Car in Venice

Hi twoflower,

as you may have twigged, what most people think of as the centre of Venice is comprised of land [just] and canals - no scope there for cars or buses. the closest you can get with a car is the giant car parks in the piazzale Roma, which is the major bus terminus for buses coming in from outside. from there you would either walk or get a boat to your accommodation.

alternatively, you could stay in Mestre, which is the closest place on the mainland, and catch a bus/train into Venice. [not as good IMO - you miss out on a lot especially at night when the trippers have gone home]

you can take your car to Venice lido, [there's a ferry] but as you can only drive up and down the lido, there doesn't seem much point.

alternatively, you could return your car to the hirer when you get to Venice, and then pick up another when you leave.

hope this helps,

regards, ann

First - never stay on the outskirts of Venice (Mestre). If there is on place on this earth where you should adjust your budget to stay in the middle of everything, ot is Venice.

Second, there is no parking in Venice because there are no cars. There is long term parking at a large (massive) garage that is very easy to get to after you cross the causeway from the mainland. From there is is a short water taxi ride to the heart of it all.

Another alternative is to leave your car in Mestre and take the train into Venice. It's a ten minute train ride and there are a bunch of garages across the street from the Mestre train station. We left our car there for 4 days with no problem. The cost for parking is less than at the car park at Piazzale Roma and you don't have to cross the bridge (in your car, obviously you have to cross it on the train but then you don't have to worry about traffic).

>> Another alternative is to leave your car in Mestre and take the train into Venice. <<

Or hop on the bus that leaves from the train station, as we did...

We've been to Venice three times, each time driving directly to the large carpark which is located right where you will be able to catch a vaporetta to your hotel. It's ever so simple and stress free. I agree with one of the other posters...please spend the extra $$ and stay in Venice itself. It's such an incredible experience - you must absorb it as fully as possible.

Another alternaive, superior to Mestre IMHO, is the Lido. There you can park at the hotel and have your luggage taken to your room. (With many hotel choices in Venice proper you might end up schlepping it all over town). It is also the last stop on the vaporetto (water bus), which means a 12 min vaporetto ride to San Marco. The car ferry ride from the main parking lot upon entry into Venice onto Lido is 45 min, 18 Euro each way, as of a couple of years ago. The ferry is known as the Tronchetto, as it leaves from the island of Tronchetto.

Like many above, I would not stay in Mestre and day trip. Even Lido is a borderline choice for me.

You stay in Venice - not Mestre ( anot very cahrming and quite industrial suburb).

Depending on how long you will be in Venice and your other uses for the car you either

1) drive the length of the causeway and leave the car at the garage at Piazzele Roma. Do NOT leave anything at all in the car - take everything with you to the hotel. Contact you hotel to find out the best means of getting there (some have private docks if you want to take a water taxi, some will send a bellman to meet you at a vaporeto stop).

2)If you will be in Venice several days it may pay to turn in your car and pick up a new one when you leave - rather than pay parking fees as well as the daily rental rate - assuming you've rented from one of the major companies that has an office at Piazzele Roma.

Thanks for all these helpful replies. What I'm picking up is to stay in the centre and not in outlying suburbs like Mestre. Lido might be better, but the centre is better still. Is that how everyone sees it?

I don't think we can return the car temporarily because it is a French lease, not a rental. Our choices for car parking seem to narrow down to the Piazzola Roma, although the reference to theft is a slight concern.

Before we abandon the idea of staying out entirely, Padua looks a nice town with much to see. Would commuting from there be an option, or is Venice centre really much much better? Thanks...

Before we commit to staying centrally and car

Re above - "is Venice centre really much much better" as a place to stay overnight at, I meant. Thanks,

>> is Venice centre really much much better" as a place to stay overnight at, << YES!!!

Also - you have another (less expensive) choice besides P. Roma. Park in a secure lot in Mestre across from the train station and take either a train or bus to P. Roma.

Agree! I can't imagine ending my charmed day in Venice on a 40 minute train ride back to Padua. Strolling through the little streets after dinner is the best part! And, lucky you, you're going to be there at a perfect time: good weather, fewer crowds.

Park at Mestre, train to Venice. As you exit the train station you'll thank your lucky stars you're staying there!

Twoflower-I adore Padova, the most incredible art treasures of Giotto are located there, I will be back in Venice in July for the great Venetian festival of Redentore, and I plan to go back to Padova to see La Capella Scrovegni once again, it is so impressive, also the Duomo, and its last Judgment frescos, from the Giotto school; from its bridges to its buildings, Padova is one very picturesque city. It takes exactly 30 minutes by train to reach Padova, and it is interesting, you'd think it would be crushed by tourists like Venice always is, but it generally isn't-which makes it quite nice to move around and to enjoy the many arcaded buildings and beautiful piazze in the pedestrianized center.

Myself, I don't think it is a bad idea to stay in Padova and train in-particularly if you want to see more than just Venice. However, as between staying in Mestre and the historical center of Venice, I definitely would say stay in Venice-it's difficult to get a real sense of Venice's charm without being part of the life there, day and night, as has been mentioned, after the tourists are gone. So I would leave the car at Tronchetto, and stay in the historical center, or, stay in Padova, a gorgeous art city of itself, and train in to Venice.

The phrase is;

"See Venice and die"

Yes, we are all imploring you to stay in Venice proper.

Walking alone at night or in the early morning will make your visit - period.

Actually, I'm not imploring Twoflower to stay in Venice, I think Padova is wonderful, and would form just as good a base for seeing Venice as staying inside historical Venice, which is QUITE a bit more expensive than Padova, even with the nominal train fare.

Girl;

Wonderful Padua might be, but I hardly think that makes it a sensible base for exploring the most unique city on earth.

It makes very good sense, actually, and people do it all the time. People even try to base themselves in Verona, of all places, to see Venice! Verona is a good hour and a half away by train.

Padova is a wonderful place, the mayor of Venice has entered into a kind of city partnership with Padova, more and more events are to be held "jointly" between the two cities, even La Fenice opera house is going to be "extended" in order that it not just be the opera house for Venice but of the Veneto-and particularly Padova.

The two art cities have much in common, but are uniquely different-Giotto, who did some of the MOST beautiful frescoes on this earth, who was even praised in his time by Dante in "La Divina Commedia" for his extraordinary art, did his best work in Padova, besides his work on the doors and inside the Battistero outside the Duomo in Florence.

Not everyone likes staying in Venice, hard as that may seem for Venice lovers to believe, and are perfectly happy staying in Mestre, with its lower costs, than in the historical center. I have a favorite restaurant in Mestre that I like very much-the food is quite good there, whereas in Venice it tends to be quite expensive, and can be hit or miss. For those who don't wish to stay in the historical center, I can appreciate that, and if I were to stay outside Venice, it would be Padova, because of its short connecting train trip-and the fact that there is so much to see in this lovely city, and much to learn about art, as there is in Venice. But there is no Giotto in Venice, only Padova. Both would be great bases-but from Padova you can also easily visit the lovely towns of Bassano del Grappa and Asolo by car. There are many advantages to staying in Padova, and if the OP wants to stay there, I think it's a great choice.

We've left rental cars at Piazzele Roma twice - once for 4 nights and once for 5 nights. But we took everything with us - even left the glove box open to show it was empty - and parked with the trunk to the wall. There were carts there for luggage and it;s a very short walk - just a minute or 2 - to the water taxi stop. We took one direct to the hotel both times - but the hotels had private docks. That may not make sense if the hotel is quite far from a dock - and depending on how much you have to tote. (We are NOT super light packers - since you don;t need to be on road trips - and I hate paying just as much to have panties washed as it cost to buy them (unless it's on the company's dollar).

twoflower

Everyone certainly has their opinions and some express them very strongly. Let me just share an experience:

We had to wait quite a long time once, in a line of cars, to get in the multi story car park at Piazzale Roma. I don't think I would do it again, based on that experience. If I were to approach Venice again by car, I might consider leaving the car in Mestre, in a secure lot, near the train station there, as mentioned above. The Piazzale Roma garage is expensive, which might also sway me to the Mestre garages.

Another thought: someone above mentions parking at Tronchetto. This is not the same as Piazzale Roma. You can see the difference between the two parking areas on a good map. I don't know the price difference.

Also, I don't know if the train stops at Tronchetto, but I'm sure you can get a bus.

Again, above, there is a post that makes the train to Venice from Mestre sound as if it is a much better option than the bus. I have done both and don't see the advantage of one over the other. On our last trip to Venice, we took the bus because it was included in our Venice Pass. The bus was pleasant, uncrowded, easy, etc.

Finally, it is my opinion that I much prefer to stay in Venice proper when visiting Venice. I hope this helps.

Lot's of people hate Venice too (really, I know some of them)

The basis for making the decision is not how nice Padua may be.

Unless some place is only day trip worthy, which Venice certainly is not (could we agree on that much?) staying 40 minutes away and losing 2-3 hours of visiting time (please don't tell me how lovely the countryside is between Mestre and Padua), plus quiet solitudes and vistas in the evening and morning is a waste.

You like Padua, I get it.

No, we can't agree on that, if you have one day to see Venice, then by all means, I think you should go, you can see quite a lot in one day.

I don't know about the "we" get it-I do know there are many people on this board who love Padova, and not enough people bother to go and see its many treasures. Instead, they get frustrated by being on over-clogged vaporettos in Venice, and being down on the Piazza San Marco area unable to move because of the crush of tourists-since there are no less than TEN MILLION TOURISTS A MONTH to go through Venice, an unsustainable figure.

Correction: over 21 MILLION TOURISTS FOR THE YEAR, making it almost two million tourists a month in Venice.

tuscanlifefedit

I emphasized the strictly for the view of Venice as one exits the train station. One of my treasured memories.

For first timers, I would place that above the bus (assuming the schedules are similar).

Oops. "I emphasized the train..."

The two best times in Venice are before about 9 or so in the morning and after 7 or 8 in the evening. Part of the reason for that is that all the people staying outside the city aren't jamming the city during those times. Staying outside Venice and missing those best times would surely be a sad mistake to me! In fact I could more easily understand someone staying IN Venice, but leaving to other towns for the bulk of most days, rather than the other way around.

Wow, thanks everyone. Certainly a wide range of views here. Maybe we should look at a compromise. If we are 3 days in the area, we could stay 2 nights in Padua (Padova), using some of the time to drive up to Asolo, Feltra & Belluno as well as see Padua. Then we could go into Venice early the 3rd day, park at Mestre, and stay a night in the centre to experience the quieter period after the day-trippers leave.

Just an idea, and I do take the point that staying right in (at least some of the time) has its merits. The first time we ever visited Paris (we've been several times since) we had a car, so day-tripped in from Chartres. And it was limiting, so I understand what everyone means.

Girlspy;

You don't agree that Venice is worthy of more than just a day trip? Read my original comment.

Of course, if a day is all you have (that would be some pretty shaky trip planning too, considering where Venice is and it is hard to be just passing through) you should go anyway, but it is worth more.

Clearly you are just spoiling to argue. Padua good, Venice over-touristed.

We appreciate your factual analysis on the unsustainability of tourism in the area.

Twoflower never asked how great Padua was, did she?

twoflower, I do like Padua and have spent a fair amount of time there, but I guess I don't understand the idea of using it as a base to go other places during the day and then return to Padua for the night. Compared to returning in the evenings to Venice -- well, there simply IS no comparison to that. Of course if it's to save money on accomodations, I guess I can understand that OK. If you're not actually spending a lot of time in Padua but leaving most of the time during the day, my choice would be to stay IN Venice the whole time and do day trips from there for the places you mention visiting -- including a full day in Padua. But maybe that's just me.

Excuse me, I'm not "spoiling" to say anything of the sort, what a peevish notion! Do you just like to argue for argument's sake? Sheesh! I know it may seem extremely odd to some people, but people DO stay in Padova, ALL THE TIME to base themselves to see Venice and to be in a more central location to go to other places in the Veneto BESIDES Venice. And furthermore, not everyone thinks staying in Venice at night is so great, they really don't! A lot of people complain that there's nothing to do at night there! Padova is a wonderful art city, and if you have a car, you can park it right there in the city and not pay 24 Euro a day as you will have to do to park in Venice's Tronchetto. You also will not pay as much for accomodation. I think Padova is an excellent choice IF that is what the OP is looking for, particularly if the OP is keeping the car and wants to save on expenses.

A lot of people overstate the matter when they say there is nothing to do in Venice at night. But certainly there could be many legitimate reasons for someone to prefer staying outside Venice rather than in the city.

Geez, sorry to offer an alternative. I didn't know that was forbidden here.

I agree Padua is a great museum city, but with only two nights there and leaving to go see Asolo, Feltra, and Belluna, I'm really not sure that they will have any more museum time IN Padua that they would in a full day trip there from elsewhere.

Some people hate the crowds of Venice, you are right. Who are those people? Generalyy they are the people who arrive at 10 or so and leave by 5 to stay elsewhere, including many who only saw it from a day stop of a cruise ship -- or from somewhere else on the day when several huge cruiseships were in town. Of course, some people hate Venice totally. Fine, then they can avoid it.

I'm really not arguing. If someone wants to stay in Padua, that's fine (especially as I said because it can save money if that is an issue) -- but I felt these were a couple of things worth pointing out! Why is that so bad?

Glad to know that there's a lot more to do at night in Padua than in Venice. I guess I missed all that when we were there.

Girlspy;

A note for the future;
When someone suggests you are just spoiling for an argument, you pretty much prove their point when you reply by asking if they like to argue just for arguments sake and usggesting the original comment is a "peevish notion".

Called it first - no call backs!.

This is getting silly. Why can't they both be right?!

I'm in the camp that prefers staying IN Venice.

BUT---I also appreciate all the information on Padua, most of which was new to me. It would not be ridiculous for someone to stay in Padua and visit Venice during the day. I might do just that one of these days.

Despite the venting, this has been a helpful thread.

twoflower,

fyi, the last vaporetto for the Lido leaves San Marco around midnight, takes 12 minutes and the daily pass is about 10 EU. You can also hop on and off at all the stops around the Grand Canal all the way up to Piazzale Roma (last stop on the other end) and explore all the other areas.

Another thing I liked about using the vaporettos all the way to the Lido is that you really get to mix in with the locals commuting to work, etc.

We were able to spend a lot of time in Venice proper during the best times NeoPatrick suggests, (when trainloads, shiploads and busloads of tourists leave) and take the midnight water bus to the hotel in Lido, which was 100 feet from the vaporetto stop, with the car parked in the garage inside.

That made it roughly equivalent to staying in Venice proper, if you, like us, are more comfortable not parting with the car during stay in Venice.

Also, the car ferry ride to and from Tronchetto is incredibly scenic and adds quite a bit to the experience.

I feel a teensy bit guilty at having provoked such heated discussion. On the other hand, I really would like to reinforce JeanneB's verdict that "despite the venting, this has been a helpful thread". Whatever we do (and I'll share this thread with my OH before deciding) it will at least be on the basis of good information from people who've been there and done it. For that I thank everyone - it's what makes this forum so worth while.

I just came back from a weekend in Verona, Padua and Venice. We made Verona our base and did day trips by train to the others.

We adored Verona, liked Padua and left Venice longing to see it again in the not all too distant future.

We took one of the last trains out of Venice that stops at Padua and Verona. It was on-time and uneventful.

However, for someone who has never been in the region before, I would definitely advise staying in Venice a few nights. There really isn't anything like it. It's a touristic city, perhaps even a living museum, but very beautiful.

Verona and Padua are bustling, lively cities that are mixed with locals and tourists.

We just returned from Venice and would suggest the following plan. Stay in the town of Padova and take the train to Venice(about 12 Euros round trip). We stayed at the Casa Pellegrino at 75 Euros/night and found Padova even more enjoyable than Venice. There are 2 huge Basillicas and the largest open grass square of any city in the world.

Hi,
Just returned from two nights in Venice. Parked at Tronchetto for about 20 Euros a day (tip: if you park here you want to park at the far end from where you enter, this will save you a long walk). Bought the 48 vaporetto ticket at Tronchetto (be sure to get it punched before you get on boat). Have stayed in Venice proper before. This time stayed on the Lido to save money, and thought the Hotel Cristallo was very nice for a two star price and enjoyed the 20 minute ride to and from. Another tip: if you want to visit Doges Palace buy your ticket at Museum Correr - it is good for both and will save you a long wait in line. However, I think next time I will park in Mestre and take the 1 Euro train into Venice. In terms of other prices, most fixed menus are about 15 Euros, 1 scoop gelato 1 euro, wine 2-3 a glass, panini 2-3 Euros. Enjoy.

We just returned from Venice where we have been 6 times- usually staying in Mestre but this time stayed in Venice as we were taking a cruise to Croatia on a small ship from the Dorsoduro area in Venice and flew in so didn't have a car. Having done both, I would definitely spend the extra and stay in Venice. It was definitely magical and I am now convinced to always stay in the heart of Venice.

To me- you must stay in Venice if able to spend the night. Venice is best seen by night. The romantic lighting and the far fewer people brings out the charm of Venice. By day you see the flaws and the ton of people around St Mark's square and the Rialto Bridge. IF you are staying 3 nights or longer, you may be able to rent an apartment which is cheaper than hotels and B&B's.

You can spend the whole evening in Venice-and stay in Padova, if you like-Padova is only 30 minutes away by train, and they have trains leaving from Venice to Padova after midnight, going through Mestre. Just because you stay outside the city of Venice, doesn't mean you can't experience a full evening in Venice-unless you are looking for a jazz bar or late-night club, which Venice has, but generally speaking, Venice rolls up the sidewalks after 11pm. (Again, I'm not saying Venice has no after-hours nightlife, I know that it does-and I go to late places when I am in Venice-but that is the exception, not the norm).

It's all "to each his own, and personal preference. Venice is not one of our favorite places, though it IS gorgeous, interesting,unique and lots of other discriptive words!
Seems a little like an amusement park. I must confess we spent a day there getting an overview, and would like to return in the wintertime....(went in April).

Having a car we did stay at a beautiful, very modern , sleekly designed rooms,(Best Western) in Mestre directly across the street from the train station....with it's OWN private, and very secure PARKING enclosed in the back. Worked fine for us. AT the time there was a bad knee involved so not a lot of heavy walking was done.
We took the train for l0 min. and then the #1 (I think) Vaperetto..on a beautiful ride to St.Marks square.,,,then walked back later to Rialto etc.
Yes, it IS fun to be in a city in the evenings after the bulk of day trippers have departed,,,but it does require some wagging around of luggage and more walking, and making sure the car is secure.
Just wanted to put in my two cents worth...and to suggest that there is the alternative , without the "snob" of staying in Venice as the ONLY way to do it.

...would like to return in the wintertime

We were there in late January last year. It snowed one day and night. The flakes reflected all the colors in the lights from the little shop windows. It was more like sparkly confetti than snow.

That evening our hotel hosted a "soiree" with complimentary champagne, canapes and chamber music. I had to pinch myself---as we sat near the huge plate windows with snow drifting down on the Grande Canal.

I hope you go in winter and have as memorable a return!

One day in Venice? Not nearly enough. I was there in October a few years ago
and it was an absolutely glorious experience. We returned last July. I agree with the pro-Venice postings. Bite the bullet and stay in Venice itself. There are many small, 3-star hotels on side canals that are wonderful, clean, charming and include breakfast. There is nothing like opening your windows at night and falling asleep to the sound of the water lapping against the sides of the canal. Or, for that matter, wandering along the side streets licking a cone of gelato. Do not miss this experience. If you have time, take a day trip to Verona or Padua but STAY IN VENICE!

Girlspytravel - I'm glad to see you love Padua so much. I am going to be spending 6 nights there in July, using it as a base to visit Verona, Vicenza, Bologna and possibly somewhere else. I've been to Venice twice in recent years so don't plan on going there. Since you have obviously spent time in Padua I was wondering if you had any tips or "hidden gems" you'd like to share. I've read all the guidebooks and plan on seeing the major sites but I love to just walk and explore (and take photos)and wondered if you had any places that you particularly liked.

twoflower - I like your compromise idea of two nights in Padua and one in Venice if you don't mind switching hotels. But it seems with that short amount of time you wouldn't want to add more destinations (like driving up to those other towns). And I still say leaving the car in Mestre is a good idea, we were very happy we did that because it really did save both time and money over parking at piazzale Roma.

> That evening our hotel hosted a "soiree" with complimentary champagne, canapes and chamber music.

JeanneB, was it Foscari Palace? I stayed there in 2005 (they year it opened) & 2006. It is a great place!

Yes, the Foscari. We didn't want to leave!

It was by far the best European hotel we've ever stayed at. Our room was wonderful. And I hope you loved your bath as much as we did ours...absolute luxury!

I would park at a train station on the mainland and take the train into Venice.

The train lets you off where you can catch the Vaporetto with no backed up traffic and much cheaper overall.

We drove in late October. We wasted at least an hour and a half trying to get into really expensive parking.

I wouldn't choose a hotel based on where I could park. By train or car, you can only go to one spot (not where you want to stay). Catch the Vaporetto or water taxi (much more expensive) to get to your hotel.

I pack light and choose budget accomodations. It means I have to walk a couple of blocks from the Vaporetto stop. If you don't pack light, you will want to choose a hotel that is right on the water and take a water taxi rather than a Vaporetto (this will more than double your cost of lodging and transportation).

If you park in Venice, don't leave anything in your car. The car park isn't secure.

I also have to jump in on the side of staying in Venice rather than a daytrip.

Venice is one of the most beautiful places anywhere. It's charm really shows when the streets and canals are quiet in the mornings and evenings before the daily throngs of visitors arrive or afer they have gone.

Plan at least one or two nights so you can see the city at its best.

A car in Venice?
maybe this is the only way...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8LdCyUtqcI

"Correction: over 21 MILLION TOURISTS FOR THE YEAR, making it almost two million tourists a month in Venice."

The Tourism Board is expecting less tourists this year due to the dollar. "Only" 18 million.

Mari, you say you've only been to Venice on one daytrip, and you formed a definitive opinion and are giving advice?

As for Venice as an amusement park, it wasn't built for entertainment; it's real, rich with history. And it's very beautiful.

Yes, it's possible to daytrip into Venice, but if one can possibly afford it, stay in Venice proper, not Mestre, not the Lido.

Mimar....I got a giggle out of your post...as you might be a little short on reading thoroughness.

I gave NO definite opinion or advice, as you falsly stated. Just an alternative for the Venice trip.

I made it clear that the city would be very interesting at night,and that when we went we could not walk long distances due to knee problems, and that we would like to return for a thorough visit to that beautiful ,interesting city of Venice. I still think there is an alternative to staying at a hotel IN Venice, though perhaps not as good a choice for most people.

Mainly, and to repeat,,,,traveling is a personal preference thing ...usually different for each person. No right or wrong.
Happy Travels

It really is a matter of personal preference. Some people like to go to other cultures and stay in modern, sleek hotels. We like to stay in buildings that reflect, at least to some degree, the local architectural and living experience.

I've never understood the view that Venice is like an amusement park. It is so unlike an amusement park to me that I can't even begin to grasp the concept. But we all bring differing life experiences to our travel experiences.