Splendida Vista su Venezia

Hotel Description

Oh man, stepping off the vaporetto at Fondamente Nove and weaving through those narrow Cannaregio alleys to find Splendida Vista su Venezia – it’s one of those places that hits you right away with that authentic Venice vibe, you know? I mean, it’s tucked away on Campiello Widmann, this quiet little square off the beaten path from the San Marco hordes, but still just a 10-minute stroll to the Rialto Bridge if you take the shortcut along Strada Nova. Honestly, arriving in the late afternoon light, with the sun dipping behind those terracotta rooftops and the faint salty tang of the lagoon in the air, I felt like I’d stumbled into someone’s hidden gem. The building itself is this charming old palazzo – third floor, no elevator, mind you – so hauling luggage up those worn stone stairs was a bit of a workout, especially after a long train ride from Milan. But hey, that’s Venice for you; it keeps you on your toes. Check-in was a breeze, though – the owner, this warm guy named Marco who speaks perfect English with that lilting Venetian accent, greeted me like an old friend, offering a chilled glass of prosecco and chatting about the best cicchetti spots nearby, like that tiny bacaro on Fondamenta dei Ormesini where locals grab spritzes at sunset.

What really sets this place apart, though – and I say this as someone who’s bounced around a few Venice hotels – is the view from the rooms. Splendida Vista lives up to its name; my balcony overlooked a sweep of rooftops and the glittering Grand Canal in the distance, with church bells echoing softly in the mornings and the occasional gondola song drifting up at dusk. It’s not one of those massive chain spots with a pool or spa (well, who needs that in Venice anyway?), but the rooms are cozy and spotless – think exposed wooden beams, crisp linens that smell faintly of lavender, and these quirky antique mirrors that make you feel like you’re in a Merchant Ivory film. Breakfast is served on a sunny terrace – fresh cornetti, cappuccino strong enough to wake the dead, and fruit from the Rialto market – nothing fancy, but it’s all included and honestly better than some of the overpriced cafes around Piazza San Marco. Noise-wise, it’s blissfully quiet at night; Cannaregio isn’t party central like Dorsoduro, so you actually sleep without the constant hum of tourists. That said, if you’re not great with stairs or have mobility issues, it might be a stretch – and the Wi-Fi can be spotty during peak season in summer when everyone’s streaming from their rooms.

Look, if you’re after that real-deal Venice experience without the crush of selfie sticks everywhere, this 4-star spot with its solid 9 rating is a winner. I’ve recommended it to friends heading over in shoulder season (April or October, when the crowds thin and the light is magic), and they all rave about how it feels like a home base for exploring – popping over to the Jewish Ghetto for history or catching a vaporetto to Murano for glass-blowing demos. Sure, it’s not perfect; the bathroom was a tad compact, and hot water took a minute to kick in, but those little quirks just add to the charm. You’d be hard-pressed to find better value in this city of overpriced everything – trust me, after a week there, I left feeling like I’d actually lived a slice of la dolce vita, not just visited.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $221. Two-Bedroom Apartment with 1 large double bed, 2 single beds and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 3

Reviews

• Great stay in a great location in an appartment with a historic but modern touch! – Thomas from Austria – 4 June 2025 (10/10)

  Nice and modern appartment on 3rd floor of an old Palazzo with a historic feeling. Bakery just around the corner to grab breakfast, everything within walking distance but well away from the beaten path of tourists.
  
  What could be improved: Can be a bit hard to find but no issue! 😉

• Exceptional – Audrey from Canada – 20 May 2025 (10/10)

  Location.
  Clean.
  Spacious
  
  What could be improved: Front door to building remained open and unlocked

• Spacious apartment within a short walk to everything, restaurants, shopping and transportation. – Dorothy from United States – 31 March 2025 (9/10)

  The apartment was in a central location with an elevator. It was spacious and clean. The apartment is on floor 3 (4th floor in US term) and also had stairs to climb if needed. 2nd bathroom is a half bath. Kitchen well stocked but we never ate there.
  
  What could be improved: Wi-fi was sketchy in bedrooms. Unit had a musty odor in bathrooms (noticed in many areas of Venice). Wished there were candles to burn to remove some of the odor. It may be typical of older buildings in Venice. It wouldn’t stop me from coming back. We were there during a week of rain so that may have accounted for some of the smell. There could have been one more lamp near the soda so one could read. That part of the living room was darker than rest of home.

• Exceptional – Joel from Switzerland – 13 February 2025 (10/10)

  Excellent location, not far from the sights, yet rather calm and less tourists (at least in February). A great old building, very nice roomy apartment. Easy to find when following the instructions and looking at the photos.

• We highly recommend this. – Yuko from Italy – 3 January 2025 (10/10)

  Marvelous!!

• Superb – Justin from United Kingdom – 25 October 2024 (9/10)

  Great location. Close to all the places we wanted to visit with one of the main vaporetto stations 5 mins away. Flat was huge, and the facilities were also good. Lots of eating/ drinking places close by also.
  
  What could be improved: Wifi seemed to be a bit of an issue if you left the main living area however we contacted the host who reset the router and I believe it was fine after that

• Superb – Kathleen from United States – 4 October 2024 (9/10)

  Lovely apartment, felt like I was a local. Great experience, excellent location.
  
  What could be improved: Directions on how to get there and finding keys could have been better. Washing machine needs instructions.

• Exceptional – Schlegel from Germany – 30 August 2024 (10/10)

  Beautiful apartment with everything you need for a family. We loved it and will come back!

• Brilliant apartment in excellent location, and lovely host. – Johanna from United Kingdom – 12 August 2024 (10/10)

  We loved this apartment – it had a great location, lovely views over Venice, excellent air con. Really nicely decorated/styled and plenty of space. Beds were v comfy. The aircon was great and shower hot. We could easily stay here for a week. The host went above and beyond with communication – instantly replied to all our (sometimes silly) questions, and even went out of his way to retrieve an item of clothing we'd left and get it back to us. Would really recommend and happily stay again.
  
  What could be improved: N/A. It was all great.

• One of my favorite places I stayed at. – Thomas from United States – 30 June 2024 (10/10)

  The apartment is very nice inside. The kitchen was excellent. It had great views. There was 1 and a half baths. The host was very nice. It was centrally located. Quiet.
  
  What could be improved: The front door was hard to open. I thought the lock might break off. The couch wasn't very comfortable

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities