Eurocamp Holiday Review: Union Lido Mare, Venice, Italy

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If you’re looking for a fun family getaway then you’ll definitely want to hear about the biggest campsite in Italy – this Eurocamp Holiday Review is all about the amazing Union Lido Mare Resort (in Cavallino Treporti on the Venetian Riviera). I’ve included our experiences, photos, details about the Eurocamp accommodation, what there is to do (including visiting Venice), driving time from Calais, the closest airport and everything else that you need to know about this gigantic holiday park – it’s kid heaven!

We always try to travel on a budget so, if you’re looking to explore the UK and Europe with kids in an affordable way, have a browse around the blog for tips, guides and reviews. You can follow our travels on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok.

Holiday: September 2024 (Updated April 2026)

Eurocamp Review: Union Lido Mare, Italy

Our stay was part of another epic European road trip – hopping between 4 Eurocamp campsites as cheap bases. We took the ferry from Dover to Calais before driving to Germany for our first stay at Landal Warsberg, then moved onto Sportcamp Woferlgut in Austria, before spending a week in Italy at the incredible Union Lido Mare Resort. After that we began our drive back towards the UK, staying in Germany again at Campingpark Gitzenweiler Hof in Bavaria. So, here’s my full review with everything that you need to know about our stay with Eurocamp at Union Lido Mare in Italy!

What was Union Lido Campsite like?

Union Lido Mare is the biggest resort we’ve ever stayed at – it’s more like a town than a campsite! They’ve literally thought of everything you could possibly need for a fabulous family holiday and put it all in one place! It has 18 restaurants and bars, 23 shops and 2 supermarkets – all of which are reasonably priced so you don’t have to head off of the resort. (Union Lido is a great option for a Eurocamp holiday without a car.) It boasts a 1km private blue flag beach, a fun fair, lots of kids’ activity areas and 2 waterparks – one of which is out of this world! (More on that below!) Union Lido is really geared up for families with loads to keep the kids entertained.

We stayed with Eurocamp but there was a huge amount of camping space, as well as lots of different accommodation providers. The site is extremely well run and it was surprisingly silent at night time for such a busy site. I usually do a big section of my review on what there is to do locally but there’s too much to tell you about this amazing Eurocamp site in Italy, so I’ll be focussing mostly on the Union Lido Mare Resort.

What was the Union Lido Mare waterpark like?

The main Aqua Park is the absolute star of the show at Union Lido Mare, I’ve never seen anything quite like it. There were several swimming pools, including a heated kids’ play pool and a wave pool, and tons of brilliant waterslides. This resort is pricier than other Eurocamp holiday parks that we’ve stayed in the past, but you can absolutely see why for everything on offer – it was the standard of an actual waterpark only on-site and included with the stay. I think, rather than try to describe it, it’s probably easier just to do a photo dump of the pool area so you can see for yourself.

Finn and Lola thought the flumes were fantastic and, though there were lots of people around, it never felt busy as it was just so vast! I’d also like to mention that there were lots of lifeguards dotted about, and a traffic light system on the waterslides – we felt comfortable relaxing on the sandy areas while our two wandered around and used the slides together. The pools are surrounded by sand so you could lay down a towel and relax – there were a few sun beds but these came with a rental cost and literally no-one used them!

I’ve updated this part of the review for 2026 as, since our visit, the second waterpark has had a fabulous makeover! I’ve pinched a photo of it (above) from the Eurocamp website so that you can take a peek. The second waterpark, located closer to the seafront, boasts a swimming pool, a children’s play area and a lazy river. There’s also an indoor swimming pool / spa type place but that comes at an extra cost – and my two were far too interested in the waterslides so we didn’t venture in there. You’ll be pleased to know that you don’t need swimming caps at Union Lido either – phew! 😂 If you love a Eurocamp waterpark holiday then make sure you also check out my article on the 20 Best Eurocamp Waterpark Holidays.

What was the beach like?

There’s a 1km private beach running along the length of the Union Lido Mare Resort with beach bars and a lovely seafront restaurant which we enjoyed a meal at on our first night. The beach has sun bed areas (for renting) and spaces of sand in between so you can please yourself. There were areas for things like volleyball, and places where you could rent equipment for water sports or get a pedalo. The weather was a bit hit and miss while we were there but we enjoyed wandering along the beach even on the cooler days – Lola and I spent a nice mild evening reading too. If the weather is on your side there’s absolutely loads to do on the resort. (Sections of the beach have lifeguard supervision.)

What activities are there for the kids to do?

The Union Lido Mare campsite had lots of activities on offer to keep the kids busy – most of which opened in the evening when it cooled down (from around 5.30pm – 11pm). There was a play area which cost €10 filled with things like bouncy castles and inflatable slides which was very popular with the younger ones. My kids loved the go-kart track and we thought it was really reasonable at €4 each – which is much cheaper than we’ve paid elsewhere – and they were really speedy! There was also cinema area but we didn’t try that.

At the top of the campsite, in the corner near the beach, there’s a place they call ‘the activity park’ which had a big field, playground equipment, kids’ clubs and outdoor exercise equipment. That part of the site also had an area for dogs to play if you’re taking your furry friend. Near the main shopping area, there’s a fairground with rides like a log flume and a drop ride. Again, this opened in the evenings and was popular with kids under about age 10. (My two were a bit old for what was on offer there). The resort also has an arcade building so Finn and Lola liked to spend their evenings there. And, there was a stage which ran a nightly kids’ disco near the smaller waterpark.

What is eating out like at Union Lido Mare?

We were really impressed with the restaurant food at Union Lido Mare – largely because not only was it tasty but it was actually affordable! We ate at the Al Mare restaurant, overlooking the seafront, which we picked for both the view and the gluten free menu options. Our meals were around €12 each – my husband had a burger, Lola had a pizza, Finn had gluten-free bolognese and I had a gluten-free lasagne. Just beware of the drinks – the large ones were like buckets of coke and apple juice (which were far too big and about €6 each) so opt for a small drink! 😂

Another evening, we also ordered take-out from the Al Mare restaurant. There are actually loads of restaurants, snack bars and take-out places at Union Lido, so plenty to choose from, but as we knew they did good gluten-free food we opted to get our takeaway from there too. Two big gluten-free pizzas and 2 portions of chips gave us tons of food for the four of us and it came to about €29. We typically avoid eating out much on holiday, to keep things budget-friendly, but everything was reasonably priced at Union Lido so it was good to have a couple of nights off from cooking. The ice-cream shop had tasty ice-creams for just €1.90 too!

What about groceries?

You could easily get the bits and bobs you needed on-site in the main supermarket or in the fruit and vegetable shop. Again, the prices were reasonable and there was a fresh counter with pastries and pizza slices which were perfect for a cheap and easy lunch, or for packing up a hassle-free picnic. There’s also a Lidl about a 5 minute drive away which obviously had a bit more choice and was slightly cheaper – we did a main shop there and then got any extra bits on-site. We felt really comfortable on the resort and sent the kids off together in the evenings to get snacks on their own too. The supermarket is open in the morning and then it reopens again late afternoon, so just make sure you grab what you need before lunchtime.

Local Area: What is there to do near Union Lido?

The only negative we found for Union Lido Mare was that there wasn’t much to do locally on a cold weather day and the on-site children’s activities typically don’t open until dinner time. If it’s too cold for the pool, there’s not much to do with older kids who are past playground age. Obviously it can’t be helped (we’ve been to Italy in September previously and had beautiful weather) but it was hit and miss which was a shame because the aqua park and beach were brilliant. If you want to venture out for some sight-seeing from Union Lido then it’s in close proximity to Venice, and you can take a boat trip to the beautiful islands of Murano and Burano.

Venice

There are a few ways to reach Venice from Union Lido – it’s just under an hour away by car. We drove to Mestre train station and then got the train (which takes about ten minutes). The trains are really frequent (every 8 minutes when we visited) and there are car parks near the station costing around €2-3 per hour. The train tickets from Mestre into Central Venice (Venezia S Lucia) cost just under €6 for a family of four (€1.45pp) so it can be a really cheap way to get into the city. You can also catch a boat into Venice from Punta Sabbioni which takes just 30 minutes. It’s pricier than driving but if you also want to visit Murano and Burano it can be pretty cost effective. You can get a 24 / 48 hour ticket and hop on and off as you like. Websites like Tiqets and Get Your Guide also offer day trips to Venice, Murano and Burano with entrance to the glass blowing. Check out my 1 Day in Venice Family Itinerary for more info.

Murano / Burano island hopping

As I mentioned above, from Punta Sabbioni (or directly from Venice itself at the boating area near St Mark’s Square) you can also get ‘hop on and off’ tickets for the boat services to visit the gorgeous islands of Murano and Burano. We didn’t go this time, but have been there in the past and it was one of our favourite parts of visiting Venice. Murano is famous for its glass blowing, and you can watch it being made when you visit. Some boat tours include entry to this, but otherwise it’s only around €5pp and children are typically free. You’ll see beautiful Murano glass ornaments being sold all over Venice. Burano is famous for it’s colourful streets and you’ll want to try a Burano biscuit – they’re so good. (I had one years ago before I had to go gluten free and I still remember how tasty it was! 😂)

Was the accommodation good?

We booked with Eurocamp and stayed in a Comfort XL holiday home. We were really pleased with it – it felt new and clean and had everything that we needed for a comfortable stay. Honestly, the only thing missing was an oven. We had a hob and a microwave (which is absolutely fine generally) but, because we were away for a few weeks, rice and pasta got a bit dull. 😂 Luckily eating out was affordable here! Our accommodation had a central living and kitchen area with a dining table, 3 bedrooms and a small shower room. The position of the holiday home was great – we were just a two minute walk from the main waterpark! (All of the Eurocamp accommodation was located in same area.) Our accommodation had air-conditioning, lots of storage in the main bedroom, black out curtains and bug screens on the windows. Here are some more photos:

Strangely, this accommodation didn’t have an outdoor light for sitting outside on the deck in the evenings – though it was often a bit chilly for us anyway – one of the risks of travelling out of season! It was surprisingly busy for a September time holiday, although given how brilliant Union Lido is I guess it’s not really surprising, but it was also strangely peaceful in the evenings, we all slept really well. They also close the barriers between 1-3pm – so cars can’t come and go at lunchtime either – make sure you head out before then (or park your car in the car park beforehand) if you’re planning a day out. For more info on holiday home options, check out my Eurocamp Accommodation Guide.

What else do I need to know about Union Lido Mare?

If you’re camping, Union Lido Mare has amazing facilities with loads of toilet / shower blocks dotted around. We also used these for doing our washing – which cost €5 (with automatic detergent included).
We were able to park directly next to our holiday home, making it easy to load / unload the car of luggage and food shopping.
Most Eurocamp accommodation doesn’t come with a TV – it’s only included with their higher ranges – so it’s handy to take a tablet or laptop with you with some movies for when you want a quiet evening.
The Eurocamp rep there was helpful and friendly, and the other staff on the site were also very cheerful.
There was free WIFI available so that was brilliant for saving our data allowance during our stay.

When you arrive, you can use the facilities before check in – leave your car in the car park and get your wristbands etc to enter the campsite early, then the official check in time is 4pm. It’s also worth noting that the Union Lido staff take your passports on arrival. This is the only resort we’ve known to do this, but I think because the site is so big (rather than process it all when you check in) they sort the tourist registration stuff later to save time. If you want, I think you can collect them again after 24 hours, but if not you can just collect them when you pay your tourist tax the day before you travel home. We just left ours there (as we figured they were probably safer locked in their cash office) and our tourist tax for a 7 night stay was €21.

Getting to Union Lido Mare from the UK

You’ll be pleased to know that Union Lido Mare is a great option for a no-drive holiday if you’re looking for a Eurocamp getaway without a car – everything you need is on-site and the Venice excursions can be done by boat. The nearest airport to the Union Lido campsite is Venice Marco Polo which is around 45 minutes away. Use the Skyscanner website to find the cheapest flight prices – it’ll compare airlines, airports, dates and times for you. And, if you need airport transfers the Sun Transfers website is a great place to start.

Calais to Union Lido Mare is around a 13 hour drive if you’re travelling by car through France. Or opt to go through Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Austria to avoid lots of toll costs – though this does increase the journey to around 16 hours. If you are driving that route, you’ll need a Vignette for the Austrian motorways (which can be purchased online) but this is only €11.50 for ten days. You can book your ferry / Eurotunnel travel directly through Eurocamp, or check out the Direct Ferries website to compare prices across routes and providers. If you’re new to road trips check out my family guide on How to Road Trip on a Budget Around Europe.

How much does a Eurocamp holiday at Union Lido cost – was it good value for money?

Full disclosure, we were gifted our week at Union Lido Mare in Italy but (as always) my review is my own and completely honest. Our 7 night stay at Union Lido in Cavallino Treporti, at the beginning of September, in a Eurocamp Comfort XL holiday home was worth around £800. This is pricier than some other Eurocamp holidays we’ve been on but I can absolutely see why. If we hadn’t had some cooler weather, I really wouldn’t be able to fault this one, it’s an amazing place for a family holiday. Our accommodation was a great base for the week and Union Lido Mare is in a whole league of its own – Finn and Lola loved it. The campsite is clean, well-run and literally has everything you could possibly need – it’s worth the higher price tag and we would definitely go back. For more information, and prices for your dates, click here to check out Union Lido Mare on the Eurocamp website.

As we home-educate the kids, we are fortunate to be able travel term-time which is a great money saver, but if you’re restricted to school holiday dates then look for May half-term getaways – they’re always so much cheaper than the summer holidays! Having said that, affordable school summer holiday travel is possible – I went hunting on the Eurocamp website and found 50 family holidays under £1k for August 2026 – with prices starting from less than £300! And, for even more fabulous holiday options, check out my article on the 10 Best Eurocamp Resorts Near Venice – there are lots of brilliant waterpark holidays in the area!