Arriving by car in Venice

Getting to Venice:

• From the west (Turin) or east: You'll probably travel to Venice via the A4 autostrada.
• From the south: the A13 from Bologna as far as Padua and then via the A4 again.
• From the North (and Trieste): the A27.

If you're arriving by car and want to give the Autostrada a miss, try the state roads (SS.309 Romea from the Adriatic Coast, SS.14 from Trieste, SS.13 from Treviso, SS.11 from Padua). Check out the Società Autostrade website for detailed info. Note, the Mestre Tangenziale (ring road) is usually really congested, so expect hold-ups and queues at the motorway toll booths.

Parking your car in Mestre

Be warned, it costs a bomb to park in Venice, so a good alternative is to leave the car in Mestre on the mainland and take the train in (they go every 5-10 minutes) or a bus (Note: they don't sell bus-tickets on board, you have to buy them first from shops with the "T" (Tabacchi) sign). If you want to do this you can park in these places:

• There are a few small car parks before you reach the Ponte della Libertà (approximately 3 euro for 24 hours)
• The S.Giuliano Terminal (760 places for cars 7.75 euro for up to 10 hours + 1.03 euro for each extra hour) and then get into Venice by public boat (ACTV)
• The Fusina terminal (7.75 euro for 10 hours, 12.40 euro for 24 hours)
• numerous private car parks opposite/near the Mestre railway station (the Ca' Marcello Car Park has 100 parking spots, is open 24 hours a day and it's free, but it's often full up and a bit insecure). You can then use either the bus (No. 2) or the train to get into Venice.

Parking in Venice

If you're not going to leave your car in Mestre, continue on to the lagoon and get on to the causeway, called the Ponte della Libertà, that leads to the main island of Venice. It's a long straight road with two lanes and be careful about the speed limit!
Follow the signs for Venice, and you'll arrive at the Piazzale Roma. You can find photos of what confronts you HERE (Piazzale Roma)

You've now got two choices:

1. Leave your car in one of the Piazzale Roma car parks

Given the large numbers of visitors, there's a distinct lack of parking spaces and the prices are not cheap when you get one. Your best bet is probably the Autorimessa Comunale (2,284 places - 19 euro for 24 hours), but there are several more - try the Garage S.Marco (1,100 places - 20 euro for 12 hours, 26 euro for 24 hours) and a small open air car park with security, S.Andrea (100 places - 4.13 euro for 2 hours).

2. Go to the big car park on Tronchetto island and park there.

Turn right after crossing the Ponte della Libertà and drive to the large car park on the artificial Tronchetto island (3,500 places - €18 euro for 24 hours). Pay before you pick up your car.

Here's a map to show you where it is in relation to Venice city. From Tronchetto you can reach Venice by Vaporetto No.82 either via Zattere-Giudecca-S.Zaccaria-S.Marco or via Rialto-Accademia-S.Marco. Otherwise you can take a ferry boat (line No. 17) from Tronchetto to the Lido.

For more on public transport in Venice, see our "Getting Around Venice" pages.

Want more details about buses, vaporetti and motoscafi run by the ACTV? Check their website

For even more details about coming to Venice by car, check out the Comune de Venezia website

Next page: Arriving in Venice by train