jaclyn_india

Is Lido too far away from main venice area ? What time does ferrys & vaparettos stop running there at night ? How much does ferrys and vaparettos cost ? Thanks !!

nytraveler

From Lido to San marco is about 15 minutes on the boat - but that doesn;t count waiting time - which depends on what you're taking.

Our hotel had a private launch directly to/fro San Marco and even that was onerous - the launch would always be waiting for someone and it ended up 30+ minutes for each trip - versus walking out the door of you hotel and into the sights.

mamc

The first time we went to Venice, we got an entirely different impression of the city because we stayed on Lido. I highly recommend staying in Venice itself. It is both easier and more atmospheric.

MyriamC

I can only second mamc opinion. Stay on Venice island, it has so much more charm.

rex

It is too far. Stay there only if there is absolutely no other way you can afford a second night at Venice. Keep in mind also that after the ferry you have a minimum of a 4-5 minute bus ride (plus waiting time) or a 12-15 minute walk to get to where you are staying (basing this on Pensione Stella which is average distance from the ferry stop).

I did it once with five high school kids, and it WAS the only way to make two nights affordable "at" Venice (whole trip was $700 including $325 airfare; included their meals too!)

Nikki

One of the things I found the most pleasant about Venice was the lack of cars. After five days without seeing or hearing a car, it was a jolt to see them again. If possible, I would stay in central Venice where the only transport is boats.

Statia

Here's another vote for staying in Venice proper, rather than the Lido.

peanut

I don't know if this will register to get any responses. However, we are leaving this Sunday and will be in Venice for 5 days. Should we take a day/aftenoon trip to the Lido? Any recommendations of things to see or do? Grazie

nytraveler

The Lido is Venice's beach. Really the only reason to go there is swimming. No other reason to go there that I can think of.

ira

ditto

Wags

I disagree. If you have a few hours to spend it is a lovely change from central Venice (which I LOVE!). It is very tropical. I love to walk down the main street with it's shops and outdoor cafes. Also, there is a place that has the best gelati I have ever had!.

ChatNoir

Wags, you march to the beat of a different drummer. Makes life interesting, doesn't it?

But I have to agree that its too far away for MOST people.

suze

IMO too far to choose a hotel on the Lido, but not too far if you want to take a vaporetto (don't remember exact price but they are not expensive) and look around.

Weadles

OK, I'm in a minority here, but we really enjoyed our stay on the Lido two summers ago. We stayed at a lovely bed and breakfast called Albergo Quattro Fontane, and enjoyed escaping the heat and crowds in Venice after a day of sightseeing. Many nights we returned to Venice for dinner, and it was no big deal to take the vaporetto back and forth. Our hotel was only about a 10 minute walk from the vaporetto stop.

We liked the slower, resort feel of the Lido, and some late afternoons took advantage of no fees at the beach clubs so that our kids could go swimming. While there's not much to "see" or "do", there is a convivial atmosphere, excellent pizzerias,gelaterias, and an air of relaxation that is not to be had on the mainland in July.

Wags

Agreed. Too far to stay but not to visit. IMO it's a nice change of pace.

RufusTFirefly

As pointed out above, it's not really all that far away in terms of time, but it is a totally different atmosphere. It all depends on what you would enjoy most. We'd always stay in old Venice--we like that atmosphere and being able to step out of our hotel into the twisting back alleys. But others like the beach resort atmosphere of the Lido. Your money, your choice.

Grasshopper

Wags is responding to the second question, not the first. And I march to his drummer. I thought an afternoon on Lido was a lovely way to spend a few hours. It was really interesting to see the different environment and there were some pretty spectacular hotels there.

nytraveler

There are some beautiful - and very expensive - hotels with private beaches on the Lido. Also the convention center is there - so if there is a meeting in town the Lido can be very crowded and more expensive than Venice proper.

I've done meetings there a couple of times and the major hotels are truly palatial with incredible service- but to me it's still too much trouble to get to anything I really want to see.

rbrazill

Here's a vote for Lido. We stayed there for four days in 2000 after reading in every tour guide that it was too far out of the way and so on. We loved it.Our hotel was luxurious and fairly cheap. The vaporetto ride is not long (and isn't it supposed to be a part of the the Venice "experience"?) We often stayed in San Marco until late at night and then took the vaporetto home. Lido itself is uncrowded. We rented bicycles one day and rode all over the island. We ate some meals there and some in Venice proper. The one caution I would have is that although Lido is (or was) a beach resort, we did not find the beaches (or the water) particularly inviting. Some of the beaches attached to the resort hotels are kept us nicely, but the public beaches were dirty and frankly a little creepy.

metlc

Although we stayed in Venice proper, one of the highlights was a midnight vaparetto trip (route #1, I think) all the way from Rialto out to Lido and back. It was late enough that we were able to snuggle up on those rear seats on the boat that you can never get to during the day.

Beats a gondola ride hands down. (Not to mention virtually free.)