Welcome to this guide that looks at the best places to stay in Venice for 2 nights.
If you’re unsure about where to book accommodation in Venice for your short stay this guide will not only show you which neighbourhood to stay in but things to see.
Despite its relatively small size, Venice is a city with one highest density of attractions per square metre in the world, so there’s lots to see and do here.
Not even to mention the never ending list of shops, artisan and artists workshops, bakeries, bars and restaurants where to pop in for a look or to buy something from.
Yes, in Venice there’s a lot going on and it’s non-stop all year round. I know you don’t want to miss out on the best bits while you’re here for a couple of days.
So which are the best areas of the city to book your accommodation?
Best area to stay in Venice for 2 nights
Quick Answer: Based on my personal experience, the best area to stay in Venice for 2 nights is the San Marco neighbourhood (or ‘sestiere’ in Venetian). San Marco is the neighbourhood where you can find the most famous attractions in Venice.
To name a few attractions in San Marco:
- St. Mark’s Square
- St. Mark’s Basilica and the Campanile
- Doge’s Palace and the Bridge of Sighs.
There are also many restaurants, bars, boutique shops and chain stores and of course, plenty of accommodation options for you to choose from!
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Where to stay in Venice for 2 nights
If you only have 2 days to spend in Venice and you’re a first time visitor, keep reading the next paragraph where I’ll explain in more detail why the San Marco neighbourhood is the best to explore Venice’s highlights.
Here’s a map with the hotels in Venice that I recommended below:
San Marco neighbourhood
The San Marco neighbourhood in Venice is the most touristic ‘sestiere’, because it is here where the main attractions are located such as St. Mark’s Square, the Campanile, St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace and Bridge of Sighs.
Staying in this area of Venice comes with its perks but with its costs!
The positive side is that you won’t be doing much walking to reach the most important landmarks, a quite important factor to take into account, especially when you have such a limited time to spend here.
Additionally, in this neighbourhood there are a lot of chain stores but also boutique shops and artisans workshops where you can go shopping.
There is certainly no shortage of bars and restaurants and more than anything, it’s here that you can book some of the best hotels in the city!
The Rialto Bridge and Market are less than 15 minutes walk from the popular landmarks mentioned above.
San Marco is an appealing neighbourhood to stay for 2 nights in Venice and for this reason, there’s high demand for accommodation and prices are higher than in any other neighbourhoods of the city.
Among all the incredible hotels in the San Marco district, these are some of my favourites of all times that can please different budgets too.
Some of the best places to stay in San Marco Venice are:
- Baglioni Hotel Luna: A lavish 5-star hotel with opulent rooms, exceptional service, and stunning views, situated just steps from St. Mark’s Square. It’s without doubt one of the most romantic hotels of Venice.
- Bellevue Luxury Rooms: San Marco Luxury: do you wish to wake up hearing the bells of St. Mark’s Campanile and a balcony overlooking St. Mark’s Basilica? Say no more! Immerse in the Venice of the 18th century at this hotel without compromising all the comforts the suites offer.
- Ca’ dei Fuseri: This budget accommodation is just a couple of minutes walk away from the top attractions in St. Mark’s Square.It offers both single and double spacious and bright ensuite rooms, making a great place to stay in this neighbourhood on a budget.
San Polo
San Polo is one of Venice’s oldest and most vibrant neighbourhoods. It is here that you can find the Rialto Bridge and Market, some of the most popular attractions in Venice.
The iconic Rialto Bridge connects San Polo to San Marco, providing easy access to Venice’s main attractions.
If you stay in the San Polo neighbourhood, I recommend you choose a hotel that’s not too far from the Rialto Market. In fact, it’s just around the oldest market of the city that you can find the best restaurants and bacari! such as Al Merca!
If you wish to taste fresh seafood and fish and of course other authentic Venetian dishes, this is the place to be.
Other popular attractions worth visiting in the San Polo:
- The Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, showcasing masterpieces by Titian and Bellini.
- The Scuola Grande di San Rocco, adorned with stunning Tintoretto frescoes.
- Campo San Polo, the largest campo of Venice.
- Carlo Goldoni’s House, the palace-museum about the famous Venetian playwright. If you have one of the Venice city passes, it’s usually always included free entrance to it.
Here’s my hotel recommendations for where to stay in San Polo:
- Hotel L’Orologio: Situated just a 5-minute walk from Rialto Bridge, overlooking the Grand Canal, this luxury hotel features elegant rooms, on-site bar and terrace to enjoy the charming city views.
- Ca’ Angeli: This mid-range hotel features a breakfast room with views of the Grand Canal and is conveniently located near the Rialto Bridge and Market.
- Best Holidays Venice: Housed in a 15th-century Venetian palace, this small guest house is just a two-minute walk from Rialto Bridge and ten minutes from St. Mark’s Square.
Best area to stay in Venice for 2 nights
For a 2 night stay in Venice, San Marco is the ideal neighbourhood, offering proximity to iconic landmarks like St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, but also to the main luxury shopping stores, historic cafés and elegant restaurants.
San Polo is the second best area to stay with a limited time, because it’s where the Rialto Bridge and Market are, but also shops, bars and authentic restaurants.
Follow my 1.5-day itinerary guide for the perfect way to experience the best of Venice in a short time, ensuring you don’t miss any of its magic.
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