Hotels in Venice

Hotels in Venice: prices, timing and areas

When to book a stay in Venice for less

Venice is cheapest in late autumn. November is usually the bottom of the market, around 340 dollars a night on average, as the tourist season eases. May is the priciest, in full spring, when rates reach about 770 dollars, more than twice the autumn level. The arrival day matters too: Monday is the cheapest, Saturday the most expensive. Venice is rarely cheap, so for popular dates and the carnival book well ahead, as the hotels in the heart of the city go first.

What a stay costs by property type

Venice has some of the highest prices in Italy, so a hostel bed and a palazzo apartment on the Grand Canal are worlds apart. The cheapest sleep is in hostels and simple rooms; you pay the most for design interiors and places with a water view. Below are indicative nightly rates.

Indicative rates for a double room, outside the May peak. In Venice the same standard can differ in price depending on whether you stay on the islands or the mainland, so check the real price for your dates in the search above.

What a stay costs by area

In Venice the price comes down mostly to whether you sleep on the islands or the mainland. It is cheapest in Marghera and Mestre on the mainland side, with a train or a bus into the centre. It is priciest in the historic sestieri on the islands, especially Castello. Below are average nightly rates in a few areas.

Marghera runs about half the city average, while Castello on the islands is about 38 percent above it. A stay on the mainland costs less, but add the time and the fare of a vaporetto or train into the historic centre.

Which stay in Venice suits whom

• First time in Venice. The heart of the city, near St Mark's Square and the Rialto Bridge, is the easiest base. From here the main landmarks are a walk away, with no transfers.
• For couples. Romantic hotels on the canals or with a rooftop terrace and a view over the city. An evening gondola ride completes the mood.
• On a budget. The Cannaregio district, quieter and away from the crowds around St Mark's Square, with cheaper rooms near the vaporetto stops.
• By the station. Hotels near Santa Lucia station and the Grand Canal, handy when you arrive by train and want to set off into the city right away.
• For families. Family rooms and places on the mainland, in Mestre, with more space and lower prices, and a train into the centre in a quarter of an hour.
• Near the airport. Hotels around Marco Polo, good for an early flight or a short stay, often with a shuttle to the terminal.

Example hotels in Venice with prices

From a simple room to a palazzo on the canal, a few Venice names with a from price. Just a starting point, as rates can climb noticeably in May and on weekends.

From prices for a double room. In Venice the same hotel can differ a lot between a Monday and a Saturday, so check your exact dates in the search.

When Venice costs more

It is priciest in spring and summer, peaking in May, when crowds fill the city. Prices also rise around big events such as the Venice Carnival or the art Biennale, when rooms sell out. If you want a lower rate and smaller crowds, aim for November or early spring, outside the season.