Biennale 252

Hotel Description

You know, I stumbled upon Biennale 252 almost by accident last summer when I was wandering through Venice’s Castello district – that’s the quieter, more residential eastern side of the city, away from the San Marco crowds. I’d just hopped off the vaporetto at Giardini, which is like a five-minute walk away, and honestly, navigating those narrow calli with my suitcase felt like a mini adventure. Calle Sant’Anna is this tucked-away little alley, sort of hidden behind the bigger vias, and the hotel pops up in what looks like a restored old palazzo – all faded pink stucco and wrought-iron balconies that scream classic Venice. Check-in was a breeze; the staff – a mix of locals and one super friendly guy from Rome – greeted me with espresso and a quick chat about the best nearby cicchetti spots. No fuss, no long lines, even though it was peak July heat. I mean, in a city where everything moves at water-taxi speed, that kind of warmth sets the tone right away.

What really won me over, though, was how the place blends that old-world charm with just enough modern edge to make you forget you’re in a centuries-old building. My room overlooked a tiny canal – nothing grand like the Grand Canal, but you could hear the gentle lap of water against the stones at night, and the air had that briny, slightly salty tang that reminds you you’re floating on the lagoon. The bed was plush, with these crisp linens that felt like a hug after a day of pounding pavements, and the bathroom? Spotless, with rain showers that actually had good pressure – a rarity in some Venetian spots, let me tell you. It’s rated 9.5 for a reason; the breakfast spread in the mornings included fresh cornetti, local cheeses, and even some gluten-free options without me having to ask. Oh, and if you’re into art, it’s literally steps from the Biennale gardens – I caught the tail end of the exhibition, and popping back to the hotel for a siesta was a lifesaver. That said, the rooms aren’t huge (typical Venice squeeze), and if you’re a light sleeper, the occasional church bell from nearby San Pietro di Castello might jolt you awake – but hey, that’s part of the authentic vibe. Parking? Forget it; this is Venice, so leave the car in Mestre and embrace the boat life.

All in all, if you’re looking for a spot that feels like a local’s secret rather than a tourist trap, Biennale 252 is it – especially in shoulder seasons like spring or fall when Castello’s streets are blissfully empty, and you can snag a table at that tiny osteria on Via Garibaldi without a wait. I left feeling like I’d actually lived a slice of Venetian life, not just visited. Four stars? It punches way above that, well worth every euro for the memories.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $185. Four-Bedroom Apartment with 3 × 1 single bed and 2 × 1 large double bed for Max persons: 3

Reviews

• Spacious apartment in a charming area of Venice without the stress of tourists – Ann from Germany – 18 August 2024 (8/10)

  We travelled with our four children and one of my cousins and needed an apartment with enough bedrooms so everyone would have their own space. This apartment was perfect for our vacation. My cousin had her own large bedroom with a double bed and my two teenage children each got a room with a single bed. My husband and I were together with our smaller children in the bedroom with a double bed and a single bed. We parked our car on the mainland and took a Vaporetto to the station closest to the apartment. It was only a ten minute walk from the Vaporetto station and hardly any tourists to be seen. Getting the key was not a problem at all! There is a padlock with a code and the key was inside. We had three sets of keys, which was also very convenient. The kitchen and dining table were big enough for a large family. It would have been nice to have a highchair for our youngest child, but we managed fine. The air conditioning worked well and we were very happy every time we returned to the apartment after being outside in the heat for several hours. There are two bathrooms and each one has a shower (no bathtubs) and there is a TV where you can watch movies on Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Disney+ if you have an account you just have to sign in. What made us very happy was the location of the apartment. We were surprised how few tourists there were in our area and how easy it was to visit local stores to buy vegetables, meat, and fish. The main shopping street is very close and you can find cafes and restaurants as well as grocery stores and pharmacies. There was even a take out pizza place. We were able to indulge in the local cuisine, but also easily cook our own meals at the apartment. The Biennale art festival is very close by. There is an entrance to the Arsenale just a five minute walk from the apartment and the Giardini is a 10-15 minute walk. We spent three days exploring the artwork at the Biennale. We would like to stay again next time we are in Venice.
  
  What could be improved: The apartment has air conditioning and the main hallway and the kitchen cool off very well. The bedrooms are no air conditioned, so we had to keep the doors of all the bedrooms open at night and had fans running all night to bring in the cold air into the bedrooms. For us this was not a problem because we are all part of the same family, but if we were different groups of people staying together it might be awkward to have the bedroom doors open all night long.

• Exceptional – Ieva from Lithuania – 17 April 2024 (10/10)

  Perfect stay for group of 7 people! Very clean and cozy apartments! Would totally recommend! Host is super!
  
  What could be improved: Could be more stuff in the kitchen, for example coffee, glasses for wine.

• C'est la seconde fois que nous venons – Martine from France – 17 December 2024 (10/10)

  Vaste appartement très bien situé, parfait pour visiter la Biennale en groupe (6 personnes). Bien équipé. Quartier très plaisant. Bonne réactivité du gestionnaire.
  
  What could be improved: Quelques torchons dans la cuisine et un grille-pain seraient les bienvenus.

• Grand appartement propre et bien équipé – Esther from Belgium – 12 November 2024 (9/10)

  Appartement grand et confortable. Mobilier typique, faut aimer. Nous n'avons jamais rencontré le responsable mais il était réactif. Pas très chaleureux cependant, mais bon, il fait le job. A noter: le prix de l'appartement fait le grand écart d'un jour à l'autre, soyez attentifs ( et moins cher sur Booking.com que sur air&b😉). J'ai eu de la chance et estime avoir profité d'un excellent rapport qualité- prix
  
  What could be improved: Le gestionnaire pourrait être un peu plus chaleureux, mais il est réactif, x'est ce qui compte finalement g

• Unter Venezianern – Joachim from Germany – 16 September 2024 (10/10)

  Super Lage und venezianisches Flair in der Wohnung
  
  What could be improved: Alles tutto bene

• Die Unterkunft ist sehr zu empfehlen. – Jens from Germany – 27 August 2024 (10/10)

  Die Wohnung war sehr gut eingerichtet. Es hat allen gut gefallen und wir hatten genügend Platz.

• Confortable – Rosa from Spain – 1 January 2024 (10/10)

  La amplitud de todas las estancias. Cocina muy bien equipada y nueva, lavabos nuevos.

• Très beau séjour à Venise – Raphaël from Switzerland – 24 October 2023 (10/10)

  L’emplacement, la surface de l’appartement. Propre et près du centre ville
  
  What could be improved: Rien

• Venezia inolvidable!!! Volvería con toda seguridad – Gaston from Chile – 4 October 2023 (8/10)

  Departamento muy amplio y espacioso ; lindos muebles y antiguos y cocina reformada .
  
  What could be improved: Lo único , no funcionaron los dos equipos de aire acondicionado.

• Toller Aufenthalt in Nähe der beiden Biennale-Standorte – Hans-jürgen from Germany – 9 October 2022 (10/10)

  Wunderbar geräumige Wohnung. Wir waren zu Fünft, aber sechs Personen sind bequem möglich. Gute Küchenausstattung und es gab in jedem Zimmer ein Fenster mit Mückenschutz !! Und drei Schlüsselsätze
  
  Ansoinsten: Tolle ruhige Lage und dennoch nur 3 Minuten zu Bäcker, Supermarkt und ordentlichen Restaurants. Arsenale und Giardini sind ebenfalls in 5-10 Minuten zu errreichen.
  
  What could be improved: Leider waren die Schlüssel für die Haupttür zur Straße sehr hakelig und es brauchte manchmal Geduld.

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