If you want to spend your vacation in a unique place, I recommend you visit the Lido beach in Venice.
Here you can swim and enjoy your free time to the full.
Lido Beach in Venice: article summary
Where's the beach in Venice?
Venice's main beach is officially known as Venice Lido. In addition to 11 km of sandy beaches, the Lido is also home to numerous green spaces and many magnificent hotels.
Lido beach is on the other side of the main lagoon, so the only way to visit is by boat. Fortunately, it's very easy to using public transport.
How do I get there?
To get there, you can leave from Piazzale Roma. Some vaporetto take you straight there. These include :
Line 5.1 circles the city in an anti-clockwise direction, taking just over 30 minutes to get to Lido from Piazzale Roma. Returning to Piazzale Romathen take line 5.2 in the opposite direction. If you're going the wrong way, it will take about 50 minutes each way.
Line 6 is an express waterbus that also circumnavigates the city, albeit less frequently. It will take a little less than 30 minutes to reach the Lido.
Line 1 is perfect if you want to see the great sights of Venice on the way, you can take line 1 straight up the Grand Canal, it will take about 60 minutes to reach the Lido and being the main line of river busit will be very busy.
From San Marco, you can take line 14. This is the fastest line, as it goes directly to the Lido, but note that it leaves from the nearby San Zaccaria stop, not from San Marco ATV's main stop.
How much does a ticket to Venice's Lido beach cost?
Water buses in Venice cost €7.50 for a single trip. Tickets are valid for 75 minutes, so you'll probably need to buy two. It may be worth worth considering a 24/48/36-hour ticket. These cost respectively :
- 20 € for 24 h
- 30 € for 48 hours
- 40 € for 36 hours
If you travel on line 14, you can get a round-trip ticket to the beach for €13, which also allows you to use the local buses on the Lido, although it's a bit more expensive. You're unlikely to use them if you're simply visiting the beach.
What to expect on Venice beach
From the main Lido SME vaporetto station, it's a 10-minute walk to the beaches.
The Lido beaches stretch over 11 km along the Adriatic SeaThe beachfront is open to all, but there are also a number of beach clubs along the stretch of sand.
The main beach club, Blue Moon, is free and features a bar and café, toilets and showers.
However, most beach clubs charge for access to certain areas. You can usually rent sunbeds and umbrellas, or some of the more upmarket clubs offer beach cabins that you can rent for the whole season.
Escape the tourists
One of my favorite reasons for visiting Venice's Lido beach is to escape the hustle and bustle of central Venice.
Venice is notoriously overcrowded, especially in high season. The beaches are relatively unknown, so this is an excellent way to spend a few days in Venice in a peaceful setting.
As well as visiting the beach, I recommend exploring the rest of the Lido. It has a great local vibe with lots of family businesses and beautiful green spaces.
Activities at the Venice Lido
There's plenty to do on Venice's Lido. You can :
Cycling. Unlike the main city of Venice, the Lido has roads and is ideal for cycling. What's more, there are a number of places offering bike rentals close to the main vaporetto station.
Enjoy the Film Festival. If you're visiting in early September, the Lido becomes a hub of activity, as it hosts the Venice International Film Festival, the world's oldest film festival. It takes place in the historic Palazzo del Cinema, right next to the beaches.
Spending part of your vacation on the beaches of Venice's Lido is an exceptional moment that I recommend you experience at least once during your trip. You'll come back with with plenty of memories.
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