Posted date: 10/26/22 | October 26, 2022 With its picturesque canals, famous gondolas and winding alleys, Venice is an incredibly charming and beautiful city popular with honeymooners, backpackers and cruisers alike. Unfortunately, its romantic beauty also makes it one of the most visited destinations in the world – and it also makes it pricey. Everyone wants to spend time exploring Renaissance palaces and historic city squares while eating endless amounts of gelato, pizza and pasta. The floating city’s popularity can make it a bit difficult to visit on a budget, but fortunately, there are a growing number of affordable hostels for backpackers and budget travelers. Although they won’t make Venice a cheap destination, they can help keep your budget the same while exploring this popular Italian destination. In this post, I will share the best hostels in Venice to help facilitate your trip. But before diving in there are a lot of things to consider when choosing a hostel. After more than a decade of backpacking around the world, I’ve learned what makes a good hostel great. The first four factors are: Location – Venice is slightly spread out between the mainland and the different islands, which means it can take some time to get around. Choose a place close to the sites you want to see and/or the nightlife you want to experience. All hostels listed here are centrally located. Price – In Venice you get what you pay for, so if you go with a really cheap hostel you will probably get a hostel that is tight and doesn’t provide great service. Amenities – Most hostels offer free Wi-Fi, and some include free breakfast, but if you want more than that, find the one that best meets your needs. Staff – All the hostels listed here have great staff! They are very friendly and knowledgeable. Even if you don’t stay at one of the places listed below, look up the reviews to make sure you end up in a place where the staff is helpful and friendly. They can make or break an inn! To help you plan your trip, here is a list of the best hostels in Venice. They all offer a welcome respite and a relaxed, friendly place to hang out with fellow travelers – all while keeping your budget intact. If you don’t want to read the entire list, the following is the best in every category: Best hostels for budget travelers: a & o Venezia MestreBest Hostel for Digital Nomads: a & o Venezia MestreBest Hostel for Families: a & o Venezia MestreBest Hostel for Solo Female Traveling : Generator Venice Best Party Hostel: Anda Hostel Here is my comprehensive list of the best hostels in Venice: Price (per night) $= less than 25 EUR $$ = 25-35 EUR $$$ = over 35 EUR 1 The Generator Venice European chain Generator is located on the island of Giudecca, just one stop on the Vaporetto Taxi from the famous Piazza San Marco. Originally a granary, the building has been restored in an elegant country style with tiled floors, exposed brick and even a chandelier and stone fireplace in the common room. They have dorms with 3-16 beds (and female-only dormitories) plus private rooms too. In the dorms, each bed has its own reading lamp, socket, and locker (although you have to pay for the locker). One of the best features of this place is the outdoor terrace of the hostel café along the canal, with views across the canal of Venice’s Centro Storico (the historic centre). It’s a great place to start the morning or unwind after a long day of exploring, and hosts happy hour every day from 6:30-8:30pm. The only downside is that there is no kitchen or fridge if you want to prepare your own meals or store food. And despite a variety of common spaces, Generator Venice has more of a hotel feel than a hostel feel (it’s also not a super social hostel as there are no organized activities). Generator Venice at a Glance: $$$ Located off the main island, outside bar/terrace with happy hours at night with an elegant hotel feel with beds from €55, private rooms from €125. Book a gun generator here! 2. Anda Venice This award-winning hotel is very social – the best party hostel in Venice, with nightly events like karaoke and beer, and DJ sets on the weekends. Although it is located on the mainland, it is easy to get to the historic city center, being only a two-minute walk from the central train station. There are private rooms and dorms (including female-only dorms). The bunk beds have a privacy curtain, socket, wardrobe and reading lamp. The mattress is very comfortable, although the pressure of the shower leaves little to be desired. There’s a 24-hour front desk, a bar/club, and plenty of common areas too, including a private patio with an urban garden and a co-working area, which has workstations with Macs when you don’t have a computer with you. This is a cool and uncommon feature if you’re working remotely and want to use a desktop, or if you don’t travel with your laptop and want to use something other than your phone. There is also a guest kitchen (small) and laundry on site. Visitors also get a 10% discount, a free welcome drink, and a free city map if you’re a HostelPass member. Anda hostel overview: $$ Set in the social atmosphere of the mainland with nightlife and hostel bar/club Lots of public areas from €29 beds, private rooms from €100. Book Anda Venice here! 3. Ostello S. Fosca Arguably the most central hostel in Venice, the Ostello S. Fosca is within walking distance of all the city’s main sights, yet also tucked away on a quiet canal so you can get a good premium of rest at night. Although there is not much social atmosphere here, the staff are very kind and eager to help with anything you need. The location and reasonable price point are two of the main reasons to stay here as the dorms are very basic with noisy (but clean) metallic beds. Also, there are air conditioners only in some rooms so if you stay here in the hotter months it can get quite stuffy. However, this hostel is very nice if you are looking for a quiet stay in a central location. It is located in a beautiful historic building with a huge enclosed outdoor patio and a plaza to relax in on nice days. There’s also a fully equipped kitchen and female-only dorms, and you can leave your luggage here for free for the rest of the day after you check out. One thing to note is that there is a €15 check-in fee if you arrive after 8pm, and you will have no luck if you arrive after 10pm. If you know you will be arriving late, it may be best to choose another hostel. Ostello S. Fosca at a Glance: $$$ Great central location Fully equipped guest kitchen Quiet atmosphere Beds from €48. Book Ostello S. Fosca here! 4. A&O Venezia Mestre A&O is another large European hostel chain. There are actually two inns connected here, but the facilities are fairly similar no matter where you stay (although there is only one communal kitchen, so you may have to go next door to use it). It is located next to the main train station, making it easy to get to the historic center of Venice. As the building is a full-fledged apartment block in town, there are plenty of amenities here, including a 24-hour front desk and several common areas, including a co-working space, children’s play area, and a kitchen with a daily-everything Breakfast for 8.90 euros. If you are touring in Italy there is also parking available and if you are traveling with a pet you can bring one (if you get a private room). There are also female-only housing. In short: No matter what you’re looking for, an A&o will probably have it (except for a party – it’s a fairly quiet inn). A Quick Look at Venice Mestre: Several common areas, including the co-working space, a huge inn with a hotel-like atmosphere. Book A & o Venezia Mestre here! 5. Combo Venezia While the Combo Venezia is a small hotel, it feels more like a boutique hotel than a traditional backpacker hostel. There are no dorm rooms here, but instead affordable private rooms and fully furnished apartments in a beautifully restored historic convent. It’s a good option if you’re looking for more privacy than a traditional hostel and are willing to pay more. There is an on-site bar-restaurant with an outside terrace right along the canal, 24-hour front desk, huge secluded patio, communal guest kitchen (plus kitchens in apartment-style rooms), laundry facilities, and clean, comfortable, modern rooms, They all have en suite bathrooms (with good water pressure!). Given the central location in Centro Storico, and the range of modern amenities and rooms, you get a lot for what you pay here. Combo Venezia Overview: $$$ Centrally located in the ambiance of the Centro Storico Boutique Hotel in a huge restored convent Several common areas, including a canal-side terrace, courtyard, library, lounge and private rooms starting from €108. Book a combo Venice here! *** Although there aren’t many hostels in Venice – it is a city known for luxury, after all – there is a great variety of hostels already in existence. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll be able to find what fits your needs. Whether you are looking for a quiet stay in a central location or a raucous party setting, there is something for every type of budget traveler in Canals. Use this list to help you find what works for you so you can save money, have fun and make the most of your time in Italy! Book Your Flight to Italy: Logistics Tips and Tricks Book Your Flight Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. 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 untouched! Book Your Train Compare prices, routes and timetables and save up to 60% on your tickets. Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld because they have the largest inventory and the best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com because it constantly shows the cheapest rates for guest houses and hotels. Don’t forget travel insurance Travel insurance will protect you from illness, injury, theft and cancellation. It is a comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I’ve never gone on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it a few times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and the best value are: Are you looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my Resources page for the best companies to use when traveling. I list everything I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money, too. Want more information on Italy, be sure to visit our robust Italy destination guide for more planning tips!
