Luxury Hotels in Venice

Best areas in Venice for luxury hotels

Fine food, fine architecture, and fine hotels – Venice certainly doesn’t stint on the best things in life. If you’re looking for a truly regal getaway, head for the grand old hotels in San Marco. Here, opulent accommodation awaits within centuries-old palaces overlooking the waters of the lagoon, within steps of major landmarks like the Bridge of Sighs. That said, if you fancy getting away from the big crowds and bedding down in a more relaxed part of the city, try the slightly quieter quarters of Giudecca and Cannaregio.

Top luxury hotels in Venice

Perched by the Cannaregio Canal, the Carnival Palace Hotel is all about romance. You can opt for suites with 4-poster beds and even a private hot tub, while the dark wood furnishings and golden decor just exudes sophistication. Then there’s B4 Bellini Venezia, which is set within a centuries-old palazzo which has the lavish aesthetics you’d expect from such a historic property, from Murano glass decorations to an enclosed garden. Hotel Giorgione is steps from the Rialto Bridge and offers guestrooms with private balconies, and a wellness center with a hot, soothing, saltwater pool.

Where to find the best fine dining in Venice

There are fine restaurants strewn throughout Venice. You’ll find them taking pride of place on the central streets of San Marco, and the resort area of the Lido, as well as being hidden away by the canals of Castello and Cannaregio. Fresh seafood like sweet langoustines and sizzling cuttlefish, not to mention classic Venetian meat dishes like sautéed calf’s liver with creamy polenta, are on offer in the more traditional restaurants. Meanwhile, bold chefs re-invent Italian dishes in some of the more cutting-edge establishments.

The most unique things to do in Venice

There’s no two ways about it: gondolas are expensive. Yet there’s a reason why they are such an icon of this city. Often draped in fancy carpets and cushions, these sleek boats will take you on an unforgettable journey across the languid canals, and you may even get a song or two from the gondolier. Art lovers should also certainly make time for the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Set within the palazzo which the famed heiress and “mistress of Modernism” called home, it’s filled with works by the likes of Picasso, Magritte, and Francis Bacon, and also has a sculpture garden to relax in. Afterwards, head to Harry’s Bar. Undoubtedly one of the most legendary drinking and dining spots in the world, it was where the luscious Bellini cocktail was invented, and was a favored haunt of Ernest Hemingway.

Best ways to get around Venice

If money’s no object, a gondola ride is the finest way to see the canals of Venice. That’s really for sightseeing rather than getting from A to B, though. To actually explore the city properly, you’ll be doing a lot of walking, and luckily the city is pretty compact. One moment you’ll be wandering St Mark’s Square, the next you’ll be over in Castello, surveying the grandeur of the Arsenal. There are also frequent and reliable waterbuses to get you further afield, to destinations like Murano and Burano.