Two Day Venice Trip
 

I am going to be driving from Salzburg to Venice at the end of September. Am looking for suggestions on a hotel where I can stay and keep my car parked which is also close to transportation that can get me to Venice for sightseeing.

I have never been there and would like a nice 3-4 star hotel at a good price.

Also, comments on the cost of water buses and taxis and the ease of use would be appreciated. Things to do and places to eat would be great as well.

Thanks!

Stay in Venice.

Leave the car in Mestre (long term parking) across from the train station and take the train or bus in.

the only hotels in Venice area i believe that offer parking are either on the Lido (beach) - car ferries go there from Venice' entrance and in gritty Mestre across the lagoon as the city proper is off limits

There is a huge parking garage at the end of the causeway in Venice where you must park and, pay a lot for it.

If staying in Mestre trains and buses shuttle constantly the five miles or so into Venice

and from the Lido there are public boat connections constantly as well.

I'll second the stay in Venice. Venice is a different city after all the day trippers leave.

If it means staying in a pensione instead of a 3 or 4 star and paying for the car parking do it. You will not regret it.

By all means stay in Venice - to not do so would be a huge mistake IMO

Hi K,

Parking at Piazzale Roma is about 20E/day.

Parking at Mestre train sta is about 6E/day.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

Ira or others - do you think these parkings are ever full?

I've seen long long lines at the in Venice one at Pzle Roma so that may be one reason to use Mestre and then take the shuttle train or bus in and then go by foot or boat to your hotel.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all the great replies.

Is it safe to park the car at the train station? And do I take the train to Venice? Is there a limit to the time I can park there?

I'm in the middle of planning the rest of my trip which includes Switzerland, Austria and Germany as well as Venice and Lake Como so it's great to get help for some of these items I'm running out of time to research.

Any ideas on how to save money at hotels, restaurants, etc.?

Grazie

I too have seen long lines at the Piazzale Roma parking lot. Tronchetto is another lot you can reach before Piazzale Roma, but I don't know the prices; perhaps you can google them. I think there is a Tronchetto 1 and 2. I know you can get a water bus from there to Venice proper.

I don't think there is a limit to how long you can keep your car at the train station, or either the Tronchetto or Pzle.Roma lots.

Tips on savings for hotels: There are many less expensive hotels mentioned on threads here. Even though the search function isn't working that well, you could search "Venice accomodations" or hotels or B&Bs for some recommendations for accomodations that are less expensive.

If you rent an apartment, you can save money by eating at home. We are hoping to eat only one real sit down meal a day in Venice, the rest in our apartment or pizzerias.

Walking everywhere will save you money. You can also get vaporetto passes. The Chorus Pass allows access to several important churches for only 8 euro per person.

www.lacalcina.com

the vaporetto are very easy to use. But mostly you can get around on foot if you stay anywhere in central Venice.

Stay in Venice. Always stay in central location close to the sites,shops, and restaurants.

Staying in apt. is good. You can buy local products and cook for yourself. Very rewarding. My sister cooked us the best pasta and pesto I have ever had in our apt. in Rome a few years ago.

hi, karpob,

IMO at the end of sept you should not have too much problem getting your car into the car park in piazzale Roma.

However, have you thought about returning your car to the hire co at that point and picking up another when you leave? where are you going after Venice - could you go on the train?

if you are really concerned about the parking, then pick a hotel in Mestre with a car park/garage, and use the train/bus to get into Venice. you can still spend the evening there as the trains and buses run backwards and forwards til late, but it's not quite the same as waking up early and wandering the streets before everyone else is awake.

regards, ann

Hi All,

Originally we were going to be going to Italy via the train. However, we have decided to drive our entire trip as it is too expensive to drop cars off in different countries and picking them up, dropping them off and catching the train sounded difficult and expensive.

I like the idea of parking the car on the mainland and going by train into Venice. It's definitely my preference to stay there.

Are gondola rides too cheesy or can I be a tourist and have fun? Any suggestions on sites not to miss?

hi, again karbop,

I think your idea of staying in Mestre is a good one. you need to book now, if a recent thread on booking a hotel there is anything to go by.

from Mestre, you can catch the train to Venice, and from there get a vaporetto No 1 down the grand canal - it stops everywhere but is a great intro to the city. get off at St. Marco, and do the basilica and the doges's palace. [visits to the basislica and the secret tour of the doges palace are pre-bookable of you go to the official venice tourist board web-site]

have lunch [walk away from st. mark's for this - any direction will do,] then get the vaporetto across to st. salute [that big church you can see just acrosss the water] walk along to the accademia [will take about an hour or so to tour, depending on how keen on art you are] and also [optional] tour the guggenheim.

Walk through the back streets up to the Frari, and visit it and the sculoa di rocco opposite.

carry on up through the streets, following the signs on the wall for "ferovia" [rail station]. get train back to Mestre and collapse.

Day 2 - back to the main station in Venice. if nice, get the vaporetto to Burano and have a walk ,or if you like glass, go to Murano. have lunch. on the way back alight at the fondmente nuove, and walk around the area to north of st. mark's. the ghetto is to the west between the fondamente nuove and the station. the whole of this area is very interesting with lots of shops for souvenirs.

work your way back to St. Mark's and get teh no 1 back to the station. go back to mestre.

alternatively, get a good guide book, decide what you want to see, or just wander round the streets viewing what you come across as you go.

regards, ann

You guys are the best. I just went online and got info on the parking garages. Tronchetto is definitely the recommended place and it's 18 euro per day (3-24 hours). That's great. And you can reserve ahead of time online. That solved my problem.

Can't thank you enough for the great suggestions and help!