Venice isn’t a city you just see—it’s one you feel. The slow sway of the canals, the faded grandeur, the echo of footsteps through empty alleyways. But for 48 hours, I did Venice differently—posted up across the water on Giudecca, in the industrial-luxe calm of the Hilton Molino Stucky.
Once a flour mill, now a five-star hideout, this place sets the tone before you’ve even checked in. Arriving by water taxi from Marco Polo Airport (expect to pay €150 for the private ride, but it’s worth it), I pulled straight up to the hotel’s private dock—no crowds, no fuss, just that cinematic sweep of the lagoon as you step off the boat.
The Room: Elevated in Every Way
I stayed in a King Executive Room with a view—and what a view. A large window opened wide to the lagoon, framing the rooftops of Venice and letting in the soundtrack of boats gliding by and the low hum of city life on water. There’s something about hearing Venice before you see it that just hits different. Inside, the room struck the right balance between old-world elegance and modern comfort. With Executive Lounge access included, there were also plenty of quiet corners to recharge with drinks and light bites, well away from the crowds.
The Rooftop: Venice, Reframed
You haven’t seen Venice until you’ve seen it from the Skyline Rooftop Bar. Perched on top of the hotel, it’s the highest bar in the city and easily one of the best vantage points in the game. Think golden hour spritzes, a 360° view that slides from the rooftops of Dorsoduro to the endless blue of the Adriatic, and a vibe that feels more Mykonos than mainstream Venice.
The Local Beat: Giudecca Over Grand Canal
While the crowds queue for gondolas, I kept it low-key on Giudecca Island, where locals eat well for less. Around the corner from the hotel are a handful of unassuming trattorias serving the kind of no-fuss Italian that makes you want to cancel your flight home—pasta pomodoro, grilled seafood, a carafe of house wine for under €10. No reservations, no need to dress up, just vibes.
What to Do in Venice
If you do leave the charm of Guidecca, hit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection—a compact but heavy-hitting gallery housed in her old palazzo, right on the Grand Canal. Afterwards, cross the bridge and head to Campo Santa Margherita. It’s a student-heavy square that comes alive after dark—think spritz bars, cicchetti joints, and a younger, grittier side of the city most tourists skip.
A trip to Murano is also a must. It’s touristy, yes, but watching the glassblowers in action—pulling molten fire into delicate forms—is still pure magic. Just take the vaporetto over and go early before the tour groups hit.
And don’t sleep on the street spritz game. Grab a takeaway Aperol from one of the many cafe bars and sip as you wander—if you’re canny, you can scoop one for as little as €3.50. It’s the ultimate move: cocktail in hand, no agenda, Venice unfolding around you.
The Wrap-Up
Venice will always be Venice. But basing yourself at the Hilton Molino Stucky puts you just far enough off the map to see it differently—slower, cooler, more connected to the local rhythm. From rooftop drinks to backstreet bites, this is how you do 48 hours in the floating city without getting lost in the cliché.
Book the boat. Order the spritz. Watch the sun drop behind the domes. Venice, reimagined.
Nightly rates at Hilton Molino Stucky Venice begin at €240 per night based on double occupancy with breakfast included. Molino Suites start from €590 per night. For more information or to book visit hilton.com/en/hotels/vcehihi-hilton-molino-stucky-venice/.
