The northern tip of the Lido faces the Porto di Lido, the main inlet between the lagoon and the Adriatic. Here stands the church and former Benedictine monastery of San Nicolò, founded in 1044. For centuries the doge came here on Ascension Day after the ceremony of the Marriage of the Sea — a tradition still re-enacted each year during the Festa della Sensa.
Nearby is the Old Jewish Cemetery, granted to Venice’s Jewish community in the 14th century and one of the oldest in Europe, with carved tombstones among the trees; it can be visited on guided tours organised through the Jewish Museum of Venice. Further on are the 1930s Nicelli airfield and, offshore, the gates of the MOSE flood barrier.
Top things to do at San Nicolò & the Old Jewish Cemetery
Visit the church of San Nicolò
A quiet church and cloister on the lagoon shore, linked to the relics of Saint Nicholas brought to Venice in the Middle Ages.
Book a guided visit to the Jewish cemetery
Visits run on set days through the Museo Ebraico di Venezia; check the museum’s website for the schedule and book ahead.
Relax on the San Nicolò free beach
The northern free beach is a local favourite, with views of ships entering the lagoon.
How to get to San Nicolò & the Old Jewish Cemetery
- On foot or by bike: about 2 km north of Santa Maria Elisabetta along the Riviera San Nicolò.
- By bus: ACTV buses run to San Nicolò; the car ferry (line 17) from Tronchetto also lands here.
Insider tips
- The Festa della Sensa, on the Sunday after Ascension, brings historic boats and ceremonies to this area.
- Cover shoulders and knees for church visits.
- The Riviera San Nicolò is a lovely lagoon-side ride at sunset.
Best tours & tickets for San Nicolò & the Old Jewish Cemetery
These top-rated experiences pair well with a visit to San Nicolò & the Old Jewish Cemetery:
Bike tour from €20 Lido di Venezia: Cycling Between the Sea and the Lagoon
A relaxed two-hour guided ride on the Lido itself — the one place in Venice where a bike makes perfect sense. You pedal along the lagoon-side Riviera and the seafront, stopping at the landmarks most visitors walk straight past.
- Ride the flat island between Adriatic beaches and lagoon shore
- Liberty villas and Belle Époque hotels along the way
- A local guide’s stories of the Lido’s past
Cruise from €58 Venice: Night Catamaran Cruise of the Lagoon
Once the day-trippers have gone, the lagoon belongs to the lights of the city. A ninety-minute catamaran loop past the illuminated waterfront — a lovely way to end a day before the vaporetto back to the Lido.
- Venice lit up after dark, from the water
- San Marco, San Giorgio and the Giudecca skyline
- A comfortable, stable catamaran
