Venetian Riviera holidays

Venetian Riviera holidays

With its golden sands and wealth of family attractions, the Venetian Riviera is Italian beach life at its best. Whether you want to laze away your days with a good book on the beach, or fancy braving the thrilling slides at Aqualandia Caribe Bay water park, you’ll have plenty to keep you occupied on holidays to the Venetian Riviera.

And if you want to experience the grand architecture, museums, and fabulous food of Venice itself, you’re only a short ferry ride away. With so much to see and do, families and couples have everything they need for a relaxing, fun-packed holiday.

Things to do

If you’re on holiday in the Venetian Riviera and you're looking to take a break from the beach for a while, then a good bet would be to take a ferry to Venice. To start with, you could explore the stunning Piazza San Marco square, which is overlooked by St Mark's Basilica, a huge Italo-Byzantine church dating back more than 1,000 years. Both inside and out, it's one of the city's most imposing landmarks, and a powerful symbol of the wealth of the Venetian Empire, which lasted 1,100 years. Head to the beautiful 16th-century Rialto Bridge above the Grand Canal, then see a concert or opera at the Teatro La Fenice theatre.

For something extra special for your Venetian Riviera holidays, hire a gondola for an hour or so, which will let you get the best views of the Renaissance buildings from areas that you can’t reach on foot. However, gondolas can be rather pricey, especially in the peak season, and they are by no means essential.

Sometimes, it's just as enjoyable, and arguably more exciting, to explore Venice spontaneously rather than following a strict schedule. If you're eager to get away from the touristy areas, head up to Cannaregio, where you can immerse yourself in traditional Venetian life, see the Jewish ghetto, and explore the lively cafés.

The Lido island is also home to many beautiful Italian Art Noveau buildings and the Chiesa di San Nicolò di Lido, a church dating back more than 900 years.

Golden beaches
Lido di Jesolo is one of the Venetian Riviera’s most popular resorts and if you enjoy nothing more than spending hours relaxing in the sunshine, you’ll love the golden beach here. It’s a 17 kilometre Blue Flag winner with plenty of sunloungers and parasols, perfect for finding your ideal tanning spot. This beach is popular with the kids too as the sea water is just right for them to splash about in and there’s lots going on to keep them entertained. They’ll spend the whole holiday trying to replicate the sand sculptures on the beachfront promenade.

A city of culture
Venice is a must-see during your Venetian Riviera holiday, this enchanting city has sights, shops, restaurants and so much more.  Make your way around the sights, admiring the centuries-old architecture, stop at a local café for some homemade gelato and head for the main canal for a tour of Venice by water.

Splendid shopping
Italy is known for its high fashion and the Venetian Riviera is no exception. Whilst exploring Venice be sure to pop into one of its many designer boutiques and have a browse of the collection of high-end goods.  In Lido di Jeselo, there’s a whole street dedicated to shopping, the Via Bafile. In high season, the shops open from early in the morning and stay open until late at night so no matter what time of the day it is, you can still get that shopping fix. Head to the islands in the Venetian Lagoon to pick up some hand-made Italian crafts.   

More Travel Guides

We also have travel guides available for destinations, including: Lido de Jesolo

 

Map of Venetian Riviera

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30 ℃

In the summer months temperatures reach the high 20s to low 30s (°C).

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2 hours

Venice Marco Polo (VCE) airport is 32km from Lido di Jesolo; 94km from Lignano Sabbiadoro; and 96km from Bibione.

Venetian Riviera is best for...

Wine drinkers: Taste some of the delicious wines made in the surrounding Veneto area.

Beach lovers: Lido di Jesolo’s golden sands are within walking distance of most of the resort’s hotels.

Families: Zip down the slides at Aqualandia water park, and see the tigers and elephants at Parco Zoo Punta Verde. The perfect way to cool off from the summer heat, and the kids will love it!

Fast facts for Venetian Riviera

Language: The language spoken here is Italian, although English is spoken in most hotels and visitor attractions. However, you can always carry an Italian phrasebook or download an app to practice the language.

Local time: The Venetian Riviera is 1 hour ahead of GMT/UK time.

Currency: The currency used in the Venetian Riviera is Euro (€).

Fly to: Venice Marco Polo Airport. The transfer time to resorts on the Venetian Riviera is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. 

Flight time from the UK: The flight time to the Venetian Riviera is 2 hours.

Tourist information: Further Venetian Riviera tourist information can be found here.

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Getting around Venetian Riviera

By boat: From leisurely gondolas to zippy vaporettos, there are lots of different types of water vessels to choose from when you want to tour Venice’s unique network of historic canals. There are also regular ferries between Venice and Lido di Jesolo throughout the day.

By mini-train: Take in the sights of Lignano Sabbiadoro by riding the tourist train. On the way you’ll see the beach, church, and the Terrazza a Mare pier.

By bus: Most of the major tourist areas in the Venetian Riviera and Venice can be accessed via bus. Pick up a ticket at a news stand and board at your nearest bus stop.

Events in Venetian Riviera

For film fans: Visit the oldest film festival in the world. Taking place in August, the annual Venice International Film Festival draws in famous directors and actors.

Carnivale: Pack in as much fun as possible before the beginning of Lent, just as the Venetians did centuries ago. Head to Piazza San Marco in February for the world’s most famous masked ball.

Food, glorious food: Bibone’s Septemberfest is a traditional harvest celebration of local food and drink. Taste locally-made wines and traditional dishes such as juicy roast pork, sardines with creamy polenta, and garlicky salami. This is Italian food at its finest, and yes, there is pizza for the kids!

Venetian Riviera safety and security

Visa / health: Before you travel, click here for recommendations and advice on visas and health for Venetian Riviera holidays.

Venetian Riviera weather

Temperature: High 20s to low 30s (°C) in summer.

Best time to visit: Spring or autumn for slightly milder temperatures.

Summer temperatures here are often quite hot, regularly hitting the early 30s (°C), although average daytime temperatures are typically just under 30°C in July and August. Spring and autumn are both great times to visit, as you’ll have much more pleasant temperatures, and popular Riviera holidays tourist spots are usually quieter too. Winter and early spring can be rather chilly, although this is the best time to avoid the crowds. By July or August, it's not uncommon for the sea temperature to be in the mid to late 20s°C, which means it won't take you half an hour to get used to the water like in the UK!

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