Last Updated October 28, 2022
When most of us think of beaches, we tend to think of the tropical kind. You know, the ones with the crystal-clear blue waters that sparkle in the sunlight, lapping on the shores of sandy beaches lined with coconut palm trees. If this is your idea of a beach, then you won’t be disappointed with the variety of beaches in Venice, Florida.
Visitors flock to this southwest region of Florida for the quality beaches, and locals who reside in Venice and the surrounding area feel spoiled to have such incredible beaches so close to home. Whether you enjoy swimming, paddleboarding, snorkeling, looking for fossilized shark teeth, or just taking a nap, here are some of the best beaches you can find just a few minutes from downtown Venice!
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Read the Post or Watch Our Venice Beaches Video!
Feel free to read through the blog post below for all the details about some of these top beaches in Venice. However, we also have a great video here that includes most all of these beaches! So click below to watch the video and see these wonderful Venice Beaches for yourself!
1. Venice Beach/ Venice Municipal Beach
Venice Beach is the main beach in town. Located on the main street of Venice Avenue, you can drive west through downtown and the end of the road at the Gulf of Mexico is the beach. Venice Beach is a favorite spot for visitors and locals in the area because of its convenient location to downtown and a number of condos and homes in this area. In fact, the beach is only a short walking distance from downtown and is a popular destination for an afternoon stroll or picnic.
And you most mornings or evenings they have FREE yoga classes on Venice Beach (great for beginners too!).
Venice Beach has free parking (as do all the beaches in this area), as well as showers, bathrooms, two sand volleyball courts, boardwalks, picnic areas, and there is also a food concession stand in the parking area near the entrance to the beach.
There is also a newly installed wheelchair-accessible pathway out onto the sand, which is a really great addition so that even those with mobility issues can experience this beautiful beach!
Even though the Gulf of Mexico is calmer than the Atlantic side of Florida, when the wind is up there are some waves here. And Venice Beach is a popular spot for surfers in the area, so coming out here on a windy day will give you a show! Venice Beach is also popular for divers and snorkelers. The north end of the beach is the Jetty, where snorkelers can find fish among the rocks. And divers enjoy the coral reef which is situated about a quarter of a mile offshore, attracting various marine life and beautiful coral species.
We place Venice Beach high on our list of beaches in the area simply because of the convenient location in town for visitors and locals who are staying near downtown. Venice Beach also has manned lifeguard stations, which provide extra assurance and safety.
Address: 101 The Esplanade, Venice, FL 34285
2. Caspersen Beach
The gem of the area really is Caspersen Beach. This is a stunning beach for those who prefer a more rugged type of beach. It is often described as uncultivated, windswept, and wonderfully quiet. In fact, there are no buildings on this beach. No condos, no hotels, not even houses in this area!
The beach lies to the south of Venice and occupies over 9000 feet of property. Two-thirds of the beachfront has been left in its natural form and is incredibly peaceful. Caspersen really is one of the prettiest beaches we’ve seen. Beach lovers come here for the swimming, snorkeling among some of the rocks, and fishing. It has nice facilities, such as a boardwalk, recently renovated bathrooms, and free parking! However, there is no lifeguard stands at this beach, so swim at your own risk.
Another reason Caspersen Beach is so popular is for the fossilized shark teeth that Venice, Florida is famous for. This is one of the top beaches to hunt for these pre-historic treasures, so you’ll see a lot of people sifting through the sand looking for teeth.
Caspersen Beach also has a launch for canoes and kayaks into the Venetian Intracoastal Waterway. Perfect for those who want to explore and check out some of the wildlife in the area. Note – the Waterway is not the open ocean. It is the canal that connects to the ocean.
Address: 4100 Harbor Drive South, FL 34285
3. Brohard Beach and Venice Fishing Pier
Brohard Beach is another one of the most popular Venice Florida beaches because this is where you will find the famous 700-foot long Venice Fishing Pier. Even if you aren’t a fisherman you can enjoy the panoramic views of the blue water and beaches from the pier. Of all the things to do in Venice, visiting the pier is a popular choice for visitors and even locals too.
Another reason this area is popular is because of it’s located at the entrance to the pier is the famous Sharky’s on the Pier restaurant, the only beachfront restaurant and tiki bar in Venice. Visitors and locals alike come out to Sharky’s on a nice day for lunch, dinner, or just drinks and to admire the views – which are especially lovely at sunset!
The Venice fishing pier is free to access, and you also don’t need a fishing license to fish from the pier. If you don’t have fishing gear don’t worry, they actually have some for rent right up on the pier itself.
Brohard Beach is sizable, wide, and beautiful. It also has a reputation for being a hunting ground for shark teeth. The beach has several access points off Harbor Drive. It has plenty of free parking as well as boardwalks and restrooms too. However, again there are no lifeguards here.
The dog beach entrance is located right across from the Lake Venice golf course.
Address: 1600 South Harbor Drive
Best Dog Beach – at South Brohard Beach!
We also wanted to make a special note here that the southern part of Brohard Beach is where you will find one of the best dog beaches in all of Sarasota County (and much of Florida really). The Brohard Paw Park and Beach is located just off Harbor Drive (near the Venice Lake Golf Course). After parking, walk your dog through the fenced dog park and out the back gate – there is a fenced walkway that leads right to the beach!
This is an off-leash dog beach! So dogs can run and play freely here and enjoy the water. Be sure your dog is under voice control at all times, and be aware that other people’s dogs may want to come and say hi to you too.
4. Nokomis Beach
Nokomis Beach is technically in Nokomis rather than Venice, but it’s literally closer to downtown Venice than even Caspersen! Located just on the north side of the Jetty and bay area from downtown Venice, Nokomis Beach is one of Sarasota’s oldest public beaches. It is a popular choice among beachgoers since it is fun and has a social atmosphere and is very easy to get to.
READ MORE: Pros and Cons to Living in Venice
Nokomis Beach has amazingly soft powdery sand and gorgeous blue waters that are iconic in the area. The beach is an excellent place for spotting dolphins and manatees as well as going for a swim or paddle around. The beach also hosts drum circles at sunset on various nights of the week (currently Saturday and Wednesday). During the drum circles, the beach comes alive with dance and enchanting tribal music.
You will find amenities here including free parking, restrooms, playground, and picnic areas. And on the way, don’t forget to visit Pop’s Sunset Grill, which is one of the more popular restaurants in Venice for both visitors and locals!
Address: 100 Casey Key Road, Casey Key, FL 34275
5. North Jetty Beach
Barely south of Nokomis Beach near the North Jetty area is North Jetty Beach. It’s just across the way from the Venice South Jetty. This beach area is popular with families due to the amenities and activities here. There is free parking, food concessions, showers, restrooms, picnic tables playground and volleyball courts. You will also find a kayak / canoe launch nearby as well.
The North Jetty Beach also has a bait shop, and anglers can fish from the jetty or shoreline here. Dolphins frequent the inlet to the bay and waterways around the area, and even if you aren’t a boater you can enjoy watching the boats come in and out of the inlet. This is a great family beach that is located just a few minutes from downtown Venice.
Address: 1000 S Casey Key Road, Nokomis, FL 34275
6. Manasota Beach
We placed this beach at the bottom of this list only because it is the furthest from town. However, many would argue that Manasota really is the best beach in the area. It is one of the quietest, most peaceful beaches you will find in Venice. Early in 1963, Manasota consisted of a small beach, almost 450 feet of Gulf frontage with four concrete picnic shelters. Intracoastal Waterway construction spoil was pumped on the Manasota Beach’s bayside, expanding the park. The county purchased an additional beach in the ’70s, making it bigger than its initial size.
Manasota Beach is a long and reasonably wide section of beach with lovely sand and stunning waters. This beach is a popular place for locals since it’s less crowded than the beaches closer to downtown. It’s also a popular beach for shark tooth hunting as well!
Even though there are some private homes here with beach views and access, you will not find large condos or hotels here obstructing the views. Plus, this is still a public beach and you can walk for miles along the shoreline.
Near the main parking area, you will find amenities including boat ramps, grills, picnic areas, parking, restrooms, boardwalk, etc.
Address: 8570 Manasota Beach Road, Manasota Key, FL 34223
More Recommended Beaches Near Venice
While these are really the primary beaches that you will find in Venice and super close to town, there are a couple other beaches that we wanted to give a shout out too. These beaches are just a short drive from Venice and offer beauty and fun of their own!
Siesta Key – In Sarasota
Just around 15 miles north of Venice is the southern part of Sarasota. Just offshore is Siesta Key, and you can easily access it from the main highway and over the bridge from town. Siesta Key is actually one of the most famous beaches in the area because it’s been voted numerous times as the #1 beach in the USA!.
Depending on traffic, you can get to Siesta Key from Venice is only around 20-25 minutes or so. Once on Siesta Key, there are actually a few beaches to choose from. There is the main Siesta Key beach, as well as Turtle Beach and Crescent Beach.
Englewood Beach
Only a few miles south from Venice is the town of Englewood, Florida. This is another popular fishing and boating town, and if you turn west off the main highway 41 over the bridge you will arrive out on a barrier island which is where you can find Englewood Beach. Englewood Beach is a fantastic beach with beautifully soft sand and crystal-blue water.
Englewood Beach offers facilities such as parking (paid) as well as restrooms, picnic areas, etc. And there are also a number of beach shops and restaurants just across the road from the beach. In particular, we enjoy going to the Sand Bar Tiki & Grille for live music and hanging outside with a cocktail and grabbing some lunch.
Which Beach in Venice is Your Favorite?
While there are many things to do in Venice, hitting the beach is probably at the very top of most people’s lists. With so many iconic Florida beaches in and around Venice, it’s no wonder this part of southwest Florida tops the list for both beach vacations and even those who want to live the beach life in Florida year-round. We’ve visited every one of these beaches, and while they each vary in scenery, location, and what they have to offer, you really cannot go wrong with visiting any of them. Every one of these beaches are beautiful and perfect for a visit any time of day all year long.
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As you can see, our website is full of information about the area and Josh is a licensed real estate agent in Venice with amazing reviews and loves helping his clients on their journey to life in paradise!
