Venice Dose Guesthouse

Hotel Description

I remember stumbling upon the Venice Dose Guesthouse kind of by accident last spring – well, not really by accident, but after ditching the crowded vaporetto from the train station and wandering through Castello on foot, which, honestly, is the best way to get a feel for Venice if you’re not in a rush. It’s tucked away on Calle del Dose, right off the Santa Maria Formosa square, in that quieter part of Castello where the locals actually live and the tourists thin out a bit. You know, the kind of spot where you hear church bells from the nearby Santa Maria Formosa ringing softly in the morning, mixed with the distant slosh of canal water against stone – no blaring horns or anything, since cars are a myth here anyway. I got there around midday, and check-in was a breeze; the owner, this friendly older guy with a thick Venetian accent, handed over the keys with a quick chat about the best nearby bacari for cicchetti (those little snacks – try the ones with baccalà mantecato, they’re killer). The building itself is one of those classic Venetian palazzos, all narrow staircases and exposed wooden beams that creak just enough to remind you it’s hundreds of years old. My room was on the second floor, overlooking a tiny courtyard – nothing fancy, but clean and cozy, with that faint, salty lagoon smell seeping in through the windows if you crack them open at night.

What really sold me on the place, though, was how it felt like a genuine slice of Venice without the over-the-top polish you get in the fancier spots near San Marco. It’s a solid 3-star guesthouse, so don’t expect a spa or room service – rooms are on the smaller side, I mean, my double bed took up most of the space, and the bathroom was compact with one of those old-school showers that takes a second to heat up. But hey, that’s Venice for you; everything’s squeezed in. The Wi-Fi worked fine for streaming a bit of Netflix after a long day of walking, and breakfast was simple but satisfying – fresh cornetti, coffee that actually packs a punch, and some fruit, served in a little communal area where I ended up chatting with a couple from Milan about avoiding the summer crowds (pro tip: come in April or October, when it’s busy but not suffocating). Noise-wise, it’s pretty peaceful; the alley’s off the main paths, so you might hear some footsteps or the occasional gondola singer echoing from afar, but nothing that kept me up. And location-wise, it’s gold – a 10-minute stroll to the Rialto Bridge if you cut through the back streets past the Libreria Acqua Alta (that quirky bookstore with books in bathtubs – swing by if you’re into that), or 15 to San Marco without the hassle of getting lost in the throngs.

All in all, if you’re looking for an authentic stay that won’t break the bank and lets you dip into real Venetian life, Venice Dose is a smart pick. It’s got that 7.7 rating for a reason – charming and functional, with just enough quirks to make it memorable, like the way the morning light filters through those lace curtains. I left feeling like I’d actually lived there for a few days, not just visited. Just pack light, since there are stairs and no elevator, and maybe brush up on your Italian phrases – the staff appreciates it. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better base for exploring Castello’s hidden gems.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $165. Standard Double Room with 1 large double bed for 1 – 2 guests
• Estimated price from: $176. Superior Double Room with 1 extra-large double bed for 1 – 2 guests

Reviews

• Catalin from Romania – 6 September 2024 (8/10)

  Amazing everything. Nothing to complain.

• Gabriela from France – 6 March 2025 (9/10)

  The room was little but clean et confortable.
  Nice staff
  Good price for the money
  Very good location -7min on foot from st Marc Place.

• Maria from United States – 7 November 2024 (8/10)

  Location and views were amazing, and we were able to go to all the main attractions of Venice by foot alone. Being able to stop at the apartment for a rest between walks was great.
  
  What could be improved: The check in could have been smoother, but still was polite. We had to drop our bags in another location in a "locked" room (property was actually not locked, and while we were given keys, when we went back there was no one around and every door was unlocked). Once we got checked in everything was super smooth.

• Melanie from United Kingdom – 4 October 2024 (8/10)

  Great location. Lots of space.
  
  What could be improved: Getting the keys and access was a bit of a challenge. But otherwise all was good.

• Anna from Armenia – 4 October 2024 (9/10)

  The location is just 5 mins walk to the Rialto bridge, which is great, everything is close.
  
  From Piazzale Roma we reached the property walking 30 mins.
  
  We had free tea/coffee in our room.
  
  What could be improved: It was very difficult to find the location as there is no visible sign on the building. The host was in another building and we had to search for him for 30+ mins to find out about it. Would be better to send location pics and instructions beforehand.
  
  The room is modest and old fashioned but as shown in the photos.

• Shane from Ireland – 29 September 2024 (8/10)

  Very spacious & clean. Central to the City.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing it was extremely good…..

• Kelli from United Kingdom – 17 September 2024 (7/10)

  Clean tidy and comfortable in a great location ! Good value for money.

• Charlotte from United Kingdom – 11 September 2024 (7/10)

  We liked the location of the property
  
  What could be improved: No lift and only a set of very steep stairs, difficult with luggage.
  Air con unit not fitted into wall/room and is a portable unit which is very loud, we were unable to keep this on during the night so got very warm.
  
  Cleaners kept opening windows when we were out, came back to lots of mosquitos in our room each day resulting in lots of bites.

• Nicola from United Kingdom – 29 August 2024 (8/10)

  Very central. Good location
  
  What could be improved: The air condition machine was not very powerful so it was very hot at night!

• Olivia from Australia – 22 July 2024 (9/10)

  The location and hosts/ staff were wonderful. The guesthouse is in walking distance to everything and the space is lovely. I would definitely stay here on my next trip to Venice!
  
  What could be improved: The portable air conditioning machine was a bit loud at times. But it wasn’t the end of the world.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities