Lido di Jesolo in many ways is everything that Italy isn't and that Spain is. It is one of the nation's few unpretentious tourist resorts, humming with shops selling buckets and spades, neon arcades and crazy golf courses.

Holidaymakers who flock to the north-east resort are not here to discover the secrets of the Roman architecture or admire the oil paintings of the great masters – they are here for the beach.

Jesolo's golden beach carries on for miles and is fully decked out with sun beds where dedicated tanners can soak up rays all day long. Furthermore many hotels own their private strips of the beach guaranteeing their visitors a spot on the sand.

But what is really best about Jesolo is its proximity to Venice. Just a half an hour ferry crossing from the floating city, Jesolo is the perfect base for those wanting to mix culture with chilling.

Traditions and culture in Lido di Jesolo

Jesolo is a pretty easy going kind of place, where the days are for the beach and the evening are for the bright lights of the bars. Be warned though, between two and four in the afternoon many shops tend to close for their afternoon siesta.

Drinkers should also bear in mind that while a 24-hour drinking culture now prevails in the UK, Italy does not have the same attitude towards booze. Largely a family resort, from midnight onwards Jesolo tends to start winding down and by two in the morning most bars will be closed.

Recommended in Lido di Jesolo

The top thing to do for most visitors' is a trip to Venice. The ferry can be caught from Punta Sabbioni and costs around 20 euros. Holidaymakers are dropped off just outside St Mark's Square and are then free to explore this labyrinth of canals for the rest of the day.

Venice has scores of art galleries, craft shops and beautiful sights for visitors to explore. Those feeling flush can take a ride on a gondola or enjoy a speed boat ride out to one of the neighbouring islands such as Murano.

However, for those who don't want to spend their days catching ferries out of Jesolo there is plenty to do in the resort, aside from the beach. On the outskirts of the town there is Aqualandia, which is one of Italy's biggest water parks. Go karting centres also offer holidaymakers with an action-packed way to spend their days.

Weather in Lido di Jesolo

Jesolo enjoys reliably hot summers from June through to September, during which temperature regularly reach the high twenty degree centigrades. However, high humidity levels mean that this region also gets its fair share of air-clearing storms.

Winter falls between November and February and during this wet and cold period Jesolo all but closes down.

Destination checklist for Lido di Jesolo

Italy's official currency is the euro. Cheaper flights to the nation are available if holidaymakers book on the internet.

Jesolo is two hours ahead of GMT in the summer and uses the international dialling code +39.