11 Best places to stay in Venice

This delightful little guesthouse (once home to composer Gustav Mahler’s widow) feels more like a private country retreat than a city hotel thanks to its wonderful shady canal-side garden hidden behind a high, creeper-clad wall.

Located down a narrow alleyway close to the art-filled Frari church, it is a 10-minute walk from the Rialto Bridge but feels worlds away from the crowds. You’ll wake to the sound of church bells, the smell of baking croissants, and breakfast under the magnolia trees in summer.

The Venetian owner and his staff welcome guests (an independent, artsy crowd) into their home which is modern and stylish yet comfortable with lots of thoughtful details such as fresh flowers and books to read.

Past guests at this 52-room long-time favourite include Tchaikovsky, Verne, Borges and Gabriele d’Annunzio; it enjoys a prime waterfront position on the busy Riva degli Schiavoni, steps from the San Marco vaporetto stop (useful if you are lugging heavy bags) and a five-minute walk from Piazza San Marco.

The Riva may be heaving with tourists, but once inside the cool, elegant lobby, all is calm. Many of the comfortable, classically-styled bedrooms and suites have magnificent views across the sparkling water to San Giorgio Maggiore; several even have small terraces.

Breakfast is served on the wide terrace at the front of the hotel where you can also enjoy cocktails, snacks or Venetian classics. There’s a fine in-house restaurant, and the secluded rooftop terrace, the highest in Venice, has showstopping city views.

This perennial favourite three-star charmer lies in the artsy Dorsoduro neighbourhood, with glorious views over the Giudecca canal.

A recent re-vamp has given the ground floor public spaces an opulent, mod Venetian look, but the bright, sunny bedrooms – many of which have wonderful canal views through tall windows- have remained reassuringly traditional and the vibe is homely.

The restaurant and bar area also overlook the Giudecca, but in warm weather, breakfast and other meals are served on a gorgeous terrace jutting into the water.

The altana (wooden roof terrace) is another magical spot for a sunset aperitivo and can be booked for exclusive use by guests.

This picturesque hotel, with its creeper-covered façade, period furniture and hibiscus-filled garden, is a rare good-value gem in this pricey city.

The family-run Flora is housed in a 17th-century palazzo and is particularly good for families, with pushchairs and kids’ menus available, but its romantic setting will also appeal to loved-up couples.

The pretty garden is a delightful setting for breakfast before setting out for a day’s sightseeing.

The Flora is minutes away from some of the city’s most compelling monuments such as the Scala del Bovolo, a magnificent spiral staircase, and St. Mark’s Square itself.

It also lies just off Via XXII Marzo, the city’s glitziest shopping thoroughfare, folded within the tiny alleys that weave a labyrinth out of Venice’s throbbing San Marco heartland.

A pristine 16th-century Grand Canal palace revamped into high-tech splendour by design guru Philippe Starck.

From rooms bouncing with light from back-lit mirrors and all-white fabrics to a cruise-cosy bar/restaurant – think cherrywood furniture, funky Murano chandeliers and leather upholstery.

It’s created with high design-conscious guests in mind, though loved-up couples will be thrilled by the views and the glamour, and gastronomes will drool over seeing the stellar chefs at work in the open kitchen.

It’s a stone’s throw from the art-stuffed Accademia gallery and 10 minutes’ walk from Piazza San Marco. An easy stroll across the Grand Canal is lively Campo Santa Margherita, a good stop-off for cappuccino, a light lunch or an evening Spritz.

Gleaming after a fresh, contemporary makeover, the St. Regis Venice (erstwhile Europa & Regina) offers a magnificent Grand Canal location with garden and top-notch service (personal butlers are thrown in) a short walk from Piazza San Marco.

Hidden away in a tiny campo off the busy designer shopping street of Calle XXII Marzo, the St. Regis is one of central Venice’s largest hotels but somehow avoids feeling too corporate. Inspired by the changing colours of the lagoon, the interior design is airy and fresh with touches of mid-century style.

Don’t miss the signature riff on a Bloody Mary at the glam St. Regis bar or dinner on the romantic waterside terrace where breakfast is also served.

This intimate, deliciously romantic  bolthole lies in the shadow of the great Salute church close to the tip of Dorsoduro and within easy reach of the galleries, cafés and restaurants of this artsy neighbourhood.

Inside, the décor is extravagant Venetian Baroque with the five ‘Concept Suites’ ramping it up a notch; the decadent Sala Noire has a black Murano glass chandelier while the Sala Doge is all scarlet and gold.

A-la-carte breakfast is a made-to-order feast which you can eat on the terrace or in your boudoir. The USP here is the charming, personalised service not only from the owners but also their staff who bend over backwards to give guests an unforgettable stay.

Set on a surprisingly quiet fondamenta, just steps from the lively Rialto produce market and the tourist-thronged Rialto bridge, the Orologio is a stylish, modern alternative to some of Venice’s more traditional hotels. It offers good value too.

The Orologio (‘watch’ or ‘clock’) theme is evident throughout the hotel (the owner is a passionate collector), but it’s not too heavy-handed, and it works well with the minimalist, retro, quite masculine décor.

There’s a bar with pretty canalside terrace for summer cocktails or guests can nip up to the fourth floor for evening drinks; the views are lovely.

San Polo is a buzzy neighbourhood full of small shops, bars and restaurants.

When you can’t stand the sight of another inch of flocked wallpaper, velvet or  brocade, this intimate, 11-room boutique gem may be the answer.

Located down an alleyway a 10- to 15-minute walk from the Accademia, the Rialto and Piazza San Marco, it has a gorgeous wisteria-draped courtyard where cocktails and an exceptional breakfast are served.

The design-led interiors are cool,  contemporary and very stylish which works well against original features such as terrazzo floors, ceiling frescoes and old brickwork.

The USP here is the charming, personalised service offered by owner Gian Luca and his knowledgeable team. There are also two self-catering apartments available for rent.

The last word in old-world luxury, this legendary sleepover luxuriates on the tip of Giudecca island with dreamy views of St. Mark’s Square and the southern lagoon.

The hotel is set in a vast, verdant garden with an Olympic-sized pool, the largest in Venice. A top-notch spa, several eating options (Michelin-starred Oro and the casual yet glamorous Cips set on the fondamenta) and a plethora of special activities, including plenty for kids, makes it tip-top for anyone who can afford prices as stellar as its service.

It’s away from the beating heart of Venice, but a private launch shuttles guests back and forth to St. Mark’s Square.

The grandest Dame of Venice’s classic hotels, the Gritti lords it over the Grand Canal from a superb spot across from the Salute church and just 10 minutes’ walk from Piazza San Marco.

A hotel since 1895, this 15th-century palazzo was once home of Doge Andrea Gritti; expect opulent interiors stuffed with antiques and grand master paintings, glittering Murano glass chandeliers and lots of polished wood and marble.

A major refurb in 2013 brought the hotel into the 21st century without compromising the old-world appeal and unmatched old-school service.

Breakfast or evening cocktails on the waterside terrace are memorable as is a dinner of taglierini with lobster at the shamelessly romantic Club dei Doge.