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Hotel excelsior lido Venice Italy
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Lido of Venice

Lido of Venice is a small island between Venice lagoon and the Adriatic sea. The island has a much more laid-back and relaxed lifestyle compared to the city of Venice, moreover, most restaurants here have a homely and warm atmosphere. The island is famous especially for hosting the famous Venice Film Festival. If you plan a trip to Venice or you are spending your honeymoon in Venice and you have few days you can also plan to visit Lido island. Here some tips on things to do in Lido Venice.

Attractions in Lido Venice

Lido is quite a small island and there aren’t many sightseeing attractions on it. The island is mainly known for its beautiful streets and its shops, moreover, there is a large beach for those who like sunbathing. Visiting Lido is one of the best things to do in Venice.

Annual Venice Film Festival

Venice film festival lido George clooney
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The Venice film festival took place for the first time on 6 August 1932 on the terrace of the Hotel Excelsior in Lido Venice. Today, the Venice Film Festival is famous all over the world. It is an event that takes place every year in the evocative location of the Lido of Venice. During the festival period, it is possible to spot international stars on the island.

Things to do in Lido beach Venice

The Beach on the island is the most visited place on Lido. Locals, as well as tourists, visit the beach, especially in summer. The beach is perfect for swimming or just relaxing. Most part of the beach is owned by various resorts and hotels. However, some areas are still open to the public. Visitors can also pay for the hotels to use their private beach.

Piazzale S.M. Elisabetta

From here there is a beautiful view of the lagoon and of Venice. From this location, the boats and Vaporetti depart for various locations like Venice and Marco Polo airport.

Shopping lido venice
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Gran Viale

Gran Viale Maria Elisabetta is the main street on the island and a good place to stroll in the afternoons. On the street, it is possible to admire hotels, shops, and some beautiful local houses which are all painted with pastel colors and have shuttered windows. The street is where the most lively part of the island since most shops and services are located here.

Shopping in Lido di Venezia

shopping girls friends bags happy

Lido does have a few good shops from where interesting souvenirs and gifts can be purchased. Mainly, the shops here sell glassware from Murano, local wines, art objects made by local artists, and jewelry. Wine is one of the best things to purchase in Lido since there are several varieties available and most of them aren’t very expensive. The glassware from Murano is also a perfect souvenir.

Getting to Lido

Vaporetto Lido Venice
Photo credits tripadvisor.it

The only way to reach Lido is from Venice. You can take a Vaporetto to reach the island. The duration of the trip from Piazzale Roma can vary from Line 6 in 21 min; Line 5.1 in 32 min; Line 1 in 65 min. It takes only around fifteen minutes on a motorboat to reach Lido. However, you can take the Vaporetto from other locations. You can chek on ACTV website.

Lido is actually one of the few islands of the Venetian Lagoon where cars are admitted. Nevertheless, the island is quite compact and the best way to move around is on foot. Most residents on the island can be seen moving around the tiny streets of the island at all times of the day. The streets are quite narrow and are shady which makes walking around quite enjoyable even in summers. The small Piazzas and the tiny shop-lined streets are very charming and are perfect for an afternoon stroll.

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Accomodation – Hotels in Lido Venice

Most people visiting Lido come here as a day excursion and leave in the evening. However, if you decide to stay on the island for the night there are a few good hotels on the island. Most hotels are located near the beach or on the Piazzale S.M. Elisabetta. Some good Venice Lido hotels are Hotel Villa Albertina, Hotel Villa Beatrice, Hotel Panorama, and Hotel Albergo Quattro Fontane. There are a lot of 5 stars hotels.

Hotel Excelsior Lido Venice Italy

Hotel excelsior lido Venice Italy
Photo credits elitetraveler.com

It is the most famous hotel in Lido of Venice. The Excelsior hotel is a 5 stars hotel located in a fairytale palace with a private beach.

Hotel Riviera Venice Lido Italy

Hotel riviera lido Venice
Photo credits tripadvisor.it

This hotel offers a beautiful panoramic view over Venice and the Lagoon. The Hotel Riviera is located not far from Piazza San Marco by Vaporetto and a few steps from the beach!

Hotel la Meridiana Lido Venice

hotel la meridiana lido venice
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An Art Nouveau hotel just a few minutes from Venice. Hotel Meridiana is located a few steps from the beach of Venice Lido.

Albergo quattro fontane Venice Lido

albergo quattro fontane Venice Lido
Photo credits booking.com

It is a beautiful hotel with cozy rooms. The Hotel Quattro Fontane offers a lovely and cozy atmosphere away from the buzzing streets of Venice.

Eating in Lido of Venice

restaurants lido venice
Photo credits prontopia.com

Lido has quite a few good restaurants, most of which serve local regional cuisine and delicacies. The dishes are mainly based on seafood. There are quite a lot of unpretentious restaurants here, some cafes, gelaterias and some bars which serve good food in a simple homely style without being very expensive. Visitors should definitely try gelato here since it is delicious! You can find it almost anywhere on the island. A food restaurant to try is the Trattoria Andri which serves some good seafood like squid over polenta, octopus, shrimp scampi, and various other fish dishes.

The restaurants in the hotels on the island serve also international cuisine. Every restaurant on the island offers good wine choices. A popular drink here is the Bellini which is a mixture of peach juice and Prosecco which is a popular sparkling wine.

There are also many lovely terrace cafes and restaurants which are good for those who want to enjoy the views of the lagoon and Venice in the distance.


Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, however, tourists often forget to visit Venice’s surroundings. If you have more than a day to spend on the Venice Lagoon, consider taking a day trip to the nearby islands and cities. Lido could be a good option!

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