Rialto Grand Canal by Wonderful Italy

Hotel Description

I remember stepping off the vaporetto at Rialto Mercato stop – you know, the one right by the bustling fish market where locals haggle over fresh squid in the mornings – and weaving through those narrow calli to find the Rialto Grand Canal by Wonderful Italy. It’s tucked away on Calle de la Madonna in San Polo, which is honestly one of Venice’s more authentic neighborhoods, away from the San Marco crush but still smack in the heart of things. My first thought? Wow, this place lives up to its name – the entrance overlooks the Grand Canal, with gondolas gliding by and that faint, briny smell of the water mixing with espresso from the nearby cafés. Check-in was a breeze, even though I arrived during that chaotic afternoon rush when tourists flood the bridges; the staff – a mix of friendly Italians who seemed genuinely excited to chat about hidden spots like the quiet courtyard at Campo San Polo – handed over my key with a quick map scribbled with their favorite osterie. No parking hassles here, obviously, since Venice is all about boats and feet, but they pointed me to the closest water taxi stand if I needed it.

What really stuck with me were the rooms – mine had this massive window framing the canal, and at night, you’d hear the soft lap of water against the pilings, sort of lulling you to sleep if you could tune out the occasional chatter from late-night revelers on the Rialto Bridge just a stone’s throw away. It’s a solid 4-star spot, but let’s be real, with a 7 rating, it’s not flawless; the decor feels a bit dated in places, like those heavy velvet curtains that could use a refresh, and the Wi-Fi dipped during peak hours when everyone’s uploading their sunset pics. Still, the beds are comfy as heck – I sank right in after a day dodging crowds – and breakfast (included, thank goodness) is a simple spread of croissants, fresh fruit, and cappuccinos on a terrace where you can watch the city wake up. I mean, you’re steps from gems like the Frari Basilica with its Titian masterpieces, or that little bacaro on Calle della Madonna where I grabbed cicchetti and spritz for cheap. Off-season, like in November, it’s blissfully quiet, but summer? Brace for the noise – though honestly, that’s Venice for you.

All in all, if you’re after a spot that feels lived-in rather than polished to perfection, this one’s a gem for travelers who want to dip into real Venetian life without breaking the bank. I’d go back in a heartbeat for that canal view alone – well, and maybe to snag another table at that hole-in-the-wall trattoria nearby. Just pack earplugs if you’re a light sleeper, and time your visit for shoulder season to avoid the hordes. You won’t regret it.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $429. Superior Apartment with 2 single beds, 1 sofa bed and 1 large double bed for Max persons: 4

Reviews

• Good stay. Good location. – Stephanie from United States – 3 August 2024 (8/10)

  Good view of the canal. Quiet inside even though we were in a busy street. Lots of room for all six of us.
  
  What could be improved: Didn’t have hand soap just given shampoo.

• Good – Linda from United States – 14 December 2022 (7/10)

  location and view
  
  What could be improved: The requirement of finding a garbage can to throw out your trash or you will be charged 50 bucks. There was NO soap and the shampoo that was there were 2 small bottle that where clearly refilled with water so no lather. The room with 2 twins beds are so close together you need to pull one bed forward to get in. Be careful using the water taxi for the location as its unsafe getting out. The boat was almost 2 feet from the dock and you have to jump. If you are elderly or disabled only use the waterbus.

• Very good – Gh69 from Australia – 24 November 2024 (8/10)

  The location was great, very warm, and cosy on the cold nights.
  
  What could be improved: Toilet kept running water, dishwasher didn't work, shower heads could do with an upgrade.

• Very good – Nazura from Malaysia – 10 August 2024 (8/10)

  The proximity to the canal and easy access to almost anywhere.
  
  What could be improved: No fan allowed

• Great apartment but the property not providing a basic need such as hand washing soap or liquid soured our experience. – Asif from United States – 7 August 2024 (6/10)

  The location is excellent. The property overlooks the Grand Canal as well as the Rialto Bridge. The accommodations are very spacious overall.
  
  What could be improved: Soap for hand washing is not provided. Only shampoo and conditioner are. This was extremely shocking to me in ANY accommodations especially in a post Covid-19 world.
  Also, the trash throwing policy prohibits any trash being left behind (unless if the checkout is on Sunday). You are required to throw trash many steps away from the apartment and only during a certain time when the trash/recycle ship is moored at the dock.
  None of this is disclosed until after you book and the accommodation is past the refund period after paying.

• Very good – Alessandro from United Kingdom – 2 June 2024 (8/10)

  Great view, allowed us an early check in which was helpful.
  
  What could be improved: Mattress is a cheap one, and feels worn out. Should put in place a better product for a place like that.

• Super location. The apartment was comfortable. – Chandrasekhar from India – 1 April 2024 (8/10)

  Location was superb. Could see the Grand Canal from our window.
  
  What could be improved: Collecting the keys and putting them away was a bit complex. Sorting and throwing out garbage was very inconvenient.

• A great location and view of the Rialto Canal, however, apartment needs some attention. – Paul from United States – 15 October 2023 (8/10)

  The location is excellent. Very spacious apartment, with grand views of the Rialto Bridge and Canal.
  
  What could be improved: The general decor of the apartment was rather drab. The living room sofas need cleaning and the throw pillows need to be replaced. Very few amenities in the bathrooms and kitchen.
  The master bed was broken, with a large depression midway. You couldn't sit on the edge of the bed without a
  total collapse of the mattress. This made the bed useless the first night of our stay. Upon reporting to management it was repaired quickly the next day. Overall, we enjoyed our stay

• Convenient and spacious apartment located in one of the best parts of Venice. – Pantelia from Greece – 22 February 2023 (8/10)

  Location, location, location is what is important in Venice and this apartment had it. Everything was as expected with wonderful views of the Rialto.
  
  What could be improved: For someone sleeping on the sofa in the living room, it might be a bit noisy given the restaurant under the building and the activity on the water. In all the other rooms nothing could be heard.

• Good – Mikołaj from Poland – 31 October 2022 (7/10)

  Location was excellent. A lot of space inside. Look at the grand canal.
  
  What could be improved: For this price I would expect that guests do not need to bring their own soap (I don’t even require a shampoo). The hair dryer was broken. The iron was dirty and it was not possible to plug it into the socket because the plug did not fit. The expectation that the guests will have to find a place outside where they would dispose their garbage was not very convenient (the description was not clear enough and we were informed that we will pay the fine if the garbage is not taken from the apartment, even though it was supposed to be cleaned after we left).

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities