The only way to get from Venice to Venice Lido is by ACTV vaporetto (water bus), there’s no bridge or road connection to the historic centre.
The quickest option is Line 6 from Piazzale Roma (around 20–25 minutes), while Line 1, 2 or Line 5.1 and 14 from San Zaccaria, near St Mark’s Square, take around 20–30 minutes. A single ticket costs €9.50, and boats run every 10–20 minutes in high season.
Venice Lido is a long island that stretches for around 12 kilometres, home to the beach, the exclusive Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort and the Film Festival.
How to get from Venice to Venice Lido
Here I perceived a much more relaxed pace of life. A completely different experience from the historic centre of Venice. It’s one of the easiest day trips from Venice and a great place to head to during the hot summer months.
Below, I’ll walk you through every option, which vaporetto line to actually take depending on where you’re starting from, and how much it’ll cost.
How far is Venice Lido from Venice?
Venice Lido sits around 2.5 to 3 kilometres across the lagoon from the historic centre, separating Venice from the open Adriatic Sea. There’s no road or bridge connecting the two.
Lido is the only inhabited part of Venice where you’ll actually see cars, because it’s reachable by vehicle ferry as well as by vaporetto.
By water bus, the crossing itself takes as little as 10–15 minutes once you’re moving, though the total journey time from your starting point in Venice (including stops) is usually 20–35 minutes, depending on the line and where you board.
Where to stay in Venice Lido?
If you’re thinking of basing yourself on Lido rather than just visiting for the day, it’s a lovely, quieter alternative to staying in central Venice, especially in summer.
A lot of visitors choose Lido instead of Venice historic centre and they are happy about their decision. If you want to compare prices, see my where to stay in Venice guide with my accommodation suggestions in the historic centre.
If you’re short on time, here’s a selection of accommodation on Lido that I recommend, suitable for a range of different travel budgets.
- 💎 Luxury: Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort – this grand, historic 5 star resort right on the beach is the island’s most iconic address (it’s also the official Venice Film Festival hotel), with a private beach cabanas and pool.
- 💰 Mid-range: Hotel Villa Mabapa – a charming 4 star villa hotel set in its own garden by the lagoon, a short walk from the vaporetto stop, with a nice balance of comfort and character for the price.
- 💸 Budget: Hotel Villa Pannonia – a friendly, good-value guesthouse close to Lido S.M.E., ideal if you want an easy vaporetto connection back into Venice without paying central-Venice prices.
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Which vaporetto goes to Venice Lido?
Four ACTV vaporetto lines serve Venice Lido: Line 1, Line 5.1, Line 5.2 and Line 6, all arriving at the main stop, Lido S.M.E. (Santa Maria Elisabetta). Which one you want depends entirely on where you’re starting from in Venice.
- Line 1 and 2 — the slow, scenic Grand Canal line. Runs Piazzale Roma → Rialto → San Marco → Lido. Great if you want the views, but it’s the slowest option.
- Line 5.1 — starting from San Marco/San Zaccaria, stopping at Giardini Biennale, Sant’Elena before crossing to Lido.
- Line 6 — the best one from Piazzale Roma. Runs Piazzale Roma → Zattere → Giardini → Sant’Elena → Lido S.M.E, skipping the Grand Canal entirely, which makes it the fastest way over.
- Line 10 — this option is good if you are leaving from Zattere or S. Marco Gardinetti in the early morning. This line also stops at S. Servolo.
- Line 14 — the express option if you are in the San Marco area. You can catch this direct line from San Marco San Zaccaria.
- Line N (night line) — once the daytime lines stop running, Line N takes over, connecting San Zaccaria to Lido S.M.E through the night, roughly every 30–60 minutes.
There are also seasonal lines such as the number 8 and 20, only available in peak season, from April/May. Always check the interactive Vaporetto map for the most updated timetables and seasonal lines available.
How to get to Lido from San Marco
St Mark’s Square actually has three different vaporetto stops within a few minutes’ walk of each other, and which one you head to depends on which side of the piazza you’re on. Here’s how each one gets you to Lido.
From San Zaccaria
If you’re near St Mark’s Square, walk to the San Zaccaria vaporetto stop and take Line 1 or 2. The crossing takes around 20–30 minutes.
San Zaccaria is just a couple of minutes’ walk from Piazza San Marco, along Riva degli Schiavoni, and it’s the departure point most visitors staying in San Marco and Castello will use. Boats run roughly every 10 to 20 minutes depending on the season and time of day, so you rarely wait long.
Tip: if a Line 1 or 2 boat is packed (it usually is in high season, since it also serves Rialto and the Grand Canal), let it go and wait for the next 5.1; it might be less crowded.
From San Marco Vallaresso
On the other side of the piazza, San Marco Vallaresso is also the stop for Line 1 and 2 towards Lido. The crossing takes around 20–30 minutes, with a few stops along Riva degli Schiavoni before the open lagoon.
Vallaresso sits just off Piazza San Marco near the Giardinetti Reali gardens (and Harry’s Bar), so it’s the easiest stop to use if you’re approaching from the western side of the square rather than from Riva degli Schiavoni.
Lines 1 and 2 call here roughly every 10 to 20 minutes, and it’s the same boat, and the same Lido S.M.E. destination you’d catch from San Zaccaria a few minutes later, so don’t stress about picking the “wrong” one.
From San Marco Giardinetti
Right next to Vallaresso, San Marco Giardinetti is where you’ll find Line 10 that gets you to Lido in as little as 15 minutes.
When it’s running, Line 10 is the fastest way over from this side of the square, since it heads almost straight for Lido via San Zaccaria without the Grand Canal detour.
Outside the April–September window, Line 10 isn’t in service, so just walk the couple of minutes over to Vallaresso and take Line 1 instead.
How to get to Lido from Piazzale Roma or the train station
From Piazzale Roma or Santa Lucia train station, Line 6 is your fastest option to Lido, taking around 20–25 minutes, while Line 1, 5.1 or 5.2 take a bit longer but stop at more points along the way.
If you’ve just arrived by train, bus or car and dropped your bags, Line 6 is the one to look for if you want to get across quickly without detouring through the Grand Canal.
If you don’t mind a longer, more scenic ride (or you’re planning to hop off somewhere else along the way, like San Marco), Line 1 or the 5.1/5.2 pair work just as well.
How to get to Lido if you have a car
If you’re travelling with a vehicle, Line 17 is the only car ferry to Lido, running from Tronchetto to Lido S. Nicolò in around 30 minutes.
This is really only relevant if you’ve driven into the Veneto and want to bring your car across. Remember Venice’s historic centre itself is car-free, so this ferry exists specifically to get vehicles onto Lido, which does have roads. Most visitors exploring Venice on foot won’t need this option at all.
| Departure point | Line(s) | Journey time | Best for |
| San Zaccaria (San Marco) | 1, 2, 5.1, 14 | 20–30 min | Most visitors staying near St Mark’s Square |
| Piazzale Roma / train station | 6 (fastest), 1, 5.1, 5.2 | 20–25 min (Line 6) | Arriving by train, bus or car |
| Fondamente Nove | 5.2 | 35–45 min | Staying in Cannaregio |
| Tronchetto (with a car) | 17 (car ferry) | 30 min | Travellers bringing a vehicle |
How much does the vaporetto to Lido cost?
A single ACTV vaporetto ticket costs €9.50 and is valid for 75 minutes, including changes. If you’re planning more than a couple of vaporetto trips in a day, say, a ride to Lido and back plus getting around Venice itself, a day pass is almost always better value.
| Ticket | Price |
| Single ride (75 min) | €9.50 |
| 24-hour pass | €25 |
| 48-hour pass | €35 |
| 72-hour pass | €45 |
| 7-day pass | €65 |
| Rolling Venice card (ages 6–29) + 72h pass | €6 + €27 |
Prices are official 2026 ACTV fares and can change. I’ll keep this updated, but it’s always worth a quick double-check on the ACTV website before you travel.
Buy your ticket at the ACTV machines at any major stop, via the AVM Venezia app, you can also use the tap in system which I personally used and found straightforward.
You can find out more about using this service on my water bus in Venice guide. You can also purchase tickets and passes in advance online, and remember to validate it at the electronic reader before boarding. Inspectors do check, and you can get fined for an unvalidated ticket.
Venice to Venice Lido FAQs
Here are some FAQs on visiting Venice Lido:
Is Venice Lido worth a day trip from Venice?
Absolutely yes! Lido is where locals go to relax, with sandy beaches, cycling paths, and a completely different pace to the historic centre, making it an easy half-day or full-day escape from the crowds.
If you’re planning other trips around the lagoon, see my guides on how to get to Venice from Marco Polo Airport and other islands near Venice for everything you need to know about exploring the Venetian lagoon.
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