Hotel Galleria

Ideally situated right at the base of the Accademia Bridge on the Dursoduro side, the charming Hotel Galleria offers some of the city’s cheapest rooms with direct views onto the Grand Canal.

The one-star Hotel Galleria is a sweet old place with antique furnishings, creaky hardwood floors and an old-fashioned simplicity. They also are notable for offering probably the cheapest views on the Canal, all either opening to the Galleria dell'Accademia (Venice's most important art museum), the Accademia Bridge or the Grand Canal.

The hotel’s nine rooms are tastefully decorated in pretty, rich colors, with coordinating fabric wallpaper and bed coverings. Beds, tables, and dressers are lovely antique pieces, and old prints hang on the wall (mostly copies of pieces in the Accademia Gallery, next door). But the big draw here are the views outside your windows.

We found its "regular" doubles a bit too tight for our tastes (one was positively comical—you had to squeeze yourself around the bed to view the canal), but if you can pay just a bit more, you can score a "Big Double." We say: Seriously consider it.

Amenities are few here. Rooms have a ceiling fan, a minibar (with complimentary beverages), free Wi-Fi, and little else. Note that there is neither air conditioning nor TV. Most rooms have private bathrooms while the cheapest share facilities in the hallway. Either way, bathrooms are a bit dated but very clean. A hairdryer is available in each room.

Breakfast, included in the room rate, is served in your room. Note that the hotel does not have an elevator, and all rooms are located up 12 steps to the main floor.