Venice Lido (Lido di Venezia)

The Basics

The Lido island’s northern half is home to the Venice Film Festival, a smattering of stylish hotels, the Venice Casino, and a host of restaurants and nightlife spots. Toward the island’s south, an impressive golf course welcomes visitors looking to get out on the green. In the center of the island are two large public beaches perfect for relaxing under the sun along Italy’s Adriatic Sea, and the Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta, a popular destination for shopping, entertainment, and uninterrupted ocean views.

You can use a hop-on-hop-off Venice sightseeing boat tour to visit the Lido, or an Alilaguna boat transportation pass. Otherwise, opt for a private tour of Venice’s outlying islands, including Burano, Murano, Giudecca, and the Lido.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Most of the beach is reserved for guests of the Lido hotels; if you are not staying in one of these, head to the public beach at the end of the Gran Viale.

• Kids who need a break might enjoy a few hours of outdoor activities and water sports at the Lido beach.

• The vaporetto (water bus) services in Venice are all accessible to wheelchair users, though the city itself is a challenge to navigate.

How to Get There

You can reach the Lido by taking the vaporetto from Piazza San Marco that travels up the Grand Canal and getting off at the Santa Maria Elisabetta stop. Alternatively grab a private water taxi.

When to Get There

Venice gets very crowded during the summer months (from June to September), so if you want mild weather and smaller crowds, the best times to visit the area are spring and fall. The annual Venice Film Festival is held from late August to early September.

The Venice Lido Beach

The Lido beaches can be crowded in summer, but the water is clear and gentle due to a number of breakwaters sheltering the shoreline. The beach clubs are elegant and well outfitted, providing everything from “huts”—large cabins with a veranda and an awning—to simple deck chairs and umbrellas.

Ways to explore

Whatever your favorite approach to rest and relaxation, Lido has you covered. The island’s beach resorts and two south-end public beaches are the island’s most popular draws, where you can soak up the sun or get lessons in surfing and stand-up paddleboarding. Alternatively, you can find everything from casinos and nightlife to an impressive golf course and plenty of boutique stores to keep them entertained. If you’re still in the mood for sightseeing, bike tours are a popular way to explore the long, drawn-out island and its various cultural landmarks and scenic viewpoints.

Accessibility

Lido is generally more barrier-free than the main Venice islands; some beaches have wheelchair-accessible ramps.

Age limits

All ages are welcome, and Lido is a good family-friendly option for kids who need a break from sightseeing.

What to pack

Towels, sunscreen, water bottle, swimwear

What to wear

Flip flops, sun hat, sunglasses

Not allowed

Many beaches charge an entrance fee that grants access to their facilities; if you don’t want to pay for beach access, seek out Lido’s public beaches.

Amenities

Bike rental, free parking, supermarkets, cinema

Address

The barrier island of Lido separates the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea and is a short distance from the edge of the Castello district. A vaporetto (water bus), ferry, or private water taxi is the only way to visit.

Driving

Take the #17 car ferry from the Tronchetto ferry terminal to take your vehicle over to Lido. Find parking along Via Sandro Gallo, the main road.

Public transportation

Many vaporetti run from Venice to Lido, but the most useful are lines 1 and 5.1, which leave from San Zaccaria to the Lido S.M.E. pier. Local island buses leave from outside the ferry terminal.

Best times to visit

Visit early in the day to avoid the afternoon heat and growing throngs of visitors that arrive as the day goes on.

Best days to visit

Expect the Lido to get busier over the weekend as people flock to the island to make the most of its beaches.

Best months to visit

Summer draws many people to Lido’s beaches, so visit in April, May, or October for mild weather and smaller crowds.

Special events

Lido hosts the prestigious Venice Film Festival at the end of summer each year, which typically takes place from late August to early September.