Venice is a bit of a distraction from the rest of the Veneto region, but only until you realise that Verona is another centre, Padua too, along with ‘the Sophia Loren of ski resorts’, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Palladian beauty Vicenza, and the prosecco producing hills of Conegliano and Valdbiadenne. In fact on a clear day you can see all the way across Veneto, from the snowy edge of the Dolomites to Venice’s lagoon. We’d love to say that some of the best places to stay in Veneto offer this view, but while there are some incredible hotels on our list, our Gurus’ can’t promise that. Quite. They have lined up some picturesque ski chalets, incredible palazzos in Venice and Verona, Michelin stars in the Prosecco Hills, and a rural escape close to Lake Garda.

Veneto is a fantastic region to explore, and if you’re just browsing destinations, then we highly recommend planning a road or rail trip through Veneto. Venice makes an obvious starting or finishing point, with its incredible sights, magical atmosphere, and some of the most gloriously opulent of our hotel recommendations. Treviso, just outside Venice is often overlooked, but it has some rather lovely canals of its own. Verona offers Roman ruins, Shakespeare’s balcony scene, and an incredible annual summer of opera, and Vicenza has an incredible cluster of villas by the acclaimed architect Andrea Palladio, who the Palladian style is named for — Vicenza is his glorious home town and where he cut his teeth.

Heading north again will wind you through the Prosecco Hills, dotted with picturesque hamlets and towns, amongst neat vine-rows and vineyards. This area is definitely one of the best places to stay in Veneto during harvest. It’s lively and delicious, and the opportunities to learn are bountiful. On one side of the hills is the Adriatic, with a smattering of charmingly faded seaside resorts, and on the other is Lake Garda, or you can head north again for Veneto’s spa resorts, Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme, and the ski resorts of the Dolomites!

The Best Places to Stay in Veneto

For Palazzo Style

• The Palazzo Valmarana Braga has been broken up into seven guest apartments, complete with original frescoes, terrazzo floors, beamed ceilings, parquet, stone tiles, pillars and sculptures. The furnishings are simple, but in keeping with the historic property’s gravitas, and there are some impressively solid antiques amongst them. Yet you'll also find great modern amenities, and a very family-friendly approach. The location is ideal, within the historic heart of Vicenza, and close to numerous shops and restaurants — perfect for the self catering facilities within the apartments.
• The Palazzetto Pisani is a converted 16th century palazzo next to Venice’s Grand Canal, and overlooking Santa Maria della Salute. Until ten years ago this was a private dwelling, and it has retained some seriously ornate furnishings — the large and lofty second floor public rooms, which are now a restaurant, are fairly unchanged. They have added a very stylish bar, though. 

For Romantics

• A proper 18th century palazzo on a grand scale, Verona’s Palazzo Monga comes complete with gorgeous original parquet floors, detailed plasterwork, graceful chandeliers and grand ceilings. there are just three suites and one room, and all feel gloriously luxurious, decorated with antiques from the period, and opulent fabrics. Despite there being so few rooms, the Palazzo has a mini spa on site with a sauna and treatment room.
• In the heart of historic Verona, just a short stroll from Juliet’s House, Il Relais is a four room B&B converted from a palazzo, and offering 19th century charm and contemporary comfort. Expect urns, oil paintings and antiques, but also marble bathrooms, and friendly staff. A wonderful home from home.

For a Rural Retreat

• Escape to the countryside overlooking the vineyards of Valpolicella at Dimora del Bugiardo. You'll find a world of peace and serene views, amongst rustic decor housed within a charming old villa, with exposed stone walls, a terracotta tiled floor, and wonderfully beamed ceilings. The 16 rooms and suites have lovely views, smart furnishings, and all the mod cons, and the restaurant serves local wines, and classic regional fare. Great value, and perfect for wine lovers.
• Maso di Villa is a charming country villa, complete with green shuttered windows, and glorious, scented gardens. its six rooms are all individually decorated, with chintzy rustic charm: think exposed beams, wrought iron beds and a cosy colour scheme with plenty of gingham and floral fabrics. The vegetable garden and olive trees share their bounty in the form of light snacks, and breakfast, but there’s no restaurant.

For Skiers

• The Hotel Ancora is wonderfully affordable for its level of luxury, and charming decor. It’s somewhat dated, but the traditional style and classical decor choices lends charm. We particularly like the private terraces and balconies, with their views over Cortina d’Ampezzo to the Dolomites, and the stylish, award-winning, restaurant with its vaulted ceilings. The hotel also hosts regular art exhibitions.
• The Grand Hotel Savoia is one of Cortina d’Ampezzo’s grande dames, recently refurbished, so that its trappings are now contemporary, as well as luxurious, including in the spa and restaurant. The Grand’s location is excellent, just 100 metres from the pedestrianised shopping area, surrounded by great places to eat and drink, and five minutes from the Faloria cable car. The Grand’s 130 rooms and suites have a whiff of chalet heritage in their blonde wood, and pale furnishings, but they’re more Scandi chic than alpine chalet. Families will love the kids club.

First time in Venice?

• In the heart of the San Marco district, Locanda Fiorita is a Venetian townhouse with decor that blends 18th century style and 21st century comforts. There are ten rooms and suites, some more romantic than others, and some with private balconies. There’s also a communal terrace which is gloriously sunny.
• Ca del Nobile is a 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, and exposed brick walls, and are decorated with creamy colours and heavy fabrics.
• Venice is a city break destination, but many of its hotels are gorgeous, but lack useful facilities. So if you’re looking for form and function the 43 room Hotel L'Orologio is an excellent choice. It’s still got plenty of style, with all the rooms individually decorated with simple colour palettes and designer furnishings that make the most of the original features, but it’s not fussy, and it’s in an excellent, practical location within walking distance of most of the main sights. They’re also good on the mod cons like satellite TV and air conditioning.

For Families

• The Palazzo Morosini degli Spezieri is a 15th century palazzo in San Polo, turned collection of nine, self-catering apartments. Each apartment has between one and three bedroom — so this is an excellent pick for families — with wonderful canal views, and is within an easy walk of the main attractions of Venice. It’s also comfortably, and beautifully decorated in neural, unfussy colours. The shared terrace is the perfect place to indulge in an apertivo after sightseeing, and the staff will make a huge difference in planning your activities.

For Foodies

• The Locanda Cipriani is a wonderfully warm and homely restaurant with rooms on Torcello, one of the smallest and most magical island on Venice’s lagoon. Staying here, in this magical old villa, with its glorious gardens, and rustic details, feels as if you’re travelling back to old Venice, after the day visitors have all left. And the cuisine is totally unforgettable. A very special place to stay.
• Sister hotels, the Hotel Dei Chiostri and the Villa Abbazia, are on the "Prosecco Road", surrounded by prosecco producing vineyards. The Villa has the Michelin starred restaurant, La Corte, and 18 elegant rooms and suites, while Dei Chiostri is set amongst the vineyards themselves. It has 15 rooms of its own, more affordable ones, with eclectic decor, and its own gourmet bistro too.

For Great Value

• Corte Mantovani is a converted former farmhouse just a few minutes from Lake Garda, with just six rooms, two of them family-sized suites. This is a great escape, peacefully decorated with lots of white — to make the most of the wonderful views — and the original features. Breakfast is included, and there’s an expansive garden.
• Despite the name, the Hotel Bologna is actually in the historic heart of Verona, facing the picturesque Piazza Brà, and just a few moments from the Arena di Verona. Converted from a period townhouse, its 32 rooms and suites have fairly recently been renovated in a fairly classic hotel style, with rather grand headboards, cosy lamp-light, and elegantly dramatic drapes. The best room (the suite with terrace) boasts a large terrace with private outdoor hot tub and space for dining. The restaurant specialises in Venetian cuisine.
• The Locanda al Vescovo is a guesthouse with a full-service spa, close to the Porto Vescovo Verona. Inside are ten rooms, decorated with beamed ceilings, wooden floors, and natural stone, which lends a cavernous effect, especially in the spa and the breakfast room, which are larger spaces. When you add the coloured lighting, the effect is very contemporary. The restaurant is romantic.

Best B&Bs

• The B&B Castelmenardo 39 has just four rooms and suites, converted from a grand, historic townhouse in the centre of Treviso. Each room is different, but all have been styled with contemporary details that chime well with the building’s original proportions, and high, beamed ceilings. Expect feature walls, simple modern furnishings and potted plants thriving.
• Converted from parts of a 15th century Vicenzan home, the B&B Portico Rosso is a charming, four bedroom property, just five minutes' stroll from the centre of Vincenza. The guest rooms are dressed in an eclectic range of antiques, with some fantastic picks amongst them, complemented by the building’s original features. Guests are also welcome to enjoy the sunny garden, and cosy lounge.
• Il Relais dell'Abbazia is a three room B&B converted from a Benedictine monastery in San Zeno. There’s nothing of the monk’s cell about these rooms; they’re light and airy, with contemporary fireplaces, pale wood furnishings and accents in rattan. Breakfast is an impressive spread, served in the charming garden when the weather allows.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Villa?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• The Veneto region has three international airports, with Venice’s Marco Polo Airport being the largest. Venice has a secondary airport too, which is actually in Treviso, but often called Venice-Treviso Airport to let travellers know that it’s only about an hour away from Venice. Verona-Villafranca is the third option. Both Venice and Verona are major rail hubs, and the train network running throughout the region is expansive and regular. Venice even has a ferry and cruise terminal, at the Station Marittima.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• The busiest time to visit the Veneto region is summer, but that doesn’t make this the best time to year to visit. Veneto’s major centres swelter in the heat, and are busy with tourists, and there’s no real advantage to seeing the sights of Venice, Verona or Padua in the sunshine. Although Verona does have the opera season between June and August. Everything is open, with long opening hours, between June and September, but all the large attractions are open thought out the year, just with reduced hours, and the majority of the smaller attractions are open from March. The regional parts of Veneto are often most interesting during harvest and autumn, and Italy can be magical at Christmas.

Still not sure where to stay?

• You could refine your search to one of Veneto’s famed centres, and consider just the best places to stay in Venice, hotels near Venice's Grand Canal,the best hotels near Venice's San Marco or the best palazzo hotels in Venice
• Consider some of Veneto’s other famed centres — Verona, Vicenza orTreviso
• Or the ski fields of Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Sophia Lauren of ski resorts.
• Or the the best places to stay in the Prosecco Hills
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.