Hotel Danieli

Hotel Danieli is one of the most famous hotels in Venice and among the oldest grand hotels in Europe. It occupies the Gothic Palazzo Dandolo, once home to the noble Dandolo family, together with two later buildings, on the Riva degli Schiavoni, the broad waterfront that runs east from St Mark's Square. In 1822 Giuseppe Dal Niel rented part of the palace and converted it into a hotel, and over the following two centuries it has welcomed a long line of writers, artists and royalty. It is now part of Marriott's Luxury Collection.

The heart of the hotel is the original palazzo, whose courtyard-like lobby has a grand staircase, marble columns and gilded balconies rising through the building. Rooms vary considerably between the historic palace and the newer wings, so it is worth checking which building you are booking. The best rooms face the lagoon, with views across the water to San Giorgio Maggiore. The Terrazza Danieli restaurant, high above the Riva, is known for its views over the basin of St Mark, and its cooking combines lagoon ingredients with spices that recall Venice's trading past. Bar Dandolo, in the old palace lobby, is a classic spot for a drink even if you are not staying.

Practical services include 24-hour room service, a fitness centre, lifts and accessible features, laundry and turndown. The hotel is pet-friendly, accepting one dog or cat of up to 8 kilograms per room. Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out by 12:00. The Danieli is entirely smoke-free.

The Danieli suits couples, special-occasion trips and travellers who want to be within a few steps of the main sights. Its position is hard to beat: the Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs are next door, and St Mark's Basilica is a short walk away. The flip side is that the Riva is one of the busiest stretches of the city during the day, though it calms down considerably in the evening.

Water taxis can pull up close to the hotel, and the San Zaccaria vaporetto stop, served by lines from the station, Piazzale Roma and the Lido, is right outside. The quieter streets of Castello, with their neighbourhood restaurants and churches, begin just behind the hotel.

When booking, compare the lagoon-view rooms in the original palace with those in the later wings, as the experience differs considerably. A drink at Bar Dandolo is a good way to see the lobby without staying.