There is nowhere quite like Venice: a city of canals, bridges, palazzos and hidden squares, where the only traffic is on the water. Staying in the historic centre lets you enjoy it at its most magical, early in the morning and late in the evening when the day-trippers have gone.
These ten hotels in the historic centre are the ones our guests rate most highly.
You’ll find on this page
- Quick verdicts and a comparison table of every hotel
- Ten top hotels with photos and ratings
- Which area of Venice?
- When to go and getting around
- Answers to the questions we’re asked most
- Live prices with flights and transfers in the search box at the end of the page
At a glance: compare the hotels
| Hotel | Where | Stars | Board | TripAdvisor | Adults only |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Ca’ di Dio | Venice City, Venice | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.8/5 | No |
| U Visionary Venezia Hotel | Venice City, Venice | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.9/5 | No |
| Ruzzini Palace | Venice City, Venice | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.8/5 | No |
| Hotel Palazzo Stern | Venice City, Venice | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.8/5 | No |
| H10 Palazzo Canova | Venice City, Venice | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.8/5 | No |
| Hotel Aquarius Venice | Venice City, Venice | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.8/5 | No |
| Hotel Saturnia & International | Venice City, Venice | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.7/5 | No |
| Venezia Palazzo Barocci | Venice City, Venice | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.7/5 | No |
| Sina Palazzo Sant’Angelo | Venice City, Venice | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.7/5 | No |
| Hotel Ai Mori D’ Oriente | Venice City, Venice | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.7/5 | No |
Star ratings are official; TripAdvisor scores were correct when we last checked and can change. Board options vary by room and date.
Quick verdicts
Our top picks
1. Hotel Ca’ di Dio
- Venice City, Venice
- 5-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Hotel Ca’ di Dio is a five-star member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World overlooking the lagoon, with a peaceful courtyard, about 700 metres from St Mark’s Square.
Best for: Luxury and lagoon views
2. U Visionary Venezia Hotel
- Venice City, Venice
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.9/5
U Visionary Venezia is a luxury boutique hotel with comfortable, modern rooms, great for sightseeing and about a kilometre from the Grand Canal.
Best for: Modern boutique
3. Ruzzini Palace
- Venice City, Venice
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Ruzzini Palace is great for local culture, about 500 metres from the Rialto Bridge and 450 metres from St Mark’s Square.
Best for: A central palazzo
4. Hotel Palazzo Stern
- Venice City, Venice
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Hotel Palazzo Stern sits right on the Grand Canal, with traditional Venetian décor, close to St Mark’s Square.
Best for: The Grand Canal
5. H10 Palazzo Canova
- Venice City, Venice
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
H10 Palazzo Canova is housed in an elegant 19th-century building just 120 metres from the Rialto Bridge, with a terrace bar with panoramic views.
Best for: Views over the rooftops
6. Hotel Aquarius Venice
- Venice City, Venice
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Hotel Aquarius Venice is a modernised historic building with traditional Venetian decoration and a central courtyard garden.
Best for: A quiet garden
7. Hotel Saturnia & International
- Venice City, Venice
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Hotel Saturnia & International has an excellent central location, about 400 metres from St Mark’s Square, with a rooftop terrace and city views.
Best for: St Mark’s Square
8. Venezia Palazzo Barocci
- Venice City, Venice
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Venezia Palazzo Barocci is a beautifully restored boutique palace on the Grand Canal, great for couples.
Best for: Romance
9. Sina Palazzo Sant’Angelo
- Venice City, Venice
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Sina Palazzo Sant’Angelo is on the Grand Canal and a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, between the Rialto Bridge and St Mark’s Square.
Best for: Small luxury
10. Hotel Ai Mori D’ Oriente
- Venice City, Venice
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Hotel Ai Mori d’Oriente has an attractive Moorish style in the quieter Cannaregio area, and it is great for couples.
Best for: A quieter corner
Which area of Venice?
San Marco: the heart of the city, with St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace and grand hotels. Around the Rialto: markets, bars and the Grand Canal. Castello: a little quieter, with lagoon views and local life. Cannaregio: authentic and lively in the evening, with canal-side bars. Mestre (mainland): better value, with a short train or bus ride into the city, but you miss Venice at night.
How we chose these hotels
We sell 38 hotels in Venice. To build this list we started with the hotels in the historic centre, then read what our guests say: every hotel here is well rated on TripAdvisor. We spread our picks across different areas where we can, and we only include hotels you can book with us today as an ATOL-protected package with flights and transfers. Prices change daily, so use the search box at the end of this page for live availability, or ask a Travel Designer for a tailored shortlist.
When to go and getting around
April to June and September to October are the best months, with mild weather and a little more space. Summer is hot and busy, and winter is atmospheric, misty and quiet, with Carnival in February. Flights to Venice Marco Polo take around two hours from the UK, and you can reach the city by water bus, water taxi or a bus to Piazzale Roma. Inside the city, walk and use the vaporetto water buses; pack light, because there are lots of bridges and steps.
Things to do and what to eat
Visit St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, ride the vaporetto along the Grand Canal at sunset, take a gondola through the quieter canals, and spend a day on the islands of Murano (glass) and Burano (lace and colourful houses). Eat like a Venetian with cicchetti, small snacks served with a glass of wine in a bacaro bar, sarde in saor (sweet-and-sour sardines), risotto al nero di seppia and tiramisù, which was born nearby. A spritz at sunset is compulsory.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best area to stay in Venice?
San Marco or the Rialto for first-timers, Cannaregio or Castello for a more local feel.
Is it worth staying in Venice rather than Mestre?
If you can, yes: the city is at its best in the early morning and evening.
How many days do you need in Venice?
Two or three days, plus a day for the islands.
How long is the flight to Venice?
About two hours from the UK.
Find your Venice holiday
Search live prices with flights and transfers, all ATOL protected, or ask a Travel Designer to compare these hotels.
Keep planning
- All Venice hotels
- Italy holidays
- Best hotels in Rome
- Best hotels on Lake Garda
- Where to stay in Croatia
- Best Mediterranean city breaks
- Best hotels in Tuscany
- Venice hotels beyond St Mark’s
Updated October 2026. Hotels can be booked as ATOL-protected packages with flights and transfers through Travelisto.
