The white sands of the Lido have drawn artists and literary types for centuries. And why not? This is a resort area complete with deluxe hotels, a casino, and stratospheric prices.

But don't expect the Lido of days gone by. The Lido is well past its heyday. A chic crowd still checks into the Excelsior Palace and the Hotel des Bains, but the beach strip is overrun with tourists and opens onto polluted waters. (For swimming, guests use their hotel pools, although they still stroll along the Lido sands and enjoy the views.) Even if you aren't planning to stay in this area, you should come over and explore for an afternoon. There's no denying the appeal of a beach so close to one of the world's most romantic cities, even if it is unfit for swimming. The strips of beachfront in front of the big hotels on the Lido are technically considered private, and the public is discouraged from using the facilities. But because you can use the beachfront on either side of their property, no one seems to really care about shooing nonguests away.

If you don't want to tread on the beachfront property of the rarefied hotels (which have huts lining the beach like those of some tropical paradise), you can try the Lungomare G. d'Annunzio (Public Bathing Beach) at the end of the Gran Viale (Piazzale Ettore Sorger), a long stroll from the vaporetto stop. You can book cabins (camerini) and enjoy the sand. Rates change seasonally.

Located on the Lido is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe. Established in 1386, it still has the oldest surviving gravestone, that of Shemuel ben Shimshon who died in 1389. The Venice Jewish Cemetery was abandoned for 200 years and almost completely inaccessible for decades. This once-crumbling cemetery has been restored and is now open to visitors for the first time. If you'd like to explore it, contact the Jewish Museum at tel. 041-715359 to arrange a visit. Tickets cost 8€, and tours are Friday at 10:30am and Sunday at 2:30pm. In winter the cemetery is sometimes closed depending on weather conditions.

To reach the Lido, take vaporetto no. 1, 6, 52, or 82 (the ride takes about 15 min.). The boat departs from a landing stage near the Doge's Palace.