Lido, Venice

A quick ferry ride from Venice leads to Lido, a slender island with nearly six miles of sandy beaches facing the Adriatic Sea.

Now home to a small year-round population of mostly moderate- to high-income families, this usually quiet neighborhood is transformed in the summer to a hopping seaside resort with a lively community of shops, eateries, gelaterias, and bars that cater to the season’s international crowd.

The summer nightlife centers on the Aurora Beach Club, an open-air disco that doubles as a relaxed beach bar and lounge by day.

Lido’s luxury hotels also host all the VIPs and the society crowd that show up for September’s renowned Venice Film Festival.