Lido beach by vaporetto

What it is

The Lido is the long, narrow island that closes the lagoon on the Adriatic side. On its seaward side it has kilometres of golden sandy beach, with calm water and a seabed that slopes down very gently. It is the beach of the Venetians and the simplest way to have a swim if you visit Venice in summer. On the island there are cars and buses, streets with early 20th-century villas and, in September, the Film Festival.

Getting there

By vaporetto, to the Lido S.M.E. stop (Santa Maria Elisabetta), on the lagoon side. From there you cross the island on foot along the Gran Viale to the sea in about ten minutes.

The lines that reach Lido S.M.E., according to AVM:

• Line 1, from Piazzale Roma and the station along the whole Grand Canal, with stops at Rialto and San Marco: the slowest, but with views.
• Lines 5.1 and 5.2, circular routes calling at Fondamente Nove, the station, Piazzale Roma, Zattere and San Zaccaria.
• Line 6, from Piazzale Roma via Zattere, Giardini and Sant'Elena.
• Line 14, from San Marco – San Zaccaria, which continues towards Punta Sabbioni and Burano.

Tickets

The single ACTV ticket costs €9.50 and is valid for 75 minutes. In summer ACTV also sells a beach return ticket for €16 on line 14. If that day you are going to move around the city more, the 24-hour pass, at €25, covers going, returning and the rest of the vaporetti. Children under 6 travel free.

The beaches

• Blue Moon, the beach in the centre of the Lido, at the end of the Gran Viale and the most convenient if you arrive by vaporetto at Santa Maria Elisabetta. It is run by Venezia Spiagge, the municipal company, with umbrellas and sunbeds in three areas, day cabins, a swimming pool, showers, changing rooms, a bar and a terrace over the sea. Umbrellas are booked online on its website. Venezia Spiagge has worked to remove barriers and presents the beach as accessible.
• Lungomare and San Nicolò, also run by Venezia Spiagge, towards the north of the island.
• Free beaches. The free-access ones are at the ends of the island, towards San Nicolò in the north and towards Alberoni in the south, where the beach is wider and more natural. At Alberoni there are protected dunes: walk on the marked paths.

The beaches with services open only in the summer season; outside it the establishments close and you can walk the beach, but there are no lifeguards. Now, in November, Venezia Spiagge has its facilities closed until summer.

Swimming safely

The water at the Lido has several times been awarded the Blue Flag, according to Venezia Spiagge. The bottom is shallow and the sea is usually calm, which makes it comfortable for children. Swim in the supervised areas in season and respect the flags. On the free beaches there may be no lifeguard.

When to go and how busy it gets

From June to September. On weekdays and in the morning there are fewer people; at weekends in July and August the Venetians fill the beach. At the end of the afternoon the light is softer and the heat drops. In September, during the Film Festival, the Palazzo del Cinema area is very busy.

With children

It is the easiest beach getaway from Venice with children: the boat trip is already part of the plan, the water is shallow and Blue Moon has showers, toilets, a bar and a swimming pool. Bring an umbrella if you go to a free beach.

If you have spare time in the afternoon, from Lido S.M.E. line 14 continues towards Punta Sabbioni and Burano, an alternative to the excursion to the northern islands.