Excellence Luxury Villas · San Marco
Luxury Villa Rentals in San Marco
Apartments and penthouses in old palazzi, a few minutes' walk from St Mark's Square and the Grand Canal
As featured in
The ceremonial heart of the Serenissima, after the crowds go home
San Marco was the political and ceremonial centre of the Venetian Republic for more than a thousand years, and most visitors already know it from pictures: the gold mosaics of the Basilica, the pink and white Doge's Palace, the Campanile above the square that Napoleon is said to have called the drawing room of Europe. The pictures don't show how quiet it gets after the day boats leave. Late at night you can cross the Piazza and hear little more than the café orchestras packing up.
Our San Marco collection runs to 100+ apartments in and around the sestiere, mostly in old palazzi. There are flats with canal views off quiet campi, penthouses with roof terraces looking across the Bacino to San Giorgio Maggiore, and a few larger homes of up to 6 bedrooms for families travelling together.
Here is how to make the most of the sestiere, and when to come.
San Marco at a glance
- Apartments
- 100+ apartments and penthouses, with up to 6 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £2,400 to £5,600 a week, from around £2,200
- Highlights
- St Mark's Basilica, the Doge's Palace, the Campanile and La Fenice
- Best time
- April to June and September to October; Carnival in the weeks before Lent
- Getting there
- Marco Polo airport, around 30 minutes by private water taxi
Browse all 100+ properties in San Marco
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Rent Apartment Veronese Italy3 bedrooms
Villa Smeraldo Giudecca San Marco: Luxury 4-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview in San Marco – Venice4 bedrooms
Palazzo Leoncini San Marco: Luxury 5-Bedroom Apartment with Canal Views – San Marco Venice5 bedrooms
Palazzo Rialto San-Marco: Exquisite 4-Bedroom Apartment with Grand Canal Views – San Marco4 bedrooms
Mosaics, doges and a well-timed spritz
Piazza San Marco is home to most of the Venice you came for. The Basilica, with its golden mosaics and bronze horses (the originals are now kept inside), stands beside the Doge's Palace, where the Secret Itineraries tour leads through hidden offices to the cell from which Casanova escaped. The Campanile, rebuilt after it collapsed in 1902, has a lift to the top.
It's all about timing. If you're staying in the sestiere, you can see the Basilica first thing before the queues form, and take an evening drink at Florian, open since 1720, once the square has emptied. Our concierge can book private guided visits.
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La Fenice and the quieter campi
West of the square, the lanes lead to La Fenice, the city's opera house. It has burned and been rebuilt more than once, most recently reopening in 2003 after the fire of 1996. Calle Larga XXII Marzo has the smart shops, and the Mercerie wind north towards the Rialto Bridge.
Further on, Campo Santo Stefano is one of the broadest and sunniest squares in Venice, and Palazzo Grassi shows contemporary art on the Grand Canal. The Scala Contarini del Bovolo, a spiral staircase tucked into a courtyard, is worth seeking out.
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Bridges, ferries and Palladio
Water bounds San Marco on two sides, which makes it an easy base for the rest of the city. The wooden Accademia Bridge crosses the Grand Canal to Dorsoduro, the Gallerie dell'Accademia and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Traghetti, gondola ferries that Venetians ride standing up, cross the canal at several points.
From San Zaccaria, vaporetti cross the Bacino to Palladio's San Giorgio Maggiore. Its bell tower has perhaps the best view of San Marco itself. Boats also run out across the lagoon to Murano and the Lido.
Browse apartments in Dorsoduro
Cicchetti, Bellinis and the tides
Venetians eat standing up as often as sitting down. Bacari serve cicchetti, small plates of baccalà mantecato or sarde in saor, with an ombra of wine. Harry's Bar, where Giuseppe Cipriani created the Bellini, is a short walk from the Piazza. Order risotto al nero di seppia, black with cuttlefish ink, at least once.
Spring and early autumn are the kindest months. Carnival fills the square with masks before Lent, and the Redentore brings fireworks over the lagoon in July. In late autumn and winter, acqua alta can flood the Piazza, though the MOSE barriers now hold back the worst tides. Our concierge can arrange water taxis, gondolas, opera tickets and restaurant tables.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in San Marco
Villa Ambrato Dorsoduro San Marco: Luxury 4-Bedroom Townhouse with Air-Con & Family-Friendly Comfort – Venice4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £8,806 a week
Palazzo Rialto SanMarco: Elegant 3-Bedroom Apartment with Sea Views – San Marco Venice3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £7,651 a week
Palazzo Fenice San Marco: Spacious 4-Bedroom Luxury Apartment with Canal Views – San Marco4 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £7,371 a week
Palazzo Greci San Marco: Spacious 4-Bedroom Apartment with Canal Views – San Marco4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £7,364 a week
Palazzo Angelo San Marco: Elegant 3-Bedroom Penthouse with Seaview & Terrace – San Marco3 bedrooms · sleeps 7From £7,098 a week
Villa Levante Castello San Marco: Luxury 2-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview – San Marco Venice2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £7,035 a week
Palazzo San Maurizio: Elegant 2-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview – San Marco2 bedrooms · sleeps 5From £7,014 a week
Villa Alba Sant’Elena San Marco: Spacious 3-Bedroom Apartment with Stunning Seaview – San Marco3 bedrooms · sleeps 7From £6,958 a weekWhy book your apartment in San Marco with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
In San Marco a few lanes can be the difference between a quiet campo and the Piazza's crowds, and we know which apartments are closest to the water taxi stops and which look over the lagoon. With 100+ properties in San Marco, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Private water taxis from Marco Polo, gondola rides, private guided visits to the Basilica and the Doge's Palace, tickets for La Fenice, restaurant tables and boat trips to Murano and the Lido. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in San Marco?
The lanes just behind St Mark's Square put the Basilica and the Doge's Palace on your doorstep. The streets around Campo Santo Stefano and the Accademia Bridge are quieter and more residential, and the Rialto end suits those who want the bridge and the market close by.
When is the best time to visit San Marco?
April to June and September to October bring mild weather and fewer crowds than high summer. Carnival, in the weeks before Lent, is spectacular but busy, and the Redentore fireworks in July are a very Venetian night out.
Does St Mark's Square flood?
The Piazza is one of the lowest points in Venice, so it is the first place to flood during acqua alta, which is most common in late autumn and winter. The MOSE flood barriers, in use since 2020, now hold back the highest tides, and our concierge will keep you informed during your stay.
Can you arrange a private chef at a apartment in San Marco?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in San Marco cost?
Across our 100+ properties in San Marco, weekly rates typically range from £2,400 to £5,600, with the most affordable from around £2,200 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to San Marco from the airport?
Marco Polo airport sits on the edge of the lagoon. A private water taxi reaches San Marco in around 30 minutes, and the Alilaguna water bus takes longer. By train, you arrive at Santa Lucia station and take the vaporetto down the Grand Canal.
Are there apartments in San Marco for large groups?
Yes. Our San Marco collection includes properties with up to 6 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your apartment in San Marco
100+ apartments in and around San Marco, booked direct with our concierge on hand