Al Bacan (Sant’ Erasmo) – Family Guide

AL BACAN
(sant' erasmo)

If you want to get out of the tourist traps and experience the real Venetian lagoon, head to Sant Erasmo island. It’s a fantastic place to go during summer, where you can swim on the beach then sit on the beautiful terrace watching the locals who anchor their boats in the shallow water and spend all day sunbathing and swimming. Views here are spectacular!

Visit in winter!

In winter you can have a great adventure by booking their free boat service. From November to March during weekends they offer a free boat service to Al Bacan and back, leaving from the canal in front of the airport in Lido (next to S. Nicolo church). You need to book by phone 48 hours in advance (and you need to have at least 5 people in your party). The lagoon is beautiful in winter and you can watch local people collecting clams on the sandbanks and enjoy the boats passing by.

Food and ordering

The menu is fish and seafood – typical Venetian dishes such as spaghetti with clams (vongole) octopus salads, and salt cod, as well as pizza. Children can have a “cotelleta” and chips (a fried, breaded cutlet of meat). In the bar they also have sandwiches and lighter snacks.

how to get there

Water bus number 13 stops here all year round, leaving from Fondamente Nove via Murano.

FAMILY FRIENDLINESS

Although it’s slightly long to get here on the water bus, once here the kids will love it! They have a lovely play area for children. There is a beach right in front where they can swim, explore, collect clams or fish crabs. There’s a large wooden terrace with fantastic views over the lagoon. This is very much a place that local Venetians go to and your children will enjoy venturing into the wondrous lagoon.

Before or after lunch!

Why not make a day of it and enjoy the beach too! They rent umbrellas and sun loungers. You can also hire a bike to cycle round the island (they have adult sized bikes and a couple of seats for kids). Go to the bar and ask for “noleggio” (rent) for “ombrelloni” (umbrellas), “sdrai” (sun loungers), or “biciclette” (bikes).