Hotel Excelsior, Venice
Hotel Excelsior, located on the picturesque Venice Lido, is a masterpiece of Belle Époque and Moorish architecture. Designed by architect Giovanni Sardi and commissioned by entrepreneur Nicolò Spada, it opened in 1908 with a legendary party for 3,000 guests. Since 1932, it has famously served as the heart of the Venice Film Festival, hosting global icons from Winston Churchill to modern-day A-list movie stars.
The hotel is celebrated for its exotic design, featuring grand crystal chandeliers, ornate arches, and an atmosphere of timeless Venetian glamour. As the only beachfront resort in Venice, it offers a unique escape from the city’s dense tourist areas, complete with private beach cabanas and a stunning outdoor heated pool. Inside, history and cinema collide; the “Stucchi Room,” for example, was even a filming location for scenes in the classic movie Once Upon a Time in America.
Its location on the Lido offers the best of both worlds. While it feels like a tranquil seaside retreat, it remains perfectly connected to the main city. The hotel provides a complimentary private water shuttle that whisks guests to Piazza San Marco in just 15 minutes.
Beyond the hotel, you can explore the Lido’s historic Art Nouveau villas or visit the ancient complex of San Nicolò. For those heading to the main islands, iconic landmarks like St. Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the winding canals of central Venice are easily reachable, making it an ideal, sophisticated base for any Venetian getaway.
Expert reviews
“The grand dame of the Lido island, built in 1908, the Excelsior is the single focus for the glamorous Venice Film Festival — little wonder, when it has a swish private beach, restaurant with sweeping views of the Adriatic, and decadent Moorish design in the guestrooms to match the turreted, tumbling façade.”
“One of the classic luxury hotels of Venice; the Excelsior mixes grandeur with a touch of the exotic. With its exclusive golden beaches and sea-view terraces, it embodies all the bygone charm and glamour of the Lido.”
What guests liked
- Water taxi
- Friendly staff
- Excellent Wifi
- Great location
- Comfortable beds
Location
Recent guest reviews
11 August 2025
We have stayed at many hotels around the world and of sure stayed at better hotel.
Nothing to dislike perfect stay brilliant hotel.
Nothing
27 July 2025
Amazing the shuttle sevice and the hotel
Property
The fact that Eventhoug you wete staying htere
The sumbeds amd beach tents were super expensive , similar for people that were not in the hotel
10 July 2025
wonderful stay beside the beach
as usual everything is excellent
pool doesn’t open until 9am
10 July 2025
luxury stay beside the sea
beautiful room, super comfortable beds, very nice swimming pool and beach, great cocktails at the bar
pool doesn’t open until 9am
1 July 2025
Excellent. A beautiful hotel in a great location.
A superb grand old hotel away from the hectic chaos of Venice.
Reception staff seemingly always on the phone.
9 June 2025
amazing place, lovely people, nice rooms food also great
cabanas, pool and location amazing
u cant eat near the pool and should have complimentary boat shuttle to and from airport
31 May 2025
Just a perfect week away in a wonderful hotel where every member of staff was friendly and efficient
Cannot praise this hotel any higher. A wonderful week's stay.
Only one comment ...better lighting over the bathroom mirror and also over shower/bath, would be an improvement. But it did not worry us that much.
29 May 2025
Absolutely fantastic experience
Location and facilities
27 May 2025
My only future hotel in Venice.
Honestly a stunning property with impeccable design at every point.
Nothing. It’s perfect
12 May 2025
A beautiful relaxing hotel at a splendid hotel on The Lido, Venice
Beautiful hotel, great pool. ALL the staff were polite and friendly. It was pure luxury throughout our 3 day staff. We will return.
Nothing
4 May 2025
Perfect in every way and planning a trip back soon
It was perfect !
We loved the hotel, and the history of it , our room and the communal areas, pool and private dock were all stunning.
Most of the time we were the only ones using the boat service to Venice and it was amazing arriving and leaving saint marks square like that .
The staff were all wonderful and helpful, breakfast selection was huge and the food quality was good.
Very clean hotel and grounds, the staff and the service were impeccable
We were in a classic room and it was twin beds but we had booked a large one , this was the only gripe
4 May 2025
5 star beach holiday
location, swimming pool, historic hotel, room with balcony and seaview. beautiful view from terrace overlooking the beach and sea, great cocktails and good food. Staff are friendly and it warmed our hearts that they recognized us from our previous visit.
1 May 2025
Stunning location, brilliant staff and stylish hotel
Stunning location, exceptional service from all staff, regular transfers into Venice and great food.
Nothing
15 October 2024
Excellent Venetian Hotel on the Lido Beach with regular boats to St Marks
The location is on the Lido, and the hotel has a free boat that takes guests to and from St Mark's Square every half hour throughout the day.
The Excelsior is on the beach allowing for both sunbathing and culture in the same day !
Nothing springs to mind.
28 September 2024
Beautiful old school luxurious Venice. Great value for money
If you’re looking for old school luxurious Venice this place is for you. Beautiful grounds and lovley staff, this hotel exudes old school wealthy Venice and its wonderful.
It’s lovley. Great value for money
26 September 2024
Historic Hotel on the beach
Beautiful and historic hotel. Rooms spacious and comfortable.
On the beach and with a 30m swimming pool, gym and a great bar on a terrace overlooking the sea. The staff are wonderful and the food excellent. Shuttle boat to Piazza San Marco.
Swimming Pool opening hours: 9am to 7pm. It would be great if it opened at 7am or even 8am, 9am is really late. We would have liked to swim before breakfast.
23 September 2024
Outstanding experience that exceeded expectations.
We were given an upgrade to the junior suite facing the sea which was fabulous. The breakfast was amazing. Location superb. The hotel is beautiful and so iconic. Wonderful to be so close to the sea. The complementary regular boat to San Marco was an unexpected bonus.
15 September 2024
Relaxing stay by the beach
beautiful historic hotel, friendly staff, excellent bar and restaurant, fabulously large heated swimming pool and beautiful beach,
pool opening hour not until 9am; no coffee machine in classic rooms
28 August 2024
great holiday in the beautiful hotel
Beach is excellent. Quite and beautiful. Delicious breakfast. Room is spacious . the only problem is an old air condition.
old condition and shower
26 August 2024
Beautiful stay in the Lido
The hotel is very beautiful, staff attentive and a calm oasis away from the mania of Venice
The drinks and food at the hotel were very expensive, it drove us away from the hotel and to other establishments during the evening/afternoons when we would have like to stay. Also the bar furniture was looking a bit tired. Ripped armchairs etc
18 August 2024
Great experience. Will come back again.
Great property. Excellent location. Fantastic staff. Great Experience.
Nothing.
22 July 2024
A relaxing beach vacation at a full service hotel
The beach cabanas and comfortable beds/sheets
The food was expensive
14 July 2024
We uad a wonderful stay.
Lovely. Traditional. Good food.
No aircon at breakfast time! Very uncomfortable.
6 July 2024
Beautiful hotel in a gorgeous location.
Beautiful hotel in a lovely location. Easy 15 minute access to Piazza San Marco via the hotel’s complimentary shuttle boat. Gorgeous historical building with lovely features. Room was spacious and comfortable. Pool was great. The bar with views over the water was lovely. Breakfast was very good.
€40 per night parking fee was expensive.
22 June 2024
Excellent base from which to explore Venice by day and relax in the evenings away from the crowds
The free launch into Venice every half hour until late evening (11pm)
The blue Bar in the evening
18 June 2024
very good choice
good location with shuttle for Venise and sea very close
a little bit old fashioned hotel
27 May 2024
Perfect way to visit Venice and have some relaxed time at the beach
Directly at the beach. Nice break from busy Venice
Very cold in restaurant (end of April), lot of mosquitoes in the room
26 May 2024
A beautiful stay, one we were sad to leave and would most definitely return for another stay.
A beautiful hotel, old school Hollywood glam with its film festival connections, and an amazing location right on the beach. Stunning views from our sea view room, lovely size room, spacious and very clean. The pool and terrace areas are beautiful, lots of space and places to relax. Food is great, all of the staff around the hotel are super helpful and friendly and go out of their way to ensure you have a great stay. Breakfast is plentiful and eating outside is a great way to start the day. The free boat service to and from Venice is an excellent perk of the stay, the boats are beautiful and it’s magical to pull into San Marco or back to the hotel dock. There really is no where else to stay if you’d like some relaxing time as well as a city break. We’ll definitely return!
The bathrooms could do with a little upgrade, but perhaps it’s part of the charm of the hotels heritage. Non complimentary water, tea and coffee in the room was a shame given the cost, would have been very welcome rather than having to pay extra for standard basics.
26 May 2024
Lovely location, good facilities
Lovely communal areas.
Bedroom’s are very dated. Extremely expensive for food and drinks.
11 May 2024
an exceptional place in the world
the incredible atmosphere of more than a century that this building has experienced, the beautifully renovated rooms, the sea view rooms have a breathtaking view, the sea is clean, the pool is heated and the half hourly shuttle to San Marco makes the Excelsior the best place in Venice, the restaurant is very good
It was my about 20th stay in Venice and combined with a very exceptional Biennale the best. Thank you to room service manager Adriana for the great service and help.
even though the season hadn't started yet, the hotel was quite busy and the restaurant capacity was quite small
1 October 2023
Amazing, I hope to be back soon
This is a real 5 star hotel. It’s beautiful with spacious rooms, delicious breakfast and with plenty of staff to serve you everywhere. It’s the perfect place to relax with family or as a couple
Nothing
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Breakfast in the room
- - Snack bar
- - Special diet menus (on request)
- - Kids' meals
General
- - Room service
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Family rooms
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Packed lunches
- - Car hire
- - Heating
- - Air conditioning
- - Shuttle service (free)
- - Airport shuttle (additional charge)
Business facilities
- - Meeting/banquet facilities (additional charge)
- - Business centre
- - Fax/photocopying (additional charge)
Reception services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Luggage storage
- - Concierge service
Activities
- - Tennis court (additional charge)
- - Fitness centre
- - Golf course (within 3 km) (additional charge)
- - Windsurfing (additional charge)
- - Private beach area (additional charge)
- - Kids' club (additional charge)
- - Beachfront
- - Personal trainer
- - Beach
- - Happy hour (additional charge)
- - Cooking class (additional charge)
- - Live music/performance
- - Live sport events (broadcast)
- - Aerobics
Outdoors
- - Garden
- - Terrace
- - Outdoor pool
- - Outdoor pool (all year)
Entertainment & family services
- - Babysitting/child services (additional charge)
Cleaning services
- - Laundry (additional charge)
- - Dry cleaning (additional charge)
- - Ironing service (additional charge)
- - Daily housekeeping
Pool and wellness
- - Pool with view
- - Heated pool
- - Pool bar
- - Sun loungers or beach chairs
- - Sun umbrellas
- - Swimming pool
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Security alarm
- - Fire extinguishers

More photos

17 August 2025
We had an amazing stay at Excelsior, can’t wait to return