 Durant
& Cheryl
Imboden'sVenice for Visitors veniceforvisitors.com |
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Arriving in Venice by CarFrom: Arriving in Venice
ABOVE: The Tronchetto parking garage is on an artifical island. It's easy to reach from the mainland and accommodates cars, RVs, and buses. Arriving
Chances are, you'll be approaching Venice on the A4 Autostrada from the north or south. (If you're driving in on the A27 from Trieste, you'll merge with the A4 a few kilometers north of Mestre.) Use the central Mestre exit if you're coming from the south. From the north, take the Mestre Est-Favorita exit. Follow the signs to your destination, depending on whether you'd prefer to park on the mainland (which is easier) or at the edge of Venice's historic center (which can be easy or a nightmare, depending on whether traffic on the causeway is backed up). Parking
To avoid high parking costs and traffic jams, it's best to park in Mestre--either next to the railroad station or in the San Giuliano lot, which is near the water as you head toward Venice. You can then catch a train or bus into the city or (from San Giuliano) take the public boat. If you're brave, well-heeled, or visiting in low season, cross the Ponte della Libertą (the bridge or causeway that connects Venice with the mainland) and try one of the following: Autorimessa Comunale, the municipal garage at the Piazzale Roma. This is slightly cheaper than the private garages but tends to fill up with local residents' cars. From here, you can take a vaporetto to the Piazza San Marco or--better yet--walk and enjoy the sights along the way. Tronchetto, an artificial island with its own ramp leading off from the causeway before you reach the Piazzale Roma. Once you've parked, you can take a vaporetto across to the city.
For more information on reaching Venice and the Lido by automobile (including parking suggestions), see:
Next page: Arriving by ship
Top inset photo copyright © Peugeot. | |||||||||||||||||||
In the unlikely event that you're staying at a hotel on the Lido and
want to take your car with you, head for Tronchetto as you approach the end of the
causeway and take the automezzo, or car ferry, to the Lido. The ferry isn't
cheap, but it's worth it if your hotel has free parking or if you plan to return to the
mainland via the isthmus road to Chioggia.