Lido Bike Tour: Discover the Belle Epoque Glamour of Cinema Island
4.9
8 Ratings
Venice
Experience the Belle Epoque glamour of Cinema Island on a bike tour of Lido. Discover beautiful hotels, charming villages, and stunning lagoon views along the way.
Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Lido di Venezia - We will meet at Santa Maria Elisabetta on Lido Island, where we will rent our bikes and start discovering Lido!
    You will choose the bike your prefer: city bike (10 €), tandem (20€), e-bike (20€), fat bike (18€) e-fat bike (30€). It will be booked for you!

  • Cimitero Ebraico - Nowadays a quiet garden which was the Venice’s main Jewish cemetery from 1386 until the 18th century. From the gate we will see the ancient tombs, which range in design from Venetian gothic to distinctly Ottoman.

  • Chiesa di San Nicolo al Lido - The place where the traditional thanksgiving mass of the Sposalizio del Mare (“Marriage of the Sea”) is performed, a ceremony which used to symbolize the maritime dominion of Venice.

  • Faro di San Nicolò - After biking in a protected natural zone, we will continue along an old pier between the sea and the harbour mouth until the lighthouse. It will be a great place to see the Lido coastline and the outlines of the Grand Hotel des Bains and Hotel Excelsior

  • Hotel des Bains - A former luxury hotel, built in 1900 to attract wealthy tourists, it is remembered for Thomas Mann’s stay here in 1911 and the shooting of movies like “Death in Venice” by Visconti (1971) and the English Patient (1996).

  • Ristorante Mostra Del Cinema - The oldest festival in the world is held in late August or early September here and screenings take place in the historic Palazzo del Cinema. The still running Art Nouveau Hotel Excelsior (1908) usually hosts producers and actors during the Festival.

  • Murazzi Free beach - The route will be wild as we will bike along the Murazzi, a scenic route following the Adriatic sea. Murazzi is a remarkable 18th cent. engineering work, designed to keep high seas from crashing into the lagoon, an effective breakwater even today.

  • L’Oasi delle Dune Alberoni - The natural beach of Alberoni has a maritime pine forest which slopes down to the Lido’s wildest most scenic beach. These enchanting dune fields are the stuff of Shelley’s poems and Byron’s early morning rides.
    Often this beach is virtually deserted, except a plethora of marine birds and few kite surfers or windsurfers on windy days.

  • Malamocco - From the beach we will enter this small fisherman village passing over Ponte di Borgo and explore the canals and calli or a less overwhelming lagoon town with just a few churches and a Gothic palazzo, a small miniature of Venice!

  • Poveglia - The route will continue on the lagoon side of the island, with views of the island of Lazzaretto Vecchio. From 1776 the island was used as a quarantine station for those suffering the plague and other diseases, and later as a mental hospital, closed in 1968. Because of this, the island is frequently featured on paranormal shows.

  • Lazzaretto Vecchio - The route will continue on the lagoon side of the island, with views of the island of Lazzaretto Vecchio. It housed between 1403 and 1630 a hospital which cared for people during the plague epidemics and as a leprosarium. It was later used, as were other islands, as a military post.

  • San Lazzaro degli Armeni - The route will continue on the lagoon side of the island, with views of San Lazzaro degli Armeni island. It is a small island in the Venetian Lagoon which has been home to the monastery of the Mekhitarists, an Armenian Catholic congregation, since 1717.

  • Grande Albergo Ausonia Hungaria - Hotel Ausonia & Hungaria (1913) is another remarkable example of luxury tourism dated back one century ago, thanks to the beautiful ceramic tiles on the main facade, recently renovated.

What's Included
  • Nature and Interpretive Guide & Tour leader
  • Organisation and booking of rental bikes (if needed)
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Bicycle use
Additional Information

Embarking on a bicycling adventure, we’ll journey through Lido island with its polished shell-encrusted beaches, sun-kissed lifeguards, and aged women enjoying Prosecco at the local market. Bask in the grandeur of the Belle Epoque era as we pass splendidly designed hotels, iconic of the 1920s Art Nouveau style.
As we pedal along the lagoon, exceptional views of Venice will unfold, with a stop at an old Jewish cemetery. We’ll make our way to the San Nicolò harbor mouth, cycling up to its lighthouse, and finishing our route at the renowned Hotel Excelsior - a hub during Venice’s star-studded Movie Festival.
We’ll pedal next to the Malamocco’s canals, a vibrant fishing village that’s a scaled-down rendition of Venice, as we traverse through a forest reserve to a lighthouse. Immerse in local lifestyle at the serene Alberoni beach, with a swim or a drink.
Our journey will progress on the lagoon side of the island, affording vistas of the deserted Poveglia island, Lazzaretto Vecchio Island and San Lazzaro degli Armeni Island.

Location
Santa Maria Elisabetta
In front of Hotel Panorama
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(8 Ratings)
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Laurif_12
Sep 24, 2022
Learning about Lido Island by bike - Valerio took my husband and I on a fantastic bike tour of Lido Island. He was super knowledgeable, attentive to our needs, and adjusted his biking to ours easily. He also has a great sense of humor! We thoroughly enjoyed our day with him and are suggesting him to friends who are planning a trip. Coming from a very hilly city, it was a very manageable bike and he had options for length which could accommodate a variety of people.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dominiquemol
Jul 23, 2021
Biking around Lido - Biking around Lido was a real joy, I learned a great deal about the island and surrounding smaller islands. It was a welcome escape from Venice and great to be on the move and see this fascinating place. The highlight for me was ending the trip with a dive into the beautiful ocean at a quiet and hidden beachclub, it sure was one big beautiful experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 10 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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