During my stay in Siena Provinzia this Fall I plan to spend a few days in the Veneto, including a return trip to Venezia. I will have a car, and I can see that it is possible to drive there via Ponte della Liberta...but I rather doubt it is possible to park there

Any suggestions as to where it might be possible to park the rental car for one or two days, and also how to get from that location to the island?

The bridge goes right to Piazza Roma which is part of Venice proper. There is parking right there (maybe not the cheapest 15-20 euro/day?.) The Vaporetto leaves right from there it's easy. RR

Hi tessmar,

in Venezia you can park in piazzale Roma that is already on the island (or for better saying on one of the several islands on which the city is built). From there you will walk or take a vaporetto (boat). The main parking will cost you 24-28 Euro fixed rate for 24hrs.

Another parking area still in Venice but little bit out of the way is Tronchetto.

Otherwise you can park in Mestre, on the mainland and then take public transportation (10-15 minutes)

When we were visiting the Veneto a few years ago with a car, we stayed just outside Venice in Marghera, at a B&B called Casa Villa Gardenia. It really is better to stay in Venice itself, of course, but this was quite a nice B&B, had free parking, and was only about a 10-minute bus ride across the causeway to Venice. Buses were very frequent, and the stop was just across the street. Here is my trip report where I wrote about our stay there.

If you do want to stay in Venice, I don't know whether you might be able to park someplace in Marghera for a couple of days that would be cheaper than at the Piazzale Roma. As I said, it's a very fast and easy bus ride across to Venice proper.

- Roz

Another thing to consider is: are you committed to having the car for that time, or could you end one rental when you get there, and start another when you leave? You can usually rent one-way without a surcharge.

We're going in November and staying in a small village close to Meolo. The train to Venice takes 40 min and costs a measly 5 bucks. The Venice train station is right on the island and within walking distance of all sights.

Thanks to everyone for all the great information. I'm actually renting an apartment in Montepulciano (again) for a month, but plan a couple of multi-day trips to other places, one of which includes part of the Veneto and some other nearby places, and there's no way I could be that close and not go to Venezia again. It may be just an overnight or perhaps two (is it obvious that I'm planning, as usual, to be a "Slow Traveler" and not choreograph every second? ), and I'll probably rent an apartment rather than stay in a hotel.

Short term car rentals generally cost more than just keeping the car for the couple of extra days. I managed to reserve the Alfa 147 I really wanted and am a car nut so would not want to risk not being able to get what I wanted (well, I really wanted a 156 but was unwilling to pay the price).

I think either parking on the mainland and taking the train or driving onto the island and parking there will work just fine (I wasn't sure that there was any parking available which is why I asked you guys).

I'm relatively familiar with the vaporetto and other boat options, so once I get there I don't think getting around will be an issue (last time I actually stayed on Lido and traveled back and forth with the local business people...kind of a neat experience.

Thanks again for the help!

I posted some links to Tronchetto's & Piazzale Roma's pricing earlier this year: here's the thread.

Jonathan

Thanks, Jonathan
The Piazzale Roma link still works (and the prices are still what you posted) but the Tronchetto one says "PARAMETRI INSUFFICIENTI PER VISUALIZZARE LA PAGINA" (even with my poco Italiano that one is pretty clear). But I suspect the price info is still valid. An interesting note is that you can actually reserve a spot in advance here, which I suspect might not be a bad idea.

Where is the nearest vaporetto stop to the Tronchetto parking? It looks like it is at the far end of the island. Is this correct?

FYI if you wanted to stay on Lido again...where cars are allowed...there is a ferry there that takes you and the car across...I believe you get it at the Tronchetto

I think the closest Vap stop is the #2 which is right there at the parking lot of the same name...

Ah yes, didn't think to check the links... Anyway, here's a Tronchetto link which seems to work today. Prices are still the same.

As Jil says, there's a #2 (the line that used to be called 82) vaporetto stop at Tronchetto, right by the car park. Here's an up to date vap map which shows everything clearly.

Jonathan

Has anyone ever parked at the airport and then taken the bus in? Airport parking seems pretty reasonable:

Venice airport parking

Then you could take the #5 bus in. I've never done this, just curious.

Tessmar, if you are just coming for a couple of days an apartment might not be as easy as getting a hotel room... and with that amount of time, think about getting one close to Piazzale Roma. Then you can come in, drop your stuff, and hit the calli.

Thanks again, Jonathan
I did find the Tronchetto web site (they too allow you to pre-reserve a space), but I must have an earlier version of the vaporetto map as it does not show the car park so it wasn't clear where the stops are relative to that. On the other hand, if I was thinking it would have been pretty obvious that one should be in close proximity to where you had to leave the car.

Thanks. I'll check out the airport option. After a glance I think there is not enough difference in price to make it worthwhile, but I'll look closer.

Actually, perhaps due to the weak economy, there seem to be a glut of available apartments for short term rental at pretty reasonable rates, and based on photos of the rooms, quite pretty. Some of these require a two or three day minimum but, at least from the listings, some do not seem to (of course I'll inquire).

Somehow to me the hotel route always makes me feel like more of a tourist and less like a visitor or guest. In fact, I mused about the difference in my journal of my last trip. Although this related to smaller towns and longer visits, I think for me there is still a bit of a similar difference between hotel stays and spending even a night or two in a local neighborhood apartment:

"A tourist comes to town
Snaps a bunch of photos as he wanders
mainly the Corso and the climb
to Piazza Grande...
Over time we became
Visitors
rather than tourist-
Recognized and accepted
Parts of the community."

You can get a short term apartment in fact I highly recommend one which several here have stayed in

Valier

We stayed in both apartments and recommend both

Corte Tiepolo RR

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tessmar:
During my stay in Siena Provinzia this Fall I plan to spend a few days in the Veneto, including a return trip to Venezia. I will have a car, and I can see that it is possible to drive there via Ponte della Liberta...but I rather doubt it is possible to park there

Any suggestions as to where it might be possible to park the rental car for one or two days, and also how to get from that location to the island?[/During my stayQUOTE]we took the bus from the airport to Pizzale and walked to our apartment in 7 minutes. The apt. rental was for 3 days,2 bedrooms, great reception rooms and good kitchen. Not too expensive. We had it for three days as that is how long we were staying, but could have had the apt for shorter or longer. We were 6 people and there were two large couchs (couches) for use of two of us.

quote:

Originally posted by Anita Foley:The apt. rental was for 3 days,2 bedrooms, great reception rooms and good kitchen. Not too expensive.

Anita, could you provide more information on the apartment (website, location, etc.)? Thanks.

shannon, instead of taking the bus to venice from Venice airport, get into the parking and park as close as you can to the opposite end (near the waterfront). Once out the parking you can take the alilaguna to venice.
Airport parling is less than half of Piazzale Roma and if you are staying close to Fondamente nuove or San Marco you might get there easily with Alilaguna. http://www.alilaguna.it/index.en.html

Shannon and Brunello;
I feel like I must be missing something here. Depending on which parking option you take, Venezia parking is either 20 or 30 Euros per day. The airport parking is seven Euros and it looks like the Alilunga roundtrip is 24 Euros (I don't know what the bus cost is). With the boat option,therefore, a single overnighter would cost 31 Euros. Even over two nights the savings isn't a lot, assuming I park at Tronchetto. I'm not sure on time tradeoff of driving and parking there versus parking at the airport and shuttling in. Then there's dragging a suitcase from airport parking onto a bus or boat and off.

I think these ideas would be good for some folks for some visits, and perhaps in another economic climate a hotel would be the only viable option rather than an apartment, but so far it appears that for me parking at Tronchetto and taking a neighborhood apt. for one or two nights would work best. There seem to be no lack of places to choose from at reasonable prices, and depending on what I find I probably will report back in a separate thread on that search for accommodations.

I think the airport parking is more reasonable if you take the bus - I did not add the alilaguna into it. The #5 bus is only a couple of euros. I don't know how hard it is to park at the airport and then take the bus - I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with it.

Parking at the airport and taking the #5 seems the most economical - unless, of course, you are staying somewhere that requires taking a vaporetto after that. Luggage, from Tronchetto to the vaporetto is going to be about the same as bringing it on the bus from the airport. But, for two days hopefully that won't be such a biggie. The cool thing about the alilaguna is the boat guys take care of the luggage.

I'm a bit late with my two cents worth, but whenever I visit Venice by car, I park in Mestre in the high-rise parking garage across the street from the Mestre train station. I believe it's 10 Euros for 24 hours, and you can just walk across the street and take the train across the causeway from Mestre to Santa Lucia stazione (Venice proper)for less than 2 Euros each way, about 5 minutes ride, frequent trains. This parking garage in Mestre is easy to find because you just follow the signs for the train station (FS with a picture of a train engine) from the tangenziale or the autostrada or the SS13. Tronchetto is a total rip-off, no locals use it, the airport is reasonable, but for goodness sakes take the bus in to Piazzale Roma, the water routes are molto caro!

WV Cindy
Now thatsounds like it is worth considering. I don't think I mentioned there are two of us. At 25 Euros each for the boat from the airport it just didn't add up...or rather it added up all too well!

According to this link it is 8 Euros during the week and 10 on the weekend to park at the train station in Mestre. So that's 20 total for a couple of days...about half what the Tronchetto parking would be. We'd probably only have one carry-on size suitcase and I'm assuming from your post that wouldn't be a problem.

A carry on will not be a porblem on the trains...and the tickets are €1 each person each way...I believe you canuse them on any regional train...not the ES or ICP trains...but the regional trains run all the time...there is also a #2 bus right outside the terminal that goes to P di Roma and that is €1.10 per ticket per person...just a reminder when using these get them validated...you never know if they will be checked or not...

[QUOTE]Originally posted by WV Cyndy:
I'm a bit late with my two cents worth, but whenever I visit Venice by car, I park in Mestre in the high-rise parking garage across the street from the Mestre train station. I believe it's 10 Euros for 24 hours, and you can just walk across the street and take the train across the causeway from Mestre to Santa Lucia stazione (Venice proper)for less than 2 Euros each way, about 5 minutes ride, frequent trains. This parking garage in Mestre is easy to find because you just follow the signs for the train station"
I completely agree with this solution. I went a lot of time to Venice, also for work and think that it is really easier to park the car in Mestre and after take the train which will take you right in Venice in minutes. The Piazzale Roma and Tronchetto are always crowded and you have to queue...very nerve racking...