Cipriani, A Belmond Hotel, Venice

Cipriani sits on the island of Giudecca, overlooking the water. It is a twenty-minute walk from St Mark's Square and twenty-five minutes from the Doge’s Palace.

While many hotels in Venice cling to the claustrophobic lanes of the main island, this property uses its isolation to its advantage. The location on Giudecca means you trade the constant thrum of day-trippers for the sound of boat traffic on the lagoon. It feels like a different city entirely, and that distance from the Fondamenta Zattere is precisely what makes the outdoor pool a viable place to rest rather than a mere novelty. It is a quieter, more deliberate way to experience the city than staying within the crushing radius of the major sites.