Exploring Venice with the VELLO VIA+: Between the Lagoon, Lido and Pellestrina
Venice may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of cycling. Riding a bike is not permitted in the historic city centre, and with its countless bridges, steps and narrow alleyways, exploring on foot is usually the more practical option.
Even so, Venice and the surrounding lagoon are well worth discovering by bike. Once you leave the famous historic centre behind, a completely different side of the city emerges: quieter, more open and ideal for relaxed rides along the water.
That is exactly where the VELLO team took the new VELLO VIA+ Urban and VELLO VIA+ Tour: around the Lido, across Pellestrina and through the Venetian Lagoon.
Arriving at the Lido
The Lido di Venezia feels very different from the Venice seen on postcards. Instead of narrow alleyways, there are wide streets, elegant villas, pine trees, beach clubs and frequent views of the bright blue water. The lagoon lies on one side, the Adriatic Sea on the other.
This was where we unfolded the VIA+ bikes and set off.
It is one of those moments when you immediately understand why a compact electric folding bike is so practical when travelling. Take it out, unfold it and start riding. There is no complicated setup and no need for extensive planning. The bike is ready whenever you need it and can be folded away again when the journey continues by ferry, car or on foot.
The VELLO VIA+ Urban was perfectly suited to the relaxed roads and paths around the Lido. Its belt drive is clean, quiet and low-maintenance, making it ideal for anyone looking for a straightforward bike for the city, everyday life and travel. It feels particularly natural on rides with short stops, small detours and spontaneous changes of direction.
The VELLO VIA+ Tour offered the sportier alternative. With its derailleur gears and touring-focused setup, it is designed for longer distances and for days when you are not quite sure how far you will eventually ride. That can easily happen on the Lido: you ride for a while, stop by the water, continue onwards and then decide to take one more turn after all.
Cycling in Venice – Just a Little Differently
Anyone hoping to explore Venice by bike needs to approach the city a little differently. Cycling is not permitted in the historic centre, and pushing bicycles through the narrow streets or across the bridges is generally prohibited as well.
That does not mean Venice and its lagoon are unsuitable for cycling. You simply need to know where riding makes sense. Ideally, you also have a folding bike that can be folded up and taken almost anywhere.
The Lido is one of those places. Pellestrina is another. Sant’Erasmo and the mainland areas around Mestre and Marghera are also well suited to cycling. Between them, ferries become part of the route.
That combination is precisely what makes exploring the lagoon so appealing: ride for a while, cross the water, continue, stop for a coffee and set off again.
Continuing Towards Pellestrina
From the Lido, we continued towards Pellestrina. Even the journey there changes your perspective on Venice. The city becomes narrower, quieter and more connected to everyday life. There are no major landmarks or dense crowds here, but instead small harbours, colourful houses, laundry hanging outside windows and the lagoon running alongside the road.
Pellestrina is exactly the kind of place that is best experienced by bike. Many distances would feel too long on foot, but are just right on two wheels.
Here, the VIA+ Tour was able to show what it was designed for: longer distances, changing surfaces, winds coming in from the lagoon and, throughout it all, a comfortable and relaxed ride.
The VIA+ Urban remained the uncomplicated option for anyone who prefers a clean, low-maintenance setup. Two models with different priorities, but built around the same idea: compact enough for travelling and comfortable enough for proper riding.
Along the way, we stopped to take photographs and enjoy the surroundings. A quick espresso, another look across the water, and then it was time to continue exploring.
One City, Many Ways to Get Around
Venice is a perfect example of how mobility works differently depending on the surroundings. In the historic centre, you walk. To cross the water, you take a boat. On the islands, you get on your bike.
This makes Venice a particularly interesting environment for a folding bike. Unfold it, ride and then fold it down again when needed. With an electric folding bike such as the VIA+, this becomes an especially flexible way to travel.
The VIA+ Urban makes uncomplicated everyday journeys easy: riding to the ferry, stopping at a café, heading to the beach or exploring quieter streets. The VIA+ Tour encourages you to turn those shorter journeys into longer rides.
Both models reminded us in Venice that a good travel bike does more than simply take you from A to B. It also leaves room for everything that might happen along the way.
The VELLO Community in Venice
One of the highlights of the trip was meeting members of the local VELLO community in Venice. Even here, there are people who already use VELLO bikes in their everyday lives and appreciate this flexible approach to mobility.
In a city made up of islands, bridges, boats and detours, a compact folding bike takes on a whole new meaning. Wherever Venice makes space for cycling, it becomes an ideal companion.
Meeting the local community made the journey feel even more personal. In the end, it is not only the places that make a ride memorable, but also the people you meet along the way.
Our Conclusion from the Lagoon
Exploring Venice by bike does not mean cycling through Piazza San Marco or across the Rialto Bridge. It means discovering everyday Venice: its islands, its waterside routes and the places where the city is not simply visited, but genuinely lived.
On the Lido, across Pellestrina, towards Sant’Erasmo and on the mainland, Venice reveals a quieter, more local side that is wonderfully suited to exploring by bike.
