DK Travel : Venice

The uniquely romantic city of Venice was built entirely on water and has managed to survive into the 21st century without cars. Narrow alleyways and canals pass between sumptuous palaces and magnificent churches, colourful neighbourhood markets and quiet backwaters, unchanged for centuries. Few cities possess such an awesome line-up of sights for visitors.

For guided tours around Venice (see Guided Tours)

Locanda Ca’ Zose

Cosy immaculate rooms, several with enchanting canal views, run by sisters Graziella and Valentina. Very quiet, handy for La Salute vaporetto and the Guggenheim.
Locanda Cipriani

A peaceful, sophisticated place on the island of Torcello (see Torcello), with a list of illustrious past guests. A famed restaurant overlooks a garden, and you are allowed to explore the island after the day-trippers have left.
Locanda Cipriani

Meals in this historic establishment are served on the terrace. The house speciality is filetto di San Pietro Carlina (baked John Dory with tomato and capers).
Locanda Fiorita

A very pretty place on a sunny square which was once a public cemetery, off Campo San Stefano. In spring and summer you can take breakfast in the piazza. Bargain for cheaper rooms in low season.
Locanda La Corte

A relaxing atmosphere prevails in this renovated 16th-century palace. It once served the ambassador from Brescia and is impeccably furnished with period pieces. Breakfast is served in the courtyard.
Locanda Leon Bianco

Parquet floors alternate with Venetian terrazzo in this modest atmospheric palazzo, in a quiet backwater just over the bridge from Campo SS Apostoli. A couple of rooms look across the Grand Canal to Rialto.
Locanda San Barnaba

Minutes from the Ca’ Rezzonico ferry stop, a quiet, elegant palazzo hotel, with original frescoes in many of the rooms, which are named after Goldoni’s plays.
Locanda Sant’Anna

Despite its dingy appearance and impossible-to-find location, this guesthouse in down-to-earth Castello is friendly and popular, particularly during the Biennale art exhibitions held every two years (see Biennale Art Exhibition).
Locanda SS Giovanni e Paolo

Breakfast is served in this handy non-smoking guesthouse, only 5 mins from Piazza San Marco.
Lord Byron

Eccentricities such as a menagerie of foxes and monkeys, not to mention swimming feats in the Grand Canal, made the English Romantic poet (1788–1824) something of a legend during his three-year sojourn here. His Venice-inspired work included The Two Foscari and the fourth canto of his autobiographical work Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage .

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Hotel price categories

For a standard, double room per night (with breakfast if included), taxes and extra charges.
- under €100
- €100-€150
- €150-€250
- €250-€350
- over €350
Restaurant price categories

For a three-course meal for one with half a bottle of wine (or equivalent meal), taxes and extra charges.
- under €30
- €30-€40
- €40-€50
- €50-€60
- over €60