Londra Palace Venezia

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.