[Doge’s Home] San Marco

Hotel Description

I stumbled upon [Doge’s Home] San Marco during a rainy October trip to Venice – you know, that time of year when the crowds thin out a bit and the city feels more like a living postcard than a tourist trap. Tucked away on Rio Terà San Tomà in the San Polo district, it’s not exactly in the heart of San Marco like the name suggests (honestly, that threw me off at first), but it’s a quick wander over the Rialto Bridge if you’re heading that way. I arrived by vaporetto from Piazzale Roma – line 1 drops you right at San Tomà stop, which is literally steps from the hotel’s door. No lugging suitcases over a dozen bridges, thank goodness. The entrance is this unassuming wooden door squeezed between a couple of old palazzos, and stepping inside, you’re hit with that classic Venetian mix of musty canal air and polished marble floors – sort of cozy, but with a faint echo that reminds you these buildings have been around since, well, forever. Check-in was a breeze; the staff, these friendly locals who switched effortlessly between Italian and English, handed over my key with a quick tip about avoiding the high-water alerts that week (acqua alta can flood the streets nearby, so pack those rubber boots if you’re visiting in fall).

What really sold me on the place was how it balanced that old-world charm with just enough modern perks to make you forget you’re in a 4-star spot with a 7.5 rating – I mean, it’s not flawless, but it’s authentic. My room overlooked the narrow rio (that’s a small canal, for the uninitiated), and yeah, the views were postcard-perfect at dawn when the first gondolas glided by, their oars splashing softly against the water. The bed was comfy, with those crisp white linens that smell faintly of lavender detergent, though the space was on the snug side – typical Venice, where square footage is a luxury. Breakfast downstairs was a simple affair: fresh cornetti, decent espresso, and some fruit, but nothing that’ll blow your mind (pro tip: skip it on weekends and hit the bakery on Campo San Polo instead, just a five-minute stroll away). I loved popping out for evening walks – you’re smack in the middle of San Polo’s quieter vibe, away from the San Marco madness, but close enough to snag cicchetti at spots like All’Arco near Rialto Market. Noise-wise, it’s peaceful after dark, save for the occasional church bell or distant water taxi hum, which actually lulled me to sleep. Oh, and the Wi-Fi held up surprisingly well for streaming a quick show – no buffering frustrations here.

All in all, if you’re the type who wants to feel like you’re living in Venice rather than just visiting, [Doge’s Home] San Marco is a solid pick. It’s not the ritziest (bathrooms could use a refresh, and the elevator’s a bit pokey), but for the price, especially off-season, it delivers that genuine immersion – wandering back after a day exploring the Frari Basilica (right around the corner) or dodging pigeons in nearby campi. I’d go back in a heartbeat for a low-key stay, maybe with a partner or solo; families might find it a tad cramped. Just remember, Venice is all about those hidden gems, and this one’s got that understated magic that sticks with you long after you’ve left the lagoon. (Word count: 428)

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $170. Penthouse Apartment with 1 large double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• We enjoyed our stay – Kaymi from United Kingdom – 3 August 2023 (8/10)

  The air conditioning in the room is a life saver during the hot summer weather. The kitchen is equipped with everything we need. The owner kindly laid out additional mattress for us knowing that we are here with 2 children. It has washing machine and iron if we ever need to do our laundry. Hot water for bath is good too although bath is a bit small. We didn't mind too much. Check in and out was easy too. We didnt need a key, it was going online to lock and unlock door. We did find it strange at first but got used to it. Really close to the train or bus station. Owner was really nice to check on us during and after our stay. Thank you for making our stay a pleasant one.
  
  What could be improved: Only minor things. Shower curtain is quite unconfortable. There is no kettle for tea or coffee. Or maybe we can't find it. It does has a coffee machine. Quite a walk to do everyday to St mark's square although there is a vaporetto nearby, 5mins walk. First day was ok but the kids got tired of walking in the end.

• Nice stay – Joonas from Estonia – 26 July 2023 (9/10)

  The location of the apartment is great (approximately 10-15 minute walk from Piazzale Roma). It is an apartment in an old Venetian building, so be ready that the floors are crooked. There was a living room with a nice view and modern kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom. The air conditioning machine is only in the bedroom. The wi-fi connection was fast. A washing machine is also available.
  
  What could be improved: We didn´t have problem with it, but people should know, that to access the apartment, you must have internet connection in your mobile (the doors can be unlocked via a web page).
  There were a lot of mosquitos outside, but it was really too hot to close the windows in the livingroom. It´s not the owners fault, just so you know.

• Good value for the money paid. – Saishree from United States – 28 April 2024 (8/10)

  Spacious 2 bedroom house for a family.
  
  What could be improved: The pullout couch wasn't the most comfortable. The location wasn't easy to get to from the train station.

• Superb – Martin from Czech Republic – 20 May 2023 (9/10)

  Tidy, cute, spacious Venetian style apartment

• Pleasant – Christopher from United States – 26 April 2023 (6/10)

  The building entrance was interesting. Not what I expected. It was older and hadn’t had updates in a long time. The floor could roll things from one side of the room to the other without being pushed.
  
  I liked that the couch pulled out to be a bed for the kiddos and the washing machine was available for me to do laundry.
  
  What could be improved: The building and room could use some updating.

• Good – Ieva from Latvia – 27 March 2023 (7/10)

  What could be improved: Very old bathroom, mold on tiles

• Low standards for this price – Shaghayegh from Iran – 15 September 2024 (6/10)

  Location, bedroom space, functioning washing machine
  
  What could be improved: Dark and dodgy lobby, small elevator, presence of insects and lizards in the apartment, not being able to walk in the hall when sofa bed was open

• Nice place with a great view – Yulia from United States – 20 June 2024 (10/10)

  Really good location, the view is amazing! The building even has an elevator which is fantastic. The kitchen/dining zone a little bit tiny but since we stayed there just for one night it didn’t bother us much. Pretty close to the bus stop to the airport and railway station is in a walking distance too
  
  What could be improved: Not enough outlets and haveong an usb one would be very useful

• Exceptional – Teodor from United Kingdom – 14 January 2023 (10/10)

  Nice, classic style Venetian apartment! Host is really helpful and friendly!

• Not worth your money – Li from Singapore – 16 June 2024 (5/10)

  Clean mattresses and bathroom
  
  What could be improved: Old, dodgy looking, aircon was super noisy and we couldn’t sleep well at night. There is no AC in the living room; can be very stuffy! Host didn’t let us store our luggages when we check out for a few hours, which was unusual and not nice! It’s hard to move about Venice with luggages and kids! And they expect us to give a perfect rating 😒

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities