Hotels
Where to stay in Venice: the best neighbourhoods explained
Venice has no cars, so where you stay decides how many bridges you carry your case over. These are the six districts, the sestieri, explained, with the hotel we would book in five of them.
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You step off the water bus with your suitcase, and after three bridges and two flights of steps you understand why location matters so much in Venice. There are no taxis to the door, only boats and your own legs. A district that looks close on the map can be ten bridges away.
Venice is divided into six districts, called sestieri: San Marco, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Polo, Santa Croce and Cannaregio. All lie within an hour's walk, but their moods are very different. We have chosen the districts we would stay in and explain who each suits. For the hotels themselves, see our guide to the best hotels in Venice.
Short answer: where should you stay in Venice?
For a first visit, stay in San Marco or western Castello, close to St Mark's Square and the water buses. Dorsoduro suits art lovers who want calm, while Cannaregio and Santa Croce are practical if you arrive by train and want to live among Venetians.
Best for a first visit: San Marco
Best for art and calm: Dorsoduro
Best for local life: Cannaregio
Best for trains and luggage: Santa Croce
Best for lagoon views: Castello
The Gritti Palace
The Gritti Palace on the Grand Canal.
San Marco: in the middle of the postcard
San Marco is the district around St Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace and the most expensive shops. Many of the city's grand hotels line the Grand Canal here, and you are in the centre from your first morning.
It suits first-time visitors and short romantic trips. The catch: daytime crowds from cruise ships and day-trippers, and high prices for everything.
The Gritti Palace: breakfast on the Grand Canal
The Gritti Palace is an old doge's palace on the Grand Canal, facing Santa Maria della Salute across the water. Guests eat breakfast on the terrace as gondolas glide past.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Gritti Palace
Hotel Londra Palace
Hotel Londra Palace in Castello.
Castello: the lagoon and the Biennale
Castello is the largest district, stretching east from St Mark's along the Riva degli Schiavoni. Further east lie the Arsenale and the Giardini, home of the Biennale, with more local life and washing strung across the lanes.
It suits travellers who want to be near the centre with water in front of them. The catch: the western end is as busy as San Marco during the day.
Hotel Londra Palace: right on the waterfront
Londra Palace stands on the Riva degli Schiavoni, a couple of hundred metres east of the Doge's Palace, and its lagoon-facing rooms look across to San Giorgio Maggiore. The San Zaccaria water bus stop is right outside.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Londra Palace
Ca' Maria Adele
Ca' Maria Adele in Dorsoduro.
Dorsoduro: art, students and quieter evenings
Dorsoduro lies south of the Grand Canal, with the Accademia, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection and the Zattere promenade facing the Giudecca Canal. In the evening students gather on Campo Santa Margherita.
It suits art lovers and couples looking for calm. The catch: you cross the Accademia bridge or take a water bus to reach St Mark's.
Ca' Maria Adele: beside the domed church
Ca' Maria Adele is a small hotel at the tip of Dorsoduro, right by Santa Maria della Salute, with a terrace looking at the church's marble facade. Each room is decorated differently, and it suits a romantic trip.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Ca' Maria Adele
Ca' Sagredo Hotel
Ca' Sagredo in Cannaregio.
Cannaregio: where Venetians live
Cannaregio covers the north of the city from the station eastwards, with the old Jewish Ghetto and the Fondamenta della Misericordia, where locals gather for aperitivo. It is the most residential district in Venice.
It suits repeat visitors who want local life and lower prices. The catch is the distance to St Mark's, about half an hour on foot.
Ca' Sagredo: a frescoed palace on the Grand Canal
Ca' Sagredo is a noble palazzo on the Grand Canal in Cannaregio, with frescoes and stucco across its staircase and ballroom. The Ca' d'Oro water bus stop is a few steps away, and Rialto ten minutes on foot.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Ca' Sagredo
Palazzo Venart
Palazzo Venart in Santa Croce.
Santa Croce and San Polo: near the train and Rialto
Santa Croce is closest to Piazzale Roma and the station, making it the easiest district to reach with luggage. San Polo next door has the Rialto Market and many small wine bars, called bacari.
They suit short stays and travellers arriving by train. The catch: the areas nearest the station are less beautiful than the rest of the city.
Palazzo Venart: a garden down to the canal
Palazzo Venart sits on the Grand Canal in Santa Croce, a couple of canals from the station, and is one of the few hotels in Venice with a garden reaching the water. Its restaurant, Glam, is among the city's most acclaimed.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Palazzo Venart
Good to know before you book
Pack light: you will carry your case over bridges. Choose a hotel near a water bus stop.
Access fee: Venice charges day-trippers an entry fee on selected days. Hotel guests are exempt but must register.
Acqua alta: high water can flood St Mark's Square, especially in autumn and winter.
Carnival and the Biennale: prices rise sharply during Carnival and the Biennale's opening weeks.
Where to stay in Venice: frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Venice for first-timers?
San Marco and western Castello are best for a first visit, close to St Mark's Square and the water buses.
Is it cheaper to stay in Mestre on the mainland?
Yes, but you miss the evenings and early mornings in Venice, when the city is calmest. We recommend staying on the island if your budget allows.
Where is quiet to stay in Venice?
Dorsoduro and eastern Castello are quiet in the evening.
How do I reach my hotel with luggage?
Take a water bus or water taxi from Piazzale Roma or the airport, and choose a hotel near a stop to avoid many bridges.