The sea in Venice: the most beautiful beaches

The beautiful Venice is still a seaside city, so why not taking a day off from your cultural visits to enjoy the sun rays on one of the lagoon's many beaches? As well as the charm of the calli and canals overlooked by the countless historic palaces, there is another marvel - the many beaches on the many small islands between the Lagoon and the Adriatic Sea.

The Venetian Lagoon, with a surface area of approximately 550 km², is the largest lagoon in the Mediterranean Sea. The islands of the Venetian Lagoon are divided into natural and artificial islands; the natural ones can be of fluvial origin, either due to the accumulation of debris or the retreat of the primordial mouth, while the artificial islands were built by man for defence purposes (forts and octagons), or as a result of the accumulation of debris from the excavation of navigation channels.

There are about seventy islands in the lagoon, some of which have disappeared over time, returning below sea level. The main islands, apart from Venice, are Murano, Burano, Torcello, Mazzorbo, Le Vignole, Sant'Erasmo, La Certosa, Giudecca and Chioggia. There are also four coastal areas in the lagoon, which extend for about 50 km: Cavallino, Lido, Pellestrina and Sottomarina.

The best known beach in Venice is undoubtedly the Lido. Venice Lido, a thin island that stretches for about 12 kilometres between the Venetian lagoon and the Adriatic Sea, represents the perfect combination of art and sea: Art Nouveau palaces, lush green areas, nineteenth-century buildings and beaches formed by natural dunes of soft sand.

Venice Lido is divided into three localities, Lido, which is the centre of the island, Malamocco and Alberoni, and offers different possibilities for every need, from free beaches to more modern beach facilities. The free beaches are those of Alberoni and San Nicolò.

The Lido can be reached by vaporetto, taking line 5.1 or 6 from Piazzale Roma, Santa Lucia Railway Station or St Mark's Square. 

Another beach in Venice is on the island of Pellestrina. The 11 km long island of Pellestrina is lesser known than the other islands of Venice, but is nevertheless a real treasure. The island is characterised by the presence of many small colourful villages with houses overlooking the water, a few fish restaurants, a promenade for strolling and forty hectares of protected oasis.

To reach Pellestrina from Venice you just have to take the vaporetto to Lido and then from Lido you have to take the line 11 that reaches Pellestrina in 45 minutes.

To the north, we find the Cavallino coastline. It is characterised by the presence of numerous campsites and is the ideal destination for nature lovers, as here the sea and the lagoon merge in harmony. The area is very quiet and therefore perfect for families and for a relaxing holiday, and the prices are much cheaper than on the Lido.

To reach Cavallino you need to go to the pier of "La Pietà" and take the line 14 vaporetto for Punta Sabbioni. After reaching the Lido continue to Punta Sabbioni (20 min). From here you can visit the entire coastline.

To the south, instead, we find Sottomarina, a district of Chioggia. The Sottomarina coastline boasts long golden beaches on which there are numerous beach resorts. Sottomarina, with its countless hotels and clubs, is a true tourist seaside resort.

Thanks to Arriva Veneto bus line 80, there are over 50 daily connections between Sottomarina, Chioggia and Venice, departing from Piazzale Roma.

All the wonders of Venice are enclosed in the Venice Pass, the city new tourist card. Thanks to this pass you will have exclusive advantages, discounts and free access to many Venetian attractions. Find out more thanks to this dedicated article!