Updated: December 12, 2025 • By Santorini Dave
Our Favorite Hotels in Venice
• 5-star: Gritti Palace
• 4-star: Santa Croce Boutique
• 3-star: La Residenza
• For families: Bisanzio
• Near train station: Venice Times
- The Stroller Warning (Bridges & Crowds): Venice is a pedestrian city, but it is not stroller-friendly. There are over 400 bridges, and almost all of them have steps. If you are traveling with a baby or toddler, a baby carrier is infinitely better than a stroller. If you must bring a stroller, bring a lightweight, collapsible umbrella stroller that you can easily carry over bridges. (Note: The area along the waterfront in Castello and the Zattere in Dorsoduro are the few long stretches with fewer bridges).
- Best Neighborhoods for Families: The best areas in Venice for families balance quiet with accessibility. Castello is my top pick; it borders the main sights but has breathing room, wider streets, and the Giardini Pubblici (a huge public park/playground), which is rare in Venice. Cannaregio is also excellent; it feels local, has plenty of gelato shops, and is walkable to the train station without needing a boat. Giudecca is a peaceful island option with great views, but remember: you must take a vaporetto (water bus) every time you want to see the main sights.
- Transport: The “Water Taxi” Splurge: Arriving in Venice with kids and luggage can be stressful. The public water bus (Vaporetto) is crowded and often requires a walk from the nearest stop to your hotel (over bridges). If your budget allows, booking a private water taxi from the airport or train station directly to your hotel’s private dock is the single best investment for a stress-free start. It costs significantly more (€120+), but it saves hours of hassle.
- Best Tour for Kids: History tours can be boring for children, but this Family-Friendly Sightseeing Tour is exceptional. It is a private walking tour designed specifically for kids with scavenger hunts, stories, and games to keep them engaged while you see the landmarks.
- Family-Friendly Activities: Kids can get “museum fatigue” quickly here. Mix up the sightseeing.
• Mask Making: This Venetian Masks Workshop is a huge hit; kids get to paint and decorate their own authentic Venetian mask to take home.
• Rowing Lessons: Instead of just sitting in a gondola, older kids love Row Venice, where they learn to row a traditional batela boat themselves.
• Gelato Tour: Treat the kids to the best gelato in town at Suso (near Rialto) or Gelateria Nico (Dorsoduro).- Safety Note (Canals & Water): Unlike modern cities, Venice has almost no railings along the canals. If you are traveling with an active toddler or a “runner,” be vigilant. The edges can be slippery and drop straight into deep water. Life jackets are not required or provided for vaporettos.
- Hotel Logistics (Elevators & AC): Venice hotels are often in converted historic palazzos. This means elevators are not guaranteed, and rooms can be small. Always confirm the hotel has a lift if you need one. Also, air conditioning is essential in July and August (mosquitoes can be bad, so you can’t just leave windows open). Check specifically for “Family Rooms” or “Quadruple Rooms” as connecting rooms are rare.
- Vaporetto Fares for Children: Children under 6 travel free on the Vaporetto (water bus). Children aged 6 and up pay the full adult fare for transport passes. The Rolling Venice card (for ages 6–29) offers discounts on museums and attractions, but it no longer provides reduced rates for public transportation.
The 11 Best Hotels for Families in Venice
1. Bisanzio – Castello
Hotel phone: +39 041 520 3100
Conveniently located hotel in the heart of Venice, a short walk from Saint Mark’s Square, set in a delightful 16th century Venetian palazzo with charming loft suites (family of 5) with parquet floors, open beams, living rooms, bunk beds and mini-bars. Superior rooms have private terraces and lovely city views. Also has quaint apartments (sleeps family of 4) a few meters from the hotel with full kitchens (dishwashers and washing machines). Located on a quiet side street off the canal and close to water taxis and many top attractions. (This is where we stayed on our most-recent visit.)2. Pensione Accademia – Dorsoduro
Hotel phone: +39 041 521 0188
Family-run hotel with old-fashioned charm, close to the museums, and a short walk away from the Grand canal, having comfortable Venetian-style family suites and quadruple rooms (family of 4) with garden/canal views, mini-bars, refrigerators, and complimentary buffet breakfasts. Has no elevator. Tranquil location with 2 gardens flanked by canals.3. Ca’di Dio – Castello
Hotel phone: +39 041 098 0238
Elegant but unstuffy Grand Canal 5-star in the quieter Castello sestiere – but convenient to St. Mark’s. Triple and Quadruple suites are perfect for families of 3 or 4; some offer courtyard views, many overlook the canal. Two restaurants and a bar are on site, as well as a lovely garden courtyard and fitness center.4. American Dinesen – Dorsoduro
Hotel phone: +39 041 520 4733
Steps away from the Grand Canal, this centrally located, elegant boutique hotel has tasteful junior suites (up to 4 people) with Venetian decor, coffee/tea facilities, complimentary breakfast, bathtubs, mini-bars, and street views. Within walking distance of St Mark’s square, shops, and attractions.5. Al Redentore Di Venezia – Giudecca
Hotel phone: +39 041 522 9402
Fantastic luxury apartments set in a quiet location on Giudecca island, a short water bus ride from Venice, with immaculate, spacious 2-bedroom apartments (family of 6 or 7) with modern and traditional touches, designer furniture, exposed beams, parquet floors, sofa beds, fully equipped kitchenettes (stoves, fridges, dishwashers, ovens, washing machines) and canal views. Area has many supermarkets and restaurants.6. Baglioni Hotel Luna – San Marco
Hotel phone: +39 041 528 9840
Beautiful and traditional 5-star just off Piazza San Marco. Family suites here sleep 4; one with sweeping lagoon views and one boasting a panoramic rooftop terrace. Original frescoes and elegant furnishings abound. A close-by vaporetto stop ensures easy access around town – or use private transport up to the hotel’s private dock.7. Olimpia – Santa Croce
Hotel phone: +39 041 711041
Well-located close to the train station and the Piazzale Roma, this pretty and traditional hotel overlooking a canal, has beautiful quadruple rooms (family of 4) with 18th-century Venetian-style furnishings, sofa beds, mini-bars, coffee/tea facilities (on request). Has a little garden. Also close to the port and cruise terminal. Boutique-vibe, perhaps not for all families, but some will love the atmosphere.8. Splendid Venice – San Marco
Hotel phone: +39 041 520 0755
Quiet boutique hotel within easy walking distance of San Marco square and key sights, with elegant family rooms (group of 4 people) with Nintendo, puzzles, books, mini-bars, and espresso coffee machines. Also has luxurious suites (family of 4) with marble bathrooms, and hydrotherapy bathtubs, and private terraces – some with Venice skyline views. Hotel has a roof terrace and there are plenty of shops and restaurants nearby.9. Palazzo Vitturi – San Marco
Hotel phone: +39 041 241 0856
Exceptional, restored 16-room, historic old palazzo with plenty of atmosphere, having spacious, stunning junior suites (family of 5) with partially frescoed walls/ceilings, high ceilings, complimentary breakfast, coffee/tea facilities, and mini-bars. Has no elevator. Minutes away from St Mark’s Square.10. Saturnia & International – San Marco
Hotel phone: +39 041 520 8377
Top-notch family-run hotel, a short walk away from St Mark’s square, museums, and galleries with soundproofed, split-level quadruple rooms (for up to 4) with complimentary breakfast, parquet floors, and mini-bars. Has a restaurant, and a terrace-solarium with lovely city views. Close to major sights and water taxis.11. Nani Mocenigo Palace – Dorsoduro
Hotel phone: +39 041 5227589
This traditionally-designed Venetian palazzo offers a variety of accommodations, including spacious family suites and apartments that can accommodate up to 5 people. The ground-floor bar/cafe provides a peaceful garden courtyard seating area. Conveniently located in quieter Dorsoduro near waterbus stops and the Squero di San Travaso gondola service yard.
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