Umbrellas at Bagno Marconi, one of about a dozen beach clubs on Lido di Venezia. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
When people think of Venice, its opulent palaces, winding canals and crooning gondoliers are what generally come to mind.
The world-famous Italian city is not known for its beaches. But Lido di Venezia, one of Venice’s 118 barrier islands, is almost exclusively beachfront and an easy day trip from Venice or nearby U.S. military bases in Vicenza or Aviano.
Of the more than 5.5 million tourists in 2023, only 2% went to Lido, according to the city’s official tourism data. That means refreshingly less busy streets compared to mainland Venice. Sidewalks are wide, and unlike the case on other Venetian islands, you can drive on Lido di Venezia.
The ferry from Tronchetto to Lido di Venezia passes the Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute in Venice, Italy. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
The ferry from Tronchetto to Lido di Venezia passes the famed St. Mark's Square, one of the showpieces of Venice, Italy. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
The 30-minute ferry ride from Tronchetto to Lido di Venezia passes some of Venice's most beautiful sites. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
If you’re visiting as a day trip from Venice, there are seven routes on the vaporetto, or water bus, that will allow you to reach the beach.
If you’re visiting from Vicenza or Aviano, you can take the train and then the vaporetto, or drive to Tronchetto and catch a ferry. Once at Tronchetto, about a 50-minute drive from Vicenza, you can park your car and take a vaporetto, or bring your car and take the ferry.
The ferry costs 21 euros per car, plus 9.50 per adult passenger. It’s best to book ahead of time if possible on the ACTV website to avoid spending hours waiting for space on busy summer weekends.
Lido di Venezia features iconic Venetian canals and architecture but is distinct from the rest of Venice, Italy, in that there are cars and wide sidewalks. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
The 30-minute ferry ride is gorgeous and worth the trip in itself, with the boat gliding past St. Mark’s Square and other Venice highlights. On arrival, there are a few shops and restaurants on the main drag, but the beaches are why most people visit.
The sandy side of the island stretches for about 6.5 miles. There are free beaches and a range of beach clubs. The free beaches of Murazzi, San Nicoletto and Alberoni have umbrellas for rent and concession stands but do not charge an entrance fee.
The free section of Blue Moon Beach allows visitors to bring their own chairs and umbrellas, and a nearby concession stand is convenient for buying snacks. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
At Blue Moon on the island of Lido di Venezia, patrons can rent single beach chairs, umbrellas or cabanas. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
Blue Moon is the closest beach club to the ferry and is very family-friendly. It offers a pool, playgrounds, showers, clean bathrooms, restaurants and bars, and entry gets you a chair and umbrella or cabana. Nearby, Des Bains is a more luxurious option.
Prices vary depending on the type of chair and day of the week. At Blue Moon, they start at around 18 euros per person, and it’s 50 euros per person and up at Des Bains. There are about a dozen additional options along the water.
For those who prefer other activities besides just lounging on the beach, there are numerous bike rental stores around the island. Visitors can bike to the Alberoni Dunes, a protected site with a free beach, pine forest and kingfishers.
The Lido beaches are sandy and shallow for a long stretch, making them ideal for families. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)
It feels worlds away from the palatial summer homes and buzzy beach clubs on much of the island.
I don’t golf, but the course along the dunes is supposed to be quite nice.
After a day of sun, catch the ferry home or spend the night. There are dozens of hotels on the island in all price ranges.
If you’re staying, watch the sunset with a glass of wine at Villa Laguna then head back to the main strip, where bars and restaurants liven up as soon as the beach clubs close.
