Parking in Venice 2026: Tronchetto, Piazzale Roma, Mestre — Multi-Day Trips
In short: If you arrive in Venice by car, you have to park on the edge of the city — the old town is car-free. For multi-day trips with a hotel stay there are three sensible options: the Tronchetto car park (on an island, 4,500 spaces, from €29/day, with the People Mover straight to the city entrance at Piazzale Roma) for maximum comfort, Garage San Marco or the Autorimessa Comunale AVM right at Piazzale Roma (from €32/day) for the shortest walk to your hotel, or Park & Ride Mestre on the mainland (from €8–12/day, plus a 10-minute regional train to Venezia Santa Lucia) for affordable stays of a week or more. Motorhomes park at the Fusina terminal with a ferry connection. For longer stays, booking online in advance pays off considerably — especially during Carnival, the Biennale, Redentore and cruise days, when the island car parks are often fully booked days ahead.
At a glance — car parks for multi-day trips
| Car park | Location | Price/day 2026 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tronchetto Parking | Western island (Tronchetto) | from €29 | 3–7 day hotel stay |
| Autorimessa Comunale AVM | Piazzale Roma | from €32 | Hotel in San Polo/Santa Croce, very short walk |
| Garage San Marco | Piazzale Roma | from €45 | Premium location, hotel in San Marco |
| SABA Stazione Mestre | Mainland (Mestre station) | from €12 | Long stays (5+ days), hotel in Mestre |
| Vega Marghera | Mainland (Marghera) | from €8 | Budget option with tram T1 |
| Terminal Fusina | Ferry terminal (southern mainland) | from €18 + ferry | Motorhomes, travelling with a dog |
Which car park suits your trip?
| If you … | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| … have a hotel in the old town for 3–4 days | Tronchetto — the best compromise between price, comfort and short distances with luggage |
| … stay in Venice for 5+ days | SABA Mestre + regional train — €17 less per day than Tronchetto = about €85 of aperitivo money over 5 days |
| … travel with a lot of luggage (family, children) | Garage San Marco / Autorimessa AVM at Piazzale Roma — right at the vaporetto stop, no People Mover ride with suitcases |
| … travel by motorhome | Terminal Fusina + ferry to Zattere — the only option for vehicles taller than 2.15 m |
| … are staying in a hotel in Mestre | SABA Stazione Mestre or your hotel’s own parking — no island car park needed |
| … travel during Carnival/Biennale/Redentore | Book online 1–2 weeks ahead — island car parks are completely sold out in peak season |
| … need to charge an electric car | Tronchetto with 40 charging points — the perfect workflow: dock, People Mover, sightseeing, return to a full battery |
| … travel with a dog | Terminal Fusina (camper-friendly) or parking in Mestre — leave the dog at the hotel during your city visit or take it along (dogs are allowed on the vaporetto) |
Why multi-day parking in Venice works differently
Unlike a day trip to Venice (say, from Lake Garda), parking on a multi-day trip follows a very different logic: you are not looking for the cheapest day space with a quick in-and-out, but for a safe car park that spares you hauling luggage for several days, ideally allows online booking with fair cancellation, and is within walking distance of your hotel — so you do not have to take luggage on a vaporetto or the People Mover every time.
Three key questions shape the choice:
- Hotel location: If you stay in San Marco or Castello, it makes sense to park right at Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto. With a hotel in Mestre you do not need an island car park.
- Length of stay: For 1–4 days the extra cost of Tronchetto buys convenience. From 5 days, parking in Mestre becomes clearly cheaper (saving more than €85 over 5 days).
- Moving luggage: Tronchetto + People Mover means one luggage trolley leg. Mestre + regional train means a double change. Families with children should give more weight to ease of travel.
Tronchetto car park — the classic
Tronchetto is an artificial island just west of the main city, with Venice’s largest car park (4,500 spaces on several levels) and a People Mover link to Piazzale Roma. For most multi-day travellers with a hotel in the old town it is the most practical compromise between price, comfort and safety.
Prices and rates 2026
| Rate | Price (approx.) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Standard day ticket (24 h) | from €29 | At the machine on site |
| Online booking in advance | from €21 | About €5/day cheaper than turning up |
| Each additional 24 h | €29 each (online approx. €21) | No multi-day flat-rate discount — the operator charges every day individually |
| Esterno outdoor area | from €28/day | For motorhomes up to 2.8 m (garage max. 2.15 m) |
People Mover ticket: €1.50 per trip (3-minute ride to Piazzale Roma). Not included in the parking fee — buy it separately at the machine or combine it with a vaporetto pass.
Booking online: advantages and tips
- Cheaper: Booking online in advance is about €5/day cheaper than the walk-up rate on site.
- Guaranteed space: During Carnival (February), the Biennale (May–November in even-numbered years), Redentore (third weekend in July) and the film festival (early September), Tronchetto is regularly full from 10 a.m. at weekends. Booking online saves you a drive to a sold-out garage.
- Free cancellation: With third-party providers that offer fair cancellation (e.g. Parclick) you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before arrival.
- Recommendation: Book 1–2 weeks before arrival — in peak season 3–4 weeks.
Getting to Tronchetto
From the A4 (Milan–Venice motorway) take the “Venezia” exit, then cross the Ponte della Libertà and take the first exit on the right onto Tronchetto. From the motorway exit it is about 5 minutes in total, with very clear signposting. The entrance barrier accepts your online ticket by QR code or issues a standard-rate ticket on site.
Piazzale Roma — Garage San Marco and Autorimessa Comunale AVM
Two car parks sit right at Venice’s car entrance — the premium location, because once you have parked you stand directly at the vaporetto stop, at the Calatrava Bridge to the main station and at the footpaths into the old town, without needing the People Mover. For families with lots of luggage or hotels in the first sestieri (San Polo, Santa Croce, western San Marco) this is the most convenient option.
Autorimessa Comunale AVM
- Capacity: approx. 2,000 spaces, municipal car park run by AVM (Azienda Veneziana della Mobilità)
- Price: from €32/24 h, multi-day discount from 3 days
- Location: right at Piazzale Roma, 2 minutes to the vaporetto, 5 minutes to Santa Lucia station
- Height limit: max. 1.95 m — lower than Tronchetto, unsuitable for taller vans
- Online booking: via avm.venezia.it or third-party providers
Garage San Marco
- Capacity: smaller private car park, approx. 700 spaces
- Price: from €45/24 h — the most expensive island car park, but with premium service (valet, car care, hotel transfer to the boat)
- Location: Piazzale Roma, right next to the Autorimessa
- Height limit: max. 2.10 m
- Best for: premium hotels, arrival by limousine, short 1–2 night trips where comfort matters more than price
Park & Ride Mestre — the budget option
Mestre is Venice’s mainland suburb (with its own city administration, but part of the Comune di Venezia) — and at the same time the region’s most important railway hub. Park & Ride on the mainland means parking at a third of the island prices and a 10-minute train ride to the island city. On longer stays (5+ days) the savings are significant.
SABA Stazione Mestre
- Location: directly beneath Venezia Mestre station — platform access in 2 minutes
- Price: from €12/24 h, multi-day discount
- Connection: regional trains to Venezia Santa Lucia every 10–15 minutes, journey time 10 minutes, ticket €1.55 per trip
- Height limit: max. 2.00 m
- Security: guarded car park, 24/7 video surveillance
- Remark: the best value for multi-day travellers with a hotel in the old town — about €17 cheaper per day than Tronchetto.
Vega Marghera (P&R Vega)
- Location: Marghera, an industrial district south-west of Mestre
- Price: from €8/24 h — the cheapest plannable car park
- Connection: ACTV bus every 15–20 minutes to Piazzale Roma, journey time 12 minutes, ticket €1.55
- Height limit: open-air car park, no height restriction — also suitable for taller vans
- Security: lit industrial area, fully safe during the day; less busy at night
- Best for: budget travellers on longer stays, travellers with a taller vehicle
Park Costa Mestre P&R
- Price: from €8/24 h, often with a tram ticket included in a bundle
- Connection: tram T1 every 7–10 minutes to Piazzale Roma, 12-minute ride
- Advantage: the T1 tram system is newer and cleaner than the regional trains — more pleasant with a family
Motorhomes and campers — Terminal Fusina
Motorhomes are not allowed on the island — neither the Tronchetto garage (max. 2.15 m) nor Garage San Marco or the Autorimessa admit taller vehicles. The best place for campers is the Fusina terminal on the southern mainland edge of the lagoon.
- Location: Fusina, at the end of the SS309 (Romea), approx. 12 km south-west of the island city
- Price: €18/day parking + €7 per person for the ferry to the Zattere landing in Venice (25-minute crossing)
- Allowed: motorhomes up to 8 m, coaches, Sprinter vans — no height restriction
- Overnight stays at Fusina are NOT permitted — day parking only
- Ferry frequency: every 30 minutes during the day, suspended in storms/Acqua Alta (check beforehand)
- Access road: SS309 with no narrow sections, good for motorhomes of 7 m and more
Overnight in a motorhome: For stays with an overnight in your motorhome, the following campsites around the lagoon are suitable:
- Camping Marina Venezia (Punta Sabbioni) — right on the eastern edge of the lagoon, with vaporetto line 14 (approx. 30 min.) to St Mark’s Square. The region’s largest campsite, with a hotel pool, restaurant and bungalow rental.
- Camping Fusina Bella Venezia — next to the Fusina terminal, with its own ferry link to the island city.
- Camping Rialto (Marghera) — somewhat more basic, closer to Mestre, with a bus connection to Piazzale Roma.
Charging an electric car in Venice
For electric-car travellers Tronchetto is the best choice — the car park has 40 dedicated charging points (a mix of AC and DC fast chargers) operated by Interparking eMobItaly. Pay via the eMobItaly app, ChargePoint, or by QR code at the charger.
- Charging power: AC up to 22 kW, DC up to 50 kW
- Workflow: dock the car, start the app, release the charge, People Mover to the city entrance, sightseeing, return to a fully charged car
- Cost: approx. €0.55–0.75/kWh (2026, AC) — comparable to standard rates in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- Alternative on the island: Garage San Marco has a few chargers, but limited choice
- Alternative on the mainland: several chargers in Mestre, good for stays in a Mestre hotel
Sample calculation: what does parking cost for 3, 5 or 7 days?
A realistic comparison for a typical multi-day hotel stay from spring 2026. Public transport costs are added for the round trip to the island city:
| Option | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tronchetto + People Mover (2× per day) | €87 + €9 = €96 | €145 + €15 = €160 | €203 + €21 = €224 (online approx. €147 + €21 = €168) |
| Autorimessa Comunale AVM | €96 | €160 | €224 |
| SABA Mestre + regional train | €36 + €9 = €45 | €60 + €15 = €75 | €84 + €21 = €105 |
| Vega Marghera + bus | €24 + €9 = €33 | €40 + €15 = €55 | €56 + €21 = €77 |
Important notes on the calculation:
- Booking online in advance lowers the Tronchetto daily rate from €29 to approx. €21/day — for 7 days approx. €147 instead of €203 walk-up
- From 5 days, parking in Mestre is clearly cheaper — saving more than €85 compared with Tronchetto
- People Mover or regional train tickets must be counted per trip (2 trips per day: out in the morning, back in the evening)
- For families with children: children under 14 do not pay for the regional train (Mestre connection) or the bus — with several travellers the extra comfort of Tronchetto becomes attractive again
Special cases: Carnival, Biennale, cruise days
On certain peak days the island car parks are regularly sold out. If you travel at these times, you should book in advance or switch to Mestre straight away:
- Carnival (February–March, 10 days before Ash Wednesday): Tronchetto and Piazzale Roma are often sold out weeks ahead. Parking in Mestre + train is the reliable solution.
- Biennale (May–November in even-numbered years): very high weekend occupancy, especially in the opening week (May/June) and during the film festival (early September). Book online 2–3 weeks ahead.
- Redentore (third weekend in July): a big local festival, with Tronchetto and Piazzale Roma full on Fridays and Saturdays. A Mestre alternative is recommended.
- Festa della Salute (21 November): similar to Redentore — Tronchetto is often full on the feast day.
- Cruise days: when several large ships arrive (visible in the VTP cruise calendar), St Mark’s Square and the vaporetto system can be overloaded — parking in Mestre and taking the train before 8 a.m. is the smarter choice.
ZTL and car bans — what you need to know
Unlike many Italian cities, Venice has no classic ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato) — the reason is simple: the old town is entirely car-free. You cannot drive onto the main island because no roads continue across the bridges — traffic ends at Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto.
- The Ponte della Libertà is toll-free, but monitored by cameras for customs and police — of no relevance to tourists.
- ZTL Piazzale Roma: The traffic area at the city entrance is restricted — if you drive to Tronchetto or the car parks (Autorimessa, Garage San Marco), you are fine. If you accidentally drive into the inner ZTL area (clearly signposted “Zona Traffico Limitato — Veicoli Autorizzati”), you risk a €80 fine per violation. Signs are in Italian — keep your eyes open.
- Mestre: a smaller ZTL in Mestre’s old town for delivery traffic, which does not affect tourist parking.
- Marghera/Tronchetto: no ZTL — unrestricted access for tourists.
Parking during Acqua Alta
Acqua Alta affects parking in Venice in specific ways:
- Tronchetto: on raised ground, no problem from water levels of 80 cm. Only in extreme Acqua Alta above 140 cm can individual underground levels be affected.
- Piazzale Roma: Garage San Marco and the Autorimessa AVM are also at water level — in stronger Acqua Alta above 110 cm the entrances can get wet, while the car park itself stays closed and dry.
- Mestre/Marghera: completely outside the lagoon’s water-level risk zone — the most reliable parking option when Acqua Alta hits the island.
- Terminal Fusina: the ferry link is suspended at water levels above 130 cm or in strong storms — campers should follow Acqua Alta warnings.
If you travel during the Acqua Alta season (October–March), check current water levels on our Acqua Alta hub with live levels — especially on days with a forecast level above 100 cm.
Book a hotel + parking as a package
Many island hotels have arrangements with Tronchetto or Garage San Marco — when you book the hotel you often get a parking package with discounts of 10–20%. With a package holiday combining hotel, travel and parking from a single source you save not only money but also the hassle of online reservations.
Frequently asked questions about parking in Venice
Where is the best place to park on a multi-day hotel stay?
For 3–4 nights: the Tronchetto car park (from €29/day, with People Mover connection). For 5+ nights: SABA Stazione Mestre on the mainland (from €12/day, regional train 10 minutes to the island). With a hotel right at Piazzale Roma: Autorimessa Comunale AVM (short distances with luggage). Motorhomes: Terminal Fusina with ferry.
How much does parking at Tronchetto cost?
From €29/day walk-up, from €21/day when booked online in advance. The operator has no fixed multi-day flat rates — every further 24 h costs €29 (online approx. €21). The People Mover link to Piazzale Roma costs €1.50 per trip (separate). 40 electric-car charging points are available. Booking online is strongly recommended during Carnival, the Biennale, Redentore and the film festival — otherwise the garage is sold out.
Is Park & Ride Mestre worth it?
Yes, clearly so from a stay of 5 days. SABA Stazione Mestre costs €12/day, the regional train to Venezia Santa Lucia €1.55 per trip (10 minutes). You save €17 per day compared with Tronchetto — €85 over 5 days, €119 over 7 days. The downside: one change with luggage at Mestre station. Families may see this differently.
Where do you park a motorhome in Venice?
Not on the island — the Tronchetto garage is limited to 2.15 m. The best place is Terminal Fusina (€18/day + €7/person for the ferry). Motorhomes up to 8 m are no problem, with no narrow approach via the SS309. Overnight stays are not allowed — for overnight stays use Camping Marina Venezia (Punta Sabbioni) or Camping Fusina Bella Venezia.
Are there any free car parks in Venice?
Not on the island itself — every car park in the car-free area charges a fee. On the mainland (Mestre, Marghera) there are occasionally free residential-street spaces (marked with yellow lines) between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m., but this is unrealistic for multi-day trips. SABA Mestre (€12/day) or Vega Marghera (€8/day) are the cheapest plannable options.
Do I have to book Tronchetto in advance?
In the off season (November–March, excluding Carnival) you can usually find a space on the spot. In the high season (May–October, plus Carnival and the film festival) booking online is strongly recommended — the garage is regularly full from 10 a.m. Booking online is also €5/day cheaper than the walk-up rate.
How do I get from Tronchetto to the old town?
By People Mover — a small elevated train that runs every 3–5 minutes, costs €1.50 per trip and takes 3 minutes to Piazzale Roma. From there continue on foot to St Mark’s Square (35 minutes) or by vaporetto line 1 or 2 along the Grand Canal. Alternative: vaporetto line 2 directly from the Tronchetto landing stage to St Mark’s Square (~30 minutes).
Is Tronchetto safe for parking?
Yes. A guarded car park with 24/7 video surveillance, several levels and a barrier system. Never leave valuables visible in the car — but that applies to all big-city car parks in Italy, not just Venice. On a multi-day stay we recommend not leaving luggage in the car, but taking it all to the hotel.
Which car park has electric-car charging points?
Tronchetto has 40 dedicated charging points (a mix of AC and DC, up to 50 kW), operated by Interparking eMobItaly. Pay via app or QR code. Workflow: dock the car, People Mover into the city, sightseeing, return to a fully charged car. Garage San Marco has a few chargers, but limited choice. In Mestre there are several public chargers around the station.
What happens to the car park during Acqua Alta?
The Tronchetto and Piazzale Roma car parks are on raised ground — usually unaffected at water levels up to 110 cm. In stronger Acqua Alta above 130 cm the entrance areas can get wet, but the car park itself remains accessible. Mestre and Marghera are completely outside the Acqua Alta zone. Check current water levels before your travel day on our Acqua Alta hub.
Can I book parking and hotel together?
Yes. Through our travel agency we put together package holidays with a hotel + Tronchetto parking from a single source — often with a hotel parking discount of 10–20%. You book once, receive all vouchers by email, and travel without having to make multiple online reservations. Free and non-binding.
Where should I book a hotel on the mainland if I do not want to stay in the old town?
Mestre is the most popular mainland alternative — hotels 30–50% cheaper than on the island, with a direct rail link (10 minutes to the island). Hotels near the station (Mestre Centro, Stazione) are the easiest to reach. Alternatively: a campsite/hotel resort in Punta Sabbioni (Cavallino-Treporti, eastern lagoon) with vaporetto line 14 to St Mark’s Square — more scenic than Mestre, but a little further away.