Hotel Bauer Palazzo is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and is perfect if you're looking for a hotel in Venice with old-world luxury. Located a one-minute walk from St. Marks Square, Hotel Bauer Palazzo is central to everything you'll want to visit.
The hotel's waterfront terrace restaurant Pisis is a breathtakingly romantic place to dine, as it's located right on the Grand Canal. When you stay at Hotel Bauer Palazzo, you'll be able to experience all that Venice has to offer. You'll love the hotel's old-world atmosphere and appreciate its convenient location.
PROS
- Amazing Location
- Romantic
- Old World Charm
CONS
Slightly dated
- Renovations starting shortly & hotel will be closed for a period of time.
Style & Rooms
The best way to arrive at the Bauer Palazzo is by water taxi. On the Grand Canal side of the building, you have the gorgeous Venetian Gothic architecture that is incredibly romantic. If you arrive by waterbus, this also works as the entrance is only a short walk from the drop-off spot, but you then enter through a bland modern concrete façade, and you can't help but think, oh no! We did that, and I thought we had the wrong location, but when I entered the lobby, I realized I was in the right place.
The lobby is lovely, with its old-world luxury and giant art deco chandeliers made from Murano glass. There are lots of sitting areas around the ground floor that add a nice touch of character.
I found the hotel charming and enjoyed our room; however, I would put it at a 4* level, not 5*. Most of the reviews on TripAdvisor were very positive, but some complained that everything needed to be updated, which is true. Five-star hotels usually have a lot of small extras to make your trip memorable, either fruit and chocolate in the room or high-end toiletries; everything is generally top-end. The Bauer Palazzo was a bit lacking in that aspect.
Our room was very comfortable and quite big by European standards. The bathroom was excellent, with a large bathtub, shower, and incredible water pressure!
We had a large patio attached to the room, which in theory, was terrific, but it was a bit dreary with uncomfortable furniture, and we didn't stay out there too long. The view was lovely looking over the rooftops of Venice. For some reason, I love rooftops in Italy, so it didn't bother me at all that I wasn't overlooking the Grand Canal. Our view was lovely.
The hotel is dated, but they have a full renovation starting shortly. The hotel will be closed for much of that, but it's good to check ahead of time in case they are doing renovations while you plan to stay there.
Location & Sound
The Bauer Palazzo is in one of the best locations in Venice, literally a one-minute walk to St. Mark's Square.
The hotel sits on the Grand Canal with beautiful views; you can watch the gondolas float by while sitting on the restaurant's outdoor terrace. It's incredibly romantic.
I have been fortunate when visiting Venice, but I will only stay off-season. The streets in Venice are tiny, and it's one of those cities everyone wants to see, making the high season a complete nightmare for anyone with high sensitivity.
I was there in January, and it was wonderfully quiet during this visit. The other tourists were low-key, so there was no pressure from loud people or crowds. It would be chaotic in high season since it's next to St. Mark's square.
Dining
The hotel has one restaurant and two bars, one of which, Bar Canale, has a beautiful outdoor terrace right on the Grand Canal. The breakfast was excellent, the room was lovely, and there was a large selection of food.
The rooftop restaurant was closed the entire time we were there, so check ahead of time with the hotel what will be open during your visit.
Cruise Ships
Over the past few years, there has been huge controversy about cruise ships in the Venetian lagoon, and many people who live there want them banned. To get to the current docking station, the cruise ships must go down the lagoon and past St. Mark's square.
I know many people love cruises, but seeing a giant metal ship go down the lagoon is hideous. There are so many small boats already using it that it just seems insane to me.
If you are traveling to a port city where cruise ships dock, you must check which days they are docking before booking your trip.
I booked a trip to Dubrovnik a few years ago and did not check. I planned to walk the city walls and wander around one day not realizing a cruise ship had docked. There were so many people we couldn't do anything. All restaurants and tours were booked; it was a two-hour-long wait to walk along the city's walls. Walking through the main street was challenging- you couldn't walk without bumping into someone.
I got so agitated by it all we ended up walking back to the hotel. The maddening thing was that the previous day I had booked a day trip to visit Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
If I had checked I could have switched the days and missed the cruise ship completely. In other words, plan ahead. Create your daily itinerary before you leave for your holiday.
Amenities
- Old World Charm
- Location! 1-min walk to St. Mark's Square
- Pisis Restaurant overlooking the Grand Canal
- Bar | Lounge
- Sitting Room on the ground level
- Pool | Gym | Small Spa
- Free Wi-Fi
- Parking
Recommend For
- Romantic Luxury Break
- Foodies & Wine Tasting,
- History Lovers
How to Get There
& When to Go
Planes
Fly into either Marco Polo or Treviso airports. From Marco Polo, take the public ferry or a speedboat (an expensive option). From Treviso, it’s a 25-minute taxi journey or you can take the ATVO Eurobus which takes 80-mins.
Trains
Many trains go to Venice so this is an easy option. You can even take an overnight train from London or Paris to Venice! From the train station take the water bus, or book a water taxi.
Motorcar
Don't take a car to Venice, you will have to park on the mainland and take a waterbus.
Best Time to Visit
Offseason, I go really offseason – usually in Jan | Feb | March. Spring and Fall are also good but will be a lot more crowded.
Click HERE for the Expedia Venice Travel Guide
General
Information
Language
Italian, although each region has its dialect.
Currency
Euro
Cash | Cards
Most places accept credit cards but always carry cash. Shops in smaller cities, some car parks, and most parking meters only take cash. Use Visa or Mastercard with no foreign transaction fees in Italy.
Discover, Diners Club and American Express are not commonly accepted. ATMs are the best way to get cash.
Plugs
The standard voltage in Europe is 230 V; buy a travel adapter before leaving the US.
Italian Emergency
113 Italian National Polizia
115 Italian Fire Brigade
118 Health Emergencies
EU Emergency Number
Dialing 112 from any country in the European Union will connect you to emergency services, such as police, fire, and ambulance services. Dialing 112 is free; you can dial from any mobile phone, landline, or payphone.
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