Ostello Domus Civica, Venice

Domus Civica is a relaxed hostel and our stay there was an overall positive experience. The staff are very friendly and allow you to store your luggage before and after check-in until late (and use the shower, if you so wish).

The Location

The hostel is rather easy to find using online maps. If you've previously seen a picture of the outside, it's hard to miss, as it has a distinct shape. It's also only a ten-minute walk from Venezia S. Lucia, which is handy when you have a heavy backpack.

Rooms and Bathrooms

Our stay was in a three-bed room. Doors are locked with a key, and each tenant of the room is given one that the hostel keeps hold of whenever you leave (so there's no chance of losing them!). In the daytime, you can hear tourists outdoors, but by night it quiets down. There are no lockers in the rooms. They provide you sheets, a pillowcase, and a towel, and there are also drawers and a wardrobe, which is a nice touch. The room is comfortable and quiet, with a ceiling fan that is helpful in the July heat. Windows close with shutters, which do block out all the light.

There are four floors of rooms and at least three bathrooms with a shower in each, so there's plenty of space and we didn't ever have to compete for a shower. The water pressure is so-so, but the water is hot and everything is clean and spacious.

Common Spaces

There are bookshelves, two common rooms, a gorgeous terrace with seating on the fourth floor that overlooks the rooftops of Venice, and a spacious dining room. The common room on the ground floor has a piano, TV, and board games. During our stay, a number of people were watching football together. We only stayed one night and were busy most of the day, but we can see that with some effort you could definitely meet others by lingering in the common room/kitchen. However, the hostel isn't lively. Guests are polite and vary from young to old.

The kitchen has a fridge, tables and chairs, and a microwave, but little else. The lift is a bizarre, old contraption that has saloon doors and a metal cage that must be closed in order for it to work.

Summary

Domus Civica is perfectly clean and comfortable, but nothing special. It is a wonderful, calm base away from the manic crowds of Venice, but if you seek a livelier or more characteristic hostel, perhaps look elsewhere. But for the price, this is a great stay.