Residenza del Doge

Located to the east of the Grand Canal, the San Marco neighborhood is the city's commercial, tourist and religious core. The magnificent Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) and Saint Mark's Basilica rightfully attract wandering tourists (and hungry pigeons) like a magnet. The area around the glorious Rialto Bridge on the north side of the district is a beautiful, bustling mess, where boats unload, tourists amass and stores and street vendors hawk everything from upscale fashions to €1 Carnivale masks and snowglobes.

Between the landmarks, countless churches, restaurants, shops and sights make San Marco the busiest neighborhood in Venice. Things calm down a bit around the southern part of San Marco near the Accademia Bridge, in the area surrounding Campo San Stefano. Dominated by the San Stefano church, the streets on the southern end are filled with performers, little shops, restaurants and far fewer tourists.

Sleeping in San Marco: Although the district is packed with hotels, most of these aren’t really on our radar as they tend to be either four- and five-star numbers housed in former palaces or uninteresting chain hotels with predictable rooms (and unpredictable rates). Most budget travelers, therefore, look to neighboring Castello for a better deal.

However, there are a few notable hotels in San Marco that still offer a great value. Our favorites from the list below include the Hotel Ai do Mori (a Cheapo classic literally across the street from St. Mark’s Square), and the Albergo San Samuele (budget boutique near San Stefano).