The grand hotels of Venice: the back story

About The grand hotels of Venice: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Venice Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Venice’s grand hotels are palaces first. On the Grand Canal, the Gritti Palace looks across to the Salute, the St. Regis faces the Giudecca from the mouth of the canal, and Aman Venice fills Palazzo Papadopoli in San Polo. Along the Riva degli Schiavoni, beside the Doge’s Palace, stand the Danieli, reopened in 2026 as a Four Seasons hotel, the Metropole and the Londra Palace. In Cannaregio, Orient Express Venezia has opened in Palazzo Donà Giovannelli. Out in the lagoon are the Hotel Cipriani on the Giudecca, the JW Marriott on its own island, the Excelsior on the Lido and the Locanda Cipriani on Torcello.

On the Grand Canal

The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection hotel, stands on Campo Santa Maria del Giglio, with Bar Longhi and the 250 m² rooftop terrace of its Redentore Suite. The St. Regis Venice, at San Marco 2159, has the Arts Bar and Gio’s, named after the island of San Giorgio across the water. Aman Venice is set in Palazzo Papadopoli, which Aman describes as one of the city’s eight monumental palazzos on the Grand Canal, with private gardens, rare in Venice. Palazzo Venart in Santa Croce is home to Glam, which holds Two MICHELIN Stars in the 2026 guide.

The Riva degli Schiavoni

The Danieli, now Danieli, Venezia, A Four Seasons Hotel, spreads across three historic palaces beside the Doge’s Palace, with the Terrazza Danieli and Bar Dandolo. Along the same waterfront are the Hotel Metropole and the Londra Palace.

You don’t need a room to enjoy them: book a drink at Bar Longhi in the Gritti or the Arts Bar at the St. Regis.

Cannaregio

Orient Express Venezia occupies the 15th-century Palazzo Donà Giovannelli on the Strada Nova, and Ca’ Bonfadini, home of the Dama restaurant, looks onto the Cannaregio canal.

Island hotels

The Hotel Cipriani on the Giudecca, with Oro (One MICHELIN Star), is closed until 1 June 2027. The JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa has the Isola delle Rose to itself, the Hotel Excelsior is the Lido’s great beach hotel, and the Locanda Cipriani on Torcello keeps a handful of rooms beside the cathedral.

Our advice: for a first visit, stay near San Marco or on the Grand Canal; come back for the islands.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The grand hotels of Venice: the back story before you go.