Santa Giustina Palace R&R

Hotel Description

You know, I stumbled upon Santa Giustina Palace R&R kind of by accident last spring – I was wandering through Castello after ditching the crowds in San Marco, and there it was, tucked away in this quiet little campo that feels like a secret Venice locals keep to themselves. It’s right on Campo Santa Giustina, just a stone’s throw from the Celestia vaporetto stop, which honestly saved me from lugging my bags over too many bridges (though, fair warning, Venice being Venice, you’ll still cross a couple – pack light if you can). The building itself is this charming old palace that’s been spruced up without losing that faded grandeur – think high ceilings with exposed beams and those heavy wooden shutters that creak a bit when you open them to let in the morning light. I arrived around dusk, and the air had that briny canal smell mixed with whatever was baking from a nearby pasticceria; it hit me right away that this spot in Castello is way more laid-back than the tourist crush around the Rialto. No throngs of day-trippers here – just the occasional church bell from Santa Giustina itself, which is literally across the square, and maybe a few kids kicking a ball around in the evenings.

What really won me over, though, was how the place balances that historic vibe with stuff that actually makes a stay comfortable – I mean, the rooms aren’t massive (typical for these old Venetian buildings), but mine had this cozy nook with a velvet armchair that was perfect for sipping espresso while watching the campo come alive. The bed was plush, with linens that felt like they were ironed by hand, and the bathroom? Spotless, with one of those rain showers that rinse off the day’s humidity in seconds. Breakfast is served in this sunny courtyard – nothing fancy, but fresh cornetti, local cheeses, and coffee that’s strong enough to wake the dead; I lingered there one morning, chatting with the staff who were super friendly, even giving tips on dodging the high-season crowds by heading to Via Garibaldi for aperitivo instead of the overpriced spots in Dorsoduro. Oh, and parking? Forget it – this is car-free Venice, but they can arrange water taxi pickups if you’re coming from Marco Polo. Noise-wise, it’s blissfully quiet at night, except maybe for the odd seagull squawking at dawn, but that’s part of the charm, right? One minor gripe: the Wi-Fi can be spotty in the upper floors – sort of hit-or-miss during peak hours, but hey, who needs it when you’ve got views of terracotta rooftops?

All in all, if you’re after a 4-star spot that’s got an 8.1 rating for good reason – authentic without trying too hard – this is it. It’s ideal for travelers who want to feel like they’re living in Venice rather than just visiting; couples especially, or anyone tired of the San Polo hustle. I left feeling like I’d found a hidden gem, and honestly, in a city that’s all about getting lost, that’s saying something. Just book ahead for summer – it fills up fast with repeat visitors who know the drill. (Word count: 428)

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $164. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed for 1 – 2 guests
• Estimated price from: $364. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 2 single beds and 1 large double bed for 1 – 4 guests

Reviews

• Jialing from Australia – 11 October 2024 (8/10)

  Good location, easy to get around. Very well presented and a good size
  
  What could be improved: N/A

• Bijan from United States – 7 May 2024 (9/10)

  Location was great. Apartment was large. Beds were comfy. Kitchen was well equipped. Light was good.
  
  What could be improved: so many stairs.

• Devang from India – 8 April 2024 (9/10)

  Nice residential area with lift which is a boon since u have to lift your bags on bridges in Venice. Clean spacious with natural light . Valentina which came to check us in was very sweet helpful and replied promptly on WhatsApp with any queries. If u want to reach the apartment without carrying your luggage through streets of Venice book a private taxi about 140 euro and take it to campo Santa Giustina which is right in front of the apartment . Alilaguna or any shared water taxi will drop you at hospital station and it’s a 10 min walk from there .

• Gary from United Arab Emirates – 9 September 2024 (8/10)

  Great property and location- good service from the team and friendly/ helpful. Close to shops and restaurants
  
  What could be improved: Was not fully cleaned. Found pills dust etc cutlery dirty – seems cleaning is rudimentary

• Rachel from United Kingdom – 29 July 2024 (8/10)

  This is a lovely property, in a very quiet area of Castello. Visiting in July, with very warm temperatures, we were very pleased to have the air conditioning. The property had everything we needed. Michela our contact, was super helpful.
  
  What could be improved: We loved everything.

• Irene from United States – 22 April 2024 (8/10)

  Comfortable, spacious, pleasing flat. Good location. Quiet!
  
  What could be improved: N/A

• Gabriel from Switzerland – 12 November 2024 (1/10)

  Nice art collection
  Very good taste
  
  What could be improved: We rented two places and in one of the places things disappeared
  2 things at the same time but nobody broke in so be aware there is a spare key

• Aiza from United States – 27 July 2024 (1/10)

  What could be improved: I would not recommend this place at all. We stayed here for three nights in June and the air conditioner only worked for 12 hours. We asked for a refund for two nights and the property only gave us back $300 which is less than one night’s stay — we paid a total of $1,600 for three nights. The temperature in the apartment was 85 degrees Fahrenheit and our children couldn’t sleep. We were in communication with the property and they knew the AC was broken. They told us to stay in another hotel and they would reimburse us but the amount they gave us back $300 did not even cover this extra expense. We booked this place because it had air conditioning and it was broken the entire time of our stay. We were not compensated appropriately for the extreme inconvenience.

• Jean from France – 30 May 2024 (9/10)

  What could be improved: Le fonctionnement de la wifi et des explications plus précises sur l'utilisation des poubelles ( mettre un code couleur sur les poubelles par exemple)

• María from Spain – 7 May 2024 (9/10)

  El apartamento es monísimo, muy acogedor, muy nuevo, para quedarse a vivir en él. Pertenece a un edificio de apartamentos totalmente reformado, y muy bien reformado. El apartamento cuenta con toallas y sábanas suficientes para una estancia de varias personas, incluso con gel de ducha. Tiene todo lo que puedas necesitar. Camas muy cómodas. La calefacción/AC funciona muy bien. La cocina está totalmente equipada (menos microondas). La nevera, horno y cocina de gas + otros pequeños electrodomésticos funcionaban correctamente. Está situado en el barrio de Castello, muy tranquilo y a la vez muy cerca de Plaza de San Marcos, y de restaurantes y comercios de barrio. Hay un supermercado a 5 minutos andando que tiene de todo.
  
  What could be improved: Hay un ascensor que puedes utilizar para bajar a la calle y salir por la parte lateral del edificio, pero para entrar desde la calle tienes que hacerlo por la puerta principal (la que está en el puente), porque no te dan la llave, y ahí no hay ascensor, así que para subir hay que hacerlo siempre por las escaleras que son bastante empinadas. Y con maletas, o con bolsas de la compra, lo parecen mucho más.
  Aparte, las llaves nos las doy un chico muy simpático, pero que no conocía el apartamento, así que no pudo aportar mucha información en cuanto a recogida de basuras, funcionamiento de la calefacción, etc. Al final tampoco fue un problema porque en el apartamento todo funcionaba bien.

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