Hotel Heureka, Venice

Featuring just ten rooms, this is a boutique jewel, perfectly perched on the Maddonna dell’Orto Canal. It’s the ideal position to escape the central buzz, while still having direct access to the city’s floating wonders. Then, back at base, you’ll be treated to an ineffable sense of contemporary style that plays out over the elegant accommodation, cocktail bar and lounges, which simply ooze Venetian aristocracy.

You’ll begin each day with a fresh, Italian breakfast, taken in either the drawing room or garden. Then, at the opposite end, the bar offers seasonal snacks, alongside a full drinks menu of wines, liqueurs and cocktails. They’re ideal aperitifs, especially when taken under the shading trees.

In between, you’ll want to explore your spectacular setting. Tucked away in the vibrant district of Cannaregio, the Heureka has traditional trattorias, historic churches and plenty of faded merchants’ houses all on its canal-side doorstep. There’s also the rich heritage of the world’s oldest Jewish ghetto. The best way to reach this all? By water taxi, of course.

With this all in mind, it’s perhaps the hotel’s rooms that linger longest in your memory. Each is individually designed, with pastel tones and elegant fabrics recalling all the grandeur befitting this Venetian palace – something offset by plenty of unique eccentricity. Think cherry-wood marquetry, roll-top baths and some truly vibrant prints. The suites are especially impressive, given their views of the canal or garden.