Road-tripping in Italy and wondering if it’s possible to drive to Venice? Or maybe you are looking for information about how to visit Venice by car and where to park?
We visited Venice by car several times and it’s actually quite simple to drive to Venice. However, parking in Venice can be a bit tricky. In this article, I share our experience-based tips for your trip.
Below, you can find all the information on how to drive as close to the city center as possible, where to park your car, how to find cheap parking in Venice, where to stay if visiting Venice by car and also suggestions for renting a car in Venice or in Italy, in general. Find out!
TIP: If you are looking for a hotel in Venice that’s located close to the main parking garages, check out the highly-rated Hotel Gardena. If you prefer to stay on the mainland where hotel and parking prices are significantly lower, check out Leonardo Royal Hotel in Mestre.
READ ALSO: Where to Stay in Venice
Can You Visit Venice by Car?
Venice is a car-free city, but yes, it is possible to drive to Venice by car. You’ll have to leave your car in one of the parking areas outside the historic city center and explore the city on foot or by boat.
READ ALSO: How to See the Best of Venice in 1 Day & Venice 3-day Itinerary
Driving to Venice
Venice can easily be reached by car from any major city in northern Italy.
It’s about 3 hours drive from Milan or 1.5 hrs from Verona (highway A4/ E70). Driving from Florence to Venice takes about 3 hours, Bologna to Venice – 1 hour 45 minutes (highway A13/ E53). If you are coming from the North, you’ll be arriving in Venice via highways A27 or A57.
The historic city center of Venice is located in the Venetian Lagoon and there is just one road connecting it to the mainland. So no matter where you are driving from, you’ll always arrive in Venice via the 3.5km long Ponte della Libertà (Liberty Bridge) over the lagoon.
Driving in Venice isn’t really stressful because you’re driving on big wide roads all the way until you reach the city. Even after you cross the bridge over the lagoon, getting to the car parking is quite straightforward. It might get a bit busy for the last 200-300 meters, but that’s it. There are big signs indicating parking garages, so really nothing to worry about.
Below, you can find all the information about where to park if driving to Venice via this bridge.
Alternative: If you are coming from the north/northeast, you can also easily reach Venice by car via the coastal route via Cavallino-Treporti (Punta Sabbioni). This is a somewhat less-traveled route for tourists and parking is somewhat easier – and cheaper – here. From Punta Sabbioni, you can easily get straight to Venice city center by boat in about 30 minutes.
Our experience: We drove to Venice by car from Lake Garda, from Verona, and also once from Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Italian Dolomites. There are tolls on the highways, but it’s not very expensive and you can pay by credit card. The roads are very good and (at least in summer) not overly busy.
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Venice
Car Parking in Venice
Once you cross the Liberty Bridge, you have several options for where to park your car. If you take the very first exit after the bridge, you’ll find yourself at Tronchetto Island. If you don’t turn to the right, you’ll drive straight to Piazzale Roma.
Tronchetto Island
The first exit to the right after the bridge takes you to Tronchetto Island. There are many car parking garages here (see map). The biggest ones are Venice Tronchetto Parking and car parking at Venice Passenger Terminal. Don’t worry if the parking is full; just drive a bit further to the next one.
The biggest advantage of parking at Tronchetto Parking is that they have hourly rates for short stays. So if you are only planning to stay in Venice for 2-3 hours, this is a much cheaper option. However, if you are staying for 3 hours or more, you’ll pay the same 24-hr rate.
Good to know: This area is somewhat further away from the city center. But since it’s a place where cruise ships dock, it has very good public transport connections. So if you park here, it’s best to take a water bus (vaporetto) straight to St. Mark’s Square and start your sightseeing there.
TIP: Get a day (or multi-day) pass for public transport. It will make your visit to Venice so much easier! Taking a water bus is not just the quickest way to get to the center, but it can also save you a lot of walking when sightseeing. There are just two bridges over the Grand Canal, so getting to the other side can sometimes take you half an hour or longer, whereas by boat, it’s just a minute or two.
In addition, taking a water bus is a really great way to see Venice from another perspective (and without having to pay a fortune for water taxis!).
READ ALSO: Things to Know Before Going on Gondola Ride in Venice
Piazzale Roma
Based on our experience, we suggest driving just a little bit further to Piazzale Roma. This is the main bus station in Venice and the only town square in Venice that can be reached by bus or car. Just before the square, you’ll see a big white parking building on your right.
This is Parcheggio Comunale Venezia (see map) – an indoor car parking spanning over 10 floors. In our opinion, this is the best car parking in Venice. You can reserve a spot at this car parking online in advance and drive to Venice without having to worry about where to park.
This is not the cheapest parking in Venice (you can find more info for budget parking in Venice below), but it’s the most convenient!
When we drive to Venice, we always park at Piazzale Roma because this parking is closest to the city center of Venice. Also, we drive a big 7-seater van and parking spaces on the upper floors of this parking garage are wide enough even for a very big car.
Next to Piazzale Roma, you’ll also find the Venice Railway Station (Santa Lucia). Just next to it is Ferrovia, the public water bus stop in this area. You can simply walk to all the major attractions in the city center from here. You can also take a water bus (very affordable) or a water taxi (very expensive) to either Rialto Bridge or St. Mark’s Square and Doge’s Palace, or anywhere else you have to be in the city.
TIP: If you are visiting Venice in the winter, then parking won’t be an issue (unless during Carnival or around Christmas). However, if you are driving to Venice in the high season, it might be wise to arrive early in the morning or reserve your car parking in advance. We never had a problem finding a parking spot, but if you want to be absolutely sure that you can use one or the other garage, you may want to book upfront. More information about this below.
How Expensive is Car Parking in Venice
As you can imagine, car parking in Venice isn’t cheap. However, it’s very reasonable compared to places like Paris or Amsterdam. We were also surprised to see that car parking rates in Venice haven’t changed in years.
Car parking in Venice costs about 25-35 EUR for 24 hours. In most cases, you pay the 24-hour fee, no matter whether you stay for an hour or for a day. Some parking garages have discounted rates in the evening and at night. The exact price depends on the parking garage and sometimes also on the size of your car.
Our experience: At Parcheggio Comunale Venezia (also known as Garage Comunale AVM or ASM Venezia car park) where we parked, car parking now costs +- 35 EUR for 24 hours. Bigger cars (over 185cm wide) pay a bit more. However, I have no idea how they measure that because our car is 220cm wide (measured with mirrors) and we had to pay a regular rate. This parking garage also has very clean bathrooms that can be accessed with your parking ticket. More info on their website.
TIP: You can reserve your car parking spot at this garage online. This will guarantee that you have a spot and it’s also a few euros cheaper if booked well in advance.
Good to know: Parking at Venice Tronchetto Parking is a little bit cheaper than at Piazzale Roma – 27 EUR for 24 hours. You can find their up-to-date rates and practical info here.
Cheap Car Parking in Venice
If you find car parking in Venice too expensive, you can also opt to leave your car in Mestre, just before the bridge to the lagoon. There are several big car parking areas just before the Liberty Bridge and there is also a car parking at Mestre railway station.
Car parking in Mestre costs 5-15 EUR for a day. Rates vary a lot depending on the parking. One of the best budget car parking options is Venice City Park SRL which costs just 6.50 EUR per day and is right next to a bus stop.
From Mestre, you can take a bus, a tram, or a train to Venice. You’ll also arrive at Piazzale Roma or at the Railway Station. The bus/tram/train ride from Mestre to Venice takes just 10-15 minutes. The bus tickets are also included with this public transport pass (the same pass that you will need for vaporetto in the city).
Another option, as already mentioned earlier, is to drive to Venice via the coastal road from the north and park at Punta Sabbioni (see map). From Punta Sabbioni, you can simply take a boat to the center, so also here, it’s best to get the public transport pass, even if just for a day.
Parking here is significantly cheaper here than at Piazzale Roma. It used to be free not so long ago, but nowadays you pay around 7-8 EUR per day. Just check where you park because some areas charge per day and others per hour (which turns out a lot more expensive if you stay longer than 3-4 hours).
Where to Stay if Visiting Venice by Car
There are there best options on where to stay if visiting Venice by car – staying in Mestre or staying in Venice if you are coming from the south or from the west. The third option is to stay close to Punta Sabbioni (Cavallino-Treporti) if you are driving from the north. There are not many hotels in this area, mostly apartments, and agriturismos.
The cheapest option is to find a hotel with car parking in Mestre and take public transport to Venice city center from there. This will not only save you money on car parking in Venice, but hotels in Mestre are much cheaper too.
Some of the best options are Hotel Cris or Hotel Plaza which are located just near the train station and next to a bus stop. Hotel Venezia in the center of Mestre is also a good option and extremely popular.
If you don’t mind paying 25-30 EUR for car parking per day, you can also leave your car at one of the parking garages at Piazzale Roma or at Tranchetto Island and book a hotel in Venice.
If you don’t feel like carrying your luggage on a water bus, you can also opt for one of the hotels close to Piazzale Roma. That way, you can simply walk there from your car.
Here are some of the best hotels in Venice close to Piazzale Roma:
- Hotel Santa Chiara (100m from the car parking at Piazzale Roma and by the water).
- AC Hotel Venezia by Marriott (120m from the car parking at Piazzale Roma, but not at the water).
- Hotel Gardena (300m from Piazzale Roma or from the Railway Station – a beautiful hotel in a very good location).
- Hotel Carlton On The Grand Canal (700m from Piazzale Roma and just across the canal from the Railway Station).
Renting a Car
If you are flying to Venice, I recommend to only rent a car after you visit the city. The same when you’re flying out of Venice – return the car when you get to Venice. That will save you money on car hire but also on car parking.
When you are renting a car in Venice, you can either pick it up at the airport or in the city (Piazzale Roma area). From the airport, you can get to Venice by bus, water bus (which takes forever and isn’t that cheap), or by water taxi (recommended).
If you are looking to rent a car in Italy, I recommend this car booking search engine. It makes it very easy to compare the prices of different car rental companies and find the best deal for your trip. Furthermore, they also have very good insurance options (much cheaper than buying from the car hire company directly) and an excellent cancelation policy. When we rent a car abroad, we always book via this website.
So, this is our guide to driving and parking in Venice. If you have any additional questions, feel free to leave a reply below and I’ll try to help.
READ ALSO: Italy Itinerary for First Visit
FAQs for Visiting Venice by Car & Parking in Venice
Yes, you can easily visit Venice by car. While the city center is car-free, you can drive to one of the big parking areas outside the historic city, leave your car there, and explore the city on foot or by boat.
You can drive to Venice by car, but you cannot drive in Venice itself. The city center is a car-free area. When you see the little islands connected by tiny bridges, you will understand that Venice can only be visited by boat or on foot and not by car.
The most convenient car parking in Venice is at Piazzale Roma. There are several parking garages in this area and you can easily walk or take a boat to the city center from here. Alternatively, you can park at one of the large parking areas at Tronchetto Island, from where you can take a boat to the center.
Car parking in Venice costs about 25-35 EUR per day. In most cases, you pay the fixed 24-hour fee, even if you only stay for a few hours.
The best budget car parking options can be found in Mestre, 10-15 minutes drive by bus, tram, or by train from Venice. Car parking rates here start from about 5 EUR per day, and up to 15 EUR, depending on the place. Nowadays, there aren’t any good options for free parking in/near Venice anymore.
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C
Friday 26th of April 2024
Do you know if I buy parking at the place you recommend online in advance for 24 hours does that have in/out privileges for the 24 hours or is it just a one-time entrance for UP TO 24 hours? Thanks!
C
Friday 26th of April 2024
@C, Answered my own question - no it is one time entrance. Not divisible, it says.
John cressy
Saturday 30th of September 2023
Hello Jurga, great information. We're driving to Venice from Florence and of course are looking where to park. We too thought of leaving our large luggage in the car and only bringing a small carry on into Venice for our 2 night stay. Two questions, do you know of any parking that has security (guards,cameras,etc) because we want to leave luggage. And our Italians friends said never to take the water bus that we should spend more and take a water taxi. (The buses are too crowded and not traveler with luggage friendly.) Your thoughts? Thanks,John
John Cressy
Monday 16th of October 2023
Jurga, We are back home in the United States and I want to give you an update on our trip to Venice. We ended up parking in the Troncetta Parking lot. We were concerned about leaving our suit cases in the car. We took all of our valuables with us in a smaller bag but did leave two large suit cases in the car. First of all, the parking garage is well lit with security cameras. We backed the car into the spot up against the outer wall. I thought I might have even seen a security guard walking around. Everything was just as we left it when we returned. If anybody is using an America credit card to pay, I suggest they go to the main office. We were having a heck of a time until the attendant told us to go to the office. Now as far as the water buses go, they really were a breeze. We only had a medium size bag and a backback but I did see people bringing on large suit cases. The fee for the water bus is 9.5 euros for each person and it's only good for 45 minutes unless you buy the 24 hour or multi-day plan. On the other hand, the fee for the water taxi is 60 euro but you can put multiple people in the boat for that price. It all depends upon where you are going, how people are with you and how many bags you have. For just the two of us, our water bus fees were 57 euro whereas if we used a water taxi each time it would have been 180 euro. We loved our Venice portion of our Italy trip. The city is surreal in that all local gettings around, all commerce, all construction, everything is done without cars, or trucks or even bicycles but it is all done via boat. Just watching the boat traffic is hypnotizing. Venice is a MUST SEE.
Jurga
Monday 2nd of October 2023
Hi John, I'm not sure about the security at the parkings, but we personally never had any issues. I wouldn't leave any valuables and would make sure that your bags are not visible from the outside. You can always check on their websites or read reviews on Google Maps. As for the luggage, the less you have, the easier. Just simply getting to the boat (whether a vaporetto or a taxi boat) is not simple, and then, you still have to reach your hotel, etc. There are cobbled stones and bridges with stairs everywhere. Vaporetto (water buses) are indeed very crowded, so it's not easy with big bags, but you should be fine with small luggage. Of course, a water taxi is much more luxurious, but it's also very - very - expensive. The last time we took one was many years ago and it was like 50 euro for a 10-minute ride. I'm sure it's much more expensive nowadays. The advantage is that it can probably get you closer to your hotel (depending on its location, of course). If you decide to take a water taxi, be sure to ask/agree on what it will cost before you get on it. Hope this helps. Enjoy Venice!
GÉRARD
Thursday 10th of August 2023
Try to use your tips but gondoliers were not at work on lunch time at Ponte San polo
Jurga
Friday 11th of August 2023
:) There are gondolas literally everywhere in Venice, so why wouldn't you simply look for another one... I'm sure they are not all having lunch at the same time.
Andrea
Monday 15th of May 2023
Greetings! Your article is wonderful! I am driving from Lake Como to Venice for a day trip in 2 weeks and wondered where to park. Thank you for your recommendation. When I go to the link to book my parking pass reservation online, it asks for the NAME on the card. For parking, did you just put the driver's name on the card? The site is confusing because it says one card, per person, which I understand for a city museum pass, for example, but not for parking. I just don't want to mess up. If you're unable to answer my question, no worries! Thanks, again!
Jurga
Monday 15th of May 2023
Hi Andrea, if you mean the official site for the parking at Piazzale di Roma, then I honestly don't know. They like to make things unnecessarily complicated. We used GetYourGuide website the last time we traveled, and it was much more straightforward, but they don't offer that parking anymore. That said, I don't think it matters much which name you put on there. As long as that person is with you, it should be fine. Good luck!
Drew
Sunday 2nd of October 2022
Excellent guide, thanks for the comprehensive details. Helped guide us to a hotel with parking for visiting Venice
Jurga
Monday 3rd of October 2022
Glad to help, Drew. Happy travels!