Lido di Camaiore is one of the quietest resorts in Versilia: 4 kilometres of fine sandy beach, a pedestrian promenade for walking and cycling, the Pontile Bellavista Vittoria pier stretching more than 250 metres out to sea and, behind it, the Apuan Alps with the villages of the hinterland. It is perfect for families and for anyone who wants the sea without the chaos, with Viareggio 10 minutes away by car and Lucca and Pisa a little over half an hour. We at Hotel La Vela live here all year round, one minute’s walk from the pier, and every day at reception our guests turn to us for advice on what to see and do: helping them is a pleasure, and this guide collects the tips we give them, with distances and opening times we have checked ourselves.
In brief
- Beach: 4 kilometres of fine, pale sand, well-equipped beach clubs and two stretches of free beach. Blue Flag confirmed again in 2026.
- Pontile Bellavista Vittoria: more than 250 metres out to sea, a panoramic round terrace with a bar at the end, lit up in the evening. From Hotel La Vela: 1 minute on foot.
- Lungomare Europa: pedestrian promenade with cycle path, bars and ice-cream parlours; market every Monday morning from 8 am to 1 pm; in summer the Ferris wheel, over 30 metres high.
- Evenings: a stroll on the pier, an aperitif at the round terrace and, from late June to mid September, the free Lido Estate shows on the stage in front of the pier.
- Nearby: Viareggio 10 minutes, Forte dei Marmi and Pietrasanta 15-20, Camaiore 20, Lucca 30, Pisa 35. Pisa airport about 40 minutes.
The walk: from the centre to the beach
Start from the hotel area and cross Viale Colombo, the Lido’s main street, letting yourself be tempted by the boutiques and cafés. For a break we recommend the Antico Caffè Cattan, the Lido’s historic bar and pastry shop at number 344 on the avenue. The walk continues between colourful flower beds and palm trees, down to the spectacle of the sea.
The beach at Lido di Camaiore is a stretch of pale, fine sand running for 4 kilometres, dotted with the historic beach clubs and every kind of comfort. The seafront avenue then leads to one of the most iconic structures in Versilia: the Pontile Bellavista Vittoria.
The Pontile Bellavista Vittoria, the symbol of Lido di Camaiore
The pier, opened on 31 May 2008 in place of the previous one, destroyed during the Second World War, lets you walk more than 250 metres out into the sea in complete safety, always keeping an umbilical cord with the mainland. We recommend it to our guests at any hour of the day, and at night it becomes magical, when the lighting draws a luminous trail on the dark water. The name is spot on: «Bellavista», beautiful view, says it all about the spectacle you enjoy from out there. Looking back towards land you see Lido di Camaiore with the Apuan Alps rising behind it, while offshore the open sea blends its shades of blue with the sky.
The further out you go, the more the sea breeze wraps around you: a feeling of relaxation that frees you from everyday stress. At the end is the panoramic round terrace, an oval of about 700 square metres with a bar, where you can sit and sip a coffee while watching the waves and the sun changing colour hour by hour. From the balcony of the sea-view rooms at Hotel La Vela you can see the whole of it: we are right in front of the pier.
The beach and the Lungomare Europa
The beach has the gently sloping sandy seabed typical of Versilia, which is why families with small children love it. The beach clubs rent umbrellas and sun loungers by the day, the week or the whole season, and almost all of them have a bar, play areas for children and sports courts. If you prefer the free beach, there are two stretches where you can set up your own umbrella. In 2026 Lido di Camaiore received the Blue Flag once again. If you are not sure which beach club to choose, ask us: we will gladly help you choose, we know the bagnini, the beach attendants, and we will point you to the one best suited to children, dogs or peace and quiet.
Behind the beach runs the Lungomare Europa, a long pedestrian promenade with bars, ice-cream parlours and restaurants, flanked by the cycle path that links Viareggio to Marina di Massa: by bike you reach Viareggio in 20 minutes and Forte dei Marmi in half an hour, all on the flat. Every Monday morning, from 8 am to 1 pm, the promenade hosts the weekly market; in summer, at the end of the avenue, the Ferris wheel goes up, over 30 metres high, with a view over the whole coast. We will dedicate a guide to beach club prices and dog-friendly beaches before summer 2027.
What to do in the evening in Lido di Camaiore
Our tip for the first evening is simple: a stroll on the illuminated pier, an aperitif at the round terrace or in the bars of Viale Colombo, an ice cream along the Lungomare Europa and, for those with children, the Ferris wheel at sunset. From late June to mid September there is Lido Estate, the town council’s programme of concerts, shows and meetings with writers on the stage in front of the pier: in 2026 it ran from 30 June to 12 September, always at 9 pm and free of charge. If you fancy a more glamorous evening, the Art Nouveau promenade of Viareggio is 10 minutes away by car.
The hinterland: the Apuan Alps and villages to discover
There is something else that makes this land so appealing: the wonder of the hinterland. Just look up and you are won over by the imposing Apuan Alps and the villages set on their slopes. It is an area full of contrasts and, a few minutes from the beach, you find places ideal for excursions, hiking trails, mountain bike rides and pleasant day trips.
Distances from the hotel are short: Camaiore, with its old town and Friday market, is 20 minutes away; Pietrasanta, «the little capital of art» with its galleries, and Forte dei Marmi are 15-20 minutes away; Lucca, with walls you can cycle around, is 30 minutes; Pisa 35. For the Cinque Terre the train from Viareggio is the best option. We will dedicate a guide to each of these trips; in the meantime, if you want to organise one during your stay, at reception you will find maps, train timetables and someone glad to help you pick the right trip for the day, and on our events in Versilia page you will find the portals we follow for what is on in the area.
How to get to Lido di Camaiore
Getting to Lido di Camaiore is easy by any means of transport, which makes our resort suitable for every kind of trip.
By car
Just take the A12 motorway (Genoa-Livorno) and leave at the Viareggio-Camaiore exit, 6 kilometres from the hotel (10 minutes), or at the Versilia exit, then follow the signs for the sea. From Florence you arrive on the A11 in a little over an hour and a quarter, from Genoa and Milan via the A12. For a weekend in July or August allow a little extra time, because weekends bring their usual share of traffic.
By train
The reference stations are Viareggio, 5 kilometres from the hotel, and Camaiore Lido-Capezzano, 3 kilometres away. Viareggio is served by regional trains and by Intercity trains from the main cities (for the high-speed Frecce trains you change in Pisa or Florence), Camaiore Lido-Capezzano by regional trains only. From Viareggio station you reach us in 10 minutes by taxi, by local bus, or in 20 minutes by bicycle along the seafront cycle path.
By plane
The reference airport is Pisa Galileo Galilei, about 40 minutes away by car. Without a car, the PisaMover takes you to Pisa Centrale station in 5 minutes, and from there regional trains to Viareggio take about 20 minutes. Florence Peretola is also convenient, an hour and a half away by car. We are here waiting for you on the Lido di Camaiore seafront.
Where to stay in Lido di Camaiore: Hotel La Vela, in front of the pier
After all this wandering you need a place that feels like home. Hotel La Vela is a family-run 3-star hotel on the seafront, one minute’s walk from the beach and the pier: just step out of the door and you are in the heart of Lido di Camaiore. The rooms have a balcony, some with a sea view, and in the morning a buffet breakfast with home-made cakes awaits you from 8 to 10. For Carnival and for the summer the sea-view rooms are the first to go: check dates and rates or write to us: we will answer you personally, with the pleasure of people who love welcoming guests.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lido di Camaiore suitable for children?
Yes, it is one of the most family-friendly resorts in Versilia: the seabed slopes gently, the beach clubs have play areas and entertainment, the promenade is pedestrian and in summer there are the Ferris wheel and free evening shows. We have family and triple rooms with balcony.
When is the market in Lido di Camaiore?
Every Monday morning, from 8 am to 1 pm, on the Lungomare Europa promenade. In Camaiore, inland, the market is on Friday morning.
Can you walk along the pier in the evening?
Yes, it is open and lit up: the evening stroll to the round terrace is one of the Lido’s rituals. The bar at the end of the pier is open in season.
How do I get from Viareggio station to the hotel?
It is 5 kilometres: 10 minutes by taxi, the local buses linking Viareggio to the Lido, or 20 minutes by bicycle along the seafront cycle path. If you let us know your arrival time, we will be waiting for you with the most convenient directions for that day.
How far are Lucca and Pisa from Lido di Camaiore?
Lucca is about 30 kilometres away (30 minutes by car), Pisa slightly less (35 minutes). Both can also be reached by regional train from Viareggio station, with no changes.
Distances and times are calculated from Hotel La Vela (Viale E. Pistelli 45) in normal traffic conditions; event dates and times are those announced by the organisers and may change.
Written by
M. Essence
M. Essence writes the guides on the Hotel La Vela blog: Versilia as told by people who live it every day, with distances, opening times and tips checked in person. Welcoming and advising guests is the best part of hotel life.