Hotels Near the Piazza San Marco

The streets just to the north of the Piazza San Marco are packed with shops, restaurants, and three- and four-star hotels.

The area is busy even after dark, when locals and tourists go window-shopping.

Moderately expensive hotels:

The beautifully situated Hotel Cavalletto e Doge Orseolo (4 stars) overlooks a fleet of gondolas on the Basino Orseolo, immediately behind the Piazza San Marco's northwestern corner and a few doors from Venice's Hard Rock Café. Accommodations range from single rooms to junior suites.

At the eastern end of the Piazza San Marco, the Concordia (4 stars) offers single and double rooms, some overlooking St. Mark's Basilica. (Click the thumbnail at right for a larger image; the Concordia is at the top left of the photo.)

Midrange hotels:

Is a four-star hotel beyond your budget? Try one of these moderately-priced properties:

The Albergo San Marco (3 stars, photo at left) is just off the Piazza San Marco on the Calle dei Fabbri, a lively shopping street.

San Gallo (3 stars) is on a tiny square named the Campo San Gallo, a short block north of the  archway near the Piazza San Marco's northwestern corner. Rooms range from singles to quads.

Alternatives within walking distance:

If you're willing to walk a greater distance from the Piazza San Marco, the following hotels may be of interest. These hotels are roughly midway between the piazza and the Rialto vaporetto stop near the Rialto Bridge. It shouldn't take you much more than 10 minutes on foot to reach any of them, provided you don't get lost:

4 stars or equivalent: Acqua Palace, Bonvecchiati, Ai Reali, Residence Corte Grimani

3 stars or equivalent: Al Gazzettino, Antico Panada, Canaletto, San Zulian

2 stars: Alla Fava, Ca' delle Acque, Orion

1 star: Caneva

East: St. Mark's Basin waterfront and inland

Hotels on the Riva degli Schiavoni waterfront:

The Riva degli Schiavoni is a broad waterfront promenade that runs eastward along St.Mark's Basin from the Doge's Palace.

From the windows of hotels overlooking the Riva, guests can enjoy views of water buses, workboats, ferries, and passing cruise ships, plus the island of San Giorgio Maggiore with its church and bell tower.

One advantage of the Riva degli Schiavoni is how easy it is to find: From the Alilaguna airport boat and ACTV vaporetto platforms at San Zaccaria, just head east or west along the water until you reach your hotel.

 (Some hotels are closer to Arsenale, which is east of San Zaccaria; see our walking directions with maps for advice on where to disembark.)

We'll list the Riva degli Schiavoni's hotels from west to east, starting with the first hotel that you'll reach when walking along the waterfront from the Piazza San Marco:

Danieli (5 stars) is one of the most celebrated--and expensive--hotels in Venice, but it has a loyal following among guests who can afford its luxury. (The Danieli is especially popular with wealthy Americans; we once saw a dapper guest in a Western suit, Stetson hat, and cowboy boots emerge from the Danieli with his young son.)

• Tip: If you saw The Tourist, a 2010 movie with Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, please note that the "Danieli" in that film was fake (and in the wrong location).

Savoia & Jolanda (4 stars). If you're going to stay here, splurge on a waterfront view: You'll have an unforgettable experience and maximum value for your money. In good weather, the buffet breakfast is served on the hotel terrace. (The hotel is directly behind the Alilaguna airport-boat stop at San Zaccaria, overlooking the riva and St. Mark's Basin.)

Locanda Vivaldi (4 stars, left photo) offers singles, doubles, and suites in a building that faces the water. It has extremely high guest ratings from Venere, our booking partner.

Metropole (5 stars) is a luxury hotel with spectacular views and an impressive collection of objets d'art in its public rooms. Less expensive rooms face a side canal or the hotel's private garden.

Londra Palace (4 stars). Deluxe doubles and junior suites at this 53-room hotel offer views of the lagoon and San Giorgio Maggiore. The Londra Palace is affiliated with Small Luxury Hotels of the World and has been featured on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List.

Paganelli (3 stars) has been owned by the Paganelli family since 1874, and it's spread across two buildings. Rooms in the annex face the Campo San Zaccaria ; most of the older rooms in the main building have lagoon views.

Wildner (3 stars) is a 16-room hotel and pensione where Henry James worked on Portrait of a Lady in 1881. If you can't afford the Danieli and haven't enough money for the Metropole, book at the Wildner--and spend the extra 30 to 40 euros for a lagoon-view room.

Gabrielli Sandwirth (4 stars) is a 14th Century Venetian Gothic palace that looks like something out of a movie. And, in fact, it co-starred in Blame it on the Bellboy, a 1992 film with Richard Griffiths and Dudley Moore. The 105-room hotel has an old-fashioned Venetian decor, a walled garden, and a roof terrace with bar. In warm weather,  breakfast and dinner are served in the Gabrielli's courtyard.

Hotels away from the water:

If you're willing to venture inland from the waterfront, consider one of these hotels:

Campiello (3 stars) has one- to four-person rooms and suites, some with panoramic views or terraces. It's easy to find: Just walk along the Riva and turn left at the Hotel Savoia & Jolanda. The Campiello is behind the Savoia, on the right side of the street.

Slightly farther to the northeast is the Campo Santa Maria Formosa, a lively and delightful square with three excellent hotels:

Scandinavia (3 stars) offers two- to four-person rooms in a traditionally furnished palazzo that was begun in 1000 A.D. Eight of the hotel's 34 rooms overlook the square.

The Venetian Gothic Palazzo Vitturi (3 stars) has reasonably-priced doubles, triples, quads, and suites. Some rooms overlook the Church of Santa Maria Formosa and the square. Close by is the luxurious Ruzzini Palace (4 stars), which occupies a handsome white stone palazzo facing the campo.

About the author:

Durant Imboden has written about Venice, Italy since 1996. He covered Venice and European travel at About.com for 4-1/2 years before launching Europe for Visitors (including Venice for Visitors) with Cheryl Imboden in 2001.

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