This place – or, shall we say, palace – couldn’t be more Venetian. Overlooking the Cannaregio Canal, the creamy façade might look simple but step within and you’ll be plunged into a maze of neoclassic frescoes, gilded mirrors and ornate stucco detailing. Romantic, luxurious and opulent are the watchwords, which is why it’s popular with honeymooners and weddings; subtle, it is not. Make time to sink an Aperol spritz at the al fresco snack bar right on the water.

If a sweeping view of the San Marco basin is on your wish list, make for Hotel Londra – the rooftop turret is one of the highest in the area, and affords a 360-degree panorama of Venice, including over those sparkling waters. A picnic-style lunch up here is an essential part of any stay, though you’ll also want to reserve at least one meal for the elegant Do Leoni main restaurant. Come for Festa del Redentore in July and you’ll have five-star views of the fireworks.

As much art gallery as it is a hotel, Baglioni Luna is a real looker, with delicate chandeliers, patterned wallpaper and bouquets of orchids. The location is prime too, right next to Piazza San Marco, which means you can tackle its sights and popular Caffè Florian first thing in the morning, well before the tourists pour in. Arrive in the most Venetian of ways, by boat; water taxis can pull up outside the hotel entrance.

Welcome to a Venetian legend. Once the home of Andrea Gritti, doge of Venice, the Gritti Palace occupies a postcard-perfect spot at the mouth of the Grand Canal. Built in 1475, the hotel was restored in 2013 without detracting from the 15th-century character. Gold trim, marble walls and priceless artworks create an ambience of old-world glamour that hides state-of-the-art tech. Enquire about your room location, as some face away from the canal onto a quiet courtyard.

What if one palace isn’t enough? Hotel Danieli combines three Venetian palazzi from the 14th, 19th and 20th centuries for a total of 204 rooms. Take your pick from a Venetian Gothic suite with a sleek marble bathroom, or a luxury double room with a balcony and a view of the lagoon. Here, even the most modest of double rooms have Murano glass chandeliers. The hotel also has great water-transport links, and the central Piazza San Marco is a few steps away.

Palazzo Venart may be young, but this five-star stunner in Santa Croce is serious competition for its older, more established counterparts. With just 18 rooms occupying a sensitively restored 16th-century palazzo, it has a boutique vibe. Each room has been individually decorated, from the Carnival Room that pairs original painted ceiling beams with brightly coloured Venetian masks to the 538sqft Grand Canal Suite that features a gilded lounge with parquet floors and, of course, canal views.

Located on a private island in a southern lagoon, the JW Marriott Venice Resort and Spa was originally a 1920s sanatorium. These days, it serves as a relaxing and luxurious retreat away from the tourist crush. There’s a full roster of experiences on offer, including Venetian-cookery lessons at the in-house Sapori Cooking Academy, yoga classes, wine tastings, a fully equipped spa and three swimming pools. Venice is 20 minutes away via a complimentary shuttle service.

Stepping into the Belmond Hotel Cipriani is like walking into the lifestyle of the rich and famous, where an Olympic-sized pool, private butlers, fine wines and tennis courts await. The luxurious spa looks onto the intimate Casanova Gardens where, it is said, the legendary lothario courted his lovers. The Michelin-starred restaurant, Oro, has seafood dishes so delicate, they’re assembled using tweezers. You’re some distance from the centre here, but a free ferry ride will get you there quickly.

Just a couple of streets from Piazza San Marco, the 18th-century Venetian-gothic Bauer Palazzo brings together the best of Venice in sumptuous decoration – Murano glass chandeliers, period furniture and silk textiles by Rubelli and Bevilacqua. The rooftop restaurant, Settimo Cielo (Seventh Heaven), has the highest terrace in Venice, with unrivalled views of the Campanile di San Marco. There’s also a lovely canal-side bar – perfect for evening cocktails.

Once the home of the aristocratic Sagredo family, the Ca’ Sagredo Hotel is for art lovers. Every inch of this 15th-century palazzo is brimming with fine details, making a stay here akin to sleeping in a museum. The canal-facing Library Suite retains the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that once held the collection of Zaccaria Sagredo, an 18th-century patron of the arts; and the Art Suite is a masterpiece of 18th-century stucco.