Cheap hotels in Venice: where to stay on a budget
Venice has a reputation for being unaffordable, and the centre earns it. But the island has quiet corners where prices are ordinary, and the choice between staying on the islands and staying in Mestre is worth thinking about properly rather than by reflex. This guide covers both.
By The Hotella editors · Updated
The cheapest hotels on the islands are in Cannaregio near the station, eastern Castello and the Lido; Mestre on the mainland is cheaper still but adds a train ride each way. Travel midweek and outside Carnival, Easter and the Biennale, and compare the total including the tourist tax charged at the hotel.
Where the value is on the islands
Cannaregio has the widest choice at ordinary prices, and staying near the station means an easy arrival with luggage — a real consideration in a city of bridges.
Eastern Castello and Sant'Elena are the quietest, cheapest parts of central Venice, and the walk into San Marco along the waterfront is one of the good ones.
The Lido is a different proposition: a proper island with roads, buses and a beach, twenty minutes by vaporetto. Prices are lower than the historic centre and it works well in summer.
Islands or Mestre?
Mestre saves money and costs atmosphere. Venice changes completely after the day visitors leave, and if you sleep on the mainland you rarely see it. For two nights on a tight budget it is a fair trade; for a longer stay, a small hotel in Cannaregio usually wins.
If you do choose Mestre, book near the station rather than out along the main roads, and check the last train time before planning a late dinner in Venice.
When Venice is cheap
November to February, excluding Christmas, New Year and Carnival, is the low season, and the city is beautiful in the fog. Midweek nights are cheaper year-round.
The live price box on this page shows a current total for real dates in Venice, fetched when the page loads.
Step by step
1. Look at Cannaregio first
The district running from the station along the northern edge has the island's best supply of ordinary, reasonably priced hotels, and the Fondamenta della Misericordia is one of the nicest places in Venice to eat in the evening.
2. Consider eastern Castello
Past the Arsenale the city becomes residential: laundry lines, small squares and family-run hotels at a fraction of the San Marco rate, twenty minutes' walk or a short vaporetto from the centre.
3. Decide honestly about Mestre
Mestre is on the mainland and much cheaper, with trains to Venezia Santa Lucia every few minutes taking about ten. It works for a short trip on a tight budget; it takes the evening out of Venice, which is the best part.
4. Add the transport cost
Vaporetto tickets are expensive individually. If you will use the boats daily, price a multi-day pass and include it when comparing an island hotel with a mainland one.
5. Compare the total for the stay
Venice charges a tourist tax per person per night at the property, and rates swing hard by week. Compare the total for your exact dates — the figure this site shows.
6. Avoid the peak weeks
Carnival, Easter, the Biennale openings and the Redentore weekend are the most expensive dates of the year. Moving a week either side changes the total more than any other choice.
Frequently asked questions
- Where are the cheapest hotels in Venice?
- On the islands, Cannaregio near the station, eastern Castello and the Lido are the best value. Mestre on the mainland is cheaper again, about ten minutes away by train.
- Is it worth staying in Mestre instead of Venice?
- It saves money and the train is quick, but you miss the evenings, when Venice is at its best. For a short budget trip it is reasonable; for a longer stay, a modest island hotel is usually worth the difference.
- Which month is cheapest in Venice?
- November to February, apart from Christmas, New Year and Carnival. Those weeks are the most expensive of the year along with Easter and the Biennale openings.
- Do Venice hotels charge a tourist tax?
- Yes, a tax per person per night is charged at the property and varies by season and hotel category. It is not usually included in the online rate.
- How do I reach a cheap Venice hotel with luggage?
- Stay near a vaporetto stop or near the station and check how many bridges lie between. There are no cars and bridges have steps, so the last three hundred metres matter more than in other cities.