 15th-century patrician’s house on the Grand Canal, Cima Rosa boasts a blockbuster location at budget-friendly rates. It’s an easy five-minute stroll to the Rialto and a speedy 25-minute vaparetto ride to St Mark’s Square. There are just six guest bedrooms, each boasting original parquet and terrazzo floors, mullioned windows and ancient beams. There’s no onsite restaurant, but breakfast is included in the price. Unusually for Venice, guests have access to the kitchen and can store drinks here too. From €160 per night.
Book at cimarosavenezia.com
Il Palazzo Experimental
Experimental Group started life as a cool cocktail bar. Today, it’s a hip hotel brand with properties in some of Europe’s most coveted locations, from Paris to London. Their Venice outpost is the sixth edition, and one of its finest. Housed in a 16th-century former shipping building, designer Meilichzon has reimagined the spaces with vibrant stripes, pretty-in-pink walls, marbles and mirrors. There are 32 rooms to choose from, each decorated in a different theme, some overlooking the quiet canal. From €160 per night.
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Ca Maria Adele
Ca Maria Adele often ranks as one of the world’s most romantic hotels (Photo: Booking.com)
Tucked behind the Santa Maria della Salute Church, this five-room boutique hotel is all Murano glass chandeliers, dark-wood furniture and sweeping marble floors. Rooms feature large comfy beds and decor as eclectic as the rest of the property. It’s ideal for those marking a special occasion and has frequently ranked as one of the most romantic hotels in the world. For a really elevated stay, opt for one of the two top-floor suites, which offer sweeping views over the city’s higgledy-piggledy rooftops. From €180 per night.
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Hotel Palazzo Abadessa
Hotel Palazzo Abadessa might not boast a premium postcode, but it is perfectly positioned for exploring some of Venice’s lesser-trampled streets and sights. The four-star boutique is set in a 16th-century residence overlooking the Santa Sofia Canal in Cannaregio and a lovely private garden. There’s a 24-hour front desk and each room features air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV and a minibar. Plus, there’s a free breakfast with local pastries, Italian hams and freshly brewed coffee. From €270 per night.
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Novecento Boutique Hotel
Novecento Boutique is packed with personality (Photo: Booking.com)
St Mark’s Square is bursting with hotels, but most of them will cost you upwards of €400 per night. Not Novecento though. This stylish boutique hotel is nestled between St. Mark’s Square and the Accademia Gallery. It’s packed with personality and brimming with art and antiques from the owner’s travels, which sets it apart from some of the corporate and chain hotels in the area. Breakfast is included in the price and there’s also a cosy living room with an honesty bar, which guests can help themselves to throughout the day. From €260 per night.
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Palazzo Venart
This five-star hotel only opened its doors in August 2016, but it frequently ranks as one of the best hotels in Venice. The latest in a long line of LDC luxury hotels in Italy, the Palazzo Venart has 18 elegant rooms and suites, each themed around one unique aspect of Venetian history and culture. Rooms are air-conditioned, with private marble bathrooms and complimentary toiletries, and a full minibar. There’s a large, leafy garden, a water bus stop outside and a 2 Michelin star restaurant, GLAM. From €410 per night.
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San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice
San Clemente Palace is set on its own island (Photo: Booking.com)
Hotels don’t get more luxurious than San Clemente Palace Kempinski. Set on its own island, floating ten minutes from St Mark’s Square, the hotel has a private medieval church, three bars, three restaurants and 17 acres of grounds. You’ll need to hop on a water taxi or shuttle from St Mark’s Square to get here, but staff are on hand to help make the journey as convenient as possible. Plus, with a state-of-the-art gym, sprawling swimming pool with private cabanas, tennis courts and a golf course, there’s plenty to keep you entertained on the island. From €600 per night.
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