Once you have done the classic Murano and Burano loop, the Venetian lagoon starts to open up in more interesting ways. There are lesser-known islands in Venice where people walk their dogs along quiet promenades, kids cycle to school, and locals do a normal supermarket shop instead of weaving through souvenir stalls.
Why explore the lesser‑known Venice islands
Most visitors stick to the historic centre plus Venice's main islands. This means the rest of the Venetian islands stay pleasantly relaxed. These quieter spots feel closer to a real city, just one that happens to sit on water.
Prices tend to be a touch more sensible, you get more space, and you can skip the touristy Venice clichés for smarter alternatives like backstreet lunches and time alone on the beach.
Lido di Venezia
Lido di Venezia stretches along the edge of the lagoon as a long, sandy barrier between Venice and the Adriatic Sea. It feels more like a laid‑back seaside town than a historic city, with leafy streets, Liberty‑style villas and proper pavements where people cycle and walk dogs.
Prices are usually a little more grounded than around San Marco, which makes Lido a comfortable base if you like a mix of sea air and easy access into the centre.
Things to see and do on Lido di Venezia
- You'll find long stretches of sand facing the Adriatic. Beach clubs rent out loungers, and there are a few free areas where you can just throw down a towel.
- Explore the backstreets for low‑rise houses, small cafés, gelato spots and residential squares that feel closer to a “normal” Italian town.
- If you are into film, the Venice Film Festival brings a burst of glamour in late summer around the Palazzo del Cinema and the main promenade.
- Hiring a bike for the afternoon works well here. You can roll along the length of the island, stop for swims and explore quieter corners at your own pace.
Lido is about 15–20 minutes by vaporetto from central stops such as San Marco or Piazzale Roma, with frequent boats running throughout the day and evening.
San Michele
San Michele is the walled cemetery island that sits between central Venice and Murano. It has a calm, slightly detached atmosphere, a world away from souvenir shops and crowded bridges. Inside, narrow paths weave between family chapels, old tombs and sections set aside for different communities and religious groups.
Things to see and do on San Michele
There is no checklist of sights here as such, more a slow wander through time.
- The island contains the church of San Michele, as well as graves and memorials for writers, composers and local families.
- Photographers tend to enjoy the soft light, the textures of stone and brick, and the contrast between the ordered rows of trees and the water beyond the walls.
San Michele is on the vaporetto route between Fondamente Nove and Murano, with boats stopping directly at the island’s small landing stage.
San Giorgio Maggiore
San Giorgio Maggiore is one of the smallest Venice islands but instantly recognisable thanks to its white church and tall bell tower. The island feels quiet and self‑contained, dominated by monastery buildings. Because it sits on its own in the basin, surrounded by open water, the sense of space and light here is quite different from the tight alleys of the main city.
Things to see and do on San Giorgio Maggiore
- The church of San Giorgio Maggiore is the main landmark, with an airy interior and artworks that reward a slow wander.
- Taking the lift up the bell tower is a must, because the view from the top lays out the whole lagoon.
- The monastery complex behind the church often hosts exhibitions, concerts and architectural or art installations.
San Giorgio Maggiore sits directly opposite San Marco and is reached in just a few minutes by vaporetto from the San Zaccaria stop.
Giudecca
Giudecca lies just across a wide channel from Dorsoduro and San Marco, yet the mood shifts as soon as you step onto the island. It has a more grounded, everyday feel, with simple brick houses, converted industrial buildings and neighbours chatting outside their front doors.
There is less of the tourist crush, so you notice kids cycling along the promenade, people heading to work and laundry hanging between windows. The views back towards the main city are some of the most striking in the lagoon, with domes and bell towers lined up across the water.
Things to see and do on Giudecca
- A slow walk along the waterfront is the main event, with long, open views across to San Marco.
- There are plenty of benches and bar terraces where you can linger with an ombra of wine.
- Behind the main quay, narrow lanes and small courtyards hide little churches, community gardens and a few workshops and studios.
- At the western end, the old industrial area around the converted flour mill has been turned into hotels, exhibition spaces and flats.
- In the evenings, Giudecca is especially pleasant if you like a more local, low‑key place to eat and drink without stepping too far from the centre.
Vaporetti on line 2 and other routes run regularly between Giudecca and key stops like Zattere, San Zaccaria and Piazzale Roma.
Other off-the-beaten-track Venice islands to explore
Once you start looking beyond the big‑name stops, you realise the lagoon is dotted with smaller islands with heaps of non-touristy things to do while in Venice. Some are almost entirely agricultural, with fields and orchards instead of souvenir shops, while others hold monasteries, conference centres or quiet little neighbourhoods.
- Sant’Erasmo – This is the lagoon’s “vegetable garden”, with fields, orchards and vineyards. It’s good for a quiet walk or cycle.
- Mazzorbo – There are vineyards, gardens and some quiet paths.
- Pellestrina – Long, narrow and far less visited. It has fishing villages, simple trattorie and long walks or bike rides along the Murazzi.
- San Servolo – Former monastery and psychiatric hospital, now a university/conference island with a small museum.
- San Lazzaro degli Armeni – Tiny island with an Armenian monastery and library, visitable on guided tours at set times.
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