You won’t see a single car while walking around Venice proper. You can either park on the mainland and travel to the floating city by bus, train or ferry or use one of the parking lots on the island. Because of the sheer volume of visitors, expect to have more trouble finding a space in the high season. It is a particularly good idea to book your parking space in advance online, as this guarantees you a spot and you will know the fee upfront.
Where to Find On-Street Parking
Although there is some on-street parking in the Mestre neighborhood of the city on the mainland, although it is definitely not the most convenient way to reach Venice. The free on-street spots are not close to direct public transportation to the island part of Venice and for the price, you may as well use one of the more secure parking garages on the mainland or once you cross over into Venice itself.
Where to Find Parking Garages
You can drive over the bridge from Mestre to Venice and pay the premium parking fees (around €25 per day) at lots like Tronchetto Parking. The other option is to park on the mainland in Mestre at the garages near the train station or near a bus route to Venice. Many spots in parking garages can be booked online in advance.
Where to Park for Free
There is free on-street parking in parts of Mestre such as Marghera, Miranese, and Favaro but we do not recommend you leave your vehicle unattended for a long period of time. The path of least resistance is to budget parking costs into your trip and get some peace of mind that your vehicle will be more secure.
Park & Ride Locations
There is no official park and ride system but you can park in Mestre at garages such as Garage Europa and Venice City Park, then use public transportation to get you to the island.
