What the Venetian and Palazzo are
The Venetian opened in 1999 on the site of the demolished Sands, and its sister tower the Palazzo followed in 2007. Together they form one enormous connected resort with more than 7,000 suites, the largest hotel complex in the world by some counts, along with the Grand Canal Shoppes mall, two casinos, a convention centre and, since September 2023, Sphere directly behind the Palazzo. The Venetian side reproduces St Mark's Square, the Campanile, the Rialto Bridge and the Doge's Palace at something near full scale; the Palazzo side is more generic contemporary luxury.
Las Vegas Sands sold the property in 2022 to Apollo Global Management and VICI Properties, and it now operates independently of any large casino chain, with its own loyalty programme (Venetian Rewards). It sits on the east side of the boulevard at Sands Avenue, on the boundary between the Center Strip and the North Strip, across from the Hard Rock construction site and Treasure Island.
Free: the canals, St Mark's Square and the street performers
The Grand Canal Shoppes on the second level are the attraction here: a quarter-mile indoor canal winding under a painted sky, lined with 160 shops and restaurants, opening into a replica St Mark's Square where opera singers, living statues and costumed performers work the crowd through the afternoon and evening for free. The gondoliers sing as they pass, and just standing on one of the bridges for ten minutes is a good use of time.
Outside, the Venetian's frontage with its outdoor canal, the Rialto Bridge and the Campanile is one of the more photogenic bits of the Strip, especially at dusk. The Palazzo's atrium has a two-storey waterfall and seasonal floral displays that rival Bellagio's Conservatory on a smaller scale. Everything is open long hours and none of it costs money.
The gondola rides and Sphere
The gondola ride is the signature paid attraction. Indoor rides on the Grand Canal and outdoor rides on the lagoon out front last about 12 to 15 minutes, with shared boats around $35 to $40 per person and private two-seat boats around $140 to $160 as of 2026; check the official site, because prices and outdoor availability change with the weather. Book the same day at the kiosks or online; the outdoor ride is better at sunset and the indoor one is better for hearing the gondolier sing.
Sphere is the 366-foot LED-covered venue built by the Venetian's former owners and connected to the Palazzo by a pedestrian bridge from the convention centre side. The exterior is free to stare at from the Sands Avenue side; the Sphere Experience film and concert residencies inside cost roughly $70 to $300 as of 2026. Staying at the Palazzo puts you a five-minute indoor walk from the doors. Full details in the attractions hub.
Dining highlights
The line-up is strong at every price point. Bouchon by Thomas Keller in the Venezia Tower does the best breakfast on the Strip and a serious French bistro dinner. Delmonico Steakhouse (Emeril Lagasse) is a long-standing classic. Mott 32 in the Palazzo is exceptional modern Cantonese and the place for Peking duck. Estiatorio Milos does Greek seafood by the pound. Yardbird (Southern) and Grand Lux Café (24-hour, everything) cover the mid-range; Black Tap and the Grand Canal Shoppes food court handle the cheap end.
For a drink, the Dorsey is a proper cocktail bar off the casino floor, and the Rosina in the Palazzo has a button on the table that summons champagne. Prices, reservations and how these rank against neighbours are in the dining hub.
Pools, casino and the vibe
The Venetian and Palazzo have separate pool decks on their fourth and fifth floors, with 10 pools between them, including the adults-only Aquatic Club at the Palazzo. The Venetian pool has a more classical layout; the Palazzo deck is greener and quieter. Tao Beach Dayclub at the Venetian is the party option. Pools are for guests only and follow seasonal hours; cabanas run from around $200 on a weekday to well into four figures for holiday weekends.
The casinos are large, bright and comfortable, with table minimums in the $15 to $50 range depending on time of day. The Venetian poker room is one of the biggest in the city and popular with mid-stakes players. Tao Nightclub at the Venetian has run since 2005 and still draws crowds. The overall vibe is convention-crowd polished during the week and upscale-tourist at weekends, calmer than the Cosmopolitan but livelier than Wynn.
Suites and who should stay here
Every room is a suite. The Venetian's standard Luxury Suite is around 650 square feet with a sunken living room, and the Palazzo's start around 720 square feet with a slightly more contemporary look. Both were renovated in stages through 2023 and 2024; ask for a renovated room. Rates as of 2026 run roughly $200 to $450 midweek and $300 to $700-plus at weekends, plus a resort fee of around $50 plus tax. The room size is the value proposition: nothing else on the Strip gives you this much space at this price.
The Venetian suits families and groups who want room to spread out, convention attendees (the Sands Expo and the LVCC are both adjacent), Sphere-goers and shoppers. It suits fewer people who want the Bellagio-to-Cosmopolitan walkable core, which is 20 to 30 minutes south, and fewer people on a tight budget. Compare in the hotels hub.
Parking, fees and getting there
Self-parking is in the large garage behind the Palazzo off Koval Lane and Sands Avenue; the Venetian charges non-guests and most guests a daily rate of roughly $18 to $25 as of 2026, with exemptions for higher Venetian Rewards tiers and Nevada residents. Valet is available at both towers. The garage is also the one most people use for Sphere events, so expect congestion before and after shows.
The Harrah's/LINQ monorail station is a 10-minute walk south. From LAS, a rideshare takes 20 to 25 minutes and runs $25 to $35. On foot, Wynn is 10 minutes north across Sands Avenue, Treasure Island 10 minutes across the boulevard, Caesars Palace 15 to 20 minutes south and the Fashion Show mall 10 minutes north. The transportation hub covers the Deuce bus stop out front and every other option.