Peugeot photo 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.)

From the south, use the central Mestre exit.

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

Piazzale Roma photo To avoid high parking costs and traffic jams, it's best to park in Mestre on the mainland. (The San Giuliano parking lot is convenient: It's located by the water, and you can catch a boat directly to Venice's historic center.)

If you're brave, well-heeled, or visiting in low season, cross the Ponte della Libertà (the bridge or causeway from the mainland to Venice) and look for a parking space at:

Tronchetto, an artificial island with its own ramp leading off from the causeway before you reach the Piazzale Roma. You can catch a vaporetto or water bus from Tronchetto to many points in the historic center, or you can use the new (and inexpensive) People Mover to reach the Piazzale Roma in three minutes. If you've got more cash to turn, try:
Any of the garages in the Piazzale Roma, a large square that's usually filled with coaches, city buses, taxis, and motorists.

For more detailed advice, including Google satellite-photo maps, see our illustrated article (with links) on parking in Venice.

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 using if your hotel has free parking or if you plan to return to the mainland via the isthmus road to Chioggia.

Next page: Arriving by ship

In this article:
Arriving in Venice	Arriving by car
Arriving by air	Arriving by ship
Arriving by train

Also see:

Venice Local Transportation

Venice Cruise Port Transportation

Baggage Storage - Left Luggage

Where to Stay in Venice

Walking in Venice - Finding Your Way with Signs and Maps

Venice Map

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Hotel Advice:

Location can be important in a car-free city with 400+ bridges, especially when you're walking with luggage. Before you book, see:

Hotel Recomendations by Area
Find hotels that are handy to the airport, railroad station, cruise port, or Piazza San Marco, and in Mestre.

Aerial Venice Hotels
Read our tips on choosing the right sestiere or district. Then view individual hotels and their surroundings in large satellite photos and aerial close-ups.

MSC cruise ship in Venice

Venice for Cruisers:

Venice canal reflections

From our Venice Travel Blog:

A water taxi ride to Venice Airport
A warning about water taxis
Venice Railroad Station: a vaporetto view
Long lines at Venice Airport
Free boat trips to Murano
Need to pee? Prepare to pay
Crime in Venice
The perils of overpacking
Venetian daily life

Maggie in Venice

From Maggie in Venice:

A dog's life in Venice
A Beagle boards a water bus
Maggie in Venice video clips