Lido Beach Beach / Outdoor Activity

LIDO, ITALY –

Though Venice itself is built right on the water, swimming is not an option in the canals or lagoon. Luckily, a short ferry ride will take sunbathers to Lido, an island that forms part of the city and that offers six miles of sandy beaches on the warm Adriatic Sea.

Although most of the beach is privately owned by the island’s upscale hotels, there’s still plenty of space left for public frolicking.

Day-trippers often opt for the public day-use rental areas that include beachside amenities like cabanas, lounge chairs, umbrellas, and freshly raked sand, though there are also free sections of sand open to anyone to bring their own towels and chairs and do as they wish.

As on most beaches, the crowd is varied, and plenty of activities keep visitors busy, from sunbathing and strolling to swimming, paddle-boating, sailing, and windsurfing.

Lovely as Venice is, it’s nice to know that there’s a place like Lido to help residents and visitors alike escape the crowded narrow streets of the city to spend a leisurely afternoon basking in the sunshine.