Parking in Venice 2026: Where to Park, Costs & Tips

Parking in Venice can feel unnecessarily stressful — mostly because it works very differently than in the rest of Italy. You can drive closer to the historic center than most people expect, but once you reach the edge of the lagoon, cars are done and everything switches to boats and walking.

We’ve parked in Mestre ourselves, left the car there, and taken a bus straight into Venice. It was simple, affordable, and far less stressful than trying to get as close as possible with a car — especially when our plan was to spend the days exploring the city rather than worrying about traffic and garages.

In this guide, we’ll explain where you can actually drive, where to park in Venice and on the mainland, what parking costs, and the most common mistakes to avoid. And once that’s sorted, you can focus on planning what really matters — from the best things to do in Venice to choosing where to stay based on your travel style.

Are cars allowed in Venice?

Short answer: no — not in the historic center.

Cars are only allowed up to the edge of Venice, not inside the city itself. You can drive to Piazzale Roma or Tronchetto, which are the last points accessible by car. From there, you continue on foot or by vaporetto.

If you keep driving past these areas, you’ll hit restricted zones or dead ends — Venice has no roads, only canals in the historic center.

Parking in Venice – all options compared

There are three realistic areas where it makes sense to park when visiting Venice: Piazzale Roma, Tronchetto, and the mainland in Mestre. Each works well for a different type of trip, so the right choice depends on how long you’re staying, your budget, and how much stress you want to deal with on arrival.

Piazzale Roma

Piazzale Roma is the closest place you can reach by car and sits right at the edge of the historic center. This is the most convenient option if you want to step straight into Venice without dealing with extra transport.

It’s especially practical for short stays or if you’re arriving with a lot of luggage. The downside is the price — parking here is the most expensive — and driving in can feel hectic, particularly during busy periods.

From Piazzale Roma, you can either walk directly into Venice or hop on a vaporetto.

The main parking garages here are :

• Autorimessa Comunale (ASM) – A flat fee of 35€ per day with more than 2000 spaces available for cars less than 2.2m high.
• Garage San Marco – Charges 45€ per day.
• S. Andrea Car Park – Costs 7€ for every 2 hours.

Tronchetto

Tronchetto is an artificial island built specifically for cars and parking, located just before Venice. It’s usually slightly cheaper and easier to navigate than Piazzale Roma, with wider access and fewer tight ramps.

However, you’re not directly in the city yet, so it adds an extra step to your arrival. From Tronchetto, you’ll either take the People Mover to Piazzale Roma or use a vaporetto line that connects the island with the historic center.

The main option here is the large Tronchetto Parking garage, which is well signposted and designed for high traffic.

The best parking garages:

• Tronchetto Parking Garage – Costs 29€ for 24 hours, or 6€ per hour. Offers both outdoor and indoor spaces.
• Garage Isola Nova – costs 28€ for 24 hours, or 5€ per hour

Mestre

Mestre, on the mainland, is where we parked ourselves, and it ended up being the least stressful option by far. Driving there was straightforward, parking was easy to find, and the prices were noticeably lower than anywhere near Venice.

It’s a practical choice if you’re staying longer or continuing a road trip through Italy. The obvious downside is that you’re not parking in Venice itself, but getting into the city is simple — we took a direct bus to Piazzale Roma, and trains to Venezia Santa Lucia are just as frequent.

Both run often and worked smoothly for us. In Mestre, we’d look for garages near the train station, or larger park-and-ride lots along the tram and bus lines.

Recommended parking lots:

• Venice City Park – We parked here and had a good experience. It’s near bus stop and only costs 2.5€/hour.
• Parcheggio Venezia Mestre – Operated by the same company with same prices, slightly further from Venice.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Entering ZTL zones by mistake – One wrong turn near the edge of Venice can mean a fine weeks later, even with a rental car.
• Letting Google Maps decide the final route – Navigation apps don’t always account for car-free areas or last car access points.
• Expecting street parking in Venice – All street parking is on the mainland, not in the historic center.
• Not checking how you’ll reach your hotel – Some locations require multiple connections or long walks after parking.
• Showing up without a plan in busy periods – Central garages can fill up quickly, especially in spring and summer. Pre-booking is necessary.

How to get around Venice

• Walk – The historic centre is compact; most streets and bridges are best explored on foot. Walking often beats slow water traffic between nearby points.
• Vaporetto (water bus) – This is Venice’s main public transport on water. A single ticket costs about €9.50 and is valid for 75 minutes with transfers across lines within that time. You can also get day or multi-day passes.
• People Mover – A small automated shuttle connects Tronchetto and Piazzale Roma for a low fare (about €1.50). It’s handy after parking before you start exploring.
• Water taxi – Private boats that can drop you closer to your hotel or destination. Fast and convenient, but high cost compared with vaporetti.
• Traghetto (shared gondola) – Cheap short crossings over the Grand Canal at certain points if you want a quick, local experience.

FAQ

Final thoughts

Parking in Venice isn’t difficult once you accept one key thing: cars stop at the edge of the city. Whether you park in Venice itself or on the mainland in Mestre, the goal is to choose the option that fits your budget, tolerance for stress, and length of stay.

If you want the shortest transfer and don’t mind higher prices, parking near the city edge works well. If you prefer cheaper parking and an easier drive, Mestre is a solid alternative. Either way, planning your parking in advance will save you time, money, and unnecessary stress once you arrive.