Venice Hotels, Italy

Top places to stay when you travel to Venice, Italy in 2023

There’s hardly any traveler’s bucket list that excludes Venice. Beautiful and tempting all the year around, it guests over ten million tourists. The city is hoary and magnificent, yet charming and calm, makes you fall in love as soon as you step off the boat.

Best places to see in Venice

Wherever you go in the city, the architecture of the Renaissance epoch with Piano nobile, columns and statues will delight your sight. The pedestrian promenade along the waterfront called the Riva degli Schiavoni is the first place you see on your arrival in the old city of Venice. The port area is really crowded, filled with food stalls, famous hotels, bars, cafes, restaurants and noble historic buildings. The promenade lays between the Doge’s Palace and the Arsenale. Along the way, you can admire such marvelous pieces of architectural art as the Church of Santa Maria della Visitazione, known as La Pietà, the Santa Maria della Salute standing monumentally across the canal and many other places that will catch your eye.

The Doge’s Palace is always surrounded with people. Some of them are drinking coffee and reading newspapers, others are studying for their exams sitting just on its floor. Take a tour of the palace that costs 19 euros. You will be allowed to visit all its halls and rooms, take pictures, go along the Bridge of Sighs and see the New Prison where the famous Giacomo Girolamo Casanova was kept and successfully escaped.

Five minutes from the promenade you will find the Piazza San Marco - the most elegant square in the whole of Europe. Here stands the grand Saint Mark's Basilica, erected in 829, and the clock tower called the Torre dell'orologio. The clock has two bronze statues on the top of its terrace - a young man and an old man who hit the bell, that symbolize the past and the future. The palace itself combines various styles from various epochs. Here you shall also find the biggest library in Venice with ancient manuscripts, books dating back to the XVI century, and also modern literature. Another high building seen from a distance is the St Mark's Campanile, the bell tower. Climb it just for 9 euros and enjoy the sweeping views of the city It seems that you can contemplate and admire the building during a whole day, finding new details every minute.

Don’t hesitate to enjoy a boat ride along the Grand Canal - the water artery of the city. Throughout its length, you can enjoy the view of 100 palaces standing on its banks. All the houses located here, are built with piles and strongly waled. Citizens have two exits - one to the street and another to the water. There are four bridges across the canal - Ponte di Rialto, Ponte della Costituzione, Ponte dell’Accademia and Ponte degli Scalzi. So jump into the gondola and enjoy the spectacular views and stories of the gondolier.

We know it’s easy to spend the whole day walking around this area of the city, but don’t be afraid to go off the beaten track and discover other places this town has to offer. Visit many of the little squares like Campo Santa Maria Formosa surrounded by 6 palaces and the Santa Maria Formosa Church. Taste the famous gelato, sit in the tiny cafe and enjoy the siesta. And, of course, no one canceled the shopping. Bring your friends unique handmade masks made by the local craftsmen, not the cheap Chinese copy, or purchase a stunning Murano glass chandelier that will always remind you of your trip when you’ll be sitting in your bedroom and reading a book by its light.

Best time to visit Venice

It’s hard to say what’s the best season to plan your trip to the pearl of Italy. The warmer months are the peak season for the tourists and the prices for dwelling opportunities rise. If you want to catch the lower prices and fewer people, book your tickets for autumn or winter. In February you shall see the vibrant Carnaval.

Best luxury hotels in Venice

If you’re planning your trip, make sure to book your accommodations in advance. Due to a huge amount of guests, best hotels and offers are swept away like cold lemonade on a hot day.

We prepared a list of the best luxury hotels in Venice to make your stay as wonderful as you couldn’t even imagine.

Hotel Danieli

It’s a unique collection hotel situated only 200 meters from the main square. Here you can enjoy the sweeping views on the city and royal service. Its authentic interior and rooms filled with antique furniture shall rest in your memory forever. Moreover, this place was featured in the movie called “Tourist” starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp.

The Gritti Palace

A stunning five-star hotel with spacious rooms filled with Murano glass and cloth wall coverings. Book a room with a balcony overlooking the canal to admire the most breathtaking views.

Ca Maria Adele

A beautiful guest-house with a view on the Santa Maria della Salute. The breakfast is served on a roof terrace. Here rooms’ design is a combination of authentic African and Arab furniture with the traditional Venetian decor.

Locanda Cipriani

A peaceful hotel by the restaurant is located on Torcello island in the Venetian Lagoon. A great escape and heaven for guests who want to enjoy the relaxed Italian atmosphere and breakfasts in the garden. There’s history in everything about this place.