The Best Airbnbs and Vacation Rentals in Venice, Italy
With winding passageways, peeling mansion facades and ornate bridges reflected in rippling canals, Venice is the city of hopeless romantics – from Casanova and Vivaldi to George Clooney, who got married here in 2014. Its historic restaurants and food markets, grand waterside villas and serene gondola rides will never go out of style – and to make sure you’re right in the mix, book up one of these superb rental apartments and Airbnbs in Venice.
Venice Lovely Apartment
Apartment
Tree trunk-sized wooden beams add plenty of character to this bijou, whitewashed attic holiday apartment in Venice, with a slanting mini-kitchen and small skylights that add to the feel of an artist’s garret. Sleeping four across a double and a pull-out sofa bed, it works for families, too – and being in the central Castello sestiere (neighbourhood) means key sights such as St Mark’s Square and the Bridge of Sighs are a 10-minute walk away.
Venice Skyline View Studio Apartment
Apartment
Right on the waterfront in Cannaregio, this light, bright one-bed holiday rental in Venice is the stuff of interior magazine dreams – geometric shower tiles set against sunflower-yellow walls, blue-painted staircases, distressed wooden pillars and framed vintage maps. Most charming of all is its teeny roof terrace, surrounded on all sides by Venice’s story-book rooftops and pealing bell towers – just try to tear yourself away from an aperitivo up here.
Rugabella Rialto
Apartment
There’s all the colour and charisma of a Murano glass boutique in this group-friendly pad, which sleeps six across two double rooms and a twin. Set close to the Grand Canal, its feature walls have graphic prints of flowers, berries and glassware, while its rustic forest-green shutters open out on a classic Venetian alleyway. Everything’s chic, high-quality and a little bit quirky – the fully stocked kitchen and dining area is a highlight – and it’s central enough that you can set off to the sights on foot.
San Marco Venice Apartment 1
Apartment
Super-central in the San Marco neighbourhood, flanked by the Grand Canal on one side and St Mark’s Square on the other, this vacation apartment in Venice sleeps up to 10 – group trips and family reunions, take note. Original wood-beamed ceilings and thick embroidered rugs add a feeling of understated luxury, as do Egyptian cotton sheets and the services of a front desk and porter to assist with luggage, water taxis and anything else you need.
DolceVita Apartments N. 241
Apartment
This high-ceilinged, two-bedroom holiday apartment in the Castello district of Venice is a delightful mix of palatial and homey. Think brass bedsteads, frilly armchairs and paintings of saints alongside vintage signs and utensils dangling from wooden hooks – all brought together in a fabulous peach-painted terrace, where you can sit out under the pergola until late, surrounded by the quaint windows and architectural flourishes of old Venice.
City Apartments – Zoia
Apartment
A little al fresco dining area above the rooftops is the cherry on top of this smart little three-bed Airbnb in Venice, sleeping up to seven. Just off St Mark’s Square, it’s surrounded by the postcard-worthy tiled rooftops and spires of the city, and, while the decor may be a little more 1800s than 18-30s, it’ll suit fans of a traditional aesthetic. A kitchen and comfy living area make it one to settle into for more than a weekend.
Venice Grand Canal Style Apartment
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Set in San Polo, one of Venice’s oldest neighbourhoods and home to the Rialto Bridge, this trio of modern two-bed apartments is wrapped in history. With snug sofas, striking wall murals and kitchenettes with dining tables for self-caterers, the vibe is more space-efficient than super-luxe. The canalfront exterior of the building is far more prepossessing, and the picturesque streets all around are exactly what you come to Venice for.
DolceVita Apartments N. 358
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A theme of carnival colour parades throughout this bijou Venetian flat in the Castello neighbourhood, thanks to a primary-hued chandelier, scarlet sofa and colour-pop glassware in the kitchen. It’s sought after for its tiny, rooftop-level balcony directly facing a scenic canal, but just as cherished are its solid wood dining table, stylish breakfast bar, two classically styled queen bedrooms and carefully curated antique furniture.
Rialto Bridge Suite
Apartment
This pocket-sized vacation apartment in Venice is housed on the third floor of an 18th-century building, so you’re ticking off the historic box from the get-go. Inside, the flat has been thoroughly modernised with bright, wooden decor, and it’s also located in a prime position just minutes from the Rialto Bridge. The owner even offers private tours of the Venetian islands on the family boat during the summer months. And if you need any more convincing, it comes at a pretty decent price, too.
Wake up on the Grand Canal
Apartment
If you truly want to stay in the heart of Venice, it doesn’t get more central than this little holiday rental apartment situated right on the Grand Canal in Venice’s most prestigious district, San Marco. Casa Zucchi is within easy reach of all the museums and famous sites that Venice has to offer, plus the best canal-side restaurants. Regularly reviewed as having one of the best views in Venice, it doesn’t come cheaply, but if you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime Airbnb experience, this certainly won’t disappoint.
Rialto Bridge Penthouse with Terraces
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Less than a five-minute walk from the Rialto Bridge, the oldest of the bridges across the canal, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more convenient base in Venice than Rialto Bridge Penthouse. This glamorous apartment, which houses five guests over three bedrooms, sits within a customary Venetian building, with rustic whitewashed beams, brightly coloured walls and Asian antiques. Elsewhere, the two terraces with city views are fantastic spots in which to enjoy an Aperol Spritz.
Sheree Hooker and Rosie Benson contributed additional reporting to this article.