Painted in dreamlike hues – with monumental buildings and colorful faded palaces lining its canals – romantic Venice can’t fail to enchant.
It’s simply one of the most beautiful places to visit in Italy!
A top honeymoon destination, Venice is home to some of Europe’s most romantic hotels.
Yes, you need really deep pockets to stay at some of these romantic hotels in Venice.
But, fortunately, Venice also has lovely couple’s digs that don’t bust the budget.
10 Incredibly romantic hotels: Venice, Italy
We’ve visited Venice several times.
Here are our picks for the most romantic hotels in Venice, Italy. (We’ve stayed at most of them.)
If planning a visit to Italy – and you’re wondering where to stay in Venice for a romantic getaway – you’ll want to check these out.
Whether you fancy a splurgey 5-star hotel in Venice or a more affordable boutique hotel, you’re sure to discover the perfect love nest for you in this enthralling city!
1) Palazzo Abadessa
This gem is unquestionably one of the most romantic hotels in Venice, Italy. And it’s also very easy on the budget too.
Formerly a 16th century palace, it’s been turned into a charming Venice hotel.
The hotel’s atrium has marble floors and stained lead-glass windows that overlook a canal.
Palazzo Abadessa is handily located in the quiet northern Cannaregio district, a 15- to 20-minute stroll from St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco).
Some people think it’s too far from the center of things, but we like walking – and crossing Venice’s beautiful bridges and canals. That’s partly what Venice is about, right?
(And the fact that it’s a bit of a walk to get to no doubt accounts for why Palazzo Abadessa costs less than it would if it was more centrally located.)
Guest rooms
The palazzo contains 15 rooms and suites, each unique, adorned by Murano chandeliers, antique furniture and silk wall coverings.
All are a joy – though avoid the teensy smallest room (it’s really too cramped for comfort).
Our favorite is Room 26 (once the palace kitchen), with its exposed timber beam ceiling, stone fireplace and an original giant stone sink in the bathroom.
A marble staircase takes you up to the first floor and more rooms.
Eating and drinking
You can sip complimentary Prosecco and nibble on snacks, set out on silver trays in the hall, before heading off to dinner.
Breakfast (included) in the tranquility of the walled garden is a special treat.
Fortified by fresh-baked croissants, sliced fruit, ham, cheeses and as many cappuccinos as we could drink, we happily set off each morning to explore Venice’s splendors.
Price
Affordable
What we especially like about Palazzo Abadessa
It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg!
And their breakfasts in the garden can’t be beat.
Bottom line: The Palazzo Abadessa is one of the best-value, romantic boutique hotels in Venice, Italy – with loads of charm and character.
2) Hotel Cipriani, a Belmond hotel
For the ultimate romantic splurge, book the Hotel Cipriani – it’s one of the top honeymoon hotels in Venice, Italy.
At this serene Belmond-branded property – set amid lush gardens on Guidecca Island – the atmosphere is “private country estate.”
Expect unparalleled service, of course – the luxury hotel has one staff member per guest.
A private mahogany motor launch runs continuously 24 hours to St. Mark’s Square, which is a five-to seven-minute ride from the hotel.
Rooms and suites
The hotel itself has 96 rooms and suites.
Lavish details can be found in the wood floors, marble bathrooms, Murano glass chandeliers, gold-framed mirrors and a mix of antique and modern furnishings.
Linked to the hotel through an ancient courtyard and flowered loggia is the Palazzo Vendramin.
This 15th century residence which has ten two-bedroom apartments, each featuring a private entrance hall, sitting room, two baths and a kitchen.
There’s also the adjoining Palazzetto Nani Barbaro with five suites.
All palazzo suites have personal butler service.
Michelin-star dining at Hotel Cipriani
Make sure to dine by candlelight at the Michelin-starred Oro restaurant.
We started with a Bellini in the courtyard while perusing the menu, before moving to the outdoor terrace, overlooking the lagoon, to feast on fresh sea bass and thin green pasta noodles with ham au gratin.
It was one of the most magical dining experiences ever!
Price
Seriously expensive
What we especially like about Hotel Cipriani
The hotel’s inviting Olympic-sized saltwater pool (heated, of course) is one of the hotel’s most outstanding features – imagine lounging by this gorgeous pool after taking in the sights of Venice!
You can also play tennis on a red-clay tennis court.
3) Hotel La Calcina
Yes, there really is such a thing as a lovely 3-star hotel in Venice – one that makes a great Venice honeymoon hotel if you’re trying to be careful with your spending.
Previously known as Pensione La Calcina, the family-run Hotel La Calcina is found in a historic 4-floor building in the Zattere area, located on the Giudecca Canal.
Where John Ruskin stayed
Poets, artists and writers liked to sip coffee in the hotel’s café in the 1800s.
How romantic to think that the bard of Venice – the painter, writer and art critic John Ruskin (who wrote “The Stones of Venice”) – made La Calcina his home in 1877!
Rooms
The 29 rooms have parquet floors and wooden furniture. But all are different. The most romantic rooms are larger and overlook the Giudecca Canal.
Tip: The most romantic room is No. 4. It has a unique terrace looking right out over the canal. Prosecco before dinner here?
While spickety clean, the bathrooms aren’t exactly honeymoon-worthy, however.
Price
Affordable
What we especially like about Hotel La Calcina
The historic hotel has a floating terrace jutting out into the Giudecca Canal, where breakfast is served in good weather.
We loved waking up to the tasty continental buffet of yogurt, pastries, fresh fruit, cheeses and cold cuts, enjoyed on the banks of the shimmering canal.
The hotel is also just steps away from a great wine bar and good dinner restaurants.
4) Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido
The beach island of Lido is a great option for escaping the crowds that flock to Venice in the summer – and if you want a more beachy holiday feeling.
A complimentary water taxi (15-minute ride) whisks you across the Venetian lagoon to the 5-star Hotel Excelsior on the Lido.
Rooms and suites
Built as a long-stay resort hotel at the beginning of the 20th century, the Excelsior’s 193 spacious rooms and suites are lovely and spacious.
Reflecting a whimsical Moorish-style décor, they feature arches, high ceilings and ivory lattice woodwork.
Tip: You don’t really need a to book a pricier sea view room.
Rooms with a courtyard view are just as enticing (though corner rooms looking out to the Venice skyline and lagoon are perhaps the best deal).
It’s on a beach!
The Excelsior enjoys an enviable location right on the beach.
And nothing says romance better than reliving the golden age of luxury by lounging about in one of the hotel’s white cabanas!
Make like Bogie and Bacall as you relish comfy sunbeds for two with mattresses, deck chairs with cushions, chilled champagne and free WiFi – though Humphrey and Lauren wouldn’t have had the WiFi!
The swimming pool is also gorgeous for relaxing in the warmer months. (And it overlooks the beach.)
No doubt about it. This place is one of the best hotels in Venice (especially if you want a resort-type stay).
Note: You pay extra for one of those white cabanas lined up in rows on the beach. And the gray sand can be hot.
Price
Seriously expensive
What we especially like about the Hotel Excelsior Venice
Staying here gives you two holiday experiences – a beachy island holiday (Italian-style), with all the delights of Venice and its cultural scene at your fingertips.
5) Hotel American Dinesen
Now don’t be misled by the name.
This isn’t an American hotel. It’s very Venetian. (But totally suited for North Americans.)
The 4-star Hotel American Dinesen is tucked away in a quiet location in Venice’s Dorsoduro district, near the Accademia Bridge. It has its own private canal dock, so you can arrive by boat, if you wish.
For a quiet place to read your Venice guide book or relax with a drink from the bar, settle into a comfy corner on the hotel’s outdoor terrace on the first floor.
Rooms
The 30 elegant rooms and suites are a good size.
And while dressed in Venetian damasks and silk wall coverings, they look contemporary, with polished wood floors and modern rain showers in the bathrooms.
Go for a Superior Canal View room with a Juliet balcony.
You get sweet views of the San Vio Canal. (Hey, honey, check out the gondola floating by!)
Simply put, despite its name, the Hotel American Dinesen is another one of the best places to stay in Venice for a romantic escape.
Price
Mid-range
What we especially like about the Hotel American
Owned by the same family for generations, the hotel is well run, with lots of contemporary touches. There’s no sacrificing comfort when staying here.
It’s also in the art district, so it’s very convenient for visiting the famous 20th century art museum, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
6) Ca Maria Adele
There’s absolutely no question that Ca Maria Adele is one of the most romantic Venice honeymoon hotels.
Often touted as the most romantic boutique hotel in the world, it was recently named the world’s best romantic retreat in the 2021 Boutique Hotel Awards.
Ca Maria Adele is an intimate boutique hotel in Venice’s quiet art district of Dorsoduro, with quick access to the Grand Canal. (It’s near the Hotel American Dinesen, #5 above.)
Of course, the hotel is on a canal and has its own private landing platform for water taxis. As soon as you arrive, you’re greeted with a welcome glass of Prosecco – and treated like royalty throughout your stay.
Romantic rooms
Ca Maria Adele is a feast for the eyes.
All 12 rooms are lavishly decorated, with Murano chandeliers, marble bathrooms and lots of gilt.
But the top-floor suites are the ultimate delight. They have stunning views over Venice’s rooftops. One has a little balcony too.
Breakfast
Choose what you want for breakfast the next day from an à la carte menu placed on your bed (along with fresh rose petals) the night before.
Fresh strawberries? Chocolate pancakes? Two 5-minute boiled eggs? (One for you and one for your lover.) There are dozens of choices!
Then you have the very pleasant task of deciding where to eat breakfast. In bed? On the rooftop terrace?
Oh, if only all decisions in life were this sweet!
Price
Splurge
What we especially like about Ca Maria Adele
The hosts, Alessio and Nicola Camp, are wonderful and can’t do enough to make your stay perfect. They’ll help you with reservations at Venice’s most romantic restaurants, get a personal shopper for you and point you in the right direction when it comes to tours.
And we love the sumptuous décor.
Yes, Ca Maria Adele is possibly the most romantic hotel in Venice!
7) Hotel Ai Reali di Venezia
Another one of the best romantic hotels in Venice is Hotel Ai Reali di Venezia.
A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, this upscale 4-star Venice hotel is housed in a refurbished 17th century palace, a two-minute walk away from the Rialto Bridge.
It offers 32 rooms and suites, a fine dining restaurant with canal views, piano bar and (rare for Venice) a spa with a pool and Turkish bath.
Rooms and suites
The vibe is traditional Venetian – painted ceilings, antiques and Murano chandeliers. But you’ll also find mod cons like a flat-screen TV in each room.
You’ll want to book a Junior Suite with a canal view. (Avoid the Classic Rooms, which are itty bitty.)
About 430 square feet in size, the Junior Suites are furnished in sumptuous Venetian style. Some have a fireplace and a small private terrace.
Price
Upper mid-range
What we especially like about the Hotel Ai Reali di Venezia
You can wake up and visit the old Rialto Fish Market early in the morning. The market has been going for over 1,000 years, so you’re pretty well guaranteed an authentic experience!
The hotel staff are also very friendly and helpful.
8) The Gritti Palace
Many hotels are perfect for a romantic stay in Venice.
But for a truly luxurious hotel – one that’s stood the test of time for more than a century now – The Gritti Palace is the place to book.
Built in the 15th century as a palazzo for Doge Andrea Gritti, it became a hotel in the late 1800s. Now a Luxury Collection Hotel (a group of exclusive hotels under the Marriott banner), it’s been totally redone.
And what a show stopper it is! Think Murano glass chandeliers, frescoes and gilded beam ceilings.
It also boasts a privileged location on the Grand Canal, right in the very heart of Venice.
It’s just steps away from the Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Square and a 5-minute walk from La Fenice Opera House (Teatro La Fenice).
Exquisite rooms
All 82 rooms and suites are opulent, with hand-painted ceilings, canopy beds, beautiful antiques and original oil paintings.
The marble bathrooms are stocked with Acqua di Parma toiletries, one of our favorite bath product brands.
The suites are over-the-top. But even the most basic rooms (Deluxe Rooms) are romantic enough.
Price
Major splurge
What we especially like about the Gritti Palace
Pretty well everything – from the 24-hour room service to its ooh-la-la spa!
As one of the best luxury hotels in Venice, The Gritti Palace aims to please. And it does this very well. (Just be prepared to max out your credit card.)
9) The St. Regis Venice
Like The Gritti Palace, The St. Regis Venice is another one of the most deluxe hotels in Venice (also under the Marriott umbrella).
An architectural marvel, it opened in 1895.
History abounds – it’s hosted Claude Monet, Winston Churchill and Sigmund Freud.
But after a recent and complete refurbishment, its décor is much more modern than The Gritti Palace.
Creative contemporary art by international artists adorns its walls. (So if you prefer a sleeker, less opulent look, pick The St. Regis Venice.)
Its location couldn’t be better. Nestled in the heart of Venice, it’s just a few minutes’ walk away from St. Mark’s Square.
Serene rooms and suites
Each of the 169 guest rooms and suites of The St. Regis Venice is an elegant sanctuary, reflecting a timeless and classic style.
Every detail has been thoughtfully curated to provide the utmost comfort – from the plush velvet sofas and Frette luxury linens to the butler service.
Some rooms and suites have private terraces over the Grand Canal, offering exceptional views of the canal.
They’re the rooms to book, if you can swing it.
Price
Seriously expensive
What we especially like about The St. Regis in Venice
The soft pale hues are calming and a pleasant change from most other romantic Venice hotels. Dinner on the terrace at the hotel’s Gio’s restaurant is also a treat (don’t miss the tiramisu).
10) Baglioni Hotel Luna
A stone’s throw away from St. Mark’s Square, Baglioni Hotel Luna is the last on our list of the most romantic hotels in Venice.
Said to be the oldest hotel in Venice, it occupies what was once a palazzo in the 12th century and radiates charm and sophistication.
Breakfast in the former Marco Polo Ballroom is a delightful way to start the day.
The dining room’s walls are decorated with elaborate paintings of Venetian history and culture – putting you in the mood for exploring all of Venice’s wonders.
For a romantic dinner, the hotel’s exceptional Canova Restaurant is a World Luxury Restaurant Awards winner (2022), serving gourmet cuisine created by Michelin-starred Chef Claudio Sadler.
Tiziano Lagoon View Suite
Looking for a totally romantic hotel room with a view? Book the Tiziano Lagoon View Suite at Baglioni Hotel Luna.
This impressive suite is 645 square feet in size and features parquet wood floors, antique Venetian furnishings, a large Italian marble bathroom and unrivalled views of Venice’s enchanting lagoon and San Giorgio Island.
Price
Expensive
What we especially like about Baglioni Hotel Luna
Aside from the timeless allure of this romantic Venice hotel, you’ll be treated to magnificent views over the water.
It also has a great location in central Venice, within easy walking distance of many of the city’s top attractions. And it’s easier on the wallet than The Gritti Palace (#8) and St. Regis Venice (#9).
Now you know the best romantic hotels in Venice, Italy!
With Venice’s increasing popularity – and the tourist crowds that descend in summer – you may wonder if Venice is still one of the best places in Italy for a romantic getaway.
Trust us, it is! Especially if you visit outside of the peak tourist season (i.e., if you go, say, in May, late September or October.)
These Venice hotels for couples are added proof.
From charming canal-side retreats to elegant boutique hotels, they’re sure to sweep you off your feet. They’re perfect for a honeymoon in Venice, celebrating an anniversary or simply because you want a romantic hotel!
Now, many of the most romantic places to stay in Venice hug the canals. So if you can swing it, go for a room with a terrace overlooking one of those picturesque canals.
It adds a whole new level of romance!
Have we missed any of your favorite beautiful hotels in Venice? You can let us know in the Comments section below.
Discover more romantic and gorgeous hotels in Europe!
Mallorca (Spain): Where to stay in Mallorca? See these enchanting hotels (including a castle and lovely rural fincas).
Mykonos (Greece): Check out the best beach hotels on Mykonos, one of the most sophisticated Greek islands.
Istanbul (Turkey): From hip to historic, you’ll love these beautiful boutique hotels in Istanbul!
Our top travel tips and resources
Here are our favorite travel resources:
Hotels: Booking.com is great for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one. (We especially like their flexible cancellation policy!)
Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out GetYourGuide and Viator.
Car rental: Renting a car is often one of the best ways to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the best rates.
Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more.
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Photo Credits: 1, 5, 6, 7 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | Other hotel photos courtesy the respective hotels
About the authors
Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George Mucalov are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents. See About.
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Paris M.
Wednesday 25th of January 2023
Another lovely romantic hotel in Venice is the hotel Al Ponte Antico, which is just gorgeous. I had the pleasure of staying there in 2016.
Janice and George
Wednesday 25th of January 2023
That hotel does look lovely. Thanks for your contribution!