Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido Resort

Character and identity

Opened in 1908 on the Lido barrier island, this Moorish-inspired grande dame holds Venice's only beachfront position, a fifteen-minute water taxi ride from the historic centre (transfers are complimentary). The architecture is pure Belle Époque theatre: ornate arches, exotic detailing, Alhambra-style courtyards, and a third-floor Sala degli Stucchi that has appeared in Sergio Leone's cinema. Across 196 rooms and suites, expect sweeping Adriatic or lagoon views. Dining runs from Adriatico Terrace (locally rooted fine dining, look for the white artichoke of Pertosa) to the sand-side Elimar Beach Bar. Service is white-glove, the register unmistakably Old World.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The defining proposition here is location: a genuine private beach, cabanas and Adriatic views, paired with cinematic Belle Époque interiors you cannot replicate in central Venice. Book a newly renovated Premium Junior Suite for the seafoam-and-ivory refresh, and time your stay between June and early September to catch the cabanas, the Sports Academy and the Film Festival energy at Blue Bar.