What Are the Best Hostels in Venice, Italy?

It doesn’t get more Venetian than a converted monastery in historic Cannaregio. This sophisticated hostel mixes original medieval architecture with slick modern design and boasts high ceilings and courtyard views. Combo Venezia is an oasis of calm in the midst of the bustling city – just minutes from the convenient Fondamente Nove vaporetto stop. There are single-sex dorms, as well as twin and double rooms for friends or partners travelling together. Flying solo? Grab a coffee and make friends in the comfortable communal area, and there’s an excellent buffet breakfast available for a small additional cost.

If you want somewhere peaceful to retreat after a long day of sightseeing, this Giudecca joint offers basic but cheerful rooms at wallet-friendly prices. The Sunny Terrace Hostel is also very aptly named; Giudecca is just south of the centre of Venice, and you can watch the sunset descend over the city from the roof terrace. Just a 10-minute vaporetto ride from St Mark’s Square, this is a welcome sanctuary from the hustle of the streets. There’s a range of room sizes available, including singles, doubles or four-bed dorms, making it a family-friendly venue.

This charming hostel is just a five-minute stroll over the bridge from Santa Lucia station, and a winding alley or two away from some of the best restaurants in the heart of old Venice. L’Imbarcadero offers simple, crisp and impeccably clean rooms, both dormitory-style and private, in an old house-turned-hostel on the Grand Canal – where you can enjoy one of the most sought-after views in the city. If the local restaurants don’t tempt you, there’s a large in-house kitchen for guest use, and you’re just around the corner from a mini-market and the centuries-old Mercato di Rialto food market, selling the best of Venetian fresh produce.

This clean, simple hostel in a stunning old church is a no-frills but good-value option, based in Cannaregio on the north side of Venice. The Instagrammable churchyard setting is serene and quiet, and it’s just a 10-minute walk from the most famous historic sights of the city, such as the Rialto Bridge. The four-, six- and seven-bed dorms are available as female-only or mixed, and private rooms are also an option. The decor is a little old-fashioned, but what it lacks in modernity it makes up for in location, price and red-brick splendour. The friendly staff are always happy to point you in the right direction of the best things to do and keep the communal kitchen stocked with free pasta for you to enjoy in the courtyard.

Brought to Venice by the international hostel chain Generator, this large, contemporary venue is so luxurious you’ll barely believe the price. Based on the island of Giudecca, among artists’ studios and celebrity houses – keep your eyes peeled for Madonna and Elton John – and just a quick vaporetto away from St Mark’s Square, this multi-award-winning hostel has cool modern interiors full of statement furniture and eye-catching art, with everything from small to large female and mixed dorms, as well as private rooms for couples or groups. It’s also a sociable spot, with great common rooms and an on-site bar that’ll keep you busy with karaoke and dance parties at the weekends.

This modern, spacious hostel, designed by the European AO chain, sits on the mainland, a few minutes away from Mestre train station. The dorms and private rooms, which come in all sizes to meet the most modest of budgets, are all ensuite and kept spotlessly clean. Cool, monochrome communal areas include a bar, where you can enjoy a breakfast buffet or take advantage of the packed lunch service. Family-friendly and just a 10 minutes bus ride to the Grand Canal, this hostel can’t be beaten for price and convenience.

If Venice is on your bucket list, but you’d rather spend your cash on culture rather than accommodation, all while making some new mates in the process, the Academy Hostel has mixed and female-only dormitories, and it covers the basics – but don’t expect the luxuries that come as standard with a hotel stay: for example, sheets cost extra.