Published : 26/10/22 | October 26, 2022
With its picturesque canals, legendary gondolas and winding streets, Venice is a beautiful, charming and evocative city loved by young people, visitors and tourists.
Unfortunately, its romantic beauty makes it one of the most visited places in the world and also makes it expensive. Everyone loves to spend time exploring the Renaissance palaces and historic squares of the city while eating endless amounts of ice cream, pizza and pasta.
The floating city's popularity can make it difficult to visit on a budget, but luckily there is a growing number of affordable hostels for backpackers and budget travelers. While they don't make Venice a super cheap destination, they can help you keep your budget intact while exploring this iconic Italian destination.
In this article, I will talk about the best hostels in Venice to make your trip easier. But before we dive into that, there are a lot of things to consider when choosing a hostel. After more than a decade of traveling the world, I've learned what makes a good hostel great.
The four main factors are:
- Location : Venice is a bit spread out between the mainland and various islands, which means exploring can take some time. Choose a location close to the sights you want to see and/or the nightlife you want to experience. All the hostels listed here are centrally located.
- The price . In Venice, you get what you pay for, so if you choose a really cheap hotel, you'll probably end up with a small hostel that doesn't offer good service.
- Benefits . Most hostels offer free Wi-Fi and some even include free breakfast, but if you want more, do your research to find the one that best suits your needs.
- Staff - All the hostels listed here have great staff! They are very friendly and competent. Even if you haven't stayed at any of the places below, check the reviews to make sure you're staying somewhere with helpful and friendly staff. They can make or break a hostel!
To help you plan your trip, here is my list of the best hostels in Venice. They all offer a welcome break and a welcoming and friendly place to mingle with other travelers while staying within your budget.
If you don't want to read the whole list, here are the best in each category:
Best hostel for budget travelers : a&o Venezia Mestre
Best hostel for digital nomads : a&o Venezia Mestre
The best hostel for families : a&o Venezia Mestre
Best hostel for solo travelers : Generator Venice
Best hostel for parties : Anda Hostel
Best hostel overall : a&o Venezia Mestre
Want to know more? Here is my complete list of the best hostels in Venice:
price per night)
- $ = less than 25 euros
- $$ = 25-35 euros
- $$$ = more than €35
1. Generator Venice
The Venetian hotel of the European chain Generator is located on Giudecca Island, just one vaporetto stop from the famous Piazza San Marco. Originally a grain warehouse, the building has been renovated in a rustic-chic style, with tiled floors, exposed brick, and even a chandelier and stone fireplace in the common room. They have dorms with 3 to 16 beds (and female dorms) as well as private rooms. In the rooms, each bed has its own reading light, socket and wardrobe (although you have to pay for a locker).
The cafe's open terrace along the canal is one of the best features of this place, overlooking the canal and the historic center of Venice. It's a great place to start your morning or unwind after a long day of hiking and offers a daily happy hour from 6:30am-8:30pm.
The only negative is that there is no kitchen or fridge if you want to cook or store food.
And while Generator Venice has a lot of common areas, the atmosphere is more like a hotel than a hostel (it's not even a super social hostel, since there are no hostels). organized events).
Venetian generator at a glance
- $$$
- Located on the main island
- Open bar/terrace with happy hour every evening
- Elegant hotel atmosphere
Beds from 55 euros, separate bedrooms from 125 euros.
2. Go to Venice
This award-winning hostel is super social and the best hostel in Venice, with nightly events like karaoke and beer pong, and DJ sets on weekends. Although located on the mainland, the historic center is easily accessible as it is only a few minutes' walk from the central station. Private rooms and dorms (including female-only dorms) are available. The beds in the rooms are equipped with a curtain, a lockable plug and a reading light. The mattresses are quite comfortable, although the pressure in the shower leaves something to be desired.
There's a 24-hour front desk, a bar/nightclub, and plenty of common areas, including a private courtyard with an urban garden and a workspace with Mac workstations in case you don't have a computer with you. . . This is a great and rare option if you work remotely and want to use a desktop computer, or if you don't travel with a laptop and want to use something other than your phone. There is also a (small) living room, a kitchen and a laundry room.
Guests also receive a 10% discount, a free welcome drink and a free city map when you are a HostelPass member.
Anda Hostel in a few words :
- $$
- Located on the mainland
- A social atmosphere with nightly events and a bar/disco at the hostel
- many common areas
Beds from 29 euros, separate bedrooms from 100 euros.
3. Estella S. Fosca
Perhaps Venice's most central hostel, Ostello S. Fosca is within walking distance of the city's main attractions, but also located on a quiet canal so you can get a good night's rest. Although there is not much of a social atmosphere, the staff are very friendly and willing to help you with anything you need.
Location and affordability are the main reasons to stay here, as the dorms are fairly basic with noisy (but clean) metal beds. Also, some rooms only have air conditioning, so it can get quite stuffy if you stay here in the warmer months.
However, this hotel is perfect if you are looking for a quiet and central stay. It is in a charming historic building with a large enclosed courtyard and patio for relaxing on sunny days. There's also a fully equipped kitchen and female-only shared rooms, and you can leave your luggage for free until the end of the day after check-out.
Please note that there is a €15 check-in fee after 20:00 and you are out of luck if you arrive after 22:00. If you know you will be late, it may be better to choose another hostel.
Estella S. Fosca in a few words :
- $$$
- great central location
- Fully equipped living room kitchen
- Calm atmosphere
Beds from 48 euros.
4. A&O Venecia Mestri
A&O is another large European hotel chain. There are actually two interconnected guesthouses here, but the facilities are more or less the same no matter which one you stay in (although there is only one shared kitchen, you may need to go next door to use it). They are located near the main train station, allowing easy access to the historic center of Venice.
Since the building is an entire block, there are many amenities, including a 24-hour front desk and many common areas, including a work space, children's play space and fully equipped kitchen. Breakfast can be had for 8.90 euros. If you are traveling to Italy by road, there is also parking, and if you are traveling with a pet, you can take it with you (provided you have a private room). There are also dormitories for women only. Bottom Line: Whatever you're looking for, you probably got it (party aside, it's a pretty quiet hotel).
Brief summary of a&o Venezia Mestre :
- $
- Lots of shared spaces, including co-working
- A large hotel with a hotel feel
- Guest kitchen and dining room with buffet breakfast (€8.90)
Beds from 21 euros, single rooms from 67 euros.
5. The combination of Venice
Although Combo Venezia positions itself as a hostel, it feels more like a boutique hotel than a traditional backpacker hostel. There are no dormitories, but private rooms and fully furnished apartments are available in a beautifully restored historic monastery. It's a good option if you're looking for more solitude than a traditional hostel and are willing to pay a bit more.
On the territory there is a bar-restaurant with an open terrace on the side of the canal, a 24-hour reception, a large enclosed courtyard, a common living room, a kitchen (as well as the kitchen in the apartment-type rooms), laundry and room cleaning, comfortable, modern rooms and all with bathrooms (with good water pressure!). With its central location in the Centro Storico, variety of amenities and modern rooms, you get a lot for what you pay for here.
Combo-Venice at a glance :
- $$$
- It is located in the historical center
- The atmosphere of a boutique hotel in a restored monastery
- Many common areas including a canal side terrace, a courtyard, a library and a lounge.
Independent rooms from 108 euros.
Although there are not many hostels in Venice (after all, it is a city known for its luxury), there is a wide variety. No matter what you're looking for, you'll be able to find one that fits your needs.
Whether you're looking for a quiet downtown hotel or a lively party spot, the City of Canals has something for every budget traveler. Use this list to help you find the perfect outfit so you can save money, have fun, and make the most of your time in Italy!
Book your trip to Italy: logistical tips and tricks
book your flight
Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights. It's my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines all over the world, so you always know that no stone is left unturned.
book your train
ItaliaRail is a great resource to use when planning your train travel in Italy. You can compare prices, routes and timetables and save up to 60% on your tickets.
Reserve your stay
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest selection and the best deals. If you want to stay outside of a hostel, use Booking.com as they always offer the lowest prices on hostels and hotels.
Don't forget travel insurance
Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft and cancellation. It is a complete protection in case something goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I have had to use it several times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- Security wing (best for everyone)
- Insure my trip (for people over 70)
- Media (for additional evacuation)
Looking for the best companies to save money?
Visit my resources page to learn which companies are best to use when traveling. I list all the things I use to save money when I'm on the go. They will also save you money.
Want more information about Italy?
Be sure to check out our trusted guide to Italy for more planning tips!
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