Palazzo Veneziano: Venice’s Best Kept Secret Hotel

Palazzo Veneziano is currently one of our go-to hotels in Venice.  In 2017, we snapped up $400 tickets to Venice for our anniversary in September.  When I finally got around to looking at hotels, I found out that the La Biennale Film Festival was taking place at the same time.  This meant that the Hotel Danieli was basically sold out, and since we wanted to stay on the island, I needed to find a new Venice hotel.  I focused my search on our favorite sestiere, Dorsoduro, and found a few reviews for Palazzo Veneziano.

I’ve stayed in numerous four and five star hotels, and I can confidently recommend this hotel as a great place to stay if you want to be “in Venice.” (I cover why this is a good idea extensively in my guide to planning a romantic weekend in Venice!)  This is one of our favorite Venice hotels now.  The proof is our sheer number of visits. We’ve stayed at Palazzo Veneziano at least 6 times in 4 years, including over the Christmas holidays.

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Our Last Stay at Palazzo Veneziano

We stayed at Palazzo Veneziano, shortly after they re-opened and COVID-free flights were being offered by American Airlines and Delta Airlines between certain city pairs.  I’m excited to share that Palazzo Veneziano has not missed a beat!  While many US hotels cut down on amenities, Palazzo Veneziano remains as consistent as ever.  

The hotel is just as beautiful and well-maintained as ever.  The service was incredibly welcoming, and they noticed that this was not our first stay with them.  (A welcome touch since it has been 1.5 years since our last trip to Venice!)  They welcomed us to enjoy a picnic lunch in their courtyard since the restaurant was not open.

Consistent with our plan to help restart travel responsibly, we booked on the hotel website.  While this normally offers you an upgrade from an economy to a classic room, we were upgraded to a junior suite this time.  Tom has dubbed the junior suite as the perfect room because of its size, layout and amenities.  I love it because of its beautiful natural light!  

Service at Palazzo Veneziano

The service is one of the best things about Palazzo Veneziano.  From the moment you check in until the moment you check out, the staff is so helpful.  They are more than happy to provide anything you need.  If rain is in the forecast, the property has sturdy umbrellas available.  

When we were planning our trip to Treviso airport, they were willing to walk us to the right vaporetto stop.  If I was drinking water with breakfast, they offered to make me fresh coffee.  When we wanted to store our luggage for the last few hours of sightseeing, it wasn’t a problem.  

The staff is always personable and always at the ready to assist with anything a guest needed.

How to Get to Palazzo Veneziano

Our flight landed from the United States at Marco Polo airport at 9:15am.  Customs took about an hour and we boarded the #5 bus to the island.  From there, we hopped on a vaporetto to San Basilio (Zattere also works).  From either vaperetto stop, it’s less than a 5 minute walk to the hotel. By 12:00, we had deposited our luggage with the hotel and were on our way to grab water and snacks from the conveniently located Conad grocery store.  

Money Saving Tip for Venice: Purchase the Venezia Unica card for unlimited vaperetto rides for the duration of your stay.

If you really wanted to, you could walk to Palazzo Veneziano from Venice Santa Lucia (the main train station) or the bus stop, but we decided to make it quick and easy with our luggage using the vaperetto.  The more expensive option is to take a water taxi from the airport or the train station, but I don’t think it’s necessary.

In 2021, we drove to Venice and parked at Tronchetto.  The hotel offered us a 15% discount on the daily parking rate, which was an added benefit of booking directly!  We find parking at Trochetto to be the most convenient when we drive to Venice because it has a vaparetto stop right in front of the garage and it’s only two stops from San Basilio, which is the closest stop to Palazzo Veneziano.  

Palazzo Veneziano Rooms

We actually had two separate stays on our initial stay at Palazzo Veneziano in 2017, so we got to see two separate rooms.  (Due to a lack of Venice hotel availability, we decided to head to Prague during the height of the Film Festival.)  We had a deluxe double room with a canal view for the first part of our trip and were upgraded to a duplex suite with a jacuzzi for the second part.  Both rooms are spacious, beautifully decorated, and have every amenity you could imagine, including air conditioning and free WiFi.

The ivory and aqua tones of the room are the epitome of relaxation, and I love the silver accents.  (I am still obsessing over the textured wallpaper and textured drapes.)  I love the velvet accents, the four poster beds, and the hardwood parquet floors.  The mixing of textures allows the rooms to feel luxurious with a nod to Venetian flair.

The water pressure at Palazzo Veneziano is AMAZING.  No joke.  The first shower after a transatlantic flight is one of my favorite small luxuries, and this one didn’t disappoint.  Most newer hotels seem to have weak water pressure, but not Palazzo Veneziano!  Between the strong shower and the jacuzzi, my body was able to easily recover from all the walking we did.   I think splurging for one of the jacuzzi rooms is worth the extra expense.  The best way to experience Venice is to walk across it.  The best way to recover from Venice is in a jetted tub.

Could the marble bathrooms be more beautiful?!  Even the double rooms have beautiful marble baths.

As far as practicalities, the whole room is wired perfectly with more than enough switches to control the lights (from anywhere) and plug in electronics for charging.  We are constantly charging my computer, two phones, a camera battery, and portable internet. (Save 10% with Solis promo code JOURNEYOFDOING.)  There is an armoire with plenty of shelving and a clothing rack for hanging clothes.  We needed a few more hangers than what we had, but it wasn’t the end of the world.  Everything, including bath amenities, is perfectly on brand.

Other Stays at Palazzo Veneziano

On subsequent stays, we’ve stayed in the economy double room, as well as the classic double room. Both were small but well designed.  The economy double room had a stand up shower, and the classic double room had the standard shower + bathtub combination.  I couldn’t tell a huge difference between the rooms except for the bathroom.  All that being said, I would love to check out their corner junior suite or their terrace-view suite next!

Almost all of our rooms overlooked quiet Venetian canals.  The hotel is set far enough back from the delle Zattere promenade that I don’t think any noise would bother you.  It even has a private courtyard for lounging and an internal courtyard for breakfast.

Palazzo Veneziano Room Amenities

Palazzo Veneziano Junior Suite Photos – Room 103

During our stay in 2021, we booked two rooms: one for Tom and I and one for my mom.  We received adjacent rooms that are the mirror opposite of each other.  The junior suite features a large window overlooking the beautiful courtyard of the restaurant next door, a marble bathroom with an incredible soaking tub, and a chaise lounge.  Consistent with the rest of the hotel, this room is impeccably designed for comfort.  

The design is streamlined with a minimalist feel but does not lack any amenities.  Our room offered a safe, a mini fridge, a tea kettle, and plenty of hangers for my dresses.    

Palazzo Veneziano Breakfast Buffet

We don’t typically eat breakfast, but since we make it a point to get out early for blue hour and sunrise, we are usually back at the hotel by 9:00. By that time, I’m always ready for breakfast.  The room rates usually include breakfast, and it is worth it.

The breakfast is one of the reasons that Tom always looks forward to coming back to the Veneziano.  The daily breakfast always includes a number of hot options, savory options, fresh fruit, and, of course, my favorite almond torte and other sweet treats.  Personally, I load up on protein with prosciutto, salami, and add in fresh fruit and that delicious almond torte (of course).  

If breakfast isn’t provided in your room rate, you might see if it’s worth it to add it.  Depending on the price differential, it might be worth it to add it.  In 2021, it was 20 euro to add it upon arrival.  

If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to enjoy your breakfast at one of the tables in the courtyard.  There’s nothing better than a quiet breakfast in the fresh Venetian air.

Final Thoughts on Palazzo Veneziano

To date (2017-2021), this hotel is truly one of the best deals in Venice.  Seriously. They even have family rooms, which is something that can be really hard to find in Italy.  Even the honeymoon suite is affordable.  Whether you book the Veneziano for the size of the rooms, the service, the breakfast, or the location, it is an incredible value.  It is the most affordable room we’ve ever had in Venice.  (During off season, if you aren’t going to book the Veneziano, I would recommend staying at the Venice Hilton or the Hyatt Murano.)  

The location is definitely one of my favorites.  Despite the fact that we stayed at the JW on our honeymoon in Venice, we spent a lot of time in this neighborhood of Venice.  Our favorite restaurant is in Dorsoduro.  The best gelato in Venice is in Dorsoduro.  My favorite art galleries are in Dorsoduro.  The Conad is in Dorosduro.  And now, one of my favorite hotels is in Dorsoduro.  If you’re looking for a fantastic stay IN Venice that won’t break the bank but won’t compromise quality, Palazzo Veneziano is a great option.

Venice Travel Tips

Sustainable Travel in Venice

Venice is at risk of becoming a living museum.  The demand for AirBnB is pricing locals out of the market.  Cruise ships drop thousands of passengers a day on Venice.  Many won’t spend a dime in Venice.  This isn’t sustainable.  Venice is one of the most incredible places I’ve ever been in my life.  I’ve felt that way since the first time I visited in 2004.  If you stay in Venice and experience it during off-peak hours you’ll see how genius the Venetians were.  They’ve built an entire way of life that can be accessed on canals.  

Today they are fighting to preserve parts of that, but mass tourism is making it unsustainable.  You can be a part of the solution by staying in Venice at a hotel.  The city tax on hotels helps sustain the upkeep of a city that is very expensive to maintain.  It also prevents short-term rentals from forcing young families out of the rental market.

Book licensed guides for your tours in Venice. Listen carefully.  You will learn so much about the challenges that Venetians are facing, and maybe you’ll be encouraged to come back again and again to support local artisans in preserving the beautiful pieces of Venice that still exist.

Why You Need to Stay in Venice

Stay in Venice. Anyone who tells you staying in Mestre or the mainland is the same as staying in Venice is lying.  It’s not the same at all.  Palazzo Veneziano is a great place to stay if you’re looking to stay IN Venice Venice but not in the middle of the crowds of San Marco and Rialto.  I’ve never experienced crowds in Dorsoduro.

Palazzo Veneziano  is a great way to miss the crowds and experience the magic of Venice.  My favorite memories of Venice are the times when we’ve watched the city wake up and when we’ve danced under the stars in San Marco.  (Yes, you can see the stars in Venice!)  Once the day trippers and cruise crowds leave, Venice becomes a completely different place and that’s the Venice you want to experience.  

It’s not something you can experience if you don’t stay IN Venice.

Come to Venice and stay for (at least) a night.  You’ll be back.

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