Stella Marina 1

Hotel Description

I remember stepping off the vaporetto at the Palanca stop – you know, that little one on Giudecca where the boats bob up and down like they’re half-asleep – and thinking, wow, this is Venice but without the crush of tour groups elbowing for selfies. Stella Marina 1 is tucked right there on Fondamenta San Biagio, just a quick wander from the water’s edge, and honestly, it’s a breath of fresh air after dodging pigeons in San Marco. I mean, Giudecca’s got this laid-back island feel – think narrow canals with locals hanging laundry and the occasional fisherman mending nets – and the hotel fits right in, like it grew out of the old brick walls. My check-in was a breeze; the staff – this friendly guy named Marco, I think – handed over the key with a chat about the best time to catch the sunset over the lagoon (spoiler: right around 7pm in summer, when the light turns everything golden). No parking hassles here, obviously, since it’s Venice, but if you’re hauling luggage, grab a water taxi from Piazzale Roma to skip the crowds – it’ll drop you almost at the door.

What really got me about Stella Marina was how it nails that cozy, authentic Venetian vibe without trying too hard. The rooms? Spacious for a city where space is gold – mine had these high ceilings with exposed beams that smelled faintly of aged wood and sea salt, and a balcony overlooking the canal where you could hear the gentle lap of water against the stones at night. It’s quiet, too, especially compared to the nonstop buzz across the water in Dorsoduro; well, except for the church bells from Il Redentore chiming in the mornings, which sort of adds to the charm, you know? Breakfast was a highlight – fresh cornetti and cappuccino served in this sunny courtyard (though it can get a tad breezy if the wind’s up from the lagoon), and they even threw in some local tips, like strolling over to the nearby Fondamenta delle Zattere for gelato at sunset. Not everything’s perfect, mind you – the Wi-Fi dipped a bit during peak hours, probably from all the boats messing with the signal – but with a 4-star setup and that insane 9.7 rating, it’s clear they’re doing something right. I spent an afternoon just lounging in the lobby, flipping through old Venice guidebooks they keep stacked there, feeling like I’d stumbled into a friend’s hidden pied-à-terre.

Look, if you’re the type who wants Venice minus the madness – say, visiting in shoulder season like April when the crowds thin out but the weather’s still balmy – this place is a gem. It’s not smack in the tourist heart, which means you’ll actually relax, maybe catch a quiet vaporetto ride to Murano for the day without feeling rushed. I’ve stayed in fancier spots, but Stella Marina’s got heart; it’s the kind of hotel that makes you linger over coffee, watching the world float by. Book it if you can – just remember to pack light, because those canal-side steps can be a workout after a long flight.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $207. Apartment with 2 × 1 large double bed and 2 single beds for Max persons: 3

Reviews

• Great stay thanks a lot. – Jamie from United Kingdom – 9 July 2025 (10/10)

  Lovely clean property. Lots of air con if you needed it. Great communication with hosts. Lots of room. Two bathrooms. Great place. A little out of town but Venice easily accessible.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing.

• Exceptional – Mihaela from Romania – 24 June 2025 (10/10)

  everything was absolutely wonderfully prepared. apartment is beautiful and well positioned
  
  What could be improved: N/A

• 100% Empfehlung – Suzy from Austria – 1 June 2025 (10/10)

  Perfect for intergenerational vacation. The master bedroom is barrier free on the ground floor with bathroom (walk in shower!). Up the stairs another bedroom with two single beds, perfect for kids or friends. Another comfortable doublebed on the open gallery.
  
  Dishwasher and washing machine make it perfect for families and longer stays.
  
  Very well kept, not dingy or damp at all. This apartment can be recommended 100%
  
  What could be improved: Was not a problem for us but for the open gallery bed, bring a sleepmask/earplugs if you are a light sleeper.

• Stellar place to stay on Giudecca – Wendy from United States – 22 October 2024 (10/10)

  This rental on Giudecca lives up to its stellar reviews. Super easy to get to and from by waterbus and a short walk to excellent restaurants, cafes, and bars that look out over the lagoon toward St. Marks. This tasteful apartment is modern, clean, and spacious — with comfy beds, a well-appointed kitchen, and nicely-designed bathrooms. Was also helpful to have a washer/dryer (and ingenious drying rack). Check-in was easy and the hosts, Cristina and Gabrielle, provide excellent information in advance — and in the welcome book. Gabriele even came by to welcome us. This was a perfect place to stay while in Venice for the amazing Biannale. Quiet and relaxing, but easy to the dive into the bustle by waterbus.
  
  What could be improved: No dislikes, it was great.

• A Star on the Giudecca! – Andrew from United Kingdom – 4 September 2024 (10/10)

  Stella Marina is a real star – with tasteful marine decorations!! We were thrilled to enter this spotless apartment. It’s a ground/first floor duplex, fully air conditioned, with a super double bedroom and a separate kids bedroom with bunks that my grandson loved on the first floor. Downstairs there’s a comfortable lounge area and a well equipped galley kitchen. Plus another wonderful double bedroom, again with its own bathroom. It’s deliciously quiet, and is a conversion in what I guess was part of the Fortuny fabric factory. Alilaguna Blue brings you direct from the airport to the Stucky pier close to the apartment. And various vaporetto lines stop at Palanca, a short distance in the opposite direction. Along the Fondamenta there’s a great choice of restaurants, cafes and bars. If you want to be away from the St Mark’s melee yet within a short boat ride of all the sights, then this is the apartment for you. Excellent communications from Cristina at booking and check in. I cannot recommend this apartment highly enough.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing – it’s perfectly designed and equipped.

• Stellar place. – Sekoati from South Africa – 28 August 2024 (10/10)

  The loction is great, just a ferry away from busy toristy area – St Mark Square. Confortable, quite and with lots of resturants around. the supermarket is a walking distance. Had a nice stovetop coffee maker and good suply of coffee. The host – Christina is a wonderful person and was communicating with us immediately we arrived at the station and guided us until we arrived at the apartment.

• Perfect condo in superb location in Giudecca Island – Pshenichnikov from United States – 7 August 2024 (10/10)

  The condo is a comfortable place to stay in a great location. It helps us avoid the busy tourist areas in Venice, and it's just a short ferry ride to the main sights. There are local cafes and restaurants nearby, making it easy to find places to eat. The condo is well-kept and has a washer, which adds to the comfort of our stay.

• We had an amazing time! Highly recommended! – Ania from United States – 2 July 2024 (10/10)

  The apartment looks exactly as pictured – clean, spacious, and comfortable. It is located in Giudecca, a small island located across from St. Mark’s Square, and has a very easy access to water transportation. We really enjoyed breakfast with a view at Majer restaurant which opens at 7:30 am. Super friendly and helpful hosts.
  
  What could be improved: No complaints.

• Should visit Venice and same apartment – Suzan from United States – 7 June 2024 (10/10)

  Apartment was very good and nice and clean everything is so good there apartment employees are very good people they really take care about there guest , beautiful view restaurant are very close 2 minutes walking from the apartment I loved the place want to go there again ☺️
  
  What could be improved: There is nothing you can’t like about

• Despite bad weather in the first few days we had a very enjoyable stay and would definitely book the apartment again. Cr – Jane from Australia – 7 May 2024 (9/10)

  It was very well equipped and comfortable and the location is quiet.
  
  What could be improved: We really had no complaints. Everything worked well.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities