Venice's 16 Best Guesthouses (2025)

Magical, ethereal Venice is a city made for wandering. Our experts say it again and again: this is a place you should happily get lost in (perhaps with a non-edible breadcrumb trail to find your way home). They also recommend looking beyond big hotels to Venice’s wonderful guesthouses and B&Bs. Housed in converted townhouses and palazzos, these stays feel far more authentically Venetian. Our top picks include surprisingly affordable rooms, swoon-worthy romantic escapes, family-sized spaces, beautifully restored palazzos, and standout stays with unforgettable water views — proof Venice doesn’t have to break the bank.

For your first time in Venice

• Opulent, romantic and traditional, Gio & Gio feels suitably Venetian, with its tapestries, oil paintings, antiques, heavy fabrics and gigantic beds. There are just three rooms and suites, our favourite has canal views and a Juliet balcony — it just cries out Venice! And you’re only a few streets from the Rialto and St. Mark’s Square.
• In the heart of the San Marco district, Locanda Fiorita is a Venetian townhouse with decor that blends 18th century style with 21st century comforts. There are ten rooms and suites, some more romantic than others, and some with private balconies, plus there’s a communal terrace which is gloriously sunny.
• Casin dei Nobili is a newly renovated, three room B&B in a beautiful old palazzo in historic Dorsoduro, a few blocks from the Grand Canal. The rooms are large and simply styled, with big new bathrooms and whirlpool bathtubs. There’s a communal terrace with river views, and a simple, light breakfast room. Two of the suites can be combined to make a large, family suite.

For explorers

• Palazzo Soderini is a charming old palazzo with surprisingly chic and contemporary interiors. If you prefer white on white decor, clever lighting and sleek, design furniture, then this is the palazzo for you. The location is great, in a quieter, more residential part of Venice — you can tell by the prices in the local shops and restaurants — but it’s still only around 500 metres from the Bridge of Sighs, the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica.
• Cima Rosa is a traditional Venetian palazzo dating from the 15th century, with wooden beams, marble statues in the courtyard garden, and views of the Grand Canal. There are just three rooms, all elegantly decorated in chic simple style. The Santa Croce neighbourhood is convenient for all the main sights, and the owners are very approachable.
• Ca del Nobile is a simple, comfortable B&B just two minutes' walk from the Piazza San Marco, and five from the Rialto. The six bedrooms feature wooden beams, antique and vintage furniture, exposed brick walls, and are decorated with cream colours and heavy fabrics.

For romantics

• Bloom & Settimo Cielo captures some of the opulence of old Venice, but without feeling staid or stuffy, yet also offers all the mod-cons and beautifully big bathrooms — something you can’t always guarantee in Venice. The roof terrace has wonderful views: it’s the perfect spot to watch the mist unfurl in the mornings, or sit up here with your complimentary bottle of Prosecco at sunset.
• Novecento, Venice is a chic, seductive B&B, with a hint of the orient in the decor and the smell of Marrakech in the air. Its nine rooms feel traditional and romantic, and the location is excellent, close to many of the main sights. A generous breakfast is served daily in a pretty courtyard.

For palazzo style

• Hotel Palazzo Vitturi is one of the oldest palazzos in Venice, just a stones throw from the Piazza San Marco. Now a very spacious, very comfortable guesthouse, the decor has cleverly combined original frescoes, terazzo floors, vast windows and painted ceilings with contemporary soft furnishings and a pastel palette, to make it feel luxurious as well as historic. 16 rooms and suites complete with picture.
• Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo is an intimate hideaway with just 15 rooms, spanning two properties on either side of a canal. Traditional, and characterful, it’s also close to the San Stae vaporetto stop, and a great spot for exploring Venice on foot. There’s a courtyard garden, which some rooms look out upon, and is gorgeous in the summer. The decor is typically Venetian, with plenty of gilt and upholstered surfaces.

For water views

• Residenza de L'Osmarin is an intimate, welcoming B&B run by warm, attentive hosts, offering just three rooms and one suite. Each features parquet floors, exposed wooden beams, canal views, and abundant natural light, while the suite also includes a private rooftop terrace.

For families

• Ca Della Corte is a Venetian townhouse turned B&B with 11 rooms, suites and spacious apartments. Family-friendly apartments sleep up to seven with self-catering facilities, while a peaceful courtyard and roof terrace give children and parents relaxed shared spaces to unwind together.
• La Villeggiatura- This warm, family-friendly B&B near Rialto offers just six bright, individually styled rooms in a calm setting. Families appreciate the personal welcome, relaxed atmosphere and sociable breakfast at a large shared table, perfect for starting the day together.

For luxury

• GKK Exclusive Private Suites are a collection of six suites housed in an historic building overlooking the Grand Canal. The rooms are dressed with contemporary Venetian style, with damask style wallpaper and classically shaped furnishings. Our favourite rooms have fancy, free-standing bathtubs and pretty private terraces.
• Suite 735 is a stylishly decorated, four room B&B in the arty Dorsoduro neighbourhood. There’s something of a 50s feel to the shape of the furnishings, and you can still see the original features shining through. Breakfast is served on the pretty terrace.

For great value

• Tucked away in laid-back Cannaregio, 3749 Ponte Chiodo is a charming six-room guesthouse just ten minutes from Rialto and handy for the station. Expect classic Venetian style, a warm, homely vibe, all-day treats, and breakfast shared around a big table or in the garden. An affordable choice.

Still not sure?

• Browse through our recommendations for all the best places to stay in Venice,
• Explore our suggestions for the Best Palazzo Hotels in Venice, the Best Hotels near San Marco or the Most Luxurious Hotels in Venice,
• Alternatively, contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.