If you take a look at the map of Venice, you will soon realize there is so much more to this Italian city than canals and gondola rides. There are over 100 small islands that comprise this charming city and each one of them is unique in its own right.

Due to this unique setting, there are at least 15 outstanding beaches in Venice and although none of them is actually in the old town of Venice, they are all very close by and easy to reach. The stretches of coast around Venice are fairly long, especially on Lido Venice and Lido di Jesolo where there are dozens of beaches tightly packed close to one another.

1. Caorle

Caorle is a little coastal town near Venice where some of the most beautiful beaches of Northern Italy are located. Strictly speaking, the whole stretch of 15-kilometer long beach can be divided into two parts – the one belonging to Ponente and the other one to Levante. With several beaches at hand some of which are free, there is plenty of options to choose from. Porto Santa Margherita, Duna Verde, Eastern Beach, and Western beach are the highlights of Caorle and visiting any of them will surely be a wonderful experience.

Island of Caorle, Italy

2. Bau Beach di Caorle

Bau Beach di Caorle deserves a spot on the list on its own because is this is the only one of all the Venice beaches specifically designed for all tourists who want to combine the pleasure of a beach holiday in Caorle and the pleasure of sharing happy moments of relaxation with their four-legged friends. It’s equipped with various services for people and animals: changing rooms, beach umbrella, and sun loungers, drinking and shower for dogs. What’s more, dogs can swim in the sea thanks to the presence of a lane dedicated to them and reserved and bounded by buoys.

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3. The beaches of Ponente and Levanto

As said before, the beach of Caorle is divided in two. To the east, you will find the Levante beach, 2.7 kilometers long, which goes from the historic center to the Falconera area, near the Lagoon. Among the various services, the Levante beach has the White Oasis, a deluxe area with large white gazebos, sun loungers, and small tables.

To the west you will find the Ponente beach; it is 1.8 kilometers long and it goes from the historic center to the mouth of the Livenza river, between Caorle and Porto Santa Margherita, and the stretch of sea that faces it is characterized by floating platforms. Both have bathing establishments with all services waiting for you, as well as long stretches of free beach distributed over the entire beach.

4. Lido di Venezia

Lido di Venice is one of the most popular beach and summer destinations for tourists in Italy

Lido di Venezia is almost as long as the island where it’s located, just 3 kilometers from the city of Venice. On this 12-kilometers long beach, there are sections which belong to private resorts who rent sunbeds and parasols although, on the far ends of the Lido, you can still find some free sections. The beach is sandy and sea rather clean despite its proximity to the old town of Venice. Getting to Lido di Venezia from the city is also made easy as vaporettos (sea buses) operate regularly between the two.

5. Alberoni Beach

Alberoni beach is located on the southernmost strip of Lido di Venezia, and it’s one of those beaches that somehow managed to stay under the radar despite its unparalleled beauty. It’s surrounded by sand dunes and pine trees while the perfectly soft sand that stretches for miles on end provides visitors with fantastic opportunities for relaxation in perfect peacefulness. Alberoni offers some decent bars where you can grab a snack or a drink but you can also rent parasols or sunbeds in case you haven’t got your own. It won’t take you more than a 30-minute ferry ride from Venice to reach this beach which is why many locals actually prefer it over other more touristy spots on the Lido.

6. Cavallino Beach

Cavallino Beach is one of many Italian beaches to bear the Blue Flag label which means it’s exceptionally clean and convenient for visitors. The beach stretches for 15 kilometers between the Cavallino Lighthouse and Punta Sabbioni, the main access point of the Venetian Lagoon. The shore gradually descends into the sea and the sand is soft and white with streaks of golden hues. The vastness of this beach allows everyone to find a free spot without disturbing other while facilities and amenities on Cavallino offer everything it takes to spend a whole day there.

7. Rosolina Mare Beach

Rosolina Mare is a charming beach resort located on a peninsula south of Venice. It stretches over 9 kilometers and lies among sand dunes, ponds, and captivating natural environment. There is an array of activities visitors can merit on the beach, from tennis to horse riding, cycling, and volleyball. Many locals in the Veneto region love to spend time on Rosolina which is still one of the low-key beach resorts around the Venetian Lagoon and as such, it’s a great alternative for more crowded beaches in the area. In addition to being extremely relaxing and pleasant, Rosolina is also a great place to explore the Coastal Botanic Garden of Porto Caleri or pay a visit to the church of San Antonio situated in the center of the town.

Read more: Best Spanish Towns with Beaches

8. Lido di Jesolo

Lido di Jesolo beach in Italy

Lido di Jesolo (Jesolo Lido) is a well-known Italian summer resort. A wide sandy 15-kilometer beach sprawls across the Lido in its entirety. With over 400 hotels, villas, and camping sites, this beach town offers plenty of options for an unforgettable Italy travel. It provides a fantastic mixture of shopping opportunities, pristine beach, clubs, and restaurants. Lido di Jesolo partly owes its popularity to the fact that it’s located just 40 kilometers from Venice, making it a great place to spend a holiday in while being able to hop to Venice in no time.

9. Eraclea Mare

Beach Eraclea Mare near Venice

The little beachside town of Eraclea lies a very short distance from Jesolo. It’s nestled among dense greenery and golden sand dunes, with lots of accommodation options at hand. Eraclea is a great place for families as it has extensive shallows, warm sea, and watchtower guards. On top of that, it’s equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas which are rather useful as there is no natural shade. The town hides a handful of additional activities such as horseriding, galleries, and exquisite restaurant very close to the beach.

10. Sottomarina Beach

This beach resort at the south end of the Lagoon is one of the most modern Venice beaches. It is connected with the other nearby island of Chioggia by several bridges and the two islets make up for a perfect holiday destination. Sottomarina’s beach is long and sandy, with snack bars and cafes at every step. Although the beach is paid, for the most part, you can still find stretches of free beach in Sottomarina. Although there isn’t much to see in the town of Sottomarina, you can head out to nearby Chioggia which offers plenty of galleries, picturesque churches, and lovely scenery.

11. Bibione Beach

Bibione Beach has all the amenities

Bibione beach is located where Venice ends and the Adriatic Sea begins. It stretches over 11 kilometers of soft sand, offering enough personal space to any visitor. Bibione is facing the south which means it’s sunny from dawn till dusk, unlike some other beaches. In addition to this, a thermal basin has recently been discovered and it’s available for bathing. Other than that, the beach is equipped with all the necessary amenities, including activities for children, spa center, bars, and huts.

12. Albarella Beach

Covering an area of 528 hectares, Isola di Albarella is a private island located south of Venice. It’s easily accessible as it’s connected to the mainland by a bridge and the most fascinating fact about this islet is that it’s situated right in the heart of Po Delta National Park, keeping the visitors in close contact with nature. Albarella beach sprawls across 3 kilometers and it offers a variety of activities and sports and leisure options – a sailing circuit, tennis courts, cycling tracks, and many other amenities that make this Venetian oasis a godsend for relaxation.

13. Lido di Pellestrina

Lido di Pellestrina is a thin stripe of land that stretches for long 11 kilometers between the Lagoon and the Adriatic Sea. Although this islet is not famous for some jaw-dropping beaches like other islands, it’s still worth noting that there are several of them along its narrow coast – San Pietro, a very natural and off-the-beaten-path beach, San Vio and Litorale do Pellestrina. What separates Pellestrina beach from the rest are exquisite seafood restaurants and if you’re lucky enough to visit it in June, you might get the chance to be a part of Saint Peter’s Festival when the locals celebrate by indulging in tasty food, savory wine, and lots of music.

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14. Lungomare D’Annunzio Beach

Located on the far end of the Lido di Venezia, Lungomare d’Annunzio beach is a small haven that doesn’t usually see a lot of tourists. It’s clean, quiet, and there are absolutely no rocks around, just beautiful sand. You can also rent umbrellas and sunbeds. There are several bars and restaurants on the beach as well where you can have a pizza or grab a drink. The best part about this beach is that you can actually rent entire huts, with toilets and changing rooms included.

15. Spiaggia Cortellazzo

Cortellazzo is a charming fishing village and it occupies a small stretch of the Lido Venice lagoon. The beach of Cortellazzo is one of the rare stretches of Jesolo coast that are still free and it certainly has the untamed charm to it – surrounded by pinewood and sand dunes, it perfectly tucked with a few seafood restaurants close by to enjoy a delicious Italian dish.

The dizzying choice of beaches near Venice is enough to make our head’s spin with options. It becomes obvious why the Metropolitan city of Venice keeps attracting tourists year in, year out and we can’t really blame them. The beaches here have all it takes for a holiday well-spent.