Venice is the most romantic city in the world. It is also one of the most crowded. Hotel Cipriani solves that paradox with a single, elegant move: it sits across the water on the tip of Giudecca island, where gardens, a vast swimming pool and the hush of the lagoon replace the jostle of the bridges. Whenever you want the city, a hotel launch runs you over to St. Mark's Square in about five minutes. When you have had enough, it brings you back to a sanctuary that feels more Riviera than Rialto.
The hotel was opened in 1958 by Giuseppe Cipriani, the legendary founder of Harry's Bar and inventor of the Bellini, with financial backing from three daughters of the Guinness family. It has been a byword for Venetian glamour ever since, hosting film stars and royalty. Today, under Belmond, it pairs that heritage with fresh energy, including a Michelin-starred restaurant, a new Dior spa and the largest pool in Venice. For honeymooners, it is the rare city hotel that also works as a resort.
Highlights at a glance
- Opened in 1958 by Bellini inventor Giuseppe Cipriani
- Largest swimming pool in Venice, heated and garden-framed
- Complimentary launch to St. Mark's in about five minutes
- Michelin-starred Oro and waterfront Cip's Club
- Newly opened Dior Spa
- Lagoon views across to San Giorgio Maggiore
An Island Across the Basin
Giudecca is a long, slender island just south of the main body of Venice, separated from it by the wide Giudecca Canal. The Cipriani occupies its eastern tip, looking directly across the water to the Doge's Palace, the domes of San Giorgio Maggiore and the Salute church. It is one of the great views in Europe. You will see it from the pool, from your balcony and from your dinner table.
The property spreads through several buildings and the private Casanova Gardens, which feel almost impossibly lush for Venice. Among the buildings is the 15th-century Palazzo Vendramin facing the lagoon. A private marina and the hotel's own launches mean you never wait for a crowded vaporetto. Arriving here by water taxi from the airport, gliding up to the hotel's private dock, is a moment you will both remember.
Rooms and Lagoon Suites
There are around 80 rooms and suites, ranging from classic double rooms to junior suites, suites and a handful of signature suites. Interiors combine Venetian tradition, such as rich fabrics, glass chandeliers and antique furniture, with the comfort expected of a grand hotel.
For a honeymoon, a lagoon-facing room or suite is the upgrade that pays off. Watching the light change on San Giorgio Maggiore from your own window is hard to beat, especially at sunrise and sunset. The signature suites, the largest of which exceed 2,000 square feet, are the biggest splurge, some with terraces made for a private dinner. Garden-view rooms are quieter and lovely too, especially if you plan to spend your days out exploring the city.
Oro, Cip's and Venetian Aperitivo
Dining is a central reason to stay. Oro, designed by Adam Tihany and overlooking the lagoon, holds a Michelin star and serves refined, creative interpretations of Venetian cooking. Book it for your most special evening.
Cip's Club, on a floating pontoon on the Giudecca Canal, is the hotel's most atmospheric address, with waterfront tables facing St. Mark's; it tends to stay open later into the autumn than the rest of the hotel. Il Porticciolo by the pool serves casual lunches, while Bar Gabbiano is the place for cocktails and poolside snacks. Of course, at the hotel founded by the man who invented the Bellini, ordering one at sunset is practically mandatory. Newer additions include Ristorante San Giorgio and Bacaro Dior, a nod to the classic Venetian wine bar.
Why guests fall for it
The Pool, the Gardens and Dior Spa
The heated outdoor pool, added in 1968, is famous as the largest in Venice. Swimming laps with the bell towers of the city on the horizon is a uniquely Cipriani experience. Surrounded by gardens and loungers, it is where many guests spend their afternoons recovering from long mornings of sightseeing.
The newly opened Dior Spa Hotel Cipriani brings a fresh layer of luxury, with treatments that are ideal after days of walking on stone streets and climbing bridges. There is also a tennis court, boutiques and the lovely Casanova Gardens to wander. In a city where green space is rare, these gardens feel like a secret shared between the two of you.
Why Guests Fall in Love
Guests consistently say the Cipriani gives them the best of both worlds: the city of Venice on their doorstep and genuine peace when they come home each evening. The complimentary launch to St. Mark's is praised again and again, as is the ability to leave the crowds behind simply by crossing the water.
The pool is another recurring highlight, a true rarity in Venice. Reviewers also rave about polished, old-school service, with staff who remember preferences and handle every request with grace. Evenings at Cip's Club watching the sun set behind the domes get just as much praise. Many couples describe the hotel as the most glamorous place they have ever stayed.
Good to Know
- Seasonal timing matters: Hotel Cipriani closes for part of each year and is currently closed, so check its reopening date before booking.
- Venice is a walking city of bridges and steps, so pack light. Once you leave the hotel's launches behind, you may be carrying bags over a bridge or two.
- Venice charges a nightly tourist tax, typically added to your hotel bill.
- Pack comfortable shoes for exploring and something elegant for evenings.
Getting There and Around
From Venice Marco Polo Airport, a private water taxi to the Cipriani's dock takes about 30 minutes and is one of the most cinematic arrivals in travel. From Santa Lucia train station, it is about 20 minutes by water taxi. The hotel can arrange either.
Once settled, use the complimentary launch to St. Mark's for sightseeing, dinner reservations and evening strolls. Vaporetto stops on Giudecca also connect you to the rest of the city and the outer islands. Ask the concierge to arrange private tours of the Doge's Palace or St. Mark's Basilica, a gondola ride through quieter canals or a boat day to Burano and Torcello.
Insider tips
- Request a lagoon-view room facing San Giorgio Maggiore for the sunrises.
- Book Oro well ahead for your special night and Cip's Club for a sunset table.
- Use the launch to reach St. Mark's early in the morning before day visitors arrive.
- Order a Bellini at Bar Gabbiano at least once; it was invented by the hotel's founder.
