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
The price is ฿14,074 per night from 16 Sept to 17 Sept
฿14,074
฿15,826 total
16 Sept - 17 Sept
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! (1,200 reviews)
"Great experience! No issues noted! AC worked well during our stay! Very clean and beautiful rooms"

Reviewed on 2 Sept 2026

Palazzo Veneziano
Hotel Messner

Hotel Messner

3.5 out of 5
Dorsoduro 237 Venice VE
The price is ฿3,663 per night from 1 Oct to 2 Oct
฿3,663
฿4,297 total
1 Oct - 2 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Venice. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
4.8/10 (363 reviews)
"Beautifully located right around the corner from Santa Maria della Salute and not far from St. Mark‘s Square. The staff was friendly and helpful."

Reviewed on 30 Aug 2026

Hotel Messner
Palazzo Dei Guardiani

Palazzo Dei Guardiani

Calle Dei Guardiani, 2405 Venice VE
The price is ฿9,020 per night from 13 Sept to 14 Sept
฿9,020
฿10,230 total
13 Sept - 14 Sept
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! (230 reviews)
"Amazong value in the heart of Venice. While the canals feel cramped, your suite feels spacious. Great air conditioning to beat the extreme heat as well."

Reviewed on 2 Sept 2026

Palazzo Dei Guardiani
Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace

Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace

5 out of 5
960 Fondamenta Nani Venice VE
The price is ฿14,850 per night from 16 Sept to 17 Sept
฿14,850
฿16,718 total
16 Sept - 17 Sept
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 ...
Hotel Nani Mocenigo Palace
Palazzo Guardi

Palazzo Guardi

Sestiere Dorsoduro 995 Venice VE
The price is ฿7,451 per night from 13 Sept to 14 Sept
฿7,451
฿8,502 total
13 Sept - 14 Sept
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! (881 reviews)
"Hotel was little hard to find, kind of in the middle of nowhere. little disappointment with breakfast. Book the bigger room with balcony which was nice. bathroom height was very small. Breakfast okay 5/10 otherwsie everything else was good thank you"

Reviewed on 2 Sept 2026

Palazzo Guardi
Avani Rio Novo Venice Hotel

Avani Rio Novo Venice Hotel

4 out of 5
Calle Larga Ragusei Dorsoduro, 3489 Venice VE
The price is ฿13,844 per night from 28 Sept to 29 Sept
฿13,844
฿15,573 total
28 Sept - 29 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Venice. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (833 reviews)
"This was a girl trip. Hotel is in a good location. Everything was within walking distance. The most we walked was 30 minutes which didn’t seem long because there were shops you can see and sceneries along the way. The hotel is clean and staff are friendly and helpful. We had two rooms. Both rooms ..."

Reviewed on 30 Aug 2026

Avani Rio Novo Venice Hotel
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.

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 Ca' Pesaro Galleria Internazionale d'Arte Moderna while in the area.



Dorsoduro Travel Guide