Cavallino-Treporti Day Trip from Venice — Vaporetto, Beach and Tips 2026
In a nutshell: Cavallino-Treporti is the narrow peninsula between the lagoon and the Adriatic east of Venice — 15 kilometres of Blue Flag sandy beach, more than 100 campsites, and reachable on Vaporetto 14 from San Zaccaria in 70 to 80 minutes (€9.50 one way or €25 day pass). The ACTV line terminates at Punta Sabbioni, from where you reach the beaches, the Forte di Cavallino and the lighthouse in 15 to 30 minutes on foot or by bus line 19/24. Cavallino works as a day trip from the centre just as well as an overnight base with a daily vaporetto commute to San Marco.
Cavallino-Treporti at a glance — connection from Venice
| Criterion | Cavallino-Treporti |
|---|---|
| Distance from Venice | 15 km as the crow flies, 40 km by road |
| Fastest connection | Vaporetto 14 from San Zaccaria → Punta Sabbioni, 70–80 min |
| Ticket price | €9.50 one way / €25 day pass |
| Beach length | 15 km of fine sand throughout, Blue Flag |
| Main town | Cavallino — 13,000 inhabitants, municipal centre |
| Vaporetto terminus | Punta Sabbioni (tip of the peninsula) |
| Best season | May to September, water 20–26 °C |
| Suited as | Day trip from Venice or overnight base |
Who is Cavallino-Treporti for? Quick decision matrix
✓ Ideal for you if …
- You want a beach break during a Venice stay
- You are travelling with children and want a shallow, safe sandy beach
- You like camping (more than 100 sites, often 4–5 stars)
- You want to stay cheaper than in Venice and commute in daily
✗ Less suitable if …
- You prioritise culture and sightseeing (Verona or Padua are better picks)
- You only have a few hours and no interest in the beach
- You are looking for quiet, secluded coves (Cavallino is organised, not wild)
- You are travelling in winter (many facilities closed Nov–March)
Getting from Venice to Cavallino-Treporti
Vaporetto line 14 — the standard option
ACTV line 14 runs from the San Zaccaria (Pietà) pier directly to Punta Sabbioni. The crossing takes 70 to 80 minutes depending on the time of day and costs €9.50 per leg. If you travel there and back in one day and use other vaporetti within Venice as well, the 24-hour pass for €25 pays off — it is valid on the entire ACTV network including line 14.
During the day, line 14 runs roughly every 30 minutes, with extra sailings every 20 minutes in the June-to-August high season. The last return from Punta Sabbioni leaves around 11:30pm (season) or 9pm (winter). Current timetables and live data are on our vaporetto timetable page.
By car via Mestre
If you park in Mestre or at the airport and want to continue to Cavallino, take the SS14 towards Jesolo and turn off for Cavallino-Treporti — around 50 kilometres and 60 to 75 minutes from Mestre. Summer weekends mean queues on the SS14 from Jesolo-Lido onwards; allow an extra 30 minutes. Cavallino itself has numerous paid car parks right by the beach (€3 to €5 per day); camping guests usually park on their site.
Car + vaporetto combination from Punta Sabbioni
A popular travel hack among German-speaking visitors: drive to the Punta Sabbioni car park (€15 per day), then take Vaporetto line 14 or 15 for the 35-minute hop directly to San Zaccaria. You avoid the high parking costs at Tronchetto (up to €35) and the traffic jams on the Ponte della Libertà. It is also considerably quicker to San Marco than from Mestre via Tronchetto.
What to see in Cavallino-Treporti
Punta Sabbioni and the lighthouse
At the tip of the peninsula stands the white Faro di Punta Sabbioni — the lighthouse marks the entrance to the lagoon. From the vaporetto pier it is a 10-minute walk along the promenade. The beach right by the lighthouse is wide and free to access. In clear visibility (especially after bora winds in spring) you can see the Campanile of San Marco from here, around 12 kilometres west across the lagoon.
Forte Vecchio and Batteria Pisani
Cavallino is remarkable in terms of military history: an Austrian-Italian line of defence ran along the peninsula. The Forte Vecchio from the 1840s and the Batteria Pisani from the First World War are freely accessible today and partly restored. Entry to the fort sites is free; the municipality offers guided tours every two weeks in summer.
Beaches — from Punta Sabbioni to Ca’ Savio
The 15 kilometres of beach are divided into several sections: Punta Sabbioni (the quietest, good for families), Ca’ Vio / Cavallino (central, with restaurants and bars), Treporti and Ca’ Savio (towards Jesolo, somewhat livelier). Most of the beach is divided into private bagni (beach clubs) — a sun lounger plus parasol costs €18 to €25 per day. There are freely accessible sections (spiaggia libera) everywhere, though — the largest at the lighthouse and in Treporti.
Sant’Erasmo — the lagoon’s garden
From Treporti, the agricultural lagoon island of Sant’Erasmo is 15 minutes away on Vaporetto line 13. This is where the famous purple artichokes grow (carciofi violetti di Sant’Erasmo) — a protected Slow Food speciality, harvest season April to June. Sant’Erasmo makes a worthwhile half-day trip from Cavallino: hire bikes, cycle through the market gardens, and stop for lunch at the Trattoria Vignote.
A realistic day plan — Cavallino + Venice
Option A: beach day with a Venice finish
- 09:30 San Zaccaria → Punta Sabbioni (Vaporetto 14)
- 10:50 arrival, 15-minute walk to the lighthouse beach
- 11:00–16:30 beach, lunch at a bagno restaurant
- 17:00 vaporetto back to San Marco
- 18:30 spritz on Riva degli Schiavoni
Option B: overnight in Cavallino, Venice day
- 08:00 Cavallino → Punta Sabbioni by bus 19 or bike (15 min)
- 08:30 Vaporetto 14 to San Zaccaria (70 min)
- 10:00–18:00 Venice sightseeing (see our top sights)
- 19:00 back to Punta Sabbioni
- 20:30 dinner in Cavallino (quieter and cheaper than in Venice)
Where to eat — away from the tourist routes
Da Achille (Piazza Santa Maria Elisabetta, Punta Sabbioni) — solid lagoon cooking, vongole and grilled fish, lunchtime set menu around €22 with starter and main course. Booking recommended in summer.
Trattoria Laguna (Via Fausta 332, Cavallino) — popular with German-speaking visitors, German menu available, but also authentically Venetian (risotto di gò with lagoon goby). Mains €14 to €22.
Ai Pini (Via Treporti) — small family-run place, no tourist menu, grilled shellfish straight from the lagoon market. Cash preferred. Mains around €18.
Hotels and camping — staying in Cavallino
Cavallino-Treporti is Italy’s largest camping region: more than 100 sites with around 60,000 pitches in total, many of them classified 4 or 5 stars (Union Lido, Pra’ delle Torri, Marina di Venezia). Hotels are concentrated in Cavallino town centre and Punta Sabbioni — 3- and 4-star houses, often open seasonally.
Best time to visit Cavallino-Treporti
The season runs from mid-April to early October. May and September are ideal: water temperatures from 19 °C, air temperatures of 22 to 27 °C, and far fewer crowds than in high summer. July and August bring 28 to 32 °C, but also full beaches and peak prices (camping weeks often 40% more expensive). From November to March most facilities are closed — visitors then find an almost empty peninsula, but no local dining scene.
Frequently asked questions about Cavallino-Treporti
Is Cavallino worth it as an overnight base for Venice?
Yes — especially for families and camping-minded travellers. You save 30 to 50% compared with staying in central Venice, commute with the €25 vaporetto day pass and end the day on a quiet beach. The downside: 70 to 80 minutes by vaporetto each way, so around 2.5 hours of travel per day. If you plan several days of intensive sightseeing in Venice, factor that in.
Do I have to pay the Venice access fee if I stay overnight in Cavallino?
No. Overnight guests in Cavallino-Treporti are exempt from the day-visitor fee — you already pay the municipal overnight tax (soggiorno tax), which replaces the €5 flat fee. However, you must register online as an overnight guest and be able to show the code at vaporetto or spot checks. Details on our access fee page.
Are the beaches in Cavallino free?
Partly. Around 30% of the shoreline is spiaggia libera (free beach) — the largest free sections are at the Faro di Punta Sabbioni and in Treporti. The remaining sections belong to private bagni with lounger-and-parasol packages of €18 to €25 per day including toilets, showers and often a restaurant.
Which vaporetto line goes to Cavallino?
ACTV line 14 is the fast direct link from San Zaccaria to Punta Sabbioni (70–80 min). Line 15 is an additional summer line. From the Lido, line 11 also runs with a car ferry to Punta Sabbioni — interesting for travellers with a hire car who want to combine the Lido and Cavallino.
How warm is the Adriatic at Cavallino?
Current water temperatures are on our live weather page. Long-term averages: April 14 °C, May 18 °C, June 22 °C, July 25 °C, August 26 °C (peak), September 23 °C, October 19 °C. The Adriatic is shallow here and warms up quickly — often swimmable as early as May.