Published 8 August 2026 · 4 min read
Choosing where to sleep in Venice makes the difference between a holiday in the middle of the crowds and one where you live the city like a local. Venice is divided into six sestieri, each with its own character: here's a quick guide and why, in our view, Cannaregio is the best choice.
🧭 The sestieri in brief
- San Marco — the monumental heart: beautiful but the most crowded and expensive.
- Dorsoduro — museums and student life, a pleasant atmosphere.
- San Polo and Santa Croce — central, around Rialto and the markets.
- Castello — large and residential, quiet towards the Giardini.
- Cannaregio — authentic and lived-in, well connected, with the calmest canals.
⭐ Why Cannaregio
- Authentic and residential: it's where Venetians live, among neighbourhood bacari and workshops, not just souvenir shops.
- Away from the crowds: the alleys and canals of the Madonna dell'Orto area stay quiet even in high season.
- Well connected: Santa Lucia station is a short walk away, and the Orto stop takes you to the airport and the islands.
- Everything on foot: Rialto and San Marco are 20–30 minutes away along Strada Nuova.
- Best value for money: you live an authentic Venice without the prices of the most touristy areas.
🏠 Our area: Madonna dell'Orto
Cà Letizia is in the quietest part of Cannaregio, near the church of the Madonna dell'Orto — the "Tintoretto church". A period Venetian apartment with original furnishings and a terrazzo floor, a few steps from the canals and the bacari banks. The real Venice, the one that stays with you long after the trip.
Curious how to get here once you've arrived? Read how to get to Cannaregio from the airport and our Venice guide from Cannaregio.
Stay in the real Venice
An authentic apartment in Cannaregio, away from the crowds. Send a request for your dates.
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