Venetian Riviera

Venetian Riviera Holidays

Modern resorts meet classic Italian style on Venetian Riviera holidays, where sunkissed shores are yours for the taking. Famous Venice is the centerpiece of this region, but exploring the surrounding beaches, countryside and islands offers plenty in the way of cuisine, culture and excitement.

Top Deals

Regions

The classical coastline

Tucked away in Italy's northeast, the Venetian Riviera takes its name from the world-famous city of Venice, where walkways and waterways mingle in perfect harmony. That city retains a strong cultural sway over the area, owing to its history as a merchant city that was an independent state long into the 1800s. Even so, the Venetian Riviera, with hotspots like Lido di Jesolo and Bibione, has plenty of modern style.

Stretches of sunny shoreline define the Riviera itself, where coastal towns sit between miles of unspoilt countryside and the sea that once gave Venice unchallenged mastery of the waves. Exploring the islands beyond the mainland of Italy is a given, especially since they offer such insights into the past, as well as plenty of inviting beaches.

Where to stay in Venetian Riviera

For those who like to take life on the leisurely side, Bibione is your holiday soulmate. Here, your daily schedule will consist of relaxing on the beach, sipping beer from an outdoor courtyard and stuffing your face with pizza. But malls, water and theme parks are close by for more action.

Lido di Jesolo sits on the shores of scenic Venice Lagoon and offers 16 kilometres of beaches to enjoy. Ideal for relaxing sunshine holidays there are kid's activities, shops, restaurants and a lively nightlife with plenty of bars and late opening clubs. It's also just 50 minutes away from Venice.

In Venice, an awe-inspiring collection of architectural throwbacks and a tangle of waterways mix with jazz clubs and art festivals to create an expert blend of old and new. Here, strolling down city streets is its own activity and cruising down a canal on a gondola is nothing short of magic.

Quick Tips

Religion:Roman Catholic

Currency:Euro

Language:Italian

Time Diff.:GMT +1

Sun yourself by the sea

Of all the towns of the Venetian Riviera, including Caorle and Bibione, it's Lido di Jesolo that proves the most popular. As the longest beach in mainland Italy, this is where the majority of the resort complexes are based and it's a favourite for those booking package holidays to Italy. It's among the few places in the country that was built on the same ideals as those of holidaymaker havens like Cyprus and Spain.

You can expect modern comforts and endless sunshine to grace your time by the sea here. Lido di Jesolo's beach stretches for around 15 kilometres and is popular with couples and families as much as friends travelling together.

It's a Blue Flag beach as sublime as it is inviting, where watersports like windsurfing and waterskiing are available to people of every skill level. Further afield, the beaches of Chioggia and Bibione offer a more traditional approach for downtempo days by the coast.

Get involved in the community

There are varied shopping and dining experiences on offer across the Venetian Riviera. Favourites include Lido di Jesolo's Friday market, where local wines, cheese and crafts are yours to peruse, as well as dining options like El Refolo in Venice itself.

A gondola ride through the canals of Venice is a treat you simply have to experience, as it's a city built across over 100 tiny islands and connected by smart bridges and grand arches.

The city is magnificently photogenic, and you'll find that travel by water is a great way to see the wider sights of the Laguna Veneta beyond the city, too. You might also find your journey on the water joined by bottle-nosed dolphins.

Staying lively after dark

When the sun goes down on the Venetian Riviera, there's still plenty to keep you wide awake. Luckily, the mix of venues gives plenty of opportunities to find a nightlife activity that suits your mood, from night-time gelato by the sea through to the warm tones of jazz wafting into the air from bars in Venice like Cafe Noir and Bacaro Jazz.

Cocktail bars, wine venues and late-night coffeehouses keep everyone feeling fresh, while those of you looking for a true experience of the region's party atmosphere can head to the bustling nightclubs of Lido di Jesolo.

Here, hotspots like Il Muretto see DJs from across Europe playing the freshest house music there is, all under a tapestry of blazing lights and bouncing hands. There's also the Vanilla Club to consider, which leans more on the R&B side of things. Of course, bars and lounges across the Riviera remain open long into the evening, so you're always close to the action.

Keeping the kids active

If you're travelling the Venetian Riviera with the little ones in tow, you'll not be short of activities to keep them amused. Blue Flag beaches are abundant here, while local attractions make planning fun days out a breeze.

The most famous family crowd-pleaser is Aqualandia waterpark, which is Italy's largest and is packed with chutes, flumes, slides and splashing good fun. Family days out across the region are a joy and are guaranteed to keep kids and adults engaged.