Just south of the port enclosure and beside the mouth of the River Serpis, Venecia Beach (Platja de Venècia) offers one of the most distinctive and peaceful corners of the Gandia coastline: a family-friendly stretch of sand measuring 330 metres in length by 50 metres in width, very calm waters sheltered by the breakwater, regenerated dunes and a seafaring neighbourhood of low-rise cottages dating back to the 1960s.
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Its setting contrasts with the apartment blocks of Platja Nord. Behind the dune ridge and the wooden boardwalks lies a small single-storey residential colony that preserves the neighbourly atmosphere of the port and the rice-cooking tradition of the Gandia coast.
Where Venecia Beach is and what its sand is like
Venecia Beach lies on the southern stretch of the Gandia coast, tucked between the southern breakwater of the port of El Grau de Gandia and the northern bank of the mouth of the River Serpis, the channel that separates it from the beach of Els Marenys de Rafalcaid. Administratively it belongs to the Junta de Districte del Grau, Venècia i Rafalcaid.
According to the municipal tourism listing published by Visit Gandia, the beach measures 330 metres in length and 50 metres in width of fine golden sand. The port’s long southern seawall acts as a shield against the prevailing northerly winds and currents, producing calm or gently rippled water and a shallow entry slope that is very comfortable for families with children and anyone seeking a quiet swim.
The dune system and the mouth of the River Serpis
Between the houses and the shoreline runs a regenerated dune system restored through public projects carried out in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Much like L’Ahuir Beach at the northern end of the municipality, the sandy slopes are stabilised with native salt-tolerant Mediterranean flora, protected by perimeter wooden fencing and crossed by raised timber boardwalks leading to the bathing area.
At the southern end of the sand opens the Gola del Serpis, the mouth of the river that rises in the central valleys and can be followed inland along the Serpis Greenway. The steady inflow of fresh water lowers the salinity along the southern edge of the beach and attracts estuary fish as well as sea and marsh birds, making the bank near the channel a regular spot for shore angling and coastal birdwatching.
Why it is called Venecia: the story of the low-rise cottages
The Colònia de Venècia grew up in the 1960s as a modest settlement built without prior urban planning on the low-lying ground next to the dunes and the port. Its first residents were local fishermen, port workers and Gandia families who built small single-storey summer houses to enjoy the sea away from high-rise development.
According to neighbourhood memory and local chronicles, the popular name Venecia came from the humour and resignation of its residents during heavy downpours: because it stood in a very low coastal depression beside the outlet of the Serpis, the streets flooded during autumn storms and acted as makeshift canals. The most severe episode occurred on 3 November 1987, during the great flood of La Safor —when rainfall exceeded 800 l/m² in 30 hours—, as the combined overflow of the Serpis and the ravines inundated the houses with up to two metres of water.
In the early decades of the 21st century the neighbourhood consolidated its municipal urban services and gained its own community centre while keeping its human-scale layout. A stroll along Ronda de Venècia, carrer Góndola, carrer Papallona or the central Plaça del Pou reveals whitewashed façades and quiet streets just a few steps from the sand.
Rice-cooking tradition and a walk beside the port
Proximity to the fishing quays has kept the neighbourhood closely tied to fish from the Grau auction, maritime rice dishes and fideuà de Gandia. Within the residential enclave itself stands the family-run restaurant Casa Julia, which moved on 8 May 2011 into the premises of the former Restaurante Venecia under Javier Pallarés Gregori and his sons Javier and Guillermo.
A day at the beach pairs naturally with a walk or cycle ride along the southern harbour basin towards the Moll dels Borja, the historic fruit sheds and the Church of St Nicholas of Bari, one of the most distinctive examples of modern waterfront architecture in El Grau.
Facilities, rules and how to get to Venecia Beach
Access to the beach is free and open year-round, whereas beach services are seasonal. Keep several practical points in mind before planning your visit:
- Lifeguards and summer facilities: the lifeguard and rescue service operates only during the summer season (usually from June to September, between 10:00 and 19:00 or 20:00 depending on the municipal calendar), as does the possible opening of removable beach bars subject to annual authorisation.
- Getting there by car and parking: access is via the Grau road and the southern port link towards Ronda de Venècia, where there is a free surface car park with space for roughly 50 to 80 vehicles.
- By bus, on foot or by bicycle: bus line L5 of La Marina Gandiense links central Gandia with El Grau, Venècia and Rafalcaid, with timetables and frequencies that vary by season. You can also walk or cycle from the docks of El Grau along the southern basin.
- Dune conservation and pets: always use the wooden boardwalks without stepping on the dunes or crossing the perimeter fencing. Dogs are not allowed on the sand and Gandia does not have a designated dog beach (the former dog area at L’Ahuir was discontinued years ago).
You can check the location of Venecia Beach on Google Maps and confirm current lifeguard hours, seasonal facilities and public transport on the official Visit Gandia website before setting off.