Dorsoduro Travel Guide

Venice

A canal with a bridge, buildings with blue shutters, and a sign in Italian.
A canal in Venice with historic buildings on both sides.
A historic building with a dome and bell tower by the water.
A brick building with a large wooden door and a window with a diamond pattern.
A narrow canal in a historic European town with boats, buildings, and pedestrians.

One of six districts in Venice, this beautiful area has many sights located along the edge of Venice and on the island of Giudecca.

Originally one of the wealthier oceanfront portions of Venice, Dorsoduro retains some of its extravagance while offering relatively affordable food and nightlife. During the day, tour the ornate churches throughout the area. At night, retreat into a bar or restaurant.

Many come to Dorsoduro to see an array of beautiful churches within a small area. Gaze at the amazing Fumiani artwork that canopies the entire ceiling of San Pantalon. Admire the long, Gothic hallways of the Santa Maria dei Carmini and appreciate the Veronese paintings of San Sebastiano.

Be sure to visit the museum Punta della Dogana. This former customs building has hosted some of the finest art exhibitions in the world and it continues to maintain a handsomely funded collection, courtesy of François Pinault, the French billionaire.

Cross the Accademia Bridge and view the artwork displayed at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. Patron to many of the most famous modernist artists, Peggy Guggenheim collected art from Picasso, Kandinsky, Mondrian and many others. The American heiress assembled a startling collection housed at this museum, which also features a sculpture garden outside.

Take advantage of Dorsoduro’s night life. Get active on the dance floor of a club or sit down for a beer at a bar. Find late-night fun and inexpensive drinks at Campo Santa Margherita, a legendary square that fills up with locals at night. People watch and enjoy nightlife with friendly Venetians.

With access to lively squares and waterfront views, many people opt to stay in Dorsoduro while they tour Venice. The relatively inexpensive cuisine found in Dorsoduro makes the area popular with locals during lunch breaks. Find the least expensive and most delicious food outside the main squares.

Take the Venice Vaporetto Line 1 to reach Dorsoduro. Many of the attractions here are walking distance from each other. Before you leave, try a marzipan cake at the 120-year-old patisserie, Pasticceria Tonolo.


Stay near popular Dorsoduro attractions

Things to do


Top hotels in Dorsoduro

Palazzo Veneziano

Palazzo Veneziano

4.5 out of 5
Fondamenta delle Zattere 1413 Venice VE
Fully refundable
The price is £187 per night from 9 Aug to 10 Aug
£187
9 Aug - 10 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Venice. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a marina and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (1,173 reviews)
"We had a 3 night stay in July & it was excellent. We really liked the location of the hotel as it was in a more quieter location but still easy to walk to all the sites. We had a top floor room with a terrace which was great. Nice selection for breakfast. The staff at the hotel are great, really ..."

Reviewed on 26 Jul 2026

Palazzo Veneziano
Palazzo Dei Guardiani

Palazzo Dei Guardiani

Calle Dei Guardiani, 2405 Venice VE
The price is £172 per night from 11 Aug to 12 Aug
£172
11 Aug - 12 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this aparthotel in Venice. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a garden and concierge services. Popular attractions Piazzale Roma and Rialto Bridge are located ...
10/10 Exceptional! (187 reviews)
"Clean, modern, helpful staff. Would stay again. Nice in room amenities."

Reviewed on 23 Jul 2026

Palazzo Dei Guardiani
Palazzo Guardi

Palazzo Guardi

Sestiere Dorsoduro 995 Venice VE
The price is £93 per night from 23 Aug to 24 Aug
£93
23 Aug - 24 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this affittacamere in Venice. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (835 reviews)
"Nice place to stay although it was the middle of a heat wave and the air conditioning worked but not well enough to cool the room. The staff were very friendly and helpful and nice breakfast."

Reviewed on 25 Jul 2026

Palazzo Guardi
Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace

Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace

5 out of 5
960 Fondamenta Nani Venice VE
The price is £269 per night from 29 Jul to 30 Jul
£269
29 Jul - 30 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Venice. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property condition ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (715 reviews)
"Hotel is lovely, will definitely stay here again. Old architecture, beautiful and chic from inside. Staffs were great- everyone who works that place from hotel to restaurant make the hotel 5 star experience"

Reviewed on 26 Jul 2026

Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace
Antico Panada

Antico Panada

3 out of 5
Calle degli Specchieri 646 Venice VE
The price is £65 per night from 2 Aug to 3 Aug
£65
2 Aug - 3 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Venice. Enjoy free breakfast, room service and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
7/10 Good! (1,132 reviews)
"The hotel per se was fine. It’s an old property so I knew what to expect, the issue was the service, the staff at the front desk were rude and and ignorant, the ownership should definitely consider replacing them."

Reviewed on 26 Jul 2026

Antico Panada
Hotel Montecarlo

Hotel Montecarlo

3 out of 5
Calle Specchieri 463 San Marco Venice VE
The price is £116 per night from 25 Aug to 26 Aug
£116
25 Aug - 26 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this family-friendly hotel in Venice. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,355 reviews)
"It was a little hard to find, down a small street, but right in the middle of the action!"

Reviewed on 26 Jul 2026

Hotel Montecarlo
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Where to stay in Dorsoduro

Find the best Dorsoduro areas for the activities you enjoy most. Learn more about Dorsoduro
Learn more about Dorsoduro

Venice City Center

The stunning cathedral and charming cafes are just a few highlights of Venice City Center. Make a stop by St. Mark's Square or Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo while you're exploring the area.

San Marco

San Marco is beloved for its popular shops. Take some time to explore sights in the area like St. Mark's Square and Palazzo Contarini del Bovolo.

Cannaregio

A noteworthy feature of Cannaregio is its popular shops. While you're in town, be sure to stop and check out Casino of Venice and Ca' d'Oro Giorgio Franchetti Gallery.

San Polo

San Polo is known for its abundant dining options, and you can plan a trip to Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari and Palazzo Pisani Moretta while you're in town.

Santa Croce

Santa Croce is known for its charming cafes, and you can make a stop by Piazzale Roma and Venetian Museum of Natural History while in the area.



Dorsoduro Travel Guide

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