Giudecca / Zitelle

Generator Venice

★★★★★

The cheapest way to wake up with a view of St Mark's is to stay at Generator Venice. The hostel occupies a restored historic granary on the Fondamenta delle Zitelle, on the Giudecca, the long island across the Giudecca canal from the city, and the waterfront in front of it looks straight across the water to San Marco, the Doge's Palace and San Giorgio Maggiore. Inside, it combines the original brick walls and timber beams of the old warehouse with the playful design that the Generator brand is known for, and it is a social place, with a bar, café and restaurant at its heart and a programme of events and happy hours. Accommodation ranges from large and small dorms, all en-suite or with shared bathrooms depending on the room type and all limited to adults over eighteen, to private rooms, including deluxe doubles and family rooms for four or five with canal views and en-suite bathrooms, which make it a genuine option for budget-conscious families and friends travelling together. Reception is open twenty-four hours, Wi-Fi is free, and there are laundry facilities, luggage storage and a travel shop. In the warmer months, a terrace bar on the Giudecca adds an outdoor spot for an evening drink. Booking direct has offered perks such as breakfast and discounts on food and drink, so compare before booking elsewhere. The Zitelle vaporetto stop is a few steps away, with Line 2 and Line 4.1 connecting directly to the railway station, Piazzale Roma and San Marco.

The Giudecca trade-off: staying across the water means every trip into the city involves a short vaporetto ride, so a multi-day travel card is essential, and late at night you will need to check the last boats. In return you get some of the best views in Venice, a quieter, residential island with its own waterfront restaurants and supermarkets, and prices far below anything comparable in the historic centre. The ride from the Zitelle stop to San Zaccaria near St Mark's takes only a few minutes.

Choosing a room: solo travellers and young groups will find the dorms good value and sociable; the female-only dorm is an option for women travelling alone. Couples should book a private double with a canal view, and families can take a family room with its own bathroom. Air conditioning and en-suite bathrooms are not in every room type, so check the details for summer stays. Dorms are adults-only.

Who it suits: backpackers, students, budget-conscious couples and families, and anyone who would rather spend their money on gondolas and cicchetti than on a room. While on the Giudecca, walk the waterfront to Palladio's Redentore church, and in July, the island is the place to be for the Festa del Redentore fireworks. Next door to the hostel stands the church of the Zitelle, attributed to Palladio, and a walk west along the Giudecca waterfront leads past the Redentore to the far end of the island, where the rooftop bar of the Hilton Molino Stucky makes a memorable splurge for a sunset drink. The Venice Gardens Foundation also opens a restored monastery garden on the Giudecca to ticketed visits, a green, quiet contrast to the hostel's sociable buzz.