Most Venice hotels are planted deep in the maze of canals... But the Belmond Hotel Cipriani does the exact opposite. Located on the eastern tip of Giudecca Island, the hotel looks back across the lagoon at St Mark's Square, with three acres of fragrant gardens, a working vineyard and the only Olympic-sized swimming pool in central Venice. Opened in 1958 by Giuseppe Cipriani (the man behind Harry's Bar and the Bellini cocktail), it has been a favourite Venetian bolthole of Hollywood, royalty and the Biennale crowd ever since. Many of the staff have been there for decades and it really does show.
The rooms and suites span three buildings: the original Cipriani, the 15th-century Palazzo Vendramin (with butler service and views of St Mark's), and the more recent Palazzetto Nani Barbaro annex. The thirteen suites refreshed by Peter Marino lead the pack with their hand-picked antiques, contemporary artworks and marble bathrooms with deep soaking tubs. Most rooms come with a balcony or terrace, looking out over the water or the Casanova Gardens. The two-bedroom Palladio Suite, complete with a private dock and sunken plunge pool, is the most extravagant of all.
When the pool was built, the hotelier worked in feet and the architect worked in metres. In a very happy mistake, the mix-up gave Venice its only Olympic-sized swimming pool!
The mahogany launches that ferry guests across the water to St Mark's run round the clock. There's no last boat so stay out as late as you fancy and someone will always be there to bring you home.
Closed for winter, the Cipriani is strictly a March-to-November affair.
Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch
Belmond Hotel Cipriani can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Italy trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Italy trips featuring Belmond Hotel Cipriani or get advice and suggestions from one of our Italy specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at Belmond Hotel Cipriani start from around $1.3K, or US$1.3K, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
A slowly sinking city where gondolas glide along a labyrinth of enchanting canals.
/12.3422955461871,45.42667667618777,6/600x400?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoidGltYnVrdHV0cmF2ZWwiLCJhIjoiY2poMGw1eHpkMmRkbDJ6bW8xYWZ5OGpjYyJ9.PYvAO7lUJ40SOpGvwmQLqw&attribution=false&logo=false)
