Hotels near the Piazza San Marco

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ABOVE: Some rooms at the three-star Hotel San Moisé overlook a canal that's frequented by gondoliers and musicians of the Gondola Serenade Tour.

West - Hotels toward the Accademia Bridge

Expensive hotels

One of the most conveniently located hotels in this neighborhood is the Luna Hotel Baglioni (5 stars), which is just off the western end of St. Mark's Square. The Luna is Venice's oldest inn, with a history that goes back to the time of the Crusades. Read my review of this intimate luxury hotel that attracts many repeat visitors from Europe and North America.

Europa & Regina (4 stars) is close by; this member of the Westin group occupies five connected palazzi next to the Grand Canal. The impressionist painter Claude Monet spent an autumn painting canalside views at the Europa & Regina (then the Hotel Britannia) in 1908.

Il Palazzo at the Bauer (5 stars) is a boutique hotel in an historic palazzo on the Grand Canal. Just behind is a slightly less expensive sister property, the Hotel Bauer (5 stars), which occupies a modern wing next to a canal that's popular with gondoliers. Amenities include an open-air rooftop hot tub where you can soak away aches from sightseeing.

Gritti Palace (5 stars) has been one of Venice's most prestigious hotels since the end of the 19th Century, but it dates back to 1526, when it was built as the residence of a Doge.

Monaco and Grand Canal (4 stars) is just a short walk from the Alilaguna airport boat's pier. The hotel, which was renovated in 2005, occupies a magnificent site where the Grand Canal feeds into St. Mark's Basin. (Note: The location on the linked page's map is incorrect; the hotel is on the waterfront west of the former Royal Gardens.)

Moderate and budget hotels

Moving down the price scale, the Anastasia, the Torino, and the Firenze (all 3-star hotels) are in very convenient locations; the Firenze is only 30 meters from the Piazza San Marco. The reasonably priced Mercurio (2 stars) is just west of the square.

Two personal favorites are within five minutes of the Piazza San Marco:

The San Moisé (photo at right) is a block north of the Calle Larga XXII Marzo on a quiet street near the Kette. I've stayed in both three-star hotels and can recommend either, although the San Moisé may be a better choice during the warm months because it has a courtyard with tables for guests. (See my Hotel San Moisé review.)

Other three-star hotels west of the Piazza San Marco include the Violino d'Oro, the Lisbona, the Bel Sito & Berlino, the Flora, and La Fenice et de Artistes. The Saturnia & International (4 stars, photo at left), the very popular Ala (3 stars), and the Locanda Fiorita (1 star) are also reasonably convenient.

Peace and quiet on a private island

Finally, here's another possibility worth considering if you want the convenience of easy access to the Piazza San Marco without the tourist crowds, or if you're interested in a Venice wedding:

The San Clemente Palace (5 stars) is a beautifully decorated 205-room resort hotel on a private 17-acre island in the Venetian Lagoon. Rooms are large, and rates are reasonable (especially by Venice standards) for a hotel in this category. The San Clemente Palace has a pool, tennis courts, a 3-hole golf course, and a 12th Century chapel for weddings, church blessings, and other religious services. A free private shuttle boat runs between the hotel and a pier near the Vallaresso airport-boat stop in San Marco, with the trip taking about 20 minutes. (Read my San Clemente Palace review.)

Next page: North - toward the Rialto Bridge

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