In a nutshell
- If you’re looking for beaches in Venice, Italy, head to the island of Lido. It’s only a 15-minute ride by water bus from the historic center.
- For a relaxing beach day, we recommend renting a sunbed and umbrella at one of the beach resorts on Lido. They offer everything you need: showers, toilets, restaurants, changing rooms, playgrounds — some even have a pool.
- You can also stretch out for free on the public strip right in front of the lidos, close to the water. It’s a great option if you’re just planning to stay a few hours.
- There are also completely free beaches on Lido in Venice, but they’re a few kilometers away from the main water bus stop.
Is There a Beach in Venice?
Yes—there’s actually a long one!
Not in the city center itself, but on the island of Lido di Venezia, just across from the historic center and officially part of Venice.
When locals want a relaxed day at the beach, they head to Lido.
The eastern coast of Lido is home to the best beach in Venice, Italy—an 11-kilometer stretch of soft, shallow sand. It’s also great if you’re visiting Venice with kids.
Map of the Beaches in Venice
Lido is a long, narrow island in the Venetian lagoon.
You can walk from one side to the other in just 10 minutes. From top to bottom, the island stretches over 11 kilometers.
How Do You Get From Venice to the Beach?
It’s super easy—just hop on the vaporetto, Venice’s water bus.
Several lines connect the old town to Lido: 1, 5.1, 5.2, 10, and 14. They run every 20 minutes, so you’ll never wait long.
A single ticket costs 9.50 euros, and you can buy it online:
Book your online ticket for the water bus
You can also get tickets from machines at the stops—but lines are often long.
The ride from central Venice to Lido takes just 15 minutes.
Get off at Lido S.M.E. From there, it’s a 10-minute walk to the beach along Granviale Santa Maria Elisabetta.
You can also get to Lido by car, as the island has normal streets.
Line 17 is a car ferry that leaves from Tronchetto, the island where most people park when visiting Venice by car.
The crossing takes about 35 minutes and costs 13 euros for a car.
Lido: Where to Go Swimming in Venice
Unlike the historic center, there are no canals or gondolas on Lido—just normal streets and cars.
In the summer, it feels like a classic Italian seaside resort: people in beachwear, lots of bikes, and cafés and restaurants buzzing late into the evening.
The beaches on Lido are all on the eastern side of the island. If you arrive by vaporetto, just walk straight across town to reach them.
The beach is long, sandy, and shallow—not the most dramatic, but super easygoing and great for families.
A large part of the beach is taken up by private beach clubs (lidos), where you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas. In peak season, expect to pay around 35 euros for a day.
If you’re looking for free access, head to the northern or southern ends of the island—those are the best beaches in Venice that don’t cost a thing.
Private beach clubs on Lido
If you’re looking for a relaxing beach day, we suggest going to one of the organized beaches on Lido.
These beaches offer showers, changing rooms, restaurants, playgrounds, and lockers. Some even have a pool, shops, or tennis courts.
You don’t need to bring much besides your swimsuit—you can even rent a towel at Blue Moon beach.
A 10-minute walk straight across the island from the Lido S.M.E. water bus stop takes you directly to Blue Moon. It’s one of the most popular beaches in Venice and the first organized beach you’ll reach.
You can rent an umbrella with two sun loungers either online or on-site. It costs about 35 euros for the full day. Unfortunately, hourly rental isn’t available.
Our tip: If you don’t plan to stay all day and 35 euros feels too steep, just walk through the lido area and lay your towel down by the water. By law in Italy, this public stretch of sand is open to everyone. Just keep in mind you’re not allowed to use your own umbrella there.
There’s another lido next to Blue Moon, and then another one after that—stretching out for about 2.5 kilometers.
There’s not much difference between them, and prices for umbrellas and loungers are generally about the same.
Free beaches on Lido
The free beaches on Lido aren’t the most convenient. They’re farther from the main access points and have little to no facilities—no toilets or showers.
Sometimes these spots are not very clean either, since they’re not cleaned as regularly.
But if you head north or south of Lido, you’ll find beautiful, well-kept nature reserves: Alberoni and San Niccolò.
These free beaches are peaceful and quiet—ideal if you’re up for a bike ride or a nice walk and want to discover some of the best beaches close to Venice in Italy.
It’s 11 kilometers from Lido S.M.E. to Alberoni in the south, and 3 kilometers to San Niccolò in the north.
There’s no bus to San Niccolò, but you can reach Alberoni by taking bus line A from the water bus terminal.
Is it Possible to Stay Overnight on Lido?
There are several lovely beach hotels on Lido, and some are just a short walk from the water bus stop—making it easy to explore Venice, too.
So if you want to mix sightseeing with some beach time, staying overnight on Lido is a great way to combine your Venice trip with a beach vacation. It’s one of the best ways to enjoy both the city and the beaches in Venice.
Also read our article on the 5 best beach hotels in Venice
Our Guide For a Day Trip to the Beach in Venice
If you’re staying in the center of Venice and want to enjoy a relaxing beach day, here’s how to do it:
1. Reserve an umbrella online at the Blue Moon lido. If you want a spot close to the water, it’s best to book a few days in advance.
Buy your water bus ticket online as well, though you can also get one on the spot.
2. Pack your sunscreen and swimwear, and head to the nearest stop on line 1. This line runs through most of the old town, including St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge.
3. From St. Mark’s Square, the water bus goes straight to Lido. Get off at the Lido S.M.E. stop and walk along Granviale Santa Maria Elisabetta. It takes about 10 minutes to reach the beach. With your ticket, you can also hop on bus line A for the short ride.
4. At Blue Moon, show your reservation. You’ll find changing rooms and lockers included in the price.
5. Find your parasol—the number will be on your ticket. It includes two sun loungers and can fit up to four people.
6. For lunch, you can grab a bite at one of the beach bars. Blue Moon has plenty of restaurants and kiosks right by the beach.
7. Before heading back, make sure to get another water bus ticket. The one-way ticket is valid for only 75 minutes. You can buy a new one at the Blue Moon kiosk or online.
The Best Beaches Close to Venice on the Mainland
From Venice, the nearest beach is right on Lido. It’s one of the easiest and most popular beaches Venice has to offer.
But if you’re planning to head off the island, there are some well-known beaches in Italy, close to Venice on the mainland, like Lido di Jesolo and Chioggia.
These beaches are similar to those on Lido: long, sandy, and shallow—with plenty of organized lidos. They may not be dramatic or remote, but they’re super comfortable and family-friendly.
If you’re chasing postcard-perfect beaches with crystal-clear water and scenic views, you’ll have to go farther—like to Liguria, the island of Elba, or southern Italy.
FAQ
Can I swim in the sea in Venice?
Yes, you can do that on the island of Lido di Venezia. This is the official beach island of Venice and is only 15 minutes by water bus from the old town.
How do I get from Venice to the beach?
You have to take the water bus to Lido, Venice’s beach island. This is Venice’s version of the city bus and is called the vaporetto in Italian. Lines 1, 5.1, 5.2, 10 and 14 run from the old town to Lido.
Are the beaches in Venice good for kids?
The beaches are perfect for kids! All the beaches on Lido and close to Venice are very shallow and sandy and it only gets deep slowly. In addition, the lidos on Lido always have playgrounds.
How expensive is a parasol on the beaches of Venice?
A parasol with two sun loungers costs around 35 euros per day in high season, i.e. in July and August. You can only rent the parasols for the whole day and up to four people can fit under each parasol. However, if you are a family of five, you can still all stay under one parasol.
Is there a secret beach in Venice?
The Alberoni nature reserve is in the very south of the beach island of Lido. There is a very beautiful, clean free beach here, which is never crowded. However, this is because it is around 11 kilometers from the water bus stop and you can only get there by bus or bike.
These were our tips for the beaches in Venice
Have you ever been to the beach in Venice? Or are you planning a trip and looking for advice on where to swim in Venice? Drop us a comment—we’d love to hear from you!