Hotels in San Marco

San Marco is considered the heart of the beautiful city of Venice. It’s the home of the famous Piazza San Marco, the grand square in front of the stunning St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. This district features rows of canals and gondolas, and impressive, Romanesque structures; complete with dreamy vistas that spring to everyone’s minds when they think of this romantic city. Encircled by Venice’s picturesque Grand Canal, you can also explore the rest of the marvelous city easily from this central point.

Hotels in San Marco

There’s an excellent range of luxury and more modest hotels in San Marco, both in the center of the district and dotted along the banks of the Grand Canal. The well-loved Luna Hotel Baglioni, right by the piazza, is a 5-star San Marco hotel, with royally decorated suites and its own canal pier for easy access to the Grand Canal. NH Collection Venezia Palazzo Barocci is another popular luxury option on the northern banks. Here, you can even enjoy a delicious cocktail at the American bar. But the 3-star Hotel Mercurio Venezia offers fantastic hotel rates, and is just a few steps away from the central square.

Things to see in San Marco

A trip to Piazza San Marco is a must for anyone visiting Venice. From this expansive square, you have an unmatched view of St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, some of Europe’s most iconic architecture. In addition, gaze in wonder at the calm, clear waters of the Grand Canal from the smaller piazzetta to the south. Hitch a ride on a vaporetto water taxi to see more of the wonderful city. These boats run regularly between several stops along the Grand Canal. For a more traditional tour of the waterways, take a ride in a Venetian gondola. Returning to the piazza, step inside the Basilica and discover its high ceilings and arches, adorned with medieval religious art and ground-gold mosaics. The neighboring Doge’s Palace is another proud symbol of the city’s wealth and power. Built in a Venetian Gothic style, this museum displays a wide collection of Renaissance art from the likes of Titian and Bellini.

Good for couples

Venice is well known for being a city of love and romance; visit San Marco together for that perfect romantic vacation. Rent an en-suite room at one of the many luxury San Marco hotels and enjoy unrivalled views of the city’s enthralling architecture and sweeping Grand Canal. There are many authentic Venetian restaurants and bars in the area for evening dining and entertainment. Families can grab a luxury hotel in San Marco for a luxury getaway fit for royalty. But solo travelers with lower budgets wanting to experience the district’s history and culture can also find amazing San Marco hotel deals.

How to get to San Marco

From Marco Polo di Venezia Airport on the Italian mainland, it’s about a 20-minute cab ride to Venice along highway SS14 and bridge SS11. There are also several flights that go to Treviso Airport further north. From here, it takes about 30 minutes by taxi to get to the district. Once in San Marco, there are several easy ways to get around. While the district itself is very easy to walk through, with the entirety of Venice being a no-car zone, consider taking a vaporetto bus across the Grand Canal to visit several key points across the city.