The 83rd Venice International Film Festival has once again drawn the world's cinema elite to the Lido, the slender island that serves as the event's dramatic backdrop. For eleven days each September, this quiet stretch of beach and pine forest transforms into a global stage for the silver screen.
Yet beyond the festival's glare, the Lido is experiencing a more enduring transformation. Long beloved by Venetians as a summer retreat of historic hotels and beach clubs, the island is now courting a new generation of luxury travellers. A wave of renovations and new developments is breathing fresh life into its Belle Époque architecture, promising to make the Lido a year-round destination rather than a seasonal footnote.
A storied hotel reclaims its glory
The Hotel Excelsior Venice Lido, the festival's most prestigious address since its 1932 debut, has emerged from a comprehensive renovation. The hotel, with its Moorish domes and minarets, has hosted royalty, politicians, and film legends from Greta Garbo to George Clooney. Its reopening in May unveiled a restored Palm Court, now adorned with archival photographs of its illustrious guests, and more than half of its 198 rooms and suites have been refreshed with Mediterranean palettes and custom Murano glass.
The new Amù Venice beach club, with 299 cabanas, blends Riviera flair from the brand's Côte d'Azur origins with Veneto's culinary traditions. This fusion of coastal elegance and local gastronomy is a hallmark of the Lido's revival.
New options for discerning travellers
Last year, the Meliá Venezia Lido opened in a restored 1920s building, offering a more understated but equally elegant alternative. With 60 rooms, many overlooking the lagoon towards Venice's historic centre, the hotel provides a refined base for those seeking the Lido's charms without the festival's frenzy. Its AcquaRiva restaurant, with Art Deco interiors, serves a Mediterranean-Venetian fusion that reflects the island's dual identity.
A grand comeback in the making
The most ambitious project is the €200 million restoration of the Grand Hôtel des Bains, the Liberty-style landmark that inspired Thomas Mann's Death in Venice. Closed since 2010, the hotel is set to reopen as a high-end resort, backed by Abu Dhabi's Eagle Hills and the COIMA ESG City Impact Fund. Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Eagle Hills, called it “more than a restoration – it is a revival of European legacy through modern excellence.”
This investment signals confidence in the Lido's future, even as Venice itself grapples with overtourism and environmental pressures. The island's appeal lies in its contrast to the crowded canals: a place of pine forests, quiet beaches, and a slower pace that has long attracted those in the know.
As the film festival continues to shine a spotlight on the Lido, these renovations ensure that the island's allure extends far beyond the red carpet. For travellers seeking a blend of history, culture, and coastal calm, the Lido is quietly becoming one of Europe's most compelling destinations. For more on Venice's evolving landscape, see our coverage of the festival's opening and the sale of a Napoleonic-era island in the lagoon.
