In a nutshell
- Want to hit the beach in Venice? You need to head to the island of Lido di Venezia — just 15 minutes from the historic center by water bus.
- We recommend renting an umbrella at one of the beach clubs on Lido. Everything’s right there: showers, restrooms, restaurants, changing rooms, playgrounds — sometimes even a pool.
- You can also lay your towel down for free on the open strip right at the water’s edge in front of the beach clubs. If you’re only staying a few hours, that’s a totally solid option.
- There are also completely free public beaches — though they’re a few kilometers from the water bus stop and have little to no facilities.
Is there a beach in Venice?
Yes! Quite a long one, actually.
Not right in the center, but on the island of Lido di Venezia. It’s located across from the historic center and is technically a neighborhood of Venice.
All Venetians who want a laid-back day at the beach head to Lido.
The eastern shore of Lido is fine, flat sandy beach — 11 kilometers long. It’s also ideal if you’re visiting Venice with kids.
Map of the Beaches in Venice
Lido is a very narrow and very long island in the Venice Lagoon.
From the western to the eastern shore is just a 10-minute walk. From north to south it stretches 11 kilometers.
How Do You Get from Venice to the Beach?
Super easy: by Venice’s water bus, the Vaporetto.
Several lines run from the old town to Lido: lines 1, 5.1, 5.2, 10, and 14. All lines run every 20 minutes, so you never have to wait long.
A one-way ticket costs €9.50 and you can buy it online:
Buy your water bus ticket online
You can also buy tickets at the machines at the stop, but there are often long lines.
From the old town, the crossing to Lido takes just 15 minutes.
The stop on Lido is called Lido S.M.E. From there it’s only a 10-minute walk to the beach, along the street Granviale Santa Maria Elisabetta.
You can also reach Lido by car, since the island has regular roads.
Line 17 is a car ferry that departs from Tronchetto — the island north of the old town where you park when visiting Venice by car.
The crossing from Tronchetto takes about 35 minutes, and the car ticket costs €13.
Lido: Where to Swim in Venice
Compared to the old town, Lido has no gondolas or canals — just regular streets with cars.
In summer, the island becomes a classic Italian seaside resort: everyone’s in beach clothes, many people get around by bike, and the bars and restaurants are buzzing until late in the evening.
The beach on Lido is only on the eastern side of the island. When you arrive by water bus, you’ll need to walk through town to reach it.
The Lido beach is long, flat, and sandy. Not particularly spectacular, but very comfortable and seriously perfect for families.
A large portion of the beach is taken up by beach clubs where you can rent an umbrella and lounge chairs. In peak season this costs around €35 per day.
There are also free beach sections, though: one at the very north and one at the very south.
The beach clubs in Lido
If you want to make your beach day as comfortable as possible, we’d recommend heading to one of the beach clubs.
Every beach club has showers, changing rooms, restaurants, playgrounds, and lockers. Some also have a pool, shops, or tennis courts.
All you need to bring is your swimwear — at the Blue Moon beach club you can even rent a towel.
If you walk straight through town for 10 minutes from the Lido S.M.E. water bus station, you’ll land right at Blue Moon. It’s one of the best-known beach clubs on the Venice Lido beaches and the first one you’ll come across.
You can rent an umbrella with two lounge chairs online or on-site. This costs around €35 for a full day. Hourly rentals aren’t available, unfortunately.
Our tip: If you don’t want to stay all day and €35 is too much, you can simply walk through the beach club and lay your towel down right at the water’s edge. By law in Italy, that strip of land is open to everyone — you just can’t set up your own umbrella there.
Next to Blue Moon is another beach club. And next to that one is another, and another after that. This continues for about 2.5 kilometers.
There aren’t big differences between them, and the prices for an umbrella are roughly the same everywhere.
Free beaches in Lido
Honestly, it’s not really worth making the trip to the free beaches. They’re farther away, and there’s hardly any infrastructure — no restrooms or showers either.
Sometimes they’re also not entirely clean because they’re maintained less frequently.
That said, in the north and south of Lido there are beautiful nature reserves that are very well kept: Alberoni and San Niccolò.
The beaches here are free and always pleasantly uncrowded. They’re really worth a visit if you’re up for a bike ride or a walk.
From Lido S.M.E. it’s 11 kilometers to the Alberoni nature reserve in the south, and three kilometers to San Niccolò in the north.
No bus runs to San Niccolò; to reach Alberoni from the water bus station, take bus line A.
Can You Stay Overnight on Lido?
There are several lovely beach hotels on Lido. Some are also close to the water bus stop, so you can still explore Venice from here.
This way you can perfectly combine your Venice trip with a beach vacation.
Read our article about the 5 best beach hotels in Venice.
Our Guide for a Day Trip to the Venice Beach
If you’re staying in the center of Venice and want a day at the beach, here’s the best way to do it:
- Reserve a beach umbrella online at the Blue Moon beach club. If you want to be especially close to the water, book a few days in advance. You can grab your water bus ticket online at the same time — or pick it up on the day.
- Pack your sunscreen and swimwear and head to the nearest stop on line 1. This line has the most stops in the old town, for example at St. Mark’s Square or the Rialto Bridge.
- From St. Mark’s Square, the water bus goes directly to Lido. Get off at the Lido S.M.E. stop and walk straight down Granviale Santa Maria Elisabetta. It’s a 10-minute walk to the beach. With your water bus ticket, you can also hop on bus line A, which goes all the way to the shore.
- At Blue Moon, show your reservation and get changed in the changing rooms. Lockers are included with your reservation.
- Head straight to your umbrella — your reservation shows the number. Two lounge chairs are always included, and up to four people can share one umbrella.
- For lunch, hit one of the beach bars. Blue Moon has several restaurants and kiosks on site.
- At the end of your beach day, you’ll need another water bus ticket back to Venice — the one-way ticket is only valid for 75 minutes. You can buy one at the Blue Moon kiosk or online again.
Beaches Near Venice on the Mainland
From Venice, the closest beach is on Lido.
But if you want to venture a bit further, there are quite a few well-known beaches on the mainland — for example Lido di Jesolo or Chioggia.
In terms of character, these beaches are similar to Lido: flat, long, and sandy, with plenty of beach clubs. So they’re also not spectacular, but very comfortable.
If you want truly stunning beaches in Italy — crystal-clear water, dramatic views — you’ll need to head to Liguria, the island of Elba, or southern Italy.
Read our article about the most beautiful beaches in Italy.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Beaches in Venice
Can I swim in the sea in Venice?
Absolutely! Head to the island of Lido di Venezia — Venice’s official beach island, just 15 minutes from the old town by water bus.
How do I get from Venice to the beach?
Take the water bus (called a vaporetto) to Lido, Venice’s beach island. From the old town, lines 1, 5.1, 5.2, 10, and 14 all go directly to Lido.
Are the beaches near Venice good for children?
Totally! All the beaches on the Lido are very flat and sandy, and the water gets deep only gradually — perfect for little ones. The beach clubs on Lido also have playgrounds, which makes it really easy for families.
How much does a beach umbrella cost at the Venice Lido beaches?
A beach umbrella with two lounge chairs costs around 35 euros per day during peak season (July and August). Umbrellas can only be rented for a full day, and up to four people can share one. If you’re a family of five, you’re still welcome to all sit together under one umbrella.
Is there a less-crowded beach near Venice?
Yes! At the very southern tip of Lido is the Alberoni nature reserve — a beautiful, clean public beach that’s always pleasantly quiet. The catch: it’s about 11 kilometers from the water bus stop, so you’ll need to get there by bus or bike.
