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Luxury Hotels in Venice: 13 Palazzos and Island Resorts Ranked by MICHELIN Keys and Forbes Stars

The best luxury hotels in Venice, ranked by MICHELIN Keys and Forbes Travel Guide 2026 stars, with rooms, areas, water taxi access and private jet airports.

By Wijet Editors

luxury hotels Venice: a Grand Canal palazzo hotel facade with a private water taxi dock at golden hour

At a glance

Venice luxury hotels: the recognition on record

Three MICHELIN Keys
3 hotels
Aman Venice, Hotel Cipriani and Airelles Palladio, per the MICHELIN Guide's Venice hotel article, June 2025
Forbes Five-Star
1 hotel
Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel, is the only Venice Five-Star on Forbes Travel Guide's Venice destination page, which carries the 2026 Star Awards banner
Forbes Four-Star
3 hotels
Aman Venice, The Gritti Palace and The St. Regis Venice, per Forbes Travel Guide, 2026
Two MICHELIN Keys
2 hotels
The Gritti Palace and Nolinski Venezia, per the MICHELIN Guide's Venice article (June 2025) and hotel pages (2026)

The best luxury hotels in Venice by outside recognition are Hotel Cipriani, Aman Venice and Airelles Palladio. Each holds Three MICHELIN Keys, per the Guide’s Venice hotel article of June 2025, and Cipriani is the only Venice hotel with a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating for 2026. Aman Venice and The Gritti Palace are Four-Star.

Those are the luxury hotels Venice travelers shortlist first, and the order below follows the evidence rather than the brochures. None of these hotels publishes a fixed nightly rate, so the cost section explains how to price a stay instead.

How We Picked

We combined three things: the MICHELIN Guide’s Venice hotel list (an article dated June 23, 2025), the Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards 2026 as shown on its Venice destination and hotel pages, and a spread across the areas where visitors actually stay. No Venice hotel appears in The 50 Best Hotels 2026 (formerly The World’s 50 Best Hotels), in either its top 50 or its 51 to 100 list (the50.com, 2026), although six other Italian hotels sit in the top 50, so Venice earns its place here on Keys and Stars.

Room counts and the other details below come from Forbes Travel Guide hotel pages, and where a page does not give a count we leave it out. We take no paid placement.

Keys vs Stars: Two Different Judges

MICHELIN’s Keys reward the whole stay: design, service and personality. Forbes sends anonymous inspectors, and its ratings emphasize service over facilities.

Venice shows how far the two can differ. Aman Venice has Three Keys but four Forbes stars. The Gritti Palace has Two Keys and four stars. Several hotels that Forbes rates “Recommended”, the tier below Four-Star, appear in the MICHELIN list too. Use the Keys for character and the Stars for service polish.

The Best Luxury Hotels in Venice

Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel

Three Keys and Forbes Five-Star for 2026, the only hotel in Venice with both. It sits at the tip of Giudecca island, at Giudecca 10, and has 96 rooms and suites, most with private balconies or terraces, per Forbes Travel Guide. Its 16 rooms and suites in the Palazzo Vendramin annex come with a private butler. Forbes lists a heated saltwater pool and a 24-hour complimentary water shuttle to the city center. The MICHELIN Guide notes that the pool is Olympic-sized, and adds the gardens and the MICHELIN-starred restaurant Oro. Forbes also credits founder Giuseppe Cipriani with inventing the Bellini.

Aman Venice

Three Keys and Forbes Four-Star for 2026. This is Palazzo Papadopoli in San Polo, with 24 rooms in total, per Forbes Travel Guide, which says the palazzo was built by the Coccina family in the mid-16th century. MICHELIN describes it as a 16th-century palazzo directly on the Grand Canal, steps from the Rialto Bridge. Forbes adds a garden of about 2,800 square feet that it calls the only water-facing hotel garden on that stretch of the canal, and says there is no reception desk: check-in happens in your room.

Airelles Palladio, Venezia

Three Keys per the MICHELIN Guide’s June 2025 article, which places it on Giudecca. It is the former Bauer Palladio, and Hotel Designs reported in March 2026 that it was set to reopen as Airelles’ first hotel outside France in April 2026, with 45 rooms and suites. The main building wraps around Santa Maria della Presentazione, a late 16th-century church designed by Andrea Palladio. Hotel Designs lists three pools, gardens of almost a hectare and a 1,700 square meter spa. It is not on Forbes Travel Guide’s 2026 Venice list.

The Gritti Palace, A Luxury Collection Hotel

Two Keys and Forbes Four-Star for 2026. The building dates to 1475, per MICHELIN and Forbes, and became the private residence of Doge Andrea Gritti in 1525. It has 82 rooms, each slightly different, including nine Landmark Grand Canal rooms, and the Hemingway Suite measures 990 square feet, per Forbes. MICHELIN mentions Murano glass chandeliers and the Redentore Suite with a private rooftop terrace. It stands at Campo Santa Maria del Giglio, roughly a thousand feet from St. Mark’s Square, with its own jetty for water taxis.

Nolinski Venezia, Evok Collection

Two Keys, per its MICHELIN Guide hotel page (2026) and the June 2025 Venice article. It has 43 rooms at Calle Larga XXII Marzo 2032 in San Marco, near Teatro La Fenice, in the stately building that once housed Venice’s Chamber of Commerce, per MICHELIN, with high ceilings and rich textiles.

The St. Regis Venice

Forbes Four-Star for 2026. It has 169 guest rooms and suites at San Marco 2159, about a four-minute walk from Piazza San Marco, per Forbes Travel Guide. Forbes calls it the largest waterfront property in Venice and says it reopened after a 2022 renovation with interiors by the London studio Sagrada. A white glass chandelier by Ai Weiwei hangs in the lobby, and there is an electric water limousine. It has no full spa, only Spa Suites for treatments.

Londra Palace Venezia

One Key and Forbes Recommended for 2026. The neoclassical building on Riva degli Schiavoni in Castello has 52 rooms and suites, with lagoon and San Giorgio Maggiore views, per Forbes Travel Guide. Bathrooms are finished in pink Carrara marble, and the hotel offers private gondola rides.

Hotel Metropole Venice

One Key and Forbes Recommended for 2026. It stands at Riva degli Schiavoni 4149 near St. Mark’s Square, in a building that Forbes says was once a convent, an orphanage and a church. The hotel has a private water entrance and the Met Restaurant under Chef Luca Veritti, per Forbes Travel Guide.

Ca’ Sagredo Hotel

Forbes Recommended for 2026. The palazzo sits on the Grand Canal across from the Rialto market, per Forbes Travel Guide, and has a two-flight marble staircase designed by Andrea Tirali in 1734. The Library Suite occupies the original library, and breakfast is served in two frescoed rooms, the Sala del Doge and the Sala del Tiepolo. A gondola ferry stops at the front door.

Sina Centurion Palace

Forbes Recommended for 2026. This neo-Gothic palace in Dorsoduro was built in 1892 and sat empty until 2009, when it was redesigned as a hotel by the Florentine architect Luigi Ciompi, per Forbes Travel Guide. It has a wooden terrace on the Grand Canal and a gondola crossing a few steps away.

Baglioni Hotel Luna

Forbes Recommended for 2026. Forbes describes it as Venice’s oldest hotel, established as a convent in the 12th century, with rococo ceiling frescoes painted by students of Giambattista Tiepolo. It stands near St. Mark’s Square and has a private dock. Breakfast is not automatically included, so ask for a breakfast-inclusive rate.

JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa

Forbes Recommended for 2026. It occupies a private island, Isola delle Rose in the lagoon, with accommodations spread across five areas including La Villa, whose two-bedroom Presidential Suite has a private pool, per Forbes Travel Guide. The resort covers about 40 acres and runs a complimentary shuttle that Forbes times at about 20 minutes to St. Mark’s Square.

San Clemente Palace Venice

Forbes Recommended for 2026. It occupies a 15-acre private island and a former monastery, with a heated pool, a 12th-century church and a complimentary shuttle to San Marco every 30 minutes, per Forbes Travel Guide. The island is not served by public vaporetto, and the hotel is open seasonally, from late March to early November.

HotelAreaMICHELIN KeysForbes 2026RoomsSource
Hotel CiprianiGiudecca3Five-Star96MICHELIN; Forbes
Aman VeniceSan Polo3Four-Star24MICHELIN; Forbes
Airelles PalladioGiudecca3Not rated45MICHELIN; Hotel Designs
The Gritti PalaceSan Marco2Four-Star82MICHELIN; Forbes
Nolinski VeneziaSan Marco2Not rated43MICHELIN
The St. Regis VeniceSan MarcoNot listedFour-Star169Forbes
Londra Palace VeneziaCastello1Recommended52MICHELIN; Forbes
Hotel Metropole VeniceCastello1RecommendedNot publishedMICHELIN; Forbes
Ca’ Sagredo HotelGrand Canal, RialtoNot listedRecommendedNot publishedForbes
Sina Centurion PalaceDorsoduroNot listedRecommendedNot publishedForbes
Baglioni Hotel LunaSan MarcoNot listedRecommendedNot publishedForbes
JW Marriott Venice Resort & SpaIsola delle RoseNot listedRecommendedNot publishedForbes
San Clemente Palace VeniceIsola di San ClementeNot listedRecommendedNot publishedForbes

Verdict: for the strongest case on both lists, choose Hotel Cipriani. For a palazzo on the Grand Canal with the fewest rooms, Aman Venice has 24.

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What a Night Costs

The Forbes Travel Guide pages for Cipriani, Aman, The Gritti Palace and The St. Regis Venice give no nightly amount, and the hotels price by date on their own booking engines. Hotels in this class do not publish a fixed rate.

What moves the price is predictable. Universal Weather’s 2026 Venice guide says parking and hotels tighten during the Architecture Exhibition in May, Carnival in January and February, the spring boat show and the Film Festival in September. A canal-view room in that window costs more than the same room in November. For suite prices around the world, see our guide to the most expensive hotels in the world.

Where to Stay: Areas

Grand Canal and San Marco

The Gritti Palace, Nolinski, The St. Regis and Baglioni Luna are all in the San Marco area, per their Forbes and MICHELIN addresses. It suits first visits: St. Mark’s Square is a short walk, and La Fenice opera house is near the Gritti and Nolinski.

San Polo and Dorsoduro

Aman Venice is in San Polo, close to the Rialto Bridge. Sina Centurion Palace is in Dorsoduro, which Forbes calls Venice’s “Museum Mile”. Ca’ Sagredo faces the Rialto market from the Grand Canal.

Castello and the Waterfront

Londra Palace and Hotel Metropole stand on Riva degli Schiavoni, with lagoon views and St. Mark’s Square within walking distance. Forbes lists Londra Palace at about 50 minutes from Marco Polo airport, so plan the transfer.

Giudecca and the Lagoon Islands

Hotel Cipriani and Airelles Palladio are on Giudecca, across the water from San Marco. JW Marriott on Isola delle Rose and San Clemente Palace on its own island are reached by hotel shuttle boat. Forbes puts JW Marriott at about 22 minutes from the airport and San Clemente at about 1 hour 40 minutes.

Best for Grand Canal Palazzos

Aman Venice, The Gritti Palace and Ca’ Sagredo are the three that Forbes and MICHELIN place on the Grand Canal. Aman and the Gritti are the recognized pair: Three Keys and Two Keys, and four Forbes stars each. Ca’ Sagredo is the one with the 1734 staircase and a gondola ferry at its door.

Best for Pools, Gardens and Quiet

Venice has few hotel pools. Cipriani’s heated saltwater pool and gardens, the three pools Hotel Designs (2026) lists at Airelles Palladio, JW Marriott’s rooftop infinity pool and 40 acres, and San Clemente’s heated pool and 15 acres suit travelers who want space. Aman Venice offers the opposite: a 2,800 square foot canal garden and 24 rooms.

Arriving by Private Jet: Venice Marco Polo and Treviso

Venice Marco Polo (LIPZ) is the business aviation airport for Venice, per Universal Weather’s 2026 Venice destination guide. The guide reports no curfew and no slot requirement, but prior permission is required, and it recommends asking 24 to 48 hours ahead. It lists five general aviation stands and says parking was very hard to get in the 2024 peak season. The general aviation terminal runs normal hours of 0600 to 2200 local, with overtime by request, and non-EU passengers clear police and customs checks there in about 5 to 10 minutes, per the same guide.

A water taxi terminal sits just outside the terminal. Universal says public water taxis can take up to an hour to reach Venice island and recommends a private water taxi arranged through your handler. Forbes lists Marco Polo at about 18 to 22 minutes from Cipriani, Aman, The Gritti Palace and Ca’ Sagredo, without stating the mode of travel.

Treviso (LIPH) is the named alternate, about 30 minutes from Venice per Universal, with full handling and reasonable parking. Forbes gives Treviso as about 47 minutes from The St. Regis. For fees and aircraft options, see our private jet charter guide.

See the luxury hotels hub, the global best hotels in the world ranking, our Forbes Five-Star hotels page, and the sister guides to Rome and Lake Como.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best luxury hotel in Venice?
By recognition, Hotel Cipriani: Three MICHELIN Keys (June 2025) and the only Forbes Five-Star in Venice for 2026. Aman Venice also holds Three Keys with a Forbes Four-Star, and Airelles Palladio holds Three Keys.
Is the Gritti Palace worth it?
It is a recognized Grand Canal address: Two MICHELIN Keys and Forbes Four-Star for 2026, in a palazzo dating to 1475 with 82 rooms and its own water taxi jetty. It has no Five-Star rating, so choose it for location and history.
Which luxury hotel in Venice has a pool?
Hotel Cipriani on Giudecca has a heated saltwater pool that MICHELIN calls Olympic-sized, and Airelles Palladio, also on Giudecca, lists three pools per Hotel Designs (2026). The JW Marriott on Isola delle Rose has a rooftop infinity pool and a larger family pool, and San Clemente Palace has a heated pool.
Which Venice luxury hotels have three MICHELIN Keys?
Three: Aman Venice, Hotel Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel, and Airelles Palladio, per the MICHELIN Guide's Venice hotel article of June 23, 2025. The Gritti Palace and Nolinski Venezia hold Two Keys.
Which airport is best for a private jet to Venice?
Venice Marco Polo is the business aviation airport, with a general aviation terminal and a water taxi terminal outside, per Universal Weather's 2026 guide. Treviso is the named alternate, about 30 minutes from Venice.

Sources

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