Have you ever dreamed of waking up in Venice, strolling over to your window and seeing the Grand Canal beneath you bathed in golden light? Me too! Problem was, I thought my dream would never come true. After all, hotels on the Grand Canal can cost over €1,000 per night! Here’s how we found the best budget hotel on the Grand Canal for a tiny fraction of that price, without being sponsored by the accommodation.
Hotel Foscari Palace: Your Grand Canal Suite on a Budget
Our journey started with a lot of research. Venice is known as a city of romance, with honeymooners often willing to pay the mega bucks that hotels on the Grand Canal are asking for. Finding a budget hotel on the Grand Canal to fulfil our dream took some digging, but we were so happy with the result:
Hotel Name: Hotel Foscari Palace
Suite Name: Grand Suite Foscari Canal View
Floor Area: 50m²
Price: €140-€400/night
We paid €165.60/night for a mid-week stay in August 2020 (total price for two people). Prices are seasonal and estimated. Avoid weekends if you can for the best rates.
To have the same experience as we did (details below), select ‘Suite with Canal View’ and message the hotel to request the ‘Grand Suite Foscari Canal View’ specifically. You may need to book quite far in advance to secure the room, or very last minute to benefit from someone else’s cancellation.
The Best Features of Our Grand Canal Suite
The Size
Our Grand Canal suite was a whopping 50m². The main room was the bedroom, with ornate detailing, high ceilings and a massive bed. The second room was what I affectionately called the ‘sitting room’, with chairs, a couch, a television and a full set of windows opening out onto the Grand Canal.
The Views
Speaking of the Grand Canal, check out this view! We loved seeing the Grand Canal from our room at different times of the day. There was the hustle and bustle of the midday traffic, the soft light at dusk and the vibrant golden light in the morning.
The Rooftop Terrace
This was a bit of a hidden gem. We’d read about the rooftop terrace, but we (and presumably other guests) weren’t told about it when we checked in. In the afternoon we went on a secret spy mission to suss it out. It was beautiful and we had it all to ourselves! We came back later for sunset and there were only a few other guests up there.
Here are some other honourable mentions:
Bath/shower combo with fancy jets and settings
In-room radio system for surround sound music in the suite.
Buffet breakfast with pancakes, savoury items, fruit, pastries and more.
Ground floor bar/cafe area with a decked seating area right at the water.
Just Remember...
For this price you’re never going to get something perfect, there were some cracks in the floor and some of the decor was a bit dated, but if you’re looking for a Grand Canal suite on a budget the Hotel Foscari Palace could be just what you’re looking for.
Getting to Hotel Foscari Palace
Hotel Foscari Palace is located at Cannaregio 4200/1/2 (Campo Santa Sofia) in Venice. Here’s how to get there:
By car: You can park your car in Tronchetto for €20 for 24hrs, or park further away at Punta Sabbioni for €5 for 24hrs. We took the second option and parked at one of the many car parks on Via Fausta. You can pay for multiple days, just display all the tickets on your dashboard.
From the Via Fausta parking lot, walk to the ferry terminal and take the N14 towards San Marco. You can get off at the first stop (Lido S.M.E.) then catch the N1 ferry to Ca' D'Oro, which is the closest ferry terminal to Hotel Foscari Palace. Or if you don’t mind a stroll you can get off at the second stop (San Zaccaria Pietà) and walk 20min to the hotel.
Some information about Punta Sabbioni ferry terminal: This ferry terminal can get a bit crazy, the queues for buying tickets and entering the departure point sort of blur together. You do need to buy a ticket first, which costs €7.50 for an adult, then walk into the departure area. Make sure you’re standing in line even if you’ve just missed a ferry so you don’t risk missing the next one too.
By air: Fly to Venice Marco Polo Airport and take the shuttle to Piazzale Roma. From here catch the N1 ferry towards San Marco and get off at Ca’ d’Oro.
By train: Catch a train to the Santa Lucia Station then either walk directly to Hotel Foscari Palace or catch the N1 ferry to Ca’ d’Oro.
Other Budget Hotel Suites with Grand Canal Views
If the Hotel Foscari Palace doesn’t take your fancy or it’s not available, here are some other options you could try. Remember that the prices below are seasonal and estimated, and you should avoid weekends for the best rates. Make sure you confirm with your chosen accommodation that your room will have Grand Canal views.
Pesaro Palace
Suite Name: Suite
Floor Area: 40m²
Price: €190-€300/night
Hotel Antiche Figure
Suite Name: Junior Suite with Grand Canal View
Floor Area: 27m²
Price: €200-€500/night
Hotel Santa Chiara
Suite Name: Suite with Grand Canal View
Floor Area: 35m²
Price: €200- €400/night
Bonus Option: Airbnb Apartment on the Grand Canal
Casa Zucchi Appartamento sul Canal Grande
This Airbnb has two separate double bedrooms and can sleep up to four people.
Price: €250- €400/night
Enjoy your stay in luxury!
Hilary
has been a guest blogger for Travels of a Bookpacker since September 2020. You can find her over on Instagram @hils.thrills
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