Best area to stay in Venice?

Brenda - you'll get varying opinions on this. Many people like to stay close to the action and the main attractions of Piazza San Marco. Others prefer a more quiet environment in one of Venice's backwaters.

Many folks like the area around the train station. We have never stayed there, but have been in San Polo, Castello, Dorsoduro and San Marco. Remember that the city is actually fairly small and reasonably easy to get around in. Although walking a lot will be the norm.

Another thing to remember is that Piazza San Marco is just one spot in a much larger sestiere. Use a map to actually see where the hotel is. We liked staying wherever we have been and each sestiere has a slightly different feel to it.

I personally like Dorsodoro a lot, easy walk to San Marco.

Thank you for your answers. I guess my question is: Is the Cannaregio Sestiere area nice? I know it is a matter of opinion...but has anyone stayed in this area? Also, is it that convenient to be very close to the train station? Does anyone have any thoughts for 2 1/2 days? Thanks!

We stayed near the Rialto Bridge and actually walked from the train station. We found Venice to be pretty walkable to the major sites, and definitely from our hotel. Between walking and the vaparetto, you can get everywhere pretty easily, so it's just a matter of what neighborhood appeals to you. The Rialto was a fun district.

No real benefit to staying near the train station. More people coming and going there than doing anything else. And if you grab a cheap vaporetto ride from the station to the area of your hotel, it's also a wonderful, scenic way to arrive in Venice (and historically speaking, where the train station is was once the city's back door, with the front door where the Canale Grande meets the lagoon near St. Mark's). A water-based city; why not catch a boat upon arrival to your hotel? (: By the way, highly recommend Locanda al Leon, just past St. Mark's. Only a three block walk from the San Zaccaria vaporetto stop.

Had a terrific stay in May at Ca' Centopietre in Dorsoduro (check reviews on tripadvisor). I much preferred this area to San Marco where I stayed in past. It is still quite an easy walk to Piazza San Marco and close to Accademia vaporetto stop.

I stayed near the train station and loved it. It all depends on you.

Personally I'd stay in Dorsodoro. I stayed there last year and found it really central to everything. I don't know the area around the train station but with a relative short time in Venice I think you would find Dorsodoro more convenient. I certainly preferred it to San Marco.

Hi Brenda,

I really enjoyed staying in the Cannaregio section of Venice. I have been to Venice several times and have always stayed in the same area, same hotel. We stayed at Hotel Arcadia, about a 10 minute walk from the train station. There are nice restaurants around there and there is a wonderful fruit stand just outside the hotel.

I echo Laura's experience at Ca Centopiedre in Dursoduro. We just left there yesterday after 3 days - now we're on to Florence! Carlo at Centopiedre was so helpful and friendly, and the location was perfect - close to San Marco square, Accademia and Rialto. Had dinner one night at La Lucca, recommended by Carlo. Fantastic location right on a small canel and fabulous food. Venice is magical!

From my limited experience, I would say "it depends on how much luggage you have". When I went a few weeks ago, we left our luggage in Verona where were "based" for that time and took an overnight bag to Venice. The vaporretti are VERY crowded and if you have a lot of luggage, it will be difficult to get on and off as quickly as you will need to. Private water taxis are VERY expensive: one of my patients just came back from there and he and his wife had a couple very heavy bags with them. They hired a water taxi and stayed right next to San Marcos. ONE WAY, the bill was $248!!! So they spent $500 just on the water taxi alone. Sure, the guy took their bags to and from the hotel for them; but $500!! Wow.
We stayed at the Pensione Guerrato at the Rialto Market. It was very nice, clean, good breakfast, hot shower with good water pressure, but also up a flight of stairs. Which is another thing to watch for at all hotels there: if you have luggage, find out if they have an elevator ("ascensore" [ah-shen-SOR-eh]) or not.
Venice was really neat and I wish we had more time there. The Bridge of Sighs looks very different right now because the buildings around it are being worked on and there is a huge mural covering the buildings on either side, and a mural above and below the bridge. Have fun!

I want to thank everyone who responded to my questions. Your answers gave me the information I was looking for. I will be making our reservation this afternoon and feel very confident now. It is wonderful to get all of this help. Thank you again! Brenda