The centre of all the action
San Marco is one of the smallest neighbourhoods – or sestieri – of Venice, but it’s jam-packed with famous icons and landmarks. What comes to mind when you think of Venice? The Doge’s Palace. St. Mark’s Square. The Basilica and the Campanile…. You’ll find them all right here in San Marco.
This really is the beating heart of Venice city, and the highlight of its historic centre. During the day, it’s filled with travellers who come to cross the Bridge of Sighs and float along the Grand Canal in a traditional gondola. By night, as the crowds thin out, a different side of the city shines through.
San Marco after dark is a world apart from its hectic daytime energy, with an old-world charm edging its way in. Street lights reflect off the still waters of the canals, and soft music drifts from the chilled-out wine bars. San Marco captures everything great about Venice; its excitement, and its grace.
If you’re searching for a city centre hotel, San Marco, Venice, is the best place to start looking. Slap bang in the middle of all the action, you’ll be just moments from Venice’s best-loved attractions. Yet as the sun sets, you’ll experience a more authentic central Venice that many never get to see.
Just so you know, the local government of Venice has introduced a new regulation so that the city doesn’t become overcrowded and is enjoyable for those visiting. For each day on the last week of April (27-30 April) and the first week of June (1-4 June), as well as every weekend (Fri-Sun) from 3 April – 26 July 2026, entry to the city of Venice between 8.30am and 4pm is subject to payment of the Venice Access Contribution fee.
If you’re staying within the city of Venice and paying the Tourist Tax, you won’t need to pay the access fee, but you’ll need to register for a QR code as proof of your stay. Or you can also print and fill a self-declaration form. Anyone under the age of 14 is also exempt but may need to show proof of age.
To register for your QR code, please follow these steps:
- Head to the official website https://cda.ve.it/en/ and click “Exemptions”
- Select "Access exemptions" and then “I am a guest of an accommodation facility located in the municipality of Venice”
- Select “Request exemption”, enter your arrival and departure dates and provide answers to the other questions about your personal information
- In the data entry screen, add the name and address of where you’re staying
- Add names of other guests under “Add holder”
- Once you’ve completed the online form and added all necessary info, you’ll receive your QR code electronically – be sure to keep this safe and accessible on your device so you can show it as and when required
Explore our map of San Marco