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Venice Lagoon and the smaller islands
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Venice Lagoon and the smaller islands

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The most famous and classic of the Italian cruise areas, famous worldwide for over 30 years.

The navigation route involves the Natural Park of the Sile river and crosses the Venice Lagoon, incorporating many wonderful and little-known islands where you can enjoy the incredible peace and quiet. A day in dreamy and chaotic Venice is not to be missed, followed by long walks on the beaches of the Adriatic coast and a dip in the sea. A perfect combination of nature, culture, and history, accompanied by view that’s been taking peoples breath away for over 500 years.

Cruising through the Venice Lagoon is an incredible and unique experience. Venice is absolutely enchanting when seen from the water and you can avoid the city’s crowded, chaotic streets and alleyways. But the lagoon, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, offers much more. Cruise surrounded by incredible natural scenery; all the smaller islands around Venice (often little known to tourists), are wonderful stops. The most famous are certainly Burano and Murano, but you can also reach smaller islands with your boat, such as Torcello, Sant’Erasmo, San Francesco del Deserto, Vignole, and Pellestrina. That’s as well as other enchanting places, including the Natural Park of the Sile River and the beaches of the Adriatic. The Sile Natural Park has some of the most beautiful scenery in Italy’s navigable waterways. The canal, starting from our base in Casale sul Sile, is surrounded by nature, with plants and trees on both sides of the river, and is bordered by a cycle path.

During the summer season it’s possible to stop multiple times along the Adriatic coast for a nice swim or to spend a few hours on the beach. In this case, the itinerary to Jesolo, one of the most important tourist destinations in Northeast Italy, is what you’re looking for.

Boating holidays in Venice Lagoon

The Venice Lagoon knows no low season, offering services, attractions and events during every period of the year. For this reason, you can choose this itinerary at any time and you’ll be sure to find numerous activities to do, according to the season.

Along the itinerary there are only a few basins and movable bridges and cruising is therefore almost uninterrupted. Stops for sleeping have been planned for each stage of the itinerary, sometimes in well-equipped ports, sometimes in more natural and isolated areas. However, wherever you are, you will always find stores for purchasing your supplies.

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  • Navigation closures: 2
  • Opening bridges: 2
  • Number of hours of navigation: 25

Venice Lagoon and the smaller islands

The evocative lagoon

  • Casale sul Sile base

    Casale sul Sile base

    A few kilometers from the splendid medieval city of Treviso (definitely worth a visit) is our home base in the Veneto region. Despite being in the municipal area of ​​Casale sul Sile (from which it takes its name), the base is located about 500 meters from the historic center of a small and...

    Features and mood

    • Easy  Easy
    • Beaches  Beaches
    • Culture  Culture
    • Children  Children
    • Bikes  Bikes
    • Nature  Nature
  • Cimitero dei Burci

    Cimitero dei Burci

    The burci were large cargo boats, used in the past in the Venice lagoon. Now wrecks, they create a suggestive atmosphere in this area, described as the Cimitero dei Burci (Burci cemetery). It can be reached by navigating the Sile Park, near Silea. The best point from which to see the wrecks is...

    Features and mood

    • Bikes  Bikes
    • Nature  Nature
  • Casier

    Casier

    The bell tower of the church of San Teodosio stands out among the trees of the natural park. The beautiful, pedestrianized square is filled with bars and restaurants and is a must for anyone starting or ending their cruise. As you navigate the winding bends of the river you can admire some...

    Features and mood

    • Easy  Easy
    • Bikes  Bikes
    • Nature  Nature
  • Cendon

    Cendon

    A historic and popular venue enlivens the evenings at the jetty, with outdoor tables and live music. An on-site ferry service allows you to cross the river and access the GiraSile cycle path, as well as renting canoes and kayaks directly on site.

    Features and mood

    • Easy  Easy
    • Bikes  Bikes
    • Nature  Nature
  • Casale sul Sile

    Casale sul Sile

    The most important center in the Sile park offers ample mooring facilities in the town’s pedestrian center, just below the tall bell tower of the very important Church of Santa Maria Assunta containing a frescoed ceiling by the Venetian Giandomenico Tiepolo. Nearby is the unusual...

    Features and mood

    • Easy  Easy
    • Bikes  Bikes
    • Nature  Nature
  • Sile River Park

    Sile River Park

    Here, you can encounter private villas in Venetian style, with Italian gardens that slope down to the water. Sail slowly to enjoy this spectacular scenery, and to respect the children in canoes, in the silence that this river and its newly resurgent waters guarantees. The Gira Sile cycle path...

    Features and mood

    • Nature  Nature
  • Portegrandi

    Portegrandi

    Portegrandi is home to the only navigation basin in the Sile park, via which you can enter the Venetian Lagoon. The town is a few hundred meters away and can be reached by the cycle path. It includes all the basic facilities.

    Features and mood

    • Easy  Easy
    • Bikes  Bikes
    • Nature  Nature
  • Lido di Jesolo

    Lido di Jesolo

    Famous for its nightlife, shops, facilities of all kinds, and for sports, Lido di Jesolo is very popular with young and old. The mooring area is very close to the sea and quite far from the nightlife center, meaning you can access the free beach in a few steps, avoiding the chaos for those who...

    Features and mood

    • Easy  Easy
    • Beaches  Beaches
    • Children  Children
    • Bikes  Bikes
  • Lio Piccolo

    Lio Piccolo

    The connection between land and water has never been so strong as in Lio Piccolo. A row of wooden poles helps the boat navigate in areas of good seabed, avoiding shallows. The view is breathtaking: nature reigns supreme. There are no boats around, you are completely isolated, as if in a movie....

    Features and mood

    • Easy  Easy
    • Bikes  Bikes
    • Nature  Nature
  • Torcello

    Torcello

    Currently, it has only a few residents, but the priceless archaeological heritage that it still preserves makes it a very important stop on the tourist trail. In addition to the monuments recognized as UNESCO heritage sites, you’ll also find some exclusive restaurants, including the famous...

    Features and mood

    • Culture  Culture
    • Nature  Nature
  • Burano

    Burano

    Burano looks like a painting. The island is crowded during the day, but quiet and magical in the evening. During the day you can discover the art of artistic lace-making at the very central La Perla shop. In the evening, however, we recommend that you enjoy a laid-back aperitif in one of the...

    Features and mood

    • Easy  Easy
    • Culture  Culture
    • Children  Children
  • Mazzorbo

    Mazzorbo

    Mazzorbo is a village where people can often be found doing gymnastics in parks and green areas. Some very popular restaurants can be found on the Fondamenta di Santa Caterina, on the north side of the island. A visit to Tenuta Venissa is a must: for centuries, its vineyard has defied salt and...

    Features and mood

    • Easy  Easy
    • Nature  Nature
  • San Francesco del Deserto

    San Francesco del Deserto

    The origins of San Francesco del Deserto date back to 1220, the year in which Friar Francis of Assisi returned from the east and sought a quiet place where he could pray and reflect. Arriving on this small island, he was greeted by birdsong, and here he stayed. The same feeling of peace and...

    Features and mood

    • Culture  Culture
  • Sant'Erasmo

    Sant'Erasmo

    Most of the crops that can be found at the Rialto Market come from Sant'Erasmo. The island has kept its originality: there are no large Venetian monuments, but lots of nature, a splendid 10km-long cycle path, and a historic center with all the services boats need. What’s more, here you can...

    Features and mood

    • Easy  Easy
    • Beaches  Beaches
    • Children  Children
    • Bikes  Bikes
    • Nature  Nature
  • Bacan

    Bacan

    Located south of the island of Sant'Erasmo, Bacan is an almost magical place. It overlooks Venice but isn’t influenced by tourism. It’s a place where life passes quietly among the purple artichoke crops, unique to the island. A nice restaurant with a view and beachside tables is the...

    Features and mood

    • Beaches  Beaches
    • Children  Children
    • Bikes  Bikes
    • Nature  Nature
  • Vignole

    Vignole

    Vignole is a few hundred meters from the city, and here the waters are calm, and the nights are quiet. It’s an island inhabited by just a few families, who grow and sell their vegetables directly, as they did many years ago. There is also a simple restaurant with outdoor seating. A huge...

    Features and mood

    • Easy  Easy
    • Nature  Nature
  • Murano

    Murano

    Murano needs no introduction: the glass artworks produced here are the most famous and expensive in the world. The masters' furnaces are always crowded, as are the island’s narrow streets and its restaurants. Anyone who visits Murano takes away a traditional glass necklace with them as a...

    Features and mood

    • Culture  Culture
    • Children  Children
  • Venice

    Venice

    This lagoon city is famous worldwide, rich in both history and art. You can travel the Giudecca canal by boat and admire the skyline of the most important monuments, but it’s not possible to enter the Grand Canal. Our company has agreements with paid ports such as the Marina di Sant'Elena,...

    Features and mood

    • Culture  Culture
    • Children  Children
  • Pellestrina

    Pellestrina

    The small fishing villages of Pellestrina and San Pietro are located on the very narrow and very long island of Pellestrina, today famous for being one of the 10 most sought-after cycling routes in the Veneto. A narrow strip of land protects the lagoon and, walking along it, you can see the open...

    Features and mood

    • Beaches  Beaches
    • Nature  Nature
  • Chioggia

    Chioggia

    Corresponding to the low point of the Venetian lagoon, Chioggia is a famous and popular town, known as "Little Venice" for its traditional architecture. Its seaside coast, Sottomarina, is lined by hotels and beach facilities. It’s reachable via a cycle/foot bridge that crosses the lagoon,...

    Features and mood

    • Beaches  Beaches
    • Children  Children
    • Bikes  Bikes
    • Nature  Nature

Houseboat Holidays Italia

An experience in close contact with water, along the slow flowing river, away from crowds and mass tourism.

quote

An amazing experience.

We had a great trip. Nice area, no serious boat issues.

Robin Stout, Google user

Houseboat Holidays Italia
quote

Great holiday.

Honestly one of the best vacations I ever took. You do need to have driven a boat before - these boats are sturdy, it’s mostly because you dock at marinas with very nice boats. Reversing is tricky which makes the locks a bit dicey, but pick a route with only a limited number and you will have a fantastic time with the family.

Carolyn Austring, Google user

Houseboat Holidays Italia
quote

Great holiday.

Honestly one of the best vacations I ever took. You do need to have driven a boat before - these boats are sturdy, it’s mostly because you dock at marinas with very nice boats. Reversing is tricky which makes the locks a bit dicey, but pick a route with only a limited number and you will have a fantastic time with the family.

Carolyn Austring, Google user

Houseboat Holidays Italia
Houseboat Holidays Italia
quote

I will not forget this trip.

I'm very glad we went on this wonderful houseboat vacation! We were only 2 people but we made it. I will not forget this trip, it was an incomparable experience that enriched my life.

Gabrielle, first time customer

Houseboat Holidays Italia
Houseboat Holidays Italia
quote

Our weekend on board was beautiful!

We were very happy with the organisation, with your navigation suggestions and with the perfectly equipped and very comfortable boat. It was a very beautiful experience and I'm telling everyone about it since I really believe it's a truly exciting tourism formula. I hope to have soon another opportunity to enjoy your proposals! Thank you very much also for your availability and support during the organization phase!

Daniela, first time customer

Houseboat Holidays Italia
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Houseboat Holidays Italia

Secluded beaches, sometimes unknown islets, historic villages, and culinary culture.