5 best things to do in Lido Venice

I was fortunate to spend a birthday in the scenic Lido of Venice (Lido di Venezia).

With its laid-back vibe, and vacation feel, it was a perfect location to celebrate a special occasion.

But, there are other good reasons to visit Lido Venice, the best of which I'll be sharing right here.

In this travel guide, I'll be listing the 5 best things to do in Lido Venice, most of which you can do in 1 day.

Where is Lido of Venice?

Lido di Venezia is an island in the Venetian Lagoon in north-east Italy.

Situated to the east of Venice's main islands it acts as a barrier between the lagoon and the Adriatic Sea.

The island is accessible by water buses (vaporetti) from Venice and other parts of the lagoon. If visiting by car, you can travel directly using the ferry service from the mainland.

What is Lido of Venice famous for?

Most visitors come to Venice to see Piazza San Marco, for Carnival in February or to visit other islands like Murano.

However, come September, these sights are set aside temporarily and it’s Lido di Venezia that takes center stage.

The Lido is well-known for its beaches, luxury hotels, and the Venice Film Festival, which takes place every year.

Welcoming big-name movie stars like George Clooney and Brad Pitt from across the globe, you might have seen photos/video of A-list celebrities rocking up to the lido in a water taxi.

But when visiting Lido of Venice outside this period, it's business as usual for the island and for its locals.

This travel guide will show you how to enjoy this side of the island sans the glitz and the glamour.

Why you should visit Lido Venice

One of my top Venice day trip recommendations, Lido of Venice is a must see when visiting Venice.

Not only is it easy to get to from the mainland, but the atmosphere is also much calmer compared to Venice.

Lastly, Lido of Venice is an island for the locals. Inhabited year round, you'll see and get a taste of local life and are less likely to spot kitsch touristy souvenirs.

If that sounds like your kind of destination, use this post to help plan your trip to Italy. 

How to get to Lido of Venice

Lido Santa Maria Elisabetta (S.M.E) is the vaporetto stop for Lido of Venice.

The vaporetto is the most popular, and cheapest, way to get around Venice (see how to use the vaporetto). This ticket is for a single vaporetto ride but there are more economical options if you're stay longer in Venice.

Depending on which vaporetto you take, a direct ride from Piazzale di Roma to Lido of Venice can take around 40 minutes.

Piazzale di Roma is the main port from which the buses arrive and depart for Venice Marco Polo airport.

From here, it's also possible to take a vaporetto directly to Murano, Burano and Torcello.

How to get around Lido of Venice

Stepping off the boat at S.M.E is a welcoming sight.

The first thing you notice upon disembarking are the number of cars and buses whizzing around. It’s something that you don’t see in Venice (for obvious reasons) and it’s slightly surreal upon first glance.

Despite the many buses — and seemingly regular services— walking around Lido of Venice is my favorite way to visit the island. We've also visited by car which was extremely convenient for getting from one side of the island to another.

Another option is to join a bike tour of Lido di Venezia. A fun way to familiarize yourself with the island, you'll also be in the company of a knowledgeable local guide.

5 best things to do in Lido Venice

1. Visit the beaches on Lido di Venezia

The longer I live in Italy, the more I learn about the differences between the country’s beaches.

And unlike the beaches in Genoa, the coast of the Lido of Venice lies along the Adriatic Coast.

This means sandier — as opposed to pebble — shores, and a sea temperature (similar to what we experienced in the Bahamas) that suits me perfectly.

A short walk from S.M.E is one of the main beaches called Blue Moon (Spiaggia Blue Moon).

It’s open to the public and comes with plenty of wide-open spaces to relax and swim. Clean, sandy and chilled out, it’s one of the best things to do in Lido Venice.

A short walk to the east of Blue Moon Beach is the eclectic Hotel Excelsior Venice (Hotel Excelsior Lido di Venezia). A 5-star resort with sea views and a range of water and indoor activities, it's an ideal beachfront choice.

Visit other beaches on Lido di Venezia

Blue Moon Beach isn't the only beach to visit on Lido di Venezia.

Once you pass the stretch of sandy shore in front of Hotel Excelsior Venice, there's more beachfront to enjoy. While some of these spots charge to use their loungers and umbrellas, other areas are designated 'free spots'.

This means you can bring your own equipment and stay for as long, or as little, as you wish. Marconi Beach (Marconi Strand) and Murazzi Beach (Spiaggia Murazzi libera) are two such examples.

Make the trip to Alberoni

Situated at the other end of Lido Venice is Alberoni Beach (Spiaggia degli Alberoni). Part of the charming small town of the same name, there are few tourists that visit this part of Lido.

While here, I strongly advise to make a reservation at Trattoria SCARPA. Possibly the best seafood risotto we've eaten in Italy (it really is that good!) we devoured every morsel.

On top of this, the fish and seafood dishes were incredibly fresh and satisfied all our tastebuds.

Trattoria SCARPA, Via Ca' Rossa, 5

Choose your time

Services at the beach include places to eat and drink and there are also sunbeds and cabanas for hire.

If the hot weather doesn’t bother you, come early to claim your spot. If it does, come around 4.30pm. It’s a glorious time to swim, plus many of the early attendees will have already left by then.

2. Stroll the main promenade

One of the best free things to do in Lido Venice includes exploring Granviale Santa Maria Elisabetta.

The main street in the center, it leads from the port of Lido of Venice all the way to Blue Moon Beach.

Tree-lined streets dotted with bars, restaurants and cafes on either side make it a popular spot among visitors. If you've forgotten any travel essentials, or simply fancy a spot of shopping, you'll find everything you need on Granviale Santa Maria Elisabetta.

It has everything from larger chain stores like OVS (Italian brand) to independent boutiques. Many run sales during summer and the prices are reasonable for practical items like beach towels and bathing costumes.

It's also on Granviale Santa Maria Elisabetta where you'll find scooter and bike rental services.

Venice Scooter Rental and Venice Bike Rental are two notable places that offer visitors the freedom to get around, and explore, Lido Venice.

Map: best things to do in Lido Venice

3. Admire the Liberty-style villas

While walking, or biking, along Granviale Santa Maria Elisabetta, there are several noteworthy villas to look out for.

Built in a Liberty style, these grand houses now masquerade as shops, restaurants or hotels. The Liberty period was popular in the early 20th century in Italy, and was renowned for turning ordinary features into something unique.

One fine example of a Liberty-style villa in the Lido of Venice is Grande Albergo Ausonia & Hungaria. 

This 5-star hotel head-turner immediately grabs your attention. Its facade of multi-colored tiles and arched windows makes it a natural contender for your Instagram feed.

Inside, the luxury hotel boasts services like a pool, spa and onsite parking (available on request). Pets are welcome and it's a short 7-minute walk to Blue Moon Beach.

4. Photograph the sunsets from Lido Venice

On long and lazy summer evenings, one of the best things to do in Lido Venice is to photograph the sunsets.

One of my favorite pastimes, the sunsets here play out a long-drawn and colorful performance. Walk along the Riviera Santa Maria Elisabetta to capture the ever-changing colors of the sun setting over Venice.

We arrived about 7.15pm (in July) and were able to photograph, and enjoy, a superb sunset.

If you continue walking along Riviera Santa Maria Elisabetta, you eventually reach Riviera San Nicolò. This stretch of road overlooking the water leads to a small airport called Aeroporto Nicelli. Bring your camera and a fully-loaded battery and snap away. 

5. Take the ferry to Pellestrina

One of our favorite things to do in Lido Venice is to take the ferry to neighboring Pellestrina island.

Ferries depart from the port at Alberoni but check the timetable first before arranging your visit. Times will vary depending on when your visit.

The ride only takes around 10 minutes, but the sunsets from this side of the lagoon are spectacular.

Beware the mosquito swarm

It's worth mentioning the aggressive swarm of mosquitos that frequent Lido of Venice and especially Pellestrina during summer.

Because as someone that mosquitos always gravitate towards it was unbearable. My standard non-DEET mosquito spray did nothing to keep the swarm at bay.

Instead, I had to invest in a stronger insect repellent spray (with DEET), wear long pants and keep my arms covered for our Pellestrina trip.

Dinner at Agriturismo Le Valli

Upon disembarking at Pellestrina, we made the short walk to Agriturismo Le Valli.

The restaurant and hotel specializes in serving home-style Venetian dishes and fresh fish and seafood. A delicious and local way to spend the evening, it was 100% worth battling through the army of mosquitos.

Agriturismo Le Valli, Via dei Murazzi, 1d

Where to stay on Lido di Venezia

Compared to mainland Venice, you can find plenty of affordable hotels and accommodation on Lido of Venice.

⏩️ If luxury is your travel style, follow in the footsteps of iconic movie stars by staying at Hotel Excelsior Venice.

Classic and iconic, the 5-star beachfront hotel hosted the first ever Venice Film Festival on the beachfront terrace in 1932.

If your bank balance can't stretch a night here, relax. You should still visit to see its striking cinematic lobby and/or to have a meal at its restaurant. It's one of our favorite things to do in Lido Venice and I promise you'll enjoy it too.

⏩️ Steps from the luxury hotel is Hotel Petit Palais.

The 4-star hotel is moments from the beachfront and is an affordable choice for mid-range travelers. We spent 2 nights here on one summer visit and it has everything you need for a comfortable stay.

The location is superb, the breakfast is filling and when we wanted an aperitivo with a sea view, we went next door to Hotel Excelsior Venice.

⏩️ My final pick for Lido of Venice is Hotel Riviera.

Located opposite the S. M. E. vaporetto station the 3-star hotel is an affordable, and convenient, choice. It's also ideal if you plan on visiting Venice or other islands in the lagoon.

When is the best time to visit Lido of Venice

I wouldn't usually say there's a best time to visit most places around Italy. But, in this case I make an exception.

Summer (June to September) really is the optimum season to visit Lido of Venice. The hot weather makes it the best time to enjoy the beaches, to bathe in the warm waters and to experience some of the most blazing sunsets in Italy.

The island springs to life during this period and there's a warm and exciting buzz.

We usually visit Lido around late July/early August to celebrate my birthday. Though summertime in Italy is never my first choice when it comes to traveling, I can't do much to change my birth date!

Advantages of visiting in summer

However, despite it being peak season, I can tell you as a local that that the crowds are nowhere near the size of those in Venice. What's more, the vibe is more relaxed and you'll always find a spot on the beach.

Summer temperatures in Lido di Venezia range from sweltering to melting during the day. However, by early evening, the light sea breeze cools down the lido making for perfectly warm nights out.

Another reason why June to September are the best months to visit Lido of Venice is that some of the services might be closed out of season.

Granted, hotel prices will likely be higher, but book ahead of time and you shouldn't feel the pinch (as much!).

What do you think of this guide to the best things to do in Lido Venice? Does it look like somewhere you’d like to visit one day? Leave me a comment and let me know below.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. Thank you for your support.