This narrow strip of island provides a dreamy base from which to explore the historic centre of Venice (just a ten-minute water taxi ride away), without staying in its bustling, compact heart. Guests can also enjoy the benefits of a beachy break, with lots of swimming and sunbathing opportunities at the fine hotels on its coast. Unlike any other seaside destination, the Lido di Venezia has a character all of its own, combining the area’s romantic heritage, with a laid-back holiday vibe. The warm waters are excellent for paddling, ideal for families, but also suited to couples seeking some time away together.
Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort
Right on the Lido, this luxurious resort has a subtly Moorish interior design. Reminiscent of a former era, the turn of the 20th-century building’s furnishings encapsulate a sense of North African mid-century style. The Excelsior boasts bedrooms with terraces overlooking the sea, tent-like private cabanas on the beach, a swimming pool, complimentary water shuttles, in-room Salvatore Ferragamo bath products, and a renowned intimate candlelit restaurant and some incredible seafood. It may be a glamorous venue – an optimum place to star spot during the film festival – but the resort is very welcoming of families, offering a kids’ club among its amenities.
Grande Albergo Ausonia & Hungaria
This Grande Dame hotel opened in 1907, under the original name of the Hungaria Palace Hotel. Nicolo Piamonte was the architect of the building’s neo-Rennaisance exterior, whose interiors followed an Art Noveau and Liberty style. Now the five-star venue close to Lungomare d’Annunzio Beach includes a full-service spa with 12 treatments rooms, an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a winter garden and two bars (one of which is on the rooftop). A lavish refurbishment has retained original details and stunning frescoes but added many modern amenities like espresso makers and air-con. There are 60 bedrooms in total, including suites, all filled with lashings of character.
