Venice had always been a dream destination for me, but I’ll admit I expected it to be more expensive than it was. Part of that was my own assumption, and part of it was everything I came across online while researching, which was mostly about how crowded it is. The internet has a lot of opinions about Venice, but I am so glad I took those warnings with a grain of salt, as it ended up being one of my favorite stops on this latest Italy trip.
The flight into Venice turned out to be a really good value, so we took a look, and the hotel prices surprised us (in a good way!). It happened to land right over our anniversary, so Venice became our anniversary stop.
The time of year we went I think made the biggest difference to our enjoyment of the city! Off-season and shoulder season is where it’s at. We went at the end of November and it was perfect. It drizzled a little, but it wasn’t crowded, or flooded, and the hotel deals really suprised me. We stayed at a really nice place, super central, for under $90 a night.
Below are the budget hotels in Venice I’d book, including the one we stayed at. These are all in locations I’d highly recommend. As always, I recommend traveling in shoulder or off-season for the best deals as while some of these prices stay consistent throughout the year, some spike in high season.
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Quick Picks: Best Budget Hotels in Venice
Quick Picks: Best Budget Hotels in Venice
Short on time? Here’s where I’d book.
- Best RomanticCa’ AmadiWhere we stayed for our anniversary. Gorgeous rooms and breakfast area, near Rialto Bridge.
- Best Budget BudgetHotel LeonardoClassic budget hotel, about a 10 minute walk from the train station and 15min from Rialto.
- Best Central LocationBest Holidays VeniceHistoric building a couple of minutes from Rialto Bridge.
- Best Quiet StayHotel dalla MoraQuiet Santa Croce side streets between the train station and the busier part of Venice.
- Best for a Splurge on the Right DatesHotel Ca’ dei ContiBeautiful hotel near San Marco. Great value on select dates and rooms.
- Best for Self-CateringSweet VeniceShared kitchen in a former Venetian family home between Rialto and San Marco.
- Where to Stay in Venice on a Budget: Best Areas
- The Best Budget Hotels in Venice: My Picks!
- What you should expect a Budget Hotel in Venice to Cost
- When to Visit Venice for the Cheapest Hotels
- Should You Stay in Venice or Mestre?
- Tips for Booking Budget Accommodation in Venice
- Everything You’re Wondering About Staying in Venice on a Budget
- Final Thoughts on the Best Budget Hotels in Venice
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- My Go-To Travel Favorites
Where to Stay in Venice on a Budget: Best Areas
If you’re trying to figure out where to stay in Venice, my answer is to stay near Rialto Bridge. We stayed just on the east side of Rialto and it was a fantastic location. We could walk to absolutely everything, including the ferries to Murano and Burano, and it felt really well connected to other neighborhoods, restaurants, and things to do.
On the way to the train station we walked through San Polo and Santa Croce, they looked like nice, quieter neighborhoods, however we really liked the location we stayed and I would stay there again. I also wouldn’t stay any closer to San Marco. The Rialto area was the sweet spot for us.
Keep in mind that we went at the end of November, and the Rialto area wasn’t that crowded at all. That has a lot to do with the time of year, so it would feel busier in peak season.
Venice is split into six districts called sestieri, and where you stay changes both the price and the feel of your trip. The island is small enough to walk almost anywhere, but a few areas are friendlier on a budget than others. Here’s how the neighborhoods behind the hotels on this list compare.
Cannaregio: Best for Budget Stays and a Local Feel
Cannaregio is in the northern part of the city and is home to the historic Jewish Ghetto. It’s one of the most budget-friendly areas, with a more local feel than the central districts. Ca’ Amadi sits at the Rialto end, so it’s close to the main sights, while Hotel Leonardo is closer to the middle of the neighborhood.
Santa Croce: Best for Easy Arrivals
Santa Croce is right by Santa Lucia train station and Piazzale Roma, which makes it the easiest area if you’re arriving by train or bus with luggage. It’s practical, budget-friendly, and quieter than the central districts. Hotel dalla Mora is here, about a 20-minute walk from San Marco.
San Polo: Best for Being Near Rialto
San Polo is in the middle of Venice and home to Rialto Bridge, so it’s a great pick if you’re short on time. Best Holidays Venice is just a couple of minutes from the bridge.
Castello: Best for Quieter Streets Near San Marco
Castello is the largest district and feels quieter and more local, but you’re still a short walk from San Marco and Rialto.
San Marco: Best for Sightseeing
San Marco is the heart of Venice and usually the priciest area, and besides going to the square, basilica and Palazzo Ducale it’s the area we spent the least amount of time in, so I really don’t think it’s necessary to sleep there.
The Best Budget Hotels in Venice: My Picks!
Best Holidays Venice – Best for Central Location
This hotel is in a historic building with a great central location near Rialto Bridge, and that location is really the selling point. It’s in San Polo, a couple of minutes on foot from the bridge and about 10 minutes from Piazza San Marco, so you can walk to most of the big sights and still tuck into a quieter side street at the end of the day.
Best for: Couples, first-timers who want to be right in the middle of everything.
Check Prices for Best Holidays Venice →
Hotel dalla Mora – Best for a Quiet Location
This one has a great quiet location between the train station and the more bustling part of Venice. It’s tucked into the side streets of Santa Croce, it has a canal-view terrace and free breakfast.
The walk to San Marco is around 20 minutes. If you’re arriving by train or bus and want an easy first and last day, this is a good base.
Best for: Travelers arriving by train or bus, anyone who wants to come home to peace and quiet.
Check Prices for Hotel dalla Mora →
Ca’ Amadi – Best Budget Splurge
For a budget-splurge stay in the shoulder season, this is the place. We stayed in Venice over our anniversary and chose to stay here. The rooms and the breakfast area are absolutely gorgeous, and even the standard room we stayed in was beautiful. We paid just €82.00 per night in November. The location was perfect too, a short walk from Rialto Bridge on a quiet courtyard.
Best for: Couples, anniversaries and special occasions on a budget.
Hotel Leonardo – The Budget Budget Pick
Hotel Leonardo is the budget budget pick on this list. It’s a no-frills budget hotel for when you want to keep costs as low as possible and you’re planning to be out exploring most of the day anyway. You’re about a 10-minute walk from Santa Lucia station.
One thing to know: check-in takes place at a different address close by. Read your confirmation before you show up.
Best for: Budget travelers and short stays who plan to spend their days out exploring.
Check Prices for Hotel Leonardo →
Hotel Ca’ dei Conti – Beautiful Hotel, Great Value on the Right Dates
This is a beautiful hotel where select dates and rooms are great value, which is why it makes the list even though it’s a 4-star. I just needed you to know about it incase your dates match up! It’s an 18th-century Venetian residence in Castello, about a five-minute walk from Piazza San Marco, with a terrace and breakfast served each morning.
Prices swing a lot by season. You’re looking at average nightly rate around €90 in January versus roughly €287 in May, so if your dates are flexible, this is where that flexibility really pays off if you want something fancy on a. budget.
Best for: Couples who want a beautiful hotel near San Marco and are traveling in off season.
This is a 4-star hotel, so it’s only a budget pick when you catch it at the right price.
Check Prices for Hotel Ca’ dei Conti →
Ca’ Salvador – Best for Walking to San Marco
Ca’ Salvador is a bed and breakfast near Rialto Bridge. There’s a mix of room types, from doubles with a private bathroom to quads for groups and singles with a shared bathroom.
Best for: Groups and travelers who want to walk to the main sights.
Check Prices for Ca’ Salvador →
Golden Venezia Guest Rooms
This guest house is in a quieter area, north of Rialto Bridge. We spent some time in this area and it would be a nice spot to stay on the outskirts of the busiest part of Venice. It’s close to the water bus stop for the airport and the other islands, about a 4 minute walk.
Best for: Travelers who want a quieter base with easy access to the bus boats for the airport and the islands.
Check Prices for Golden Venezia Guest Rooms →
Sweet Venice – Best for Self-Catering
Sweet Venice is a former Venetian family home turned guesthouse. There is a shared kitchen for guests to use.
Best for: Budget travelers or people who want a kitchen.
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What you should expect a Budget Hotel in Venice to Cost
I’d argue that your dates matter more than which hotel you pick. I paid €82 a night at Ca’ Amadi in November, but the same room could cost upwards of $250+ in May. Although some of the more basic budget hotels on this list stay more even year round. You can usually find options starting at $55 per night in low season or $90 per night in high season.
When to Visit Venice for the Cheapest Hotels
Off-season and shoulder season is where the deals are. We went at the end of November and it was perfect. Winter months outside of Christmas and New Year’s generally have the lowest hotel prices and the smallest crowds. You can still find some deals through early May but June and July are when prices really rise.
One heads up if you’re traveling in the cooler months: Venice’s high water, called acqua alta, is most likely from about October through January, and November is when it tends to peak. It’s usually minor, a bit of water in the lowest areas. We did not experience it at all during the four days we were in Venice in November.
Should You Stay in Venice or Mestre?
When you’re comparing hotel prices, you’ve probably seen Mestre come up. It’s the mainland city across the lagoon, and hotels there can be cheaper, with a train into Venice that takes around 10 to 15 minutes.
I wouldn’t stay there. If you’re going to Venice, you’re going for Venice. Staying on the mainland means taking the train in and then making your way to the part of Venice that actually feels like Venice, and that’s a bit of a trek. Venice is fantastic in the evenings and at night, when you can walk right out of your hotel onto the canals, and you miss out on that from the mainland.
With affordable hotels right on the island, I don’t see the worth in the savings.
Tips for Booking Budget Accommodation in Venice
Travel in shoulder or off-season. This is the biggest money saver. I paid €82 per night at Ca’ Amadi in November, and a hotel like this can cost roughly three times as much in June as it does in January.
Check the room type for shared bathrooms. Several of the cheapest options here (dalla Mora, Best Holidays Venice, Ca’ Salvador, Sweet Venice) offer rooms with a shared bathroom. They cost less, but make sure the room you book is the one you actually want.
Read your check-in instructions. Smaller guesthouses often have no 24-hour front desk. Hotel Leonardo and Sweet Venice check you in at a different address from the rooms, and places like Ca’ Amadi ask for your arrival time in advance. Save the directions to your check in before you arrive, because Venice’s streets can be a bit narrow and winding.
Stay near Rialto if you can. The Rialto area was the sweet spot for us: walkable to almost everything and well connected to other neighborhoods. If you’d rather be by the train station, Santa Croce and Cannaregio (Hotel dalla Mora, Hotel Leonardo) are quieter.
Pack light. Venice is car free and has a lot of bridges with steps, so you’ll be carrying your own bags. A few of the places on this list also have stairs only to the upper floors, so a small suitcase or backpack makes arrival day much easier.
Everything You’re Wondering About Staying in Venice on a Budget
What is the best area to stay in Venice?
For us it was the Rialto area. We stayed just on the east side of the bridge, and everything was within walking distance, including the boat bus from the airport as well as to Murano and Burano. It felt really well connected to other neighborhoods, restaurants, and things to do. We walked through San Polo and Santa Croce on the way to the train station and I was glad we hadn’t stayed there instead. It also wasn’t crowded when we were there, and I wouldn’t stay any closer to San Marco, there’s no need.
What is the best budget hotel in Venice?
Hotel Leonardo and Best Holidays Venice are going to be your best bets for your standard budget hotel.
Is Venice expensive?
It can be, especially in peak season, but I found it surprisingly affordable in November. I expected it to cost a lot, and we ended up staying somewhere really nice and super central for under $90 a night. Hotels are usually the biggest cost of a trip, which is why booking a budget hotel in shoulder season makes such a difference.
When is the cheapest time to visit Venice?
Winter months outside of Christmas and New Year’s generally have the lowest hotel prices and the smallest crowds. We went at the end of November and the hotel deals were fantastic. Summer is when prices climb.
Is November a good time to visit Venice?
For us, yes. It was rainy at times, but Venice had so much atmosphere, it wasn’t crowded, and the hotel deals were fantastic. The one thing to know is that acqua alta, Venice’s high water, is most likely from about October through January. Although we didn’t experience it at all our four days in Venice.
Is Venice crowded in the off-season?
It really wasn’t when we went, especially in the evening. Peak summer is a very different story, so plan on lots of crowds then.
Is it worth staying overnight in Venice?
Yes. Venice is fantastic in the evenings and at night, and walking right out of your hotel onto the canals is a big part of it. Staying overnight also means you skip the day-tripper access fee in peak season.
Should I stay in Venice or Mestre?
I’d stay in Venice. Hotels in Mestre can be cheaper, but you’d be taking the train in and out, and then it’s a bit of a trek to the part of Venice that actually feels like Venice. You’d also miss walking right out of your hotel onto the canals in the evenings. With affordable hotels right on the island, I don’t see the worth in the savings.
Can you walk everywhere in Venice?
Pretty much. The only time we got a boat taxi was coming in from the airport and to the surroundings islands. Near Rialto we walked to absolutely everything, and the boat busses to Murano and Burano as well as the airport were within walking distance too. Venice is car free, so you’ll be getting around on foot or by water, depending on where you stay.
Final Thoughts on the Best Budget Hotels in Venice
Venice feels like it would be a more expensive destination, but I really don’t think it has to be. Pick a hotel in a good location, travel outside the summer rush, and you can stay in a historic building in the heart of the city for a great price.
Once your stay is sorted, make sure to save money on food too. I’ve put together my favorite cicchetti bars, takeaway pasta shops, and budget-friendly restaurants in Cheap Eats Venice. Heading south afterward? Here are my picks for Cheap Eats Florence.
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💰 Looking to make the most of your budget in Italy? Check out my cheap eats series:
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